Adhyaya 15

Verse 1

नारद उवाच । यन्मां पृच्छसि कौंतेय तन्निबोध च तच्छृणु । एतस्मिन्नंतरे रुद्रो नर्मदातटमास्थितः

Nārada said: “O son of Kuntī, understand and listen to what you ask of me. Meanwhile, Rudra was staying on the bank of the Narmadā.”

Verse 2

नाम्ना हरेश्वरं स्थानं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तस्मिन्स्थाने महादेवश्चिंतयंस्त्रैपुरं वधम्

A sacred place named Hareśvara is renowned throughout the three worlds. There, Mahādeva was contemplating the destruction of Tripura.

Verse 3

गांडीवं मंदरं कृत्वा गुणं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम् । स्थानं कृत्वा तु वैशाखं विष्णुं कृत्वा शरोत्तमम्

Making the Gāṇḍīva into Mount Mandara and Vāsuki into the bowstring; making Vaiśākha the sacred locus, and Viṣṇu the supreme arrow—he set forth for his divine purpose.

Verse 4

अग्रे चाग्निं प्रतिष्ठाप्य मुखे वायुः समर्पितः । हयाश्च चतुरो वेदाः सर्वदेवमयं रथम्

With fire established in front and wind assigned to its mouth, the chariot—pervaded by all the gods—had as its four horses the four Vedas.

Verse 5

चक्रगौ चाश्विनौ देवावक्षं चक्रधरः स्वयम् । स्वयमिंद्रश्च चापांते बाणे वैश्रवणः स्थितः

At the two wheels stood the Aśvin gods; at the axle was the Discus-bearer, Viṣṇu, himself. Indra himself stood at the end of the bow, and Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera) was stationed upon the arrow.

Verse 6

यमस्तु दक्षिणे हस्ते वामे कालस्तु दारुणः । चक्राणामारके न्यस्ता गंधर्वा लोकविश्रुताः

In the right hand was Yama, and in the left the dreadful Kāla. Upon the rim of the wheel were set the Gandharvas, renowned throughout the worlds.

Verse 7

प्रजापती रथश्रेष्ठे ब्रह्मा चैव तु सारथिः । एवं कृत्वा तु देवेशः सर्वदेवमयं रथम्

Prajāpati was placed upon the excellent chariot, and Brahmā himself became the charioteer. Thus did the Lord of the gods fashion a chariot embodying all the deities.

Verse 8

सोतिष्ठत्स्थाणुभूतो हि सहस्रं परिवत्सरान् । यदा त्रीणि समेतानि अंतरिक्षचराणि च

Indeed, he stood motionless like a post for a thousand years, until three beings—moving through the mid-region of the sky—came together.

Verse 9

त्रिपुराणि त्रिशल्येन तदा तानि बिभेद सः । शरः प्रचोदितस्तत्र रुद्रेण त्रिपुरं प्रति

Then he pierced those three cities with the three-pronged missile. There, the arrow—impelled by Rudra—sped toward Tripura.

Verse 10

भ्रष्टतेजा स्त्रियो जाता बलं तेषां व्यशीर्यत । उत्पाताश्च पुरे तस्मिन्प्रादुर्भूता सहस्रशः

The women were stripped of their radiance, and their strength withered away; and in that city, thousands of ominous portents arose.

Verse 11

त्रिपुरस्य विनाशाय कालरूपोभवत्तदा । अट्टहासं प्रमुंचंति रूपाः काष्ठमयास्तथा

Then, for the destruction of Tripura, he assumed the form of Kāla, Time; and those wooden forms likewise burst forth into loud, pealing laughter.

Verse 12

निमेषोन्मेषणं चैव कुर्वंति चित्रकर्मणा । स्वप्ने पश्यंति चात्मानं रक्तांबरविभूषितम्

By the power of their wondrous craft, they can even make (forms) blink and unblink; and in dreams they behold themselves adorned in red garments.

Verse 13

स्वप्ने पश्यंति ते चैवं विपरीतानि यानि तु । एतान्पश्यति उत्पातांस्तत्र स्थाने तु ये जनाः

In dreams they likewise behold those inverted and unnatural things; and the people who are in that place there see these portents.

Verse 14

तेषां बलं च बुद्धिश्च हरक्रोधेन नाशितम् । संवर्तको नाम वायुर्युगांतप्रतिमो महान्

Their strength and their discernment were destroyed by Hara’s wrath. Then arose the mighty wind named Saṃvartaka, terrible like the end of an age (yuga).

