180 - Greatness of Dhruvatirtha in Mathura

Varaha said:

1. I shall now tell you a story about Dhruvatirtha which propitiates the manes.

2. In this city there was a valiant, virtuous and magnanimous king named Chandrasena.

3. He had two hundred young and noble wives among wh0m was one, Chandraprabha of an ascetic turn of mind, although the mother of valiant sons.

4. Among her hundred attendants, there was one named Prabhavati. The manes for whom obsequial rites were due from her (servant) had not got the Ekoddishta ceremony done.

5. Their number exceeded a hundred and they all fell into hell because of this.

6. And it is well known that this sort of mixture leads to hell as it violates the rules of the family.

7. Then thrown out from there, all of them came to Dhruvatirtha as a cluster of minute beings, black in colour and resembling mosquitoes.

8. They were seen there by the sage Trikalajna who was mainly living on water and taking food only once in three days.

9. He was observing the vow of silence and was following the course of the sun, but at that moment he was stupefied and did not perform japa.

10. While he was looking at them with compassion and curiosity, three quarters of the day passed.

11. Some manes came to the earth from the sky, others from the north, east, south and west.

12. Some were happy by themselves, some were made happy by their sons and they all went upwards with nourished bodies, pleased and satisfied.

  13. They had all small bodies and they were interested in bath and penance. They had good dress and decorations and were moving about in groups in delight.

14. There were others who were naked but nourished.

15. Still others returned as they came and came back again. Some came in various kinds vehicles and others came on birds.

16. Some returned after pronouncing benedletions and others pronouncing curses in anger.

17. Some who came famished returned well-fed in Shraddha.

 18. The sage rose up after seeing all this as if it was a festival and when the manes were gone, their sons returned home with their wives.

19. Soon Dhruvatirtha became desolate. But in one remote corner there was a puny being, very much famished and unable to move.

20. It was shivering, its eyes had gone low and belly much depressed. Its feet were mere skeleton. Its voice was feeble like that of a tiny bird.

The sage asked:

21. Who are you that look so mutilated and surrounded by these mosquitoes?

22. Having come here you don’t attempt to return. Tell me about what you have done.

23. My daily routine in this tirtha is badly affected as I was stupefied at the sight of these numerous beings of various sorts here.

24. Seeing you in this form, my attention was turned towards you. Tell me with confidence all about you. I shall do you good.

The being said:

25. “The greatest means of propitiation for the manes is the performance of Shraddha in Dhruvatirtha and offering of water with sesamum.

26. Manes who have sons go to heaven being propitiated with sesamum. I am famished for want of such a thing.

27. Due to the guilt of mixture of caste, I fell into hell and have been there for a hundred years hoping against hope.

28. I have no means to go from here. Those who were propitiated with Shraddha and libations by their sons went to heaven.  what way is there out for one like me?

29. Those who have a line of progeny, get propitiation from their sons and attain liberation.

30. The manes of King Chandrasena were propitiated today, and, O Trikalajna, you saw them going to heaven with your divine eye. 

31-32. You saw here what happened to the manes of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras and the performance of Shraddha by Shudras, the progeny of hypergamous and hypergampous marriages.”

33. Thus he said to the Brahmin the cause of his remaining there. The sage then spoke to him in curiosity.

34. “Due to fate you have no proper progeny. If I can do anything to help you to get out of your present state, please tell me”.

35. Remaining in that despicable condition surrounded by the manes, he said:

36. “The emaciated mosquitoes that cover my body remain so due to the lack of progeny. I am the slender thread for them to hold on.

37. In the palace of Chandrasena at the centre of the city, there is the servant of the queen by name Prabhavati.

38. She too has a servant by name Virupanidhi. 

39. She is the continuing thread in our progeny and we are eagerly awaiting the Shraddha to be performed by her for us.

40. All this long time we have been spending in this water and now we have to return to hell because of our own deeds”.

41. Hearing this Trikalajna was baffled and said: “How can the libation offered by a lowborn woman be of any use to you? By what rule can she be your proper issue?”

42. Hearing this, he told the learned and merciful Trikalajna:

43. “People desire to have sons because even when they fall down (in hell), they are raised up and sent upwards by (the proper actions of) the son.

44. The manes have the service of the son done, if they perform Shraddha, libation of pinda and gifts on normal as well as special occasions. They have no other way.

45. Howmuch do we wish that at least one among our progeny gives us libation!

46. Standing in waist-deep water in rivers full of cool water, and particularly at the middle of the tirtha spot, he should offer handfuls of water together with sesamum.

