15 - Kșhudha Tirtha

Brahmā said: 

1. Listen attentively, O Nārada. The holy centre well known as Kșhudha Tirtha is being recounted. It is highly meritorious and it bestows all desired things to men. 

2. Formerly, there was a sage Kaņva. He performed penance and he was the most excellent among those who were conversant with the Vedas. Once wandering among penance-groves he was afflicted by hunger. 

3-7 Gautama's holy hermitage was richly endowed with food and water. He saw himself hungry and Gautama prosperous. He noticed this incongruity and becaine detached. He thought, "Gautama is an excellent brahinin. I too am a person well-established in penance. Begging of a person equal to one in status is not proper. Even though I am overcome by hunger, even when my body is afflicted, I am not going to take food in the abode of Gautama. I shall go to Gautani Ganga and earn wealth”. After deciding like this the intelligent sage went to the sacred Gangā. After taking bath he sat on the Kusa grass with controlled mind. He eulogized Gautami Ganga and Kșhudha (hunger), the greatest distressing thing. 

Kuņva said: 

8. Gangá, obeisance bc to you, the destroyer of agony and distress, and to you, O Hunger, the cause of agony and distress to all the people. 

Obeisance O splendid onc, born of the marted hair of Maheśāna. 

Obeisance O Kșhudha coming out of the mouth of great Death. 

9. O Gautami assuming a calm form in regard to meritorious souls and furious form in regard to the wicked souls! O destroyer of the distress and sins of all, in the form of a river! 

10. Obeisance be to you, the bestower of agony, distress and sin, to all in the form of hunger. 

Obeisance O goddess, the cause of welfare and the suppressor of sins. 

Obeisance O goddess, the cause of peace. Obeisance, O destroyer of poverty.

Brahmā said: 

11. As he eulogized thus two forms appeared in front of him, one the charming form of Ganga and the other the terrible form of Kșhudha. After bowing down with palms joined in reverence, the excellent brahmin said.

Kanva said: 

12. Obeisance be to you O Godavari, the cause of all aus picious things, O Brāhmi (belonging to Brahma), O Mahesvari (belonging to Mahesvara), O splendid Vaisnavi (belonging to Vişhnu), O three-eyed goddess! 

13. Obeisance be to you, O Godavari, born of the matted hair of the three-eyed lord, the destroyer of sins of Gautama, O river that flows into the sea in seven channels! 

14. O goddess Hunger obeisancc, obeisance to you, O sinner unto all sinful persons, O destroyer of virtue, love and wealth, full of misery and greed! 

Brahmā said: 

15-17 On hearing the words of Kanva both of them were delighted and they spoke to the brahmin. 

Ganga & kșudhā said: 

O (sage) of good holy rites, O cause of welfare, mention your desire. Choose boons. 

Brahmā said: 

Kanva bowed down to Ganga and Kșhudha in due order and said: 

Kanva said: 

18. O Ganga, O goddess, give unto me wealth and all charming and cherished desires, long life, enjoyment of worldly pleasures and salvation.

Brahma said: 

19-23 After saying this to Gautami Gangā, the excellent brahmin said to Hunger.

Kanva said: 

O hunger, O thirst, O wretched one, never be in me or in anyone born of my family. O extremely sinful and harsh one, go away. 

This is another boon I wish for. If persons afflicted by hunger were to eulogize you with this hymn let them not have miseries of poverty. 

Let those men who devoutly perform such sacred rites as holy ablution, charitable gifts, chanting of Japas etc. in this holy centre of great merit become rich. Another boon I wish for is this-If a person reads this hymn whether in the holy centre or in the house, let him not have the fear from poverty and miseries.

Brahmā said: 

24. After saying "So be it to Kanva both of them went to their respective abodes. Thenceforward that holy centre was called Kanva, Gangā and Kșhudha. O dear one, it dispels all sins and increases the deligit of manes.