Verse 15

समीरितोनलश्रेष्ठ उत्तमांगेषु बाधते । ज्वलंति पादपास्तत्र पतंति शिखराणि च

Fanned by the wind, the excellent fire burns fiercely and afflicts the upper regions; there the trees blaze, and their peaks fall down as well.

Verse 16

सर्वं तद्व्याकुलीभूतं हाहाकारमचेतनम् । भग्नोद्यानानि सर्वाणि क्षिप्रं तु प्रज्वलंति च

All of it became utterly distressed, filled with the cry of “alas!” and bereft of sense; all the gardens, shattered, quickly burst into flames as well.

Verse 17

तेनैव दीपितं सर्वं ज्वलते विशिखैः शिखैः । द्रुमा आरामगंडानि गृहाणि विविधानि च

By that very fire everything is set ablaze; it burns with flames that have no separate tongues. Trees, the groves and garden-tracts, and houses of many kinds are all burning.

Verse 18

दशदिक्षु प्रवृत्तोयं समिद्धो हव्यवाहनः । ततः शिलाः प्रमुंचंति दिशो दश विभागशः

Blazing brightly, this fire—the carrier of oblations—spread into the ten directions. Then, from each of the ten quarters, stones were hurled forth, separately from every side.

Verse 19

शिखासहस्रैरत्युग्रैः प्रज्वलंति हुताशनैः । सर्वं किंशुकसंप्रख्यं ज्वलितंदृश्यते पुरम्

With thousands of exceedingly fierce tongues of flame, the fires blaze forth; the entire city appears to be burning, glowing like the crimson kiṃśuka blossoms.

Verse 20

गृहाद्गृहांतरे नैव गंतुं धूमैश्च शक्यते । हरकोपानलादग्धं क्रंदमानं सुदुःखितम्

From one house to another it is not at all possible to go, for the smoke makes it impossible; scorched by the fire of Hara’s wrath, the people cry out, overwhelmed with intense sorrow.

Verse 21

प्रदीप्तं सर्वतो दिक्षु दह्यते त्रिपुरं पुरम् । प्रासादशिखराग्राणि विशीर्यंति सहस्रशः

Blazing in every direction, the city of Tripura is consumed by fire; the lofty pinnacles of its palaces crumble and shatter by the thousand.

Verse 22

नानारत्नविचित्राणि विमानान्यप्यनेकधा । गृहाणि चैव रम्याणि दह्यंते दीप्तिवह्निना

Many aerial chariots, adorned in countless ways with a variety of jewels, and even delightful mansions, are burned by the blazing fire.

Verse 23

बाधंते द्रुमखंडेषु जनस्थाने तथैव च । देवागारेषु सर्वेषु प्रज्वलंते ज्वलंत्यपि

They bring affliction in groves of trees and likewise in human dwellings; in all temples too they blaze forth—indeed, they burn intensely.

Verse 24

सीदंति चानलस्पृष्टाः क्रंदंति विविधै स्वरैः । गिरिकूटनिभास्तत्र दृश्यंतेंऽगारराशयः

Scorched by fire, they collapse and wail in many different cries; and there, heaps of burning embers—like mountain-peaks—are seen.

Verse 25

स्तुवंति देवदेवेशं परित्रायस्व मां प्रभो । अन्योन्यं च परिष्वज्य हुताशनप्रपीडिताः

Tormented by the fire, they praised the Lord of gods and cried, “O Master, save us!”—clinging to one another in their distress.

Verse 26

दह्यंते दानवास्तत्र शतशोथ सहस्रशः । हंसकारंडवाकीर्णा नलिनी सह पंकजा

There the Dānavas are burned—by the hundreds and then by the thousands. The lotus-ponds, filled with swans and kāraṇḍava birds, abound with lotuses and water-lilies.

Verse 27

दह्यंतेनलदग्धानि पुरोद्यानानि दीर्घिकाः । अम्लानैः पंकजैश्छन्ना विस्तीर्णा योजनैः शतैः

As it burned, the former gardens and long tanks were scorched; vast, stretching for hundreds of yojanas, they were covered with lotus-flowers that did not wither.

Verse 28

गिरिकूटनिभास्तत्र प्रासादारत्नभूषिताः । पतंत्यनलनिर्दग्धा निस्तोया जलदा इव

There, mansions adorned with jewels—like mountain-peaks—fell down, scorched by fire, like clouds emptied of water.