47. He should do this with darbha in his hand and three times each for the manes uttering the gotra and name of each of them and saying ‘svadha’ and ‘may my manes be pleased’.

48. It should be known that in propitiating the gods, sages and manes (Devas, Rushis and Pitris) the number of handfuls of water is to be respectively one, two and three.

49. In the end should be uttered the mantra trupyadhvam (may you all be pleased).

50. First should be given the three libations to the father reciting the mantras Udiratam etc, Angiraso etc, and Ayantu nah etc, in order, and then to the mother uttering the gotra and name and also svadha and trupyatu.

51. Then for the mother’s father with gotra and name, and similarly for father’s father.

52. For these the mantras urdhvam pitrubhyah etc, Ye ceha te pitarah etc, and Madhu vata etc, should be used.

53. Then it should be done for father’s mother and grandmother as in the case of the mother and then for mother’s father and grandfather each three times separately uttering the mantra Namo vah pitarah etc.

54. In each case utter the gotra and Asuryan nashayamahe. Offer asana (seat) uttering the gotra and the particular Pitri by his name.

 55. In the case of the female Pitris also utter the gotra and the particular pitri (mata, matamahi) by name (devi) for asana. Similarly, for pitamaha (grand-father).

56. In the sankalpa for arghya, in pinda and in avanejana (pouring water over the pinda) the form should be (genitive) as gotrasya, Piturmahasya and sharmanah, for females (dative) as gotrayai, maturmahyai, devyai.

57. In avahana (invocation) the form should be accusative, in worship dative and in benedletion nominative.

  58. In Shraddha it should be genitive for adana and akshaya (praying for their eternal abode in heaven). At the times prescribed for akshaya, the datta rite should be performed for the manes.

59. The twice-born son who does this devotedly or offers even water with full devotion, leads them to eternality.

60. When the Brahmin performs Shraddha with due attention and in the prescribed manner, the manes become happy.

61. O Trikalajna, remain quiet. We now go to Naraka (hell) to live there long because of the result of our former deeds”.

Trikalajna said:

62. Among the manes I saw there in this tirtha many were happy and many unhappy too.

63. Some received Shraddha offered by the sons in great anxiety and some returned mum. Please tell me why this was so.

Agastya said:

64. The Shraddha performed by the son sometimes goes in vain and sometimes even leads to hell. I shall tell you, please listen.

65. what is given at the wrong place and time, given without proper rites or dakshina or given to the unsuitable person and is impure, produces great sin.

66. The Shraddha done without the necessary attention, not in the proper form, seen by the bad, or without sesamum, mantra or kusha grass, becomes asura (demoniac).

67. It is well known that Lord Vamana gave the fruit of the Shraddha of Shudras to Vairocana (Mahabali).

68-69. Similarly, Rama, son of Dasharatha, after killing Ravana, the chief of the Rakshasas, with all army, became pleased to hear about the devotion of Rakshashi Trijata, and gave her a boon.

70-71. “O Trijata, I give to you all the Shraddha offerings done in unclean houses, those done without padya, without oil, without food or without dakshina and the gifts given with anger although to the proper persons.”

72. Similarly, Shraddha was given to Vasuki, the king of serpents, by Shiva who was pleased with him. I shall tell you about this, please listen.

73. “The annual Shraddha done by the twice-born without proper Dakshina even if all the rituals are observed,

74. Done by one who takes false resolve in the presence of gods and Brahmins, done without the proper rites arid mantras,

75. Done by one who bathes at night with the dress worn, who does not respect the teacher who imparts knowledge,

76. Done by one who propagates primitive ideals-I give to you”. (So said Shiva).

77. We hear about such things from the Puranas and Itihasas.

78. Shraddha, dana and vrata done without sincerity, never produce their results. Hence the nakedness etc., of these manes.

79. Due to such defects in the conduct of Shraddha, the manes who are invoked, do not get result and they return as they came.

80. Having come to receive, they return silently. This I say in reply to what you ask.

Trikalajna said:

81. “I have been taking food only once in three days. But even that I don’t wish to take till you are satisfied. Be cheerful and await my return.

82-83. Out of compassion for you, I am giving up my routine austerities here to hasten to bring that woman here.

84. I shall see that she performs Shraddha here according to the prescribed rules.”

85. So saying, the sage quickly left the place (and went to the king).

86. Seeing the sage suddenly there, the king fell down at his feet and said: “I feel honoured and favoured indeed by your coming to my home. I shall arrange for all sacrificial rites due therefore. My life is made fruitful by your presence here.

87. Here is the Padya, here is the arghya, here is madhuparka and here the cow. Receive them, O sage, so that my mind may rest satisfied.”

