147 - Greatness of Gonishkramana

Earth said:

1. I have now known about the wonder of the Rurukshetra and the greatness of Hrushikesha.

2. I now wish to know if there is any other place equally important.

Varaha said:

3. Now know about another place which is equally important at the top of the Himalayas.

4. It is called Gonishkramana since a number of cows were released from there.

5. The Prajapati Aurva performed penance there for seventy kalpas aided by my power of Maya.

6. A long time elapsed for him in this way.

7. Then a doubt arose in the minds ofthe people as to why he was doing penance sincc no boon was sought by him and no indication of his aim was available.

8. But he was performing penance unabated for quite a long time.

9. Then in that famous tirtha known as Gonishkramana, lord Shiva came near him.

10. Aurva was then going to the river Ganga to gather lotus flowers.

11. Knowing him thus out of the hermitage, Shiva entered it.

12. It was auspicious, beautiful and full of fruits and flowers.

13. But it was soon reduced to ashes by the heat of the halo of Shiva.

14. After burning that hermitage, Shiva quickly returned to (his abode in) the Himalayas. 

15. Soon Aurva returned to his hermitage with the flower basket. He was calm, collected, patient and wedded to truth.

16. Still, when he saw his hermitage with its abundance of fruits and flowers burnt, anger set foot on his mind, and also sorrow.

17. He then said, his eyes red with anger. “He who burnt this hermitage full of fruits and flowers and water, shall also be afflicted with sorrow and wander about in all the worlds.”

18. When this curse was pronounced by Aurva, the whole world began to fear.

19. From that moment Shiva, although He is the lord of the world, began to be tormented by great heat, and he told Parvati:

20. “Seeing the penance of Aurva, the gods were afraid and they told me: ‘The heat of the penance of this Aurva affects the whole world.

21. But he does not desire anything. How can we remedy this?”

22. When told thus, I east my eye on his hermitage. In a moment it was burnt down, and we returned.

23. Being sorry and angry at this, Aurva cursed me, and that has resulted in this torment of mine.”

24. Shiva wandered and wandered but could not free himself from the affliction. I too began to feel the torment of heat because of my identity with Shiva but I was unable to do anything.

25. Parvati then suggested: “We shall go to lord Narayana and seek a solution for this.”

26. They then went to Narayana, and along with him to Aurva, and told him:

27. “Please withdraw the curse pronounced on Shiva. We are all tormented by it.”

28. Aurva said: “What I uttered shall never be false. Let Shiva bring herds of cows and bathe them here. He will then be free from the curse, not otherwise.”

29. At that time, I got down there seventyseven auspicious cows.

30. They were all bathed there and they became delighted as a result.

31. Such is the extremely holy tirtha called Gonishkramana.

32. He who bathes there after fasting for a night, delights himself in Goloka (in heaven).

33. And he who dies there after performing all austerities, reaches my world and becomes endowed with conch and disc.

34. At the foot of the banyan tree called Panchavata there, fall five streams of water. He who bathes there after fasting for five nights, attains the fruit or five sacrifices (Panchayajnas).

35. And he who gives up his life there after performing all austerities, enjoys the fruit of five sacrifices and then reaches my world.

36. There is the spot called Panchapada there, where on my eastern side there are five big slabs.

37. Two of these form Brahmapada. Between them is a broad slab. Above it is the Vishnupada, which is mine.

38. He who bathes there after fasting for five nights, reaches those pure worlds dear to the devotees.

39. And he who gives up his life there, becomes free from all bondages, and reaches my world.

40. Then there is the place called Brahmapada where a single torrent falls on the western side.

41. He who bathes there after fasting for a night, reaches Brahmaloka and delights himself in the company of Brahma.

42. If he does this on the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month Kaumuda, he attains the fruit of Vajapeya sacrifice.

43. And he who gives up life there remaining steadfast in my service, reaches my world after enjoying the fruit of Vajapeya sacrifice.

44. At a distance of five kroshas from there on the north-western side is the place called Kotivata.

45. He who bathes there after foregoing six meals, gets the   fruits of crores of sacrifices.

46. And he who gives up life in this K0tivata, reaches my place after enjoying the fruit of crores of sacrifices.

47. At a distance of five kroshas on the north-east side there is Vishnusaras. 

48. This lake is mine and it spreads for five kroshas along a mountain.

  49-50. He who walks there or circumambulates after fasting for three nights and performing all austerities, remains high in Brahmaloka for as many thousands of years as the number of steps he has trodden.

51. And he who gives up life there, after performing his duties well, leaves Brahmaloka and reaches my world.

52. Know you, O beautiful goddess, the wonder in this (Gonishkramana)kshetra. A devotee of mine hears there the bellowing sound of the cows.

53. This will be heard very loud on the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Jyeshtha.

54. The devotee who performs pious deeds in Gonishkramana   gets freed from all his sins.

55, In this manner was the effect of the curse got over by Shiva along with the gods.

56. I have thus told you in full about Gosthala which removes all ills.

57. This chapter bestows all auspiciousness on my devotees and it adds to my pleasure.

58. This is highly important, highly auspicious, highly beneficial and highly righteous.

59. Those of my devotees who read it, acquire effulgence, wealth and prosperity and attain their desires.

60. They remain esteemed in my world for as many thousands of years as there are syllables in this chapter.

61. Those who read it every day never face a fall. They liberate seven generations of their ancestors and twentyone generations in his family.

62. This should not be imparted to the wicked, the foolish or the obstinate. It may be imparted to the son, the disciple and he who knows my service.

63. This should not be forgotten at the time of death by any one desirous of supreme bliss. A verse or even a foot of a verse may serve the purpose.

64. In that place which extends over five yojanas, I remain with pleasure on the eastern side.

65. Ganga flows on the west for the sake of those who have no desire.

66. Such is the place where all actions generate well-being.

67. I have thus told you the great secret of this place about which you asked me.