Verse 29

सह स्त्रीबालवृद्धेषु गोषु पक्षिषु वाजिषु । निर्दयो दहते वह्निर्हरकोपेन प्रेरितः

Along with women, children, and the aged—together with cows, birds, and horses—the merciless fire burns them all, driven on by Hara’s wrath.

Verse 30

सपत्नीकाश्चैव सुप्ताः संसुप्ता बहवो जनाः । पुत्रमालिंग्यते गाढं दह्यंते त्रिपुरारिणा

Many lay asleep—husbands with their wives—sunk in deep slumber; and, while tightly embracing a son, they were burned by Tripurāri (Śiva), the foe of Tripura.

Verse 31

अथ तस्मिन्पुरे दीप्ते स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः । अग्निज्वालाहतास्तत्र पतंति धरणीतले

Then, in that blazing city, women who resembled apsarases—struck by tongues of fire—fell there upon the earth’s surface.

Verse 32

काचिद्बाला विशालाक्षी मुक्तावलि विभूषिता । धूमेनाकुलिता सा तु प्रतिबुद्धा शिखार्द्दिता

A certain young girl, large-eyed and adorned with a pearl necklace, was enveloped in smoke; she then awoke, scorched by the flames.

Verse 33

सुतं संचिंत्यमाना सा पतिता धरणीतले । काचित्सुवर्णवर्णाभा नीलरत्नैर्विभूषिता

While she was thinking intensely about her son, she fell down upon the ground. Another woman, golden-hued in complexion, was adorned with blue gems.

Verse 34

धूमेनाकुलिता सा तु पतिता धरणीतले । अन्या गृहीतहस्ता तु सखी दहति बालकैः

Overcome by smoke, she fell upon the ground. Another woman—her friend—seized her by the hand and, along with the children, was being burned.

Verse 35

अनेन दिव्यरूपान्यादृष्टा मदविमोहिता । शिरसा प्रांजलिं कृत्वा विज्ञापयति पावकम्

Having beheld divine forms never seen before, she—bewildered by joy—bowed her head, joined her hands in reverence, and addressed Pāvaka (the Fire-god) with a request.

Verse 36

यदि त्वमिच्छसे वैरं पुरुषेष्वपकारिषु । स्त्रियः किमपराध्यंते गृहपंजरकोकिलाः

If you wish to bear enmity, let it be toward men who do harm; what wrong have women done—women who are like cuckoos kept in the cage of the household?

Verse 37

पापनिर्दय निर्ल्लज्ज कस्ते कोपः स्त्रियोपरि । न दाक्षिण्यं न ते लज्जा न सत्यं शौचवर्जितः

O sinful, cruel, shameless one—why is your anger directed at a woman? You have neither kindness nor modesty; you are devoid of truthfulness and purity.

Verse 38

अनेकरूपवर्णाढ्या उपलभ्या वदस्व ह । किं त्वया न श्रुतं लोके अवध्याः सर्वयोषितः

“Women are found in many forms and complexions—so tell me, indeed: have you not heard in the world that all women are not to be slain?”

Verse 39

किं तु तुभ्यं गुणा ह्येते दहनस्त्र्यर्दनं प्रति । न कारुण्यं दया वापि दाक्षिण्यं वा स्त्रियोपरि

But these are indeed your qualities—burning hostility toward women; and toward women you show neither compassion, nor mercy, nor generosity.

Verse 40

दयां कुर्वंति म्लेच्छापि दहनं प्रेक्ष्य योषितः । म्लेच्छानामपि कष्टोसि दुर्निवार्यो ह्यचेतनः

Even foreign folk show compassion when they see a woman being burned. But you are a torment even to foreigners—an insentient thing, hard to restrain.

Verse 41

एते चैव गुणास्तुभ्यं दहनोत्सादनं प्रति । आसामपि दुराचार स्त्रीणां किं विनिपातसे

These very qualities are indeed in you, with regard to the burning and destruction you cause. Even if these women are of bad conduct—why do you bring about their downfall?

Verse 42

दुष्ट निर्घृण निर्लज्ज हुताश मंदभाग्यक । निराशस्त्वं दुराचार बालान्दहसि निर्दय

O wicked, merciless, shameless Fire—O ill-fated one! Hopeless and of evil conduct, you cruelly burn even little children without pity.

