64 - The greatness of Kurukshetra.

Kurukshetra or the land of Kurus is a very sacred region. Since Vedic times, it was the cradle of Aryan civilisation. As recorded in the opening verse of the BG., Kurukshetra was originally a dharma-kshetra as gods, sages and kings have performed sacrifices in the area on the banks of Sarasvati, its area is much wider than the place now called Kurukshetra as it includes Thaneswar, Sonepat, Amin, Asthipur etc. De, p. 110.

Mohini said: 

1. O merciful Vasu, O knower of virtue, the greatness of Prayaga, the king of Tirthas, has been narrated to me by you who are deeply crudite. 

2. Now recount full details of the splendid Kurukshetra which is the most auspicious of all important Tirthas and which sanctifies all the worlds.

Vasu said:

3. Listen, O Mohini, I shall narrate to you the details of Kurukshetra which bestows great merits. By going there and taking the holy dip, a man is liberated from all sins. 

4. There are many holy centres there resorted to by the leading sages. They bestow salvation to those who listen. I shall recount them to you. 

5. Liberation is of four types: Viz. knowledge of the Brahman, Shraddha at Gaya, death while defending cattle and residence at Kurukshetra. 

6. They call the land between the two divine rivers Sarasvati and Drushadvati ‘Brahmavarta’, a land resorted to by the Devas.2 

2. Mbh Vana 83. 3, 204-205 records that the land between the Sarasvati and the Drishad-vati is Kurukshetra, Manu II. 17 calls this tract Brahmavarta.

7. He who continuously says thus: - “Although I stay far off, I will go to Kurukshetra and stay there”, is liberated from all sins.3  

3. A verbatim echo of the sentiment expressed in Mbh. Vana 83. 1-2. 

8. There is no doubt about this that the knowledge of the self-possessed learned person who stays on the banks of the Sarasvati will be full of Brahman. 

9. O gentle lady, the deities, sages and Siddhas resort to Kurujangala1 (the forest in Kurukshetra). By resorting to that place, one realises Brahman in his Atman. 

1. Vamana P. 22.47 regards the region between Sarasvati and Drushadvati as Kurujangala. Formerly, there must have been some forests in Kurukshetra but now no jungle is there. Mbh. Adi 94-49 identifies Kurukshetra and Kurujangala with Hastinapura as its capital.

Mohini said: 

10. O excellent Brahmana, how is Kurukshetra superior to all other Tirthas? Recount it in detail to me. I have sought refuge in you. 

Vasu said: 

11. O splendid lady, listen. I shall recount to you the details of Kurukshetra that yields great benefit. I shall tell you how it has become one that burns the sins of men and is a favourite of Brahma. 

12. At that holy spot, the meritorious Brahmasaras (the lake of Brahma) came into being at the outset. Then the Ramahrada (deep pool of Parashurama) came into being and thereafter Kurukshetra (the land ploughed by King Kuru).2 

2. Vamana P. 22.59-60 confirms that originally this tract of land was called the Vedi (sacrificial altar) of Brahma. Later, when Parashurama filled five pools with blood of Kshattriyas, it became known as Ramahrada (or Syamanta or Samanta Panchaka); lastly when king Kuru, the son of Samvarana ploughed this land with a golden plough for fourteen miles all round, it came to be known as Kurukshetra ‘The farm-land of Kuru’.

13. The lake nearby was created by Brahma formerly. Moreover, the altar of Bralıma is in between the quarters. 

14. O Mohini, penance was performed here by Brahma who was desirous of creation of the universe. Penance was performed by the discus-bearing Hari also who was desirous of sustaining the worlds. 

15A. Thanks to the entry into the lake, Sthanutva (the state of being steady like a pillar) was attained by Shambhu also. 

15B-17A. O beautiful woman, Parashurama was enraged because his father had been slain. (By way of revenge) he killed the Kshatriyas unfavourable to Brahmanas. Pools of blood were made by him. He performed the rite of Tarpana to the Pitris with that blood and performed a penance there. Thereafter, it became famous as Ramatirtha.1 It became destructive of sins.

1. Ramahrada is a lake at a distance of one mile from Kurukshetra station. Its area is 3546 ft. (length) X 1900 (breadth). It was originally known as Brahmasaras as god Brahma performed penance on its bank. Parashurama performed the Tarpana of his Pitris here and hence it is called Ramahrada. De (P. 166) is wrong in identifying Dvaipayanahrada with it as that lake (also known as Parasara) is at a distance of 20 miles from Thanesar. 

17B-18. In the place where sage Markandeya performed a great penance, the river Sarasvati originating from the Plaksha tree flowed. The river was welcomed, honoured and eulogised by the righteous sage. 

19-20. The river flooded the lake nearby and flowed to the West. The place all around extending to five Yojanas was ploughed by Kuru as cultivable land.2 The area upto SyamantaPanchaka is cited as Kurukshetra. It is the source of (qualities like) mercy, truthfulness and forgiveness.

2. That the extent of Kurukshetra is five Yojanas in radius is confirmed in the Mbh. Vana 129-22 and Vamana P. 22.15-16. Sya (Sa-) mantaPanchaka or Ramahrada forms the boundary of Kurukshetra. This specific area was advised as proper for the battlefield by Balarama (Mbh. Salya 55. 5-18). 

21. O gentle lady, men who take holy dip here obtain everlasting merit. Those who die here ride in an aerial chariot and go to the world of Brahma. 

22. No doubt need be entertained in this respect hat observance of fast, charitable gifts, Homa, Japa and worship of the lord in this place attain everlasting benefit. 

23-24. Those who die at Brahmavedi (the pulpit or altar of Brahma) in Kurukshetra are not reborn. Planets, stars and other luminaries have the fear of falling off after some time, but there is no fall in regard to those who die in Kurukshetra. Hence, even Devas, sages, Siddhas and Gandharvas are eager to resort to that lake. 

25-26. The holy spot is called Rantuka. O auspicious lady, the following guards were settled here by Vishnu for protecting the holy centre. They are: - SuChandra, Yaksha, Rakshasa, Surya, Vasuki, Sukeshin and Vidyadhara, Shambukarnaka. 

27. With their servants whose number goes upto eight thousand and who bear bows and arrows, they protect Kurukshetra and prevent sinners. 

28. After reaching Rantuka,1 the devotee should crave forgiveness again and again. He should take a holy dip in Sarasvati, visit Yaksha Rantuka and bow to him. After offering flowers, incense and Naivedya, he should utter the following:

1. Rantuka is probably (as opined by Cunningham in Arch. Survey Report for India II. P. 215) the Ratan Jaksha situated at the north-east corner of Kurukshetra, four miles to the east of Thanesar. 

29-30A. “O leading Yaksha, it is thanks to your favour that I could wander over forests, rivers and Tirthas. Let there be no obstacle therein. Obeisance to you”. 

30B. After craving forgiveness and propitiating the leading Yaksha thus, the devotee shall start on his pilgrimage. 

31-32. O Mohini, there is no shortage or deficiency in this world or in the other world in regard to that person who makes a pilgrimage to the forests, Tirthas and rivers of Kurukshetra. The pilgrimage yields merits.