72 - The Power of Austerities of Gautama

Mohini said: 

1. O holy lord, O Vasu, the greatness of Pushkara is heard. It is destructive of sins. Now kindly recount the greatness of the hermitage of Gautama. ¹

1. The hermitage of Gautama is located at various places such as Ahiari in Tirhut, Ahiroli near Buxar. But here the manifestation of god Shiva is Tryambaka. The source of Godavari near it shows that Tryambakeśhvar in Nasik district is meant here, Gautama’s spiritual exploit in feeding sages throughout the famine of twelve years is described in the Devi Bhagavata (xii. 9. 1-37) but the ruse of the ungrateful Brahmaņas to make Gautama guilty of a (fake) cow-slaughter given in the Devi Bh. (xü. 9. 47 ff) is edited out by the NP. The NP. attributes the installation of god Tryambaka to the austere Penance of Gautama which pleascd god Shiva and the heavenly river Ganga and as the Godavari she descended in the South due to Gautama’s merit (also Vide Pd. P. Uttarakhanda 268. 52-54. But these episodes are later dovelopments as the Mbh. does not mention them. 

Vasu said: 

2. O gentle lady, listen. I shall recount the excellent hermitage of Gautama. By visiting this place, the man does not encounter tortures any further. 

3. The hermitage of Gautama is meritorious. It is resorted to by multitudes of Devas and sages. It dispels all sins. It bestows peace and calmness from all kinds of harassments. 

4. He who is endowed with devotional feelings and resorts to the hermitage of Gautama for a period of twelve years, attains the abode of śhiva. After going there, one ceases to suffer from any misery. 

5. The place where the son of Mayadevi is engrossed in a severe penance, the Godāvari and Gangā are destructive of all sins. 

6. O daughter of Brahmā, while that sage was performing penance, there was a terrible drought lasting for twelve years. It was destructive of all animals. 

7. In that terrible period of famine, the sages became emaciated due to hunger. O splendid lady, they came from different lands to the hermitage of Gautama. 

8. They submitted to Gautama who was performing penance, “Give us food whereby our life may cling to our bodies.” 

9. Thus requested by the sages, sage Gautama became sympathetic and merciful. He told them who were confident of success due to the strength of penance. 

Gautama said: 

10. “O sages, all of you stay in my hermitage. As long as the famine lasts, I shall respectfully give you food regularly.” 

11. After assuring the sages thus, thanks to his reliance on the strength of his penance, Gautama meditated on Ganga that realizes all objects. With great delight in his mind, he meditated on Ganga. 

12-13. Immediately after being remembered, the goddess Gangā came out from the bowels of the earth. On seeing Gangå that flooded the whole surface of the earth, the sage sowed paddy seeds, in the morning and reaped the ripe harvest at midday. With the grains of that Shāli rice, he fed those sages. 

14. Then the sages became delighted, partaking of the cooked rice they became contented. Joyously they took up their residence in the hermitage of Gautama. 

15. O gentle lady, with great devotional feelings, the sage thus extended his hospitality to those sages by means of the śhäli rice-grains that ripened everyday. 

16. Even as the leading sage fed those Brāhmaṇas everyday, the famine ceased at the end of twelve years. 

17. When the time of plenty arrived, all those sages in formed the excellent sage and went back to their respective lands once again. 

18. O Mohini, sage Gautama whose prowess was of such a nature performed penance for many years with perfect control over his sense-organs. 

19. Thereafter, lord Ambikapati (Shiva) became delighted with his penance. He appeared before the sage accompanied by Gaņas and said, “Tell me, what is the boon you would choose to have?” 

20. On seeing Shiva, the lord of Devas, the three-eyed deity, the excellent sage fell on the ground in front of him and made obeisance. 

21. Rising up immediately, he joined his palms in reverence and prayed to Him, “Grant me devotion unto your feet for ever. 

22. O Shankara, may I see you stationed on the mountain here near my hermitage. This is the boon I wish to have.” 

23. Thus requested, Shiva, the consort of Parvati, the bestower of desires on the devotees, granted him his presence there and made him delighted. 

24. O chaste lady, the three-eyed lord stayed there in that very same form. Ever since that day, that mountain is glorified by the name Tryambaka. 

25. Those who resort to Godāvari, Ganga and take their holy dip with devotion, are liberated from the ocean of worldly existence, O blessed lady. 

26. By taking a holy bath in the waters of Godāvari and by worshipping Tryambaka stationed on the mountain by means of services, the devotees shall become Maheśhvara themselves. 

27. The greatness of Tryambaka has been succinctly described by me. Even your father Brahmā is not competent to describe it in detail. 

28. As far as Godavari is directly visible, there are many holy hermitages on its bank. 

29. There is no doubt about this that by having a holy dip in them in accordance with injunctions and by performing a Tarpaņa rite to the Pitris and deities, a man attains his cherished desires. 

30. O gentle lady, visible in some places and hidden thereafter, the meritorious river Godavari flooded the earth. 

31. Where the great goddess Godavari had manifested herself, thanks to the devotion of men, the Tirtha is highly meritorious. A mere holy dip therein is destructive of sins. 

32. Thereafter, the goddess of invariable holy rites reached Pañchavați and manifested herself clearly. She is the bestower of good goal Mokśha to the people. 

33. O daughter of Brahmā, he who takes a holy dip in the Godāvarī at Panchavați and observes holy rites, in variably shall attain cherished desires. 

34. In the Tretäyuga, Rāma came to Pañchavați and stayed there along with his wife and his younger brother. By staying here, he made the river holier. 

35. O splendid lady, everything has thus been recounted regarding the hermitage of Gautama. It is destructive of sins of those who hear and those who read. It bestows the desired benefit.