Verse 43

एवं प्रलपमानास्ता जल्पमाना बहुस्वरम् । अन्याः क्रोशंति संक्रुद्धा बालशोकेन मोहिताः

Thus they lamented and spoke out in many voices; others, enraged, cried aloud—bewildered by grief for the child.

Verse 44

दहते निर्दयो वह्निः संक्रुद्धः सर्वशत्रुवत् । पुष्करिण्यां जले ज्वाला कूपेष्वपि तथैव च

The pitiless fire, enraged like an enemy to all, burns everything. Even within the water of a lotus-pond flames arise—so too in wells as well.

Verse 45

अस्मान्संदह्य म्लेच्छ त्वं कां गतिं प्रापयिष्यसि । एवं प्रलपतां तासां वह्निर्वचनमब्रवीत्

“Having burned us, O mleccha, what destiny will you attain?” As they lamented thus, Fire (Agni) spoke these words.

Verse 46

वैश्वानर उवाच । स्ववशो नैव युष्माकं विनाशं तु करोम्यहम् । अहमादेशकर्ता वै नाहं कर्त्तास्म्यनुग्रहम्

Vaiśvānara said: “Your destruction is not something I do of my own free will. I merely carry out a command; I am not the one who grants favor.”

Verse 47

अत्र क्रोधसमाविष्टो विचरामि यदृच्छया । ततो बाणो महातेजास्त्रिपुरं वीक्ष्य दीपितम्

Here, seized by anger, I wander about at will. Then Bāṇa, the greatly radiant one, beheld Tripura blazing.

Verse 48

आसनस्थोऽब्रवीदेवमहं देवैर्विनाशितः । अल्पसारैर्दुराचारैरीश्वरस्य निवेदितः

Seated on his seat, he spoke thus: “I have been ruined by the gods, having been reported to the Lord by petty-minded and wicked men.”

Verse 49

अपरीक्ष्य ह्यहं दग्धः शंकरेण महात्मना । नान्यः शत्रुस्तु मां हंतुं वर्ज्जयित्वा महेश्वरम्

Without even being examined, I was burned by the great-souled Śaṅkara. No other enemy can kill me—except Maheśvara alone.

Verse 50

उत्थितः शिरसा कृत्वा लिगं त्रिभुवनेश्वरम् । निर्गतः स पुरद्वारात्परित्यज्य सुहृत्स्वयम्

Rising up, he placed upon his head the liṅga of the Lord of the three worlds; then he went out through the city gate, abandoning even his friends of his own accord.

Verse 51

रत्नानि सुविचित्राणि स्त्रियो नानाविधास्तथा । गृहीत्वा शिरसा लिंगं न्यस्तं नगरमंडले

Taking exquisitely varied jewels—and women of many kinds as well—he lifted the liṅga upon his head and set it down in the midst of the city.

Verse 52

स्तुवते देवदेवेशं त्रैलोक्याधिपतिं शिवम् । हर त्वयाहं निर्दग्धो यदि वध्योसि शंकर

While he was praising Śiva—the Lord of gods, the ruler of the three worlds—he said: “O Hara, I have been burned by you. If I am to be slain, O Śaṅkara, then do so.”

Verse 53

त्वत्प्रसादान्महादेव मा मे लिंगं विनश्यतु । अर्चितं हि महादेव भक्त्या परमया सदा

O Mahādeva, by your grace may my liṅga not be destroyed; for, O Mahādeva, it has always been worshipped with supreme devotion.

Verse 54

त्वया यद्यपि वध्योहं मा मे लिंगं विनश्यतु । प्राप्यमेतन्महादेव त्वत्पादग्रहणं मम

Even if I must be slain by you, let my liṅga not be destroyed. This alone is my attainment, O Mahādeva: to take hold of your feet.

Verse 55

जन्मजन्म महादेव त्वत्पादनिरतो ह्यहम् । तोटकच्छंदसा देवं स्तुत्वा तु परमेश्वरम्

O Mahādeva, birth after birth I remain devoted to Your sacred feet. Having praised the Supreme Lord, the God, in the Toṭaka metre, I abide in that devotion.

Verse 56

ओंशिवशंकरसर्वकराय नमो भवभीममहेशशिवाय नमः । कुसुमायुध देहविनाशकर त्रिपुरांतकरांधक चूर्णकर

Salutations to Śiva—Śaṅkara, the maker of all; salutations to Bhava, to Bhīma, to Maheśa, to Śiva. Salutations to You who destroyed the body of Kusumāyudha (Kāma), ended Tripura, and crushed Andhaka to dust.

