75 -  Markandeyatirtha and other Holy Centres

Brahma said: 

1. The holy centre well-known as Märkandeya is capable of ridding one of all sins. It is meritorious. It yields the benefit of all Yajñas. It dispels lots of sins. 

2-4. I shall recount its efficacy. Listen to it attentively, O Nārada. 

Märkandeya, Bharadvāja, Vasistha, Atri, Gautama, Yaj navalkya, Jābāla-these and other sages, O Nārada, are the composers of scriptures. They have mastered the Vedas and the Vedāngas. They are conversant with the Puranas and the topics of discourse in Nyaya (Logic) and Mimāṁsā. These scholars talked to one another about liberation, as much as they could as far as their intellect allowed. 

5. Some of them praised knowledge, some praised Karman (holy rites) and some praised both. After discussing among themselves they asked me for my opinion. 

6-7. Having known my opinion they went to the lord bearing discus and iron club. After knowing his opinion also, those sages of great power discussed once again. They attempted to ask Sankara, After worshipping Bhava in Gangă they mentioned to him the same topic. 

8. The destroyer of the three cities (Siva) mentioned the importance of Karman in the form of holy rites. Holy rite itself is called so (knowledge), he said. 

9. Hence, all living beings shall obtain (spiritual) achievement only through Karman. Karman alone is one that pervades the whole universe. Without it nothing can be obtained. 

10. The performance of Yajñas, the practice of learning, the worship of Siva, the practice of Yoga-everything is Karman. Nowhere does a living being exist without Karman. 

1:1-12. Karman alone is the cause (of salvation). Everything other than it is the doing of a lunatic. 

Where the sages discussed (everything), where Lord MaheśHvara decided that everything is acquired by men through Karman is called Märkanda(i.e. Markandeya) because he was the chief (of those sages). 

13-14. This holy centre is occupied by the sages on the northern bank of Ganga. It purifies the Manes. It is holy always. It yields benefit even on being remembered. 

The lord identical with the universe says that there are ninety-eight holy centres there. The same has been mentioned by the Vedas too. The sages have accepted it.