88. Receiving the hearty welcome, the sage said:

89. “O king, great is the purpose with which I have come here. Do now what I ask you to do so that I may be happy”.

90. Thus asked, the saintly king replied: “Please tell me that purpose so that I can see it accomplished.”

Trikalajna said:

91. “Call your queen and also her beautiful attendant Prabhavati before me here.”

92. Then came there from the harem the queen with the attendant and prostrated at the feet of the sage.

93. When they were seated, the sage said to them: “I shall tell you about something strange that happened in Dhruvatirtha.

94. The manes from all the worlds came there and, propitiated by their sons by performing Shraddha, went to heaven.

95. There was, however, a very old one among them extremely emaciated and fatigued by thirst and hunger and surrounded by numerous minute beings.

  96. He Was very much disappointed and was preparing to return to hell. Then out of pity I asked him who he was and what his wish.

97. Then he told me what had come upon him as a result of his own deeds. I sympathised with him and came here.

98. Your servant’s servant by name Virupanidhi is his progeny. Please call her here.”

99. The queen then sent many persons to find her out and bring her there.

100. She was found fully intoxicated and still taking meat and drink and seated on the bed with a man.

101. The queen’s man caught hold of her and brought her before the sage.

102. Although she was in that drunken state, the sage told her about what she was to do.

103. “You have not made for your manes any gift libation or other ablutions. Nor have you done for them the propitiatory offering of water”.

104. She said that she had not done any of these and that she did not know who her manes were and what rites she was to do.

105. When she said so, Trikalajna said, “May the king of Mathura, with his queen and all good people in this city witnesss the wonder of what progeny can do to the manes”.

106-107. Then all those curious people and the virtuous Brahmins were called together and the king proceeded with them accompanied by the sage to Dhruvatirtha.

108. There, that being was seen extremely fatigued and surrounded by the mosquitoes.

109. The sage then told him, “Your descendant has been brought here for your propitiation. Do what you please”.

Agastya said:

110. Let her bathe in the Dhruvatirtha and offer libation according to the rules enunciated.

111. Let her then perform Shraddha with dakshina, cloth and sandal-paste and give pinda in veneration.

112, By making her do this shaddha you can see me here made happy”.

113. Hearing this, the queen made that servant perform Shraddha with abundant dakshina, 

114. And fine cloth and good incense and camphor and sandal followed by sesamum, many kinds of food and pinda.

115-116. When Shraddha was thus done and, pinda offered, he attained a divine form, so too those surrounding him. He looked like a sacrificer after the concluding bath. Those in the mosquito form were transformed into handsome persons.

117. The sky was covered with aerial cars from heaven, and as he was preparing to get into it, he spoke to the sage and the king:

118. “Be pleased to listen to what I say regarding the propitiation of the manes.

119. There are many sacred tirthas, rivers, mountains and ponds and places like Kurukshetra and Gaya and many temples.

120. But a place like this for the propitiation of the manes, there never was and never will be.

121. From the first day in the month of Ashadha till the first day in the bright half of the month Ashvina, the manes remain here enjoying the shraddha and the pinda.

122. In fact, during this period, the city of the god of death, heaven and the netherworld become practically empty since the manes flock here desiring the offerings of their son or any other descendant or brother.

123. He who performs Shraddha and tarpana in Dhruvatirtha when the sun enters the Kanyarashi (Virgo), propitiates sixteen generations of his manes very much.

124. We are now fully propitiated and we are all liberated. Such is the greatness of Dhruvatirtha.

125. You have now seen the wonder of what has happened to us. By your kindness, O sage, we have become absolved of all sins”.

126. Telling thus to the king, the sage, the people assembled, the queen, the servant and his own daughter, he bade them all well.

127. He then got into the aerial car and ascended to heaven surrounded by gods.

Varaha said:

128. Astonished at the greatness of that tirtha, the king bowed to the sage and returned to his palace with his people and attendants, always thinking of Lord Vishnu.

129. I have thus told you, O auspicious one, about the greatness of Mathura, the very thought of which removes even the sins acquired in former lives.

130. He who recites this with attention before Brahmins, propitiates all his forefathers.

131. This should not be narrated to any one who does not undertake vows, who does not listen with attention or one who does not worship Hari.

132. This is the greatest of all tirthas, the highest of all dharmas, the most exalted of all knowledge and the best of all gains. 

133. O blessed one, this should always be narrated to the meritorious devotees of the Lord.

Suta said:

134. Earth was full of wonder hearing these words of the lord and asked him in joy about the erection of idols.