Adhyaya 11

Verse 1

ईश्वर उवाच । सारस्वतस्य विप्रस्य श्रुत्वा भोजनृपो वचः । विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा प्रगृह्यांघ्री वचोऽब्रवीत्

Īśvara said: Hearing the words of the brāhmaṇa Sārasvata, King Bhoja turned pale; then, taking hold of the sage’s feet in reverence, he spoke these words.

Verse 2

मुने नैवं त्वया वाच्यं गंतव्यं निश्चितं मया । नराणां पुण्यदा यात्रा कथयस्व कथं भवेत्

O sage, you should not speak thus. I have firmly resolved to go. Tell me how a pilgrimage becomes merit-bestowing for people.

Verse 3

किं ग्राह्यं किं च मोक्तव्यं किं देयं किं न दीयते । तीर्थोपवासः स्नानं च संध्यास्नानविधिक्रमः । पूजा निद्रा जपो रात्रौ सर्वं संक्षेपतो वद

What should be accepted and what should be abandoned? What should be given, and what should not be given? Tell me briefly everything—fasting at the tīrtha, bathing, the proper order for sandhyā-bathing, worship, sleep, and nightly japa.

Verse 4

सारस्वत उवाच । सुराष्ट्रदेशे गन्तव्यं गिरौ रैवतके यदि । नृप यात्राविधिं वक्ष्ये त्वमेकाग्रमनाः शृणु

Sārasvata said: “O king, if you wish to travel to the land of Surāṣṭra, to Mount Raivataka, then I shall explain to you the proper discipline for pilgrimage. Listen with a focused mind.”

Verse 5

बृहस्पतिबलं गृह्य सूर्यं संतर्प्य चोत्तमम् । वामतः पृष्ठतः सर्वं वृत्वा संशोध्य वासरम्

“Having taken into account the strength of Jupiter, and having duly worshipped and propitiated the excellent Sun, one should perform circumambulation—keeping the sacred on one’s left—and then carefully ascertain the suitable day.”

Verse 6

चंद्रलग्नं ग्रहाज्ज्ञात्वा बलिष्ठाज्जन्मराशितः । शकुनं च शुभं लब्ध्वा प्रस्थातव्यं नृपैर्नृप

“Having learned the lunar ascendant from the planets—especially with reference to one’s strongest birth-sign—and having obtained favorable omens, kings (and leaders) should set out, O king.”

Verse 7

तीर्थे सदैव गंतव्यं सर्वे मासाश्च शोभनाः । तिथयश्चोत्तमाः सर्वाः स्नानदानार्चनादिषु

One may go to the tīrtha at all times; all months are auspicious, and all lunar dates are excellent for bathing, charity, worship, and related rites.

Verse 8

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां मासांते पूर्णिमादिने । संक्रांतौ ग्रहणे काला एते प्रोक्ता भवार्चने

The eighth day, the fourteenth day, the end of the month, the full-moon day, times of saṅkrānti (solar ingress), and eclipses—these are declared as special times for the worship of Bhava (Śiva).

Verse 9

कैलासं पर्वतं त्यक्त्वा देवीं देवांश्च संगतान् । वैशाखे पंचदश्यां तु भूमिं भित्त्वा भवोऽभवत्

Leaving Mount Kailāsa with the Goddess and the assembled gods, in the month of Vaiśākha on the fifteenth day, Bhava (Śiva) manifested—splitting open the earth.

Verse 10

तस्मिन्नेव दिने देवी स्वर्णरेखा नदी तलात् । पंथानं वासुकिं प्राप्य सर्वपापप्रणाशनी

On that very day, the Goddess—becoming the river Svarṇarekhā—arose from below and reached the pathway called Vāsuki; she is the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 11

ऐरावतपदाक्रांत उज्जयन्तो महागिरिः । सुस्राव तोयं बहुधा गजपादोद्भवं शुचि

The great mountain Ujjayanta, pressed by the foot of Airāvata, caused pure water to flow forth in many streams—born from the elephant’s footprint.

Verse 12

देवा ब्रह्मादयः सर्वे गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा । वस्त्रापथे महाक्षेत्रे भवभावेन संगताः

All the gods beginning with Brahmā, and the rivers beginning with the Gaṅgā as well, assembled in the great sacred field of Vastrāpatha, united by devotion to Bhava (Śiva).

