145 - The Greatness of Salagramakshetra

Earth said:

1. O great Lord, what did sage Salankayana do when he was performing penance at Muktikshetra?

Varaha said:

2. When he was performing penance for a long time, he saw a fine Sala tree before him.

3. It was of a nature that even the Devas could not get, being broad and big, unbroken anywhere, giving dense shade and bearing beautiful and fragrant flowers.

4. Seeing this wonder, the learned sage Salankayana looked at this auspicious tree again and again.

5. Seeing the big tree, the wearied sage took rest under it, all the time desirous of seeing me.

6. He stood on the eastern side of the tree facing west, but under the influence of my maya he was unable to see me.

7. Then on the Dvadashi day of the month Vaishakha he saw me on its eastern side.

8. Seeing me then, the sage in his penance repeatedly prostrated before me and extolled me with the hymns of the Rugveda.

9. Struck by my effulgence, he closed his eyes and when he opened them praising me still, I had gone to the southern side of the tree.

10. Giving up his original position, he moved opposite to me and began his praise again.

11. While he was praising me still with Rugvedic hymns, I moved to the western side.

12. He too then moved to the west and extolled me with the mantras of the Yajurveda.

13. While he was doing so, I moved to the northern side. He also moved and praised me with the mantras of Samaveda.

14. Pleased by his praise in this manner I told him:

15. O blessed Brahmin, sage Salankayana, I am very much pleased by your penance and praise.

16. Seek of me a boon as your penance has fructified.

17. Thus told by me, Salankayana stood close to the tree and spoke to me with a tranquil mind:

18. O Lord Hari, I performed this penance only by way of worshipping you, and I was wandering over the whole earth for this.

19. Now I have seen you, O great Lord. If you are pleased with me, then that very fact is fully gratifying to me.

20. And if you wish to give me a boon because of my worship, give me a son like Lord Shiva.

21. This is the boon you may be pleased to give me.

22. Such was the boon asked by that great Brahmin who was performing long penance for the sake of getting a son.

23. So hearing his words, I spoke to him in reply.

24. The aim of your long penance, you have achieved now.

25. Shiva in his form as Nandikeshvara is now born as your son from the right side of your body.

26. O sage, conclude your penance now and be happy in mind.

27. It is a long time since this has occurred, but you have not known the Nandikeshvara born.

28. By the power of Maya, he was with me amidst the cows. He is now here with your disciple Amushyayana brought from Mathura.

29. O great repository of penance, be happy in the hermitage there with your son in my kshetra and become my equal.

30. O Shalankayana, listen to another secret which I now tell you. Because of my being pleased with you, know this place comes to be known as Salagrama.

31. The tree seen by you is none other than myself. This is not known to any one other than Maheshvara. 

32. Because of Maya I am not easily known. But I showed myself, being pleased with you.

33. Thus giving the boon to Salankayana, I disappeared there as he was looking on.

34. After circumambulating the tree, the sage went to his hermitage.

35. The place Salagrama which liberates devotees from the bonds of Samsara, is very dear to me.

36. O Earth, listen to secrets about this I am now telling you. They help people to cross the ocean of samsara.

37. There are fourteen tirthas there, which are not known to all.

38. There is the place called Bilvaprabha where there are four ponds within the distance of a krosha. It is very pleasing and beneficial to devotees.

39. The man who bathes there after fasting for one day and night, gets the merit of performing four Ashvamedha sacrifices.

40. And he who gives up life there, standing in my devotion, enjoys the fruit of Ashvamedha and goes to my world.

41. Another is known as Chakrasvami, where you get scattered many stones marked by chakras.

42. It extends over a length of three yojanas.

43. The man who bathes there after fasting for three nights, certainly gets the merit of three sacrifices. 

44. And he who gives up life there with devotion to me, enjoys the fruit of Vajapeya sacrifice and goes to my world.

45. Then there is Vishnupada where three torrents of water fall from the peak of Himalayas.

46. The man who bathes there after fasting for three nights, gets the fruit of three Ratri Sacrifices.

47. And he who gives up life there free from all attachments, enjoys the fruit of Atiratra sacrifice and remains high in my world.

48. There is the place called Kalihrada, where there is a pond and a stream arising from the Badari tree.

49. He who bathes there foregoing six meals, attains the fruit of Naramedha sacrifice.

50. And he who gives up life there free from all attachments, enjoys the fruit of Naramedha and delights in my world.

51-52. There is another important and wonderful place called Shankhaprabha, where On Dvadashi day the sound of conch is heard at midnight.

53. Then there is Gadakunda where the water on the southern side always vibrates.

54. He who bathes there after fasting for three nights, attains the same merit as is attained by the Brahmins who master Vedanta.

55. And he who gives up life there with full gratification, goes to my world with a big body and holding the mace in the hand.

56. There is the place called Agniprabha where a single torrent falls on the north-east.

57. He who bathes there after fasting for four nights, attains merit five times that of Agnishtoma sacrifice.

58. And he who gives up life there remaining in my devotion, enjoys the fruit of Agnishtoma and reaches my world.

59. A wonder here is that the water here feels hot in winter and cold in summer.

60. There is Sarvayudha where seven torrents fall from Himavan.

61. He who bathes there after fasting for seven nights becomes a king with all weapons and arts.

62. And he who gives up life there remaining steady in my service, enjoys all royal pleasures and reaches my world.

63. There is Devaprabha where the water from the hill falls in five directions.

64. He who bathes there after foregoing eight meals, gets mastery of the four Vedas.

65. And he who gives up life there giving up all desires, gives up the result of Vedic actions too and remains high in my world.