Verse 57

प्रमदाप्रियकामविभक्त नमो हि नमः सुरसिद्धगणैर्नमितः । हयवानरसिंहगजेंद्रमुखैरति ह्रस्वसुदीर्घमुखैश्च गणैः

Salutations—again and again—to the Dispenser of beloved joys and desires, bowed to by hosts of gods and Siddhas; and by multitudes with faces like horses, monkeys, lions, and elephant-kings, and by companies with exceedingly short and exceedingly long faces.

Verse 58

उपलब्धुमशक्यतरैरसुरैर्व्यथितो न शरीरशतैर्बहुभिः । प्रणतो भगवन्बहुभक्तिमता चलचंद्र कलाधर देव नमः

O Lord, though tormented by countless bodies and assailed by demons exceedingly hard to overcome, I bow to You with abundant devotion. O divine One who bears the trembling moon’s crescent—salutations to You.

Verse 59

सहपुत्रकलत्रकलापधनैः सततं जय देहि अनुस्मरणम् । व्यथितोस्मि शरीरशतैर्बहुभिर्गमिताद्य महानरकस्य गतिः

Along with my sons, wife, companions, and wealth, grant me—O Victorious One—unceasing remembrance of You. I am afflicted: through many hundreds of bodies I have now been carried into the course of the great hell.

Verse 60

न निवर्तति यन्ममपापगतिः शुचिकर्म्मविशुद्धमपि त्यजति । अनुकंपति दिग्भ्रमति भ्रमति भ्रम एष कुबुद्धि निवारयति

My course toward sin does not turn back; it abandons even pure and spotless conduct. It wavers, loses all direction, and keeps circling in delusion—this is a भ्रम, a bewilderment that an unwise mind cannot restrain.

Verse 61

यः पठेत्तोटकं दिव्यं प्रयतः शुचिमानसः । बाणस्यैव यथारुद्रस्तस्यैव वरदो भवेत्

Whoever, disciplined and with a pure mind, recites this divine hymn (toṭaka), for him Rudra becomes a bestower of boons—just as he did for Bāṇa.

Verse 62

इमं स्तवं महादिव्यं श्रुत्वा देवो महेश्वरः । प्रसन्नस्तु तदा तस्य स्वयं देवो महेश्वरः

Having heard this exceedingly divine hymn of praise, the god Maheśvara (Śiva) became pleased; at that time, Lord Maheśvara himself was graciously satisfied with him.

Verse 63

ईश्वर उवाच । न भेतव्यं त्वया वत्स सौवर्णे तिष्ठ दानव । पुत्रपौत्रसपत्नीनां भार्याभृत्यजनैः सह

Īśvara said: “Do not be afraid, dear child. Remain in Sauvarṇa, O Dānava, together with your sons and grandsons, your co-wives, and your wife, servants, and attendants.”

Verse 64

अद्यप्रभृति बाण त्वमवध्यस्त्रिदशैरपि । भूयस्तस्य वरो दत्तो देवदेवेन पांडव

“From today onward, O Bāṇa, you are invincible—even to the thirty-three gods. Again, that boon was granted to him by the God of gods, O Pāṇḍava.”

Verse 65

अक्षयश्चाव्ययो लोके विचचार ह निर्भयः । ततो निवारयामास रुद्र सप्तशिखं तथा

Akṣaya, imperishable and undecaying, moved about the world without fear. Then Rudra likewise restrained him—Saptaśikha as well.

Verse 66

तृतीयं रक्षितं तस्य शंकरेण महात्मना । भ्रमते गगने नित्यं रुद्रतेजः प्रभावतः

The third is protected for him by the great-souled Śaṅkara; by the power of Rudra’s fiery splendor it ever moves, roaming through the sky.

Verse 67

एवं तु त्रिपुरं दग्धं शंकरेण महात्मना । ज्वालामालाप्रदीप्तं तु पतितं धरणीतले

Thus, Tripura—burned by the great-souled Śaṅkara—blazed with garlands of flames and fell down upon the surface of the earth.

Verse 68

एकं निपातितं तस्य श्रीशैले त्रिपुरांतके । द्वितीयं पातितं तत्र पर्वतेऽमरकंटके

One of his parts fell at Śrīśaila, at the place of Tripurāntaka, the slayer of Tripura; the second fell there, on the mountain of Amarakaṇṭaka.

