57 - Holy Centre Arstisenatirtha etc. 

Brahma said: 

1. The holy centre well known as Devatirtha is on the northern bank of Ganga. I shall describe its power that destroys all sins. 

2. There was a king well known as Arșțișeņa. He was endowed with all good qualities. The name of his wife was Jaya. She was just like another Lakşhmi. 

3. His son was named Bhara. He was intelligent and a favourite of his father. He was an expert in the science of archery and the Vedas. 

4-5. His wife was a beautiful lady well-reputed as Suprabha. Thereafter king Arştişeņa placed the responsibility of the kingdom on his son and took initiation for a horse sacrifice through the chief priest. He intended to perform the horse sacrifice on the banks of Sarasvati. 

6-10. The king was initiated by Rutviks and important sages devoted to (the study of) Vedas and scriptures. In the presence of the brahmins and the sacred fires, Mithu the valiant king of Dänavas, an evil-minded spirit of great exploit, destroyed the sacrifice and abducted the king, his wife and priest, Osage, and went hurriedly to the nether rigions. 

When the excellent king was thus taken away and the sacrifice was destroyed the immortal ones and the Rutviks went away to their respective places. The son of the king's priest was a boy well known as Devāpi. The boy saw his mother but could not see his father. He was suprised and excessively distressed. 

11-12. He asked his mother: "O mother, where has my father gone? I would not like to live without him. Dear mother, tell me the truth. Fie, fie upon the life of those persons of evil deeds, bereft of their fathers. Dear mother, if you do not tell me I will enter water or fire". 

13. The mother said to the son: "The king, his wife and the priest, your father, were taken away by a Dänava to the nether worlds." 

Deväpi said: 

14. Where was he taken? By whom was he taken? How was he taken? In which rite? Who were all watching it? What is the abode of the Dänava? Tell mc. 

The Mother said: 

15. While Devas were watching, in the presence of the sacred fires and the brahmins, Mithu the Daitya abducted the king who had been initiated in the sacrifice to the nether worlds along with his wife and the priest.

Brahmā said: 

16-17. On hearing those words of his mother Deväpi re- membered his duty: "I will see Devas, fire, Rutviks and Asuras. My opinion is that my father should be sought among these and not elsewhere." 

After deciding thus Devāpi spoke to Bhara the son of the king: Devāpi said: 

18-20. All those who have been taken to the nether worlds should be brought back by me through the power of penance, celibacy, holy rites, and sacred observances. 

Of what avail is that wretch, whether alive or dead, who does not retaliate when a terrible insult has been inflicted. Rule over the entire Earth like your father Ārstişena. O king, my mother should be protected by you till my return after fulfilling my task. O Bhara, permit me to go.

Brahmā said: 

21-23. After a careful deliberation Devāpi was addresscd thus by Bliara.

Bhara said: 

Achieve your puropse. Go happily. Do not have the least of worry.

Brahmā said: 

Devotedly meditating on the feet of the king of immortals, Devāpi searched out the Rutviks and bowed to them severally. With the palms joined in reverence the boy Devāpi said. 

Devāpi said: 

24-26. The sacrifice should have been saved by you all. The sponsor of sacrifice who had been initiated therein, the priest and the wife of the initiated one should have been saved by you all. Even while you were all watching, O Rutviks, the king and others have been abducted by him after destroying the sacrifice. This is not proper. Still, I consider this (necessary). It behoves you all to return them devoid of all ailinents. O leading brahmins, otherwise you will deserve a curse.

The Rutviks said: 

27-28. In a sacrifice, the Firc-god should be worshipped at the outset. It is Agni who is the presiding deity here. Hence, We the servants of the sacrificial fires do not know these things). That carrier of the Havyas (offerings) (i.e. the Fire-god) is the donor, the enjoycr, the remover and the maker.

Brahmā said: 

29. Turning his back upon the Rutviks and worshipping the Fire-god, Devapi duly intimated it to the Fire-god. (Then the Fire-god replied.) 

Agni said: 

30. Just like thc Rutviks I too am a servant of Devas. I carry Havya to Devas. They are the enjoyers and therefore) they are the saviours too.

Devāpi said: 

31. I shall call Devas and carefully distribute their shares in the Havis to each. Hence, you go hurriedly towards them.

Brahmā said: 

32. Deväpi approached Devas and bowed to each of them. He then intimated to them the statement of Rutviks, of the Fire-god and (his own threat of) curse.

Devas said: 

33. When we are invoked by the Vedic Mantras by the Rutviks in the proper order we partake of our shares in the Havis. We are not otherwise free, O excellent brahmin. 