66. Then there is Vidyadhara where also five torrents fall from the Himalayas.

67. He who bathes there after fasting for a night, goes to the world of Vidyadharas and becomes happy there.

68. And he who gives up life there free from all attachments, enjoys all pleasures in the world of Vidyadharas and goes to my world.

69. There is Punynadi full of stones and bowers and resorted to by Gandharvas and Apsarases.

70. He who bathes there after fasting for eight days, moves at will in all the seven islands.

  71. And he who gives up life there remaining in my devotion, gives up seven islands and reaches my world.

72. There is Gandharva where a single torrent falls on the western side.

73. He who bathes there after fasting for four days, delights himself with the devotees guarding quarters going freely wherever he likes.

74. And he who gives up life there remaining in my devotion, gives up the (company of) guardian deities and goes to my world.

75. O Earth, there is the place called Devahrada where the sacrifice of Bali was destroyed.

76. The pond here is cool and charming and deep and pleasant even for the gods.

77. In that pond, the fish have marks of the chakra and they move about here and there.

78. I shall tell you about another wonder that occurs there.

79-80. Thirtysix golden lotuses appear there at sunrise and these can be seen till noon.

81. He who bathes there after fasting for ten nights, attains the fruit of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices.

82. And he who gives up life there thinking of me, enjoys the fruit of Ashvamedha and then becomes my equal.

83. I shall now tell you about another place called Samastasukhavallabha at the confluence of two divine rivers.

84. Coming down from the celestial regions, the gods with their consorts remain in it, as also Gandharvas, Apsarases, Nagas and Uragas.

85. So too the sages, seers, Siddhas and Kinnaras.

86-87. This abode of Siva called Samastasukhavallabha in Nepal is more important than all other places of Shiva.

88. Here, along with Shvetaganga that arose from the matted tresses of Shiva, mingle numerous other rivers visiblc and invisible.

89. And also and that arose from the body of which mingle with the river Trishulaganga.

90. Such are the confluences of rivers in this place.

91. O Earth, know you that in that Kshetra of mine there is a very holy place which is not easily accessible even to Devas.

92. That is Siddhashrama, the most superior penance-grove of Shiva.

93. It is full of flowering and fruit-bearing trees like plantain, Nicula, Punnaga, Kesara,

94. Kharjura, Ashoka, Bakula, Priyala, Coconut, arecanut, Champaka and Jambu,

95. Lime, Pomegranate, Badari, Ketaki, many varieties of Jasmine, Kurabaka and others.

96. Numerous couples of celestials play at the confluence there.

97. The man who bathes there gets the fruit of a hundred Ashvamedhas.

98. Bathing there in the month of Vaishakha confers the result of (the gift of) a thousand cows, and the same in the month of Magha confers the same result as of bathing in Prayaga.

99. He who bathes there according to rules in the month of Karttika when the sun is in Tula, doubtless attains salvation.

100. He who bathes there after fasting for three nights, attains the fruit of Rajasuya sacrifice and delights in heaven like the gods.

101. Sacrifices, penance, gift, shraddha, worship of the favourite deity, whichever is done here, produces endless benefits.

102. I forgive also whatever offence committed in the course of these.

103. Just as it is rare for man to get at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, so too the confluence of divine rivers here. This is the secret of this Kshetra of mine.

104. In this great place Salagrama, I stand facing east, dear to the devotees.

105. I shall tell you another thing, O Earth, an inner secret which people under the influence of Maya do not know.

106. That is that the great Shiva remains calm on my right side.

107. Those who know this Shiva really know me and those who know me really know Shiva too.

108. Where I am, Shiva too is there, and where Shiva is, I too am there. There is no difference between us.

109. He who worships Shiva, indeed worships me and he who knows this, attains immense good.

110. Such is this great place where both Vishnu and Shiva make their presence. People who die here attain salvation.

111. First Muktikshetra, then Rurukhanda, then the confluence of divine rivers and afterwards Triveni.

112. The place where Gandaki flows is very holy, because Gandaki is the best of all rivers.

113. Then is the Harikshetra where Ganga mingles with Bhagirathi.

114. The sacredness of the place where Gandaki joins Ganga cannot be fully known even by the gods.

115. I have thus told you, O fair goddess, about the greatness of Salagrama and of Gandaki which removes all sins, what you asked of me earlier and what is dear to all devotees.

116. This is the most important of all narratives, most brilliant among the brilliant, the foremost of merits and the best of penances.

117. This is the secret of all secrets and the best of all paths and the greatest of gains.

118. This should not be imparted to the wicked, the obstinate, the disobedient, the sinful, the ungrateful and the offenders of Brahmins.

119. This should not be imparted to a bad disciple, to one who condemns the scriptures, to the base or to one who does not know divine service.

120. It should be imparted to the disciple who is good and intellectually bright, free from greed and desirous of acquiring merit.

121. He who recites this, rising up early in the morning, liberates twentyone generations in his family.

122. And after death, he reaches my world.

123. I have thus told you about the greatness of Salagramakshetra. What else do you wish to hear?