Verse 13

वस्त्रापथस्य क्षेत्रस्य प्रमाणं शृणु भूपते । हरस्य त्यजतो भूमौ पतितं वस्त्रभूषणम्

O king, hear the measure of the sacred field of Vastrāpatha: when Hara (Śiva) cast it off, his garment-ornament fell upon the earth.

Verse 14

तावन्मात्रं स्मृतं क्षेत्रं देवैर्वस्त्रापथं कृतम् । उत्तरेण नदी भद्रा पूर्वस्यां योजनद्वयम्

This much alone is remembered as the sacred field—Vastrāpatha—established by the gods: to its north lies the river Bhadrā, and on its eastern side it extends for two yojanas.

Verse 15

दक्षिणेन बलेः स्थानमुज्जयन्तो नदीमनु । अपरस्यां परं नद्यो संगमं वामनात्पुरात्

To the south lies Bali’s sacred spot, along the river Ujjayantī; and on the western side is the further confluence of rivers, known since ancient times from (the deeds of) Vāmana.

Verse 16

एतद्वस्त्रापथं क्षेत्रं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् । क्षेत्रस्य विस्तरो ज्ञेयो योजनानां चतुष्टयम्

This Vastrāpatha sacred field bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation; its extent should be known as four yojanas.

Verse 17

वैशाखपंचदश्यां तु भवो भावेन भूपते । पूज्यते शिवलोके तु स्थीयते ब्रह्मवासरम्

On the fifteenth day of Vaiśākha, O king, Bhava (Śiva) is worshipped with devotion; and in Śiva’s world one abides for a “Brahmā-day,” a vast divine span.

Verse 18

अतो वसंते संप्राप्ते प्रयाणं कुरु भूपते । निगृह्य नियमान्भूत्वा शुचिः स्नातो जितेन्द्रियः

Therefore, when spring arrives, O king, set out on the journey—embracing disciplines, purified, bathed, and with the senses restrained.

Verse 19

गजवाजिरथांस्त्यक्ता पदाभ्यां याति यो नरः । पुष्पकेण विमानेन स याति शिवमंदिरम्

The man who, giving up elephants, horses, and chariots, goes on foot—he proceeds to Śiva’s abode in the Puṣpaka celestial car.

Verse 20

एकभक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च । भिक्षाहारेण तोयेन फलाहारेण वा यदि

If one (undertakes the journey) living on a single meal, or eating only at night; likewise without asking for special food, and subsisting on alms-food, or on water, or on fruits—

Verse 21

उपवासेन कृच्छ्रेण शाकाहारेण याति यः । स याति सुन्दरीवृन्दैर्वीज्यमानो गणैर्दिवि

Whoever goes observing fasting, the hardship-vow (kṛcchra), or a diet of greens—he proceeds in heaven, fanned by hosts of beautiful maidens and attended by Śiva’s gaṇas.

Verse 22

मलस्नानं विना मार्गे पादाभ्यंगविवर्जितः । मलधारी क्षीणतनुर्यष्टिहस्तो जितेन्द्रियः

On the road, without a cleansing bath and without anointing the feet; bearing dust and grime, his body grown lean, staff in hand, and senses conquered—

Verse 23

शीतातपजलक्लिष्टः शिवस्मरणतत्परः । यदि याति नरो याति स भित्त्वा सूर्यमंडलम्

Afflicted by cold, heat, and rain, yet intent on the remembrance of Śiva—if a man thus proceeds, he attains the goal, piercing even the sphere of the sun.

Verse 24

नरकस्थानपि पितॄन्मातृतः पितृतो नृप । अक्षयं सप्त सप्तैव नयेदेवं शिवालये

O king, even ancestors who have fallen into hell—on the mother’s side and on the father’s side—are led onward from there: seven and seven, inexhaustibly, when one thus attains the abode of Śiva at this sacred place.

Verse 25

लुण्ठन्भूमौ यदा याति मृगचर्मावगुंठितः । दण्डप्रमाणभूमेर्वा संख्यां कुर्वन्नरो यदि

If a man, covered in a deerskin, proceeds by rolling upon the ground, or if he measures and counts the earth in rod-lengths as an act of austerity and pilgrimage…

Verse 26

अरण्ये निर्जले स्थाने जलांतःपरिपीडितः । शरण्यं शंकरं कृत्वा मनो निश्चलमात्मनः

In a forest, in a waterless place, tormented inwardly by thirst, making Śaṅkara one’s refuge, one should steady one’s own mind so that it does not waver.