Verse 69

दग्धे तु त्रिपुरे राजन्रुद्रकोटिः प्रतिष्ठिता । ज्वलंतं पातितं तत्र तेन ज्वालेश्वरः स्मृतः

O king, when Tripura was burned, a Rudra-koṭi became established there. Since the blazing (liṅga) fell there, it is therefore remembered as Jvāleśvara.

Verse 70

ऊर्ध्वेन प्रस्थिता तस्य दिव्या ज्वाला दिवं गता । हाहाकारस्तदा जातो सदेवासुरकिंनरान्

Rising upward, his divine flame ascended to heaven. Then a great cry of alarm arose among the devas, asuras, and kiṃnaras.

Verse 71

तं शरं स्तंभयेद्रुद्रो माहेश्वरपुरोत्तमे । एवं व्रजेत यस्तस्मिन्पर्वतेऽमरकंटके

In the supreme city of Maheśvara, Rudra would arrest that arrow. Thus should one proceed to that mountain called Amarakāṇṭaka.

Verse 72

चतुर्द्दशभुवनानि सुभुक्त्वा पांडुनंदन । वर्षकोटिसहस्रं तु त्रिंशत्कोट्यस्तथा पराः

O son of Pāṇḍu, having fully enjoyed the fourteen worlds, one remains there for a thousand crores of years—and then for another thirty crores beyond that.

Verse 73

ततो महीतलं प्राप्य राजा भवति धार्मिकः । पृथिव्यामेकच्छत्रेण भुंक्ते नास्त्यत्र संशयः

Then, upon attaining the earth, he becomes a righteous king; he rules the earth under a single royal umbrella—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 74

एष पुण्यो महाराज सर्वतोऽमरकंटकः । चंद्र सूर्योपरागेषु गच्छेद्योऽमरकंटकम्

O great king, this Amarakantaka is holy in every way. One should go to Amarakantaka at the times of lunar and solar eclipses.

Verse 75

अश्वमेधाद्दशगुणं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः । स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नोति दृष्ट्वा तत्र महेश्वरम्

The wise declare it to be ten times the merit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice; by beholding Maheśvara there, one attains the heavenly world.

Verse 76

संनिहत्या गमिष्यंति राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । तदेव निखिलं पुण्यं पर्वतेऽमरकंटके

When the sun is seized by Rāhu (during an eclipse), they will go there in a gathered multitude. That occasion indeed becomes the entirety of merit at the mountain Amarakantaka.

Verse 77

पुंडरीकस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः । तत्र ज्वालेश्वरो नाम पर्वतेऽमरकंटके

A person attains the merit that comes from the Puṇḍarīka sacrifice. There, on the mountain Amarakaṇṭaka, is (a shrine of Śiva) named Jvāleśvara.

Verse 78

तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांति ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः । ज्वालेश्वरे महाराज यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत्

Having bathed there, those who die go to heaven and do not return (to rebirth). And, O great king, whoever gives up his life at Jvāleśvara…

Verse 79

चंद्र सूर्योपरागे तु भक्त्यापि शृणु तत्फलम् । अमरा नाम देवास्ते पर्वतेऽमरकंटके

Now, regarding the eclipses of the moon and the sun—listen with devotion to the fruit (of the rite). On the mountain called Amarakaṇṭaka dwell the gods known as the Amarās.

Verse 80

रुद्रलोकमवाप्नोति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् । अमरेश्वरस्य देवस्य पर्वतस्य तटे जले

He attains Rudra’s world and abides there until the cosmic dissolution. This is said of one who performs the rite in the waters by the mountain’s bank at the sacred seat of the god Amareśvara.

Verse 81

कोटिश ऋषिमुख्यास्ते तपस्तप्यंति सुव्रताः । समंताद्योजनं राजन्क्षेत्रं चामरकंटकम्

O King, crores of foremost sages—men of excellent vows—practice austerities there. All around, for a yojana, stretches the sacred region called Āmarakaṇṭaka.

Verse 82

अकामो वा सकामो वा नर्मदायां शुभे जले । स्नात्वा मुच्येत पापेभ्यो रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति

Whether free of desires or driven by desires, one who bathes in the auspicious waters of the Narmadā is released from sins and attains Rudra’s world.