13 - Dasāśvamedha Tirtha

Brahma said: 

1. O great sage, listen to the description of the holy centre of Daśāśvamedha¹. Merely by listening to its name one shall acquire the merit of a horse-sacrifice. 

1. A sacred place in Kuruksetra (MB), Vanaparva, 9.14) 

2. The glorious Viśvarūpa of great strength was the son of Viśvakarman. Pramati was his son. His son was lordly Bhauvana. 

3. His chief priest was Kasyapa who was an expert in all wise lores. The brawny-armed Bhauvana, the ruler of the whole world asked him: 

4. "O sage, I wish to perform a horse sacrifice simultaneously with ten horses." 

He then asked his preceptor the brahmin: “Where shall I perform the sacrifice?” 

5. He said: "O excellent king, there are Devayajanas (places for the worship of Devas) at different places where excellent brahmins performed great sacrifices.” 

6. Ten sacrifices were simultaneously performed by the priest. In that sacrifice in a group, a number of sages were employed as Rutviks. 

7-8. Avoiding Devayajana, the priest had initiated the sacrifices in another place. Hence defects and obstacles overwhelmed him. The sacrifices could not be completed. On seeing them the king was extremely worried. On observing the sacrifice incomplete the king spoke to the preceptor. 

The king said: 

9. Is it because of the defect of place, or of the defect of time, or my defect or your defect that the ten horse sacrifices have not become complete?

Brahmă said: 

10. The grief-stricken king accompanied by his preceptor Kaśyapa went to Sasvarta the elder brother of Bruhaspati. They spoke to him.

Kaśyapa and Bhauvana said: 

11. O holy sage, the bestower of honour, ten horse-sacrifices have to be performed simultaneously. Tell us about the place and the preceptor thereof so that all the ten will be completed,

Brahmā said: 

12. The excellent sage Saṁvarta meditated for a while and spoke to Bhauvana: “Go to Brahma. He will tell you about the preceptor and the place of sacrifice." 

13. Bhauvana of great intellect came to me accompanied by the noble Kasyapa. They asked me about the preceptor, place of sacrifice and other things. 

14. Then O dear son, I spoke to Blauvana and Kaśyapa: "O leading king, go to Gautami. That place is highly meritorious for sacrifices. 

15-16. This Kaśyapa alone is your excellent preceptor. He is a master of Vedas. By the grace of this preceptor as well as of Gautami, with a single horse sacrifice and the holy ablution therein, o king, you will achieve the benefit of ten horse sacrifices." 

17. On hearing it the king Bhauvana went to the banks of Gautami with Kaśyapa to assist him. He got himself initiated for the horse sacrifice. 

18-19. Then the horse sacrifice, the lord of Yajñas was begun. When it was completed, the king became ready to offer the whole of the Earth. Then an ethereal voiccaddressed the excellent king who was standing by after worshipping the brahmins, the Rutviks and Sadaspatis¹ (types of priests).

1. Lit. lord of the seat or sacrificial assembly. 

The Ethereal Voice said: 

20-22. O king, everything has been given by you who are desirous of giving the whole Earth with mountains, forests and parks to Kaśyapa, your priest. 

Eschew your desire to give the Earth as gift. Offer food that yields great results. There is no meritorious thing like the gift of food in all the three worlds particularly on the bank of Ganga if it is given with great faith, O sage. 

This horse sacrifice with many monetary gifts has been per- forimed by you. You are satisfied, welfare unto tlice. No worry need be felt.

Brahmā said: 

23-25. Still Bhauvana wanted to give the Earth away as gift. The Earth said to him then again and again:

The Earth said: 

O son of Viśvakarman, do not give me away. If a person goes to the banks of Gautami and gives a morsel of food it is as good as though I have been given wholly. Why do you give me then, O Bhauvana? I shall sink into water. It beloves you not to give me.

Brahmä said: 

26. Then Bhauvana became afraid. He asked, "What then, should be given?" Again the Earth addressed Bhauvana surround- ded by the brahmins. 

The Earth said: 

27-28. Gingelly seeds, cows, money, grains-whatever is given on the banks of Gautami is everlasting in its benefit. Why then, do you give me, Bhauvana? If a person goes to the banks of Ganga and gives a morsel of food, it is as good as though I have been given wholly. Why do you give me then, O Bhauvana?

Brahma said: 

29-30. On hearing the words of the Earth Bhauvana, the ruler of the whole world, considered that it should be so. He then gave food to the brahmins on a big scale. Ever since then, people know it to be Daśāśvamedhika Tīrtha. By taking bath there, the fruit of ten horse sacrifices is acquired.