Verse 27

सप्तद्वीपवतीं पृथ्वीं समुद्रवसनां नृप । स लब्ध्वा बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्यज्ञे दत्त्वा च मेदिनीम्

O king, having obtained the earth with its seven continents, girdled by the ocean as by a garment, and having performed many sacrifices, and even having given that very earth as a sacrificial gift…

Verse 28

सप्तभौमविमानस्थो दिव्यदेहो हराकृतिः । निरीक्ष्य मेदिनीं मंदं कृत मंगलमण्डनम्

Seated in a celestial aerial car of seven stories, with a divine body and bearing the form of Hara, he gazes gently upon the earth, adorned with auspicious splendor.

Verse 29

मृगनेत्राभुजस्पर्शलग्नपीनपयोधरः । गीतवाद्यविनोदेन सत्यलोकं व्रजेन्नरः

Accompanied by doe-eyed celestial maidens—whose embrace presses upon full breasts—and delighted by song and music, the man goes to Satyaloka.

Verse 30

विधाय भुजवेगं वा पादौ बद्ध्वा शनैः शनैः । मौनेन मानुषो मायां त्यक्त्वा याति शिवालये

Whether moving forward by the force of the arms, or with the feet bound and advancing very slowly, a person—through sacred silence—casts off māyā and goes to Śivālaya, the abode of Śiva.

Verse 31

ब्रह्मघ्नो वा सुरापो वा स्तेयी वा गुरुतल्पगः । कृतघ्नो मुच्यते पापैर्मृतो मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

Whether a slayer of a brāhmaṇa, a drinker of liquor, a thief, one who violates the teacher’s bed, or even an ingrate—such a person is freed from sins; and upon death, attains liberation.

Verse 32

मातरं पितरं देशं भ्रातरं स्वजनबांधवान् । ग्रामं भूमिं गृहं त्यक्त्वा कृत्वा चेंद्रियसंयमम्

Abandoning mother and father, homeland, brothers, and one’s own kin and relations—leaving village, land, and house behind—and practicing restraint of the senses…

Verse 33

गृहीत्वा शिवसंस्कारं नरो भ्राम्यति भूतले । द्रष्टुं तीर्थान्यनेकानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

Having received the consecration and observance of Śiva, a man wanders upon the earth to behold many tīrthas and many holy shrines as well.

Verse 34

कस्मिंस्तीर्थे शुभे स्थाने छित्त्वा संसारबन्धनम् । अभयां दक्षिणां दत्त्वा शिवशिवेति भाषकः

“In which auspicious tīrtha, in what holy place, does a person cut the bondage of worldly existence—having offered the fear-dispelling priestly gift (dakṣiṇā) and continually uttering, ‘Śiva, Śiva’?”

Verse 35

एकांते निर्जने स्थाने शिवस्मरणतत्परः । यदि तिष्ठति तं यान्ति नमस्कर्तुं नराधिप

“O king, if a person stays in a secluded, lonely place, wholly intent on remembering Śiva, then others come to him to offer reverence.”

Verse 36

आयांति देवताः सर्वे चिह्नं तस्य निरीक्षितुम् । विमानवृन्दैर्नेतव्यः कदासौ पुरुषोत्तमः

“All the gods come to behold the mark (sign) of such a one. ‘When will that excellent man be carried (to the divine realm) by hosts of celestial chariots?’”}]}

Verse 37

यदा तु पञ्चत्वमुपैति काले कलेवरं स्कन्धकृतं नरैश्च । निरीक्ष्यमाणः सुरसुन्दरीभिः स नीयमानो मदविह्वलाभिः

And when, in due time, he reaches the state of the five elements (death), and his body is borne upon men’s shoulders, he is watched by celestial maidens; he is led onward by those heaven-born beauties, intoxicated with delight.

Verse 38

सुरेन्द्रसूर्याग्निधनेशरुद्रैः संपूज्यमानः शिवरूपधारी । सुरादिलोकान्प्रविमुच्य वेगाच्छिवालये तिष्ठति रुद्रभक्तः

Worshipped fully by Indra, the Sun, Agni, Kubera, and Rudra, bearing the very form of Śiva, that devotee of Rudra swiftly passes beyond the worlds of the gods and abides in Śiva’s own abode.