34. Hence, we are the perpetual followers of the Vedas. We are induced by the Vedas. O brahmin, we are dependent. Therefore, intimate this to the Vedas.

Brahmā said: 

35-36. Devāpi cleaned himself and then invoked the Vedas with care. He was endowed with (the power of) meditation and penance. The Vedas appeared before him. 

Bowing down to them again and again he spoke to the Vedas. He intimated to them the statement of the Rutviks, the statement of Agni and the statement of Devas.

Vedas said: 

37-41. We too are dependent, О dear one. We are the followers of Isvara and subject to his control. He is the support of the entire universe, but he is not supported by anyone. He is unsullied. He is the sole abode of all power. He is the storehouse of all riches. He is the great god, the maker. He is Maheśvara, the annihilator. We are in the form of words and sounds, O brahmin. We speak, we know. It is our duty that we speak (i.e. explain) what you ask. We know by whom they were taken away. We know his name, his city and his power. We know that they have been eaten but they are not destroyed. We also know how you can acquire the capacity to get them back again, whom to propitiate and where (for the same purpose).

Brahma said: 

42-46. On hearing this he pondered for a long time and spoke to the Vedas.

Devāpi said: 

O Vedas, be pleased to speak this alone immediately, entirely and truthfully, I shall get back all those who had been taken to the nether worlds. Adequate obeisance to them all. Obeisance be to you all.

The Vedas said: 

O Devapi, go to the Gautamī. There eulogize Maheśvara. The merciful lord (when) pleased will surely bestow on you what you desire. (When) eulogized lord Shiva will be pleased. This is true, O extremely intelligent one. King Arştisena, Java his chaste wisc and Upamanyu your father-all of them stay in the nether worlds devoid of ailments, due to the boons bestowed by lord Siva. Due to the boons bestowed by lord Shiva you will kill Rakshasa Mithu and attain fame and virtue. This is possible. It is not otherwise.

Brahmā said: 

47. At the instance of the Vedas the boy Devāpi went to Gautami. The brahmin took his bath and having got the proper opportunity eulogized Maheśvara.

Devāpi said: 

48. O lord of the chiefs of Devas, I am a mere boy. You are the preceptor of preceptors; I have no power to eulogize you befittingly. Obeisance be to you, O Sambhu. 

49. The Vedas do not know you. Neither Devas nor sages. Neither Brahmã nor Vişhnu. As you are so you are, Obeisance be to you. 

50. You protect, Maheśvara, those who are sinning souls, who are helpless, who are miserable, who are poor and who are sickly. 

51. The heaven-dwellers who are worshipped by penance, holy rites and Mantras will give them the benefit ordained by you, O lord of the worlds. 

52. (Even) beggars will turn out to be donors. Whatever they desire is not wanting at your door. You are the cause of this unique situation. 

53. O preceptor of the universe, O lord, at the mere utterance of the word Siva, you protect ignorant persons, sinners and those who are immersed in the ocean of hell.

Brahma said: 

54-56. Even as he was eulogizing thus, the three-eyed lord appeared in front of him and said.

Shiva said: 

Tell me what boon (you wish to have), O Deväpi. Enough of your despondency, O boy. 

Devāpi said: 

O lord of the universe, I wish to redeem the king, the king's wife and the preceptor who is my father, I wish for the death of my enemy.

Brahmā said: 

57. On hearing the words of Devāpi the lord of the universe said "So be it". At the behest of Sankara, Devapi got everything. 

58. Calling Nandin, one of his Gaņas, the merciful lord Shambhu sent him with his Spear, O Närada. 

59. Nandin went to the nether worlds and killed Mithu and the leading Asuras. Bringing his father and others he handed them over to them (Deväpi). 

60. The horse sacrifice of the self-possessed Arşțișena was performed there. The Fire-god, Rutviks, Devas, Vedas and sages said: 

Agni and others said: 

61. Where Sambhu, the lord of Devas, the lord of the universe, favourably disposed towards his devotees appeared personally, O Devāpi, that place has become the holy centre Devatirtha. 

62-64. This holy centre shall be conducive to the destruction of all sins; it shall bestow all spiritual achievement; it yields merit and your fame shall be perpetual. 

Brahmā said: 

When the horse-sacrifice was concluded Devas granted them boons. After taking their bath they became contented and went to heaven. Thereafter fifteen thousand and hundred and eight holy centres cropped up on both the banks. Let it be known that a holy dip and distribution of charitable gifts there bestow excessive merits.