THE GARUDA PURANA 16 страница

14. The price of lapis lazuli set in ornaments varies inasmuch as the purification and setting is executed by an expert or an incompetent person instilling it with virtue or defect as the case may be.

15. These gems set carefully by the jeweller, if free from defects, will outlive the present value and fetch even six times their price.

16. The price which the gems fresh from the mine or in towns on the sea-coast fetch is not current in other parts of the world.

17-19. According to Manu a Suvanria weight is equivalent ta sixteen Ma$akas. One seventh of it is called a Saftjfta.

A Sana is four Ma§as and a Masaka is five Kr§nalas« A tenth of a Pala is D ha ran a [According to others 10 palas make a Dharana]. Thus the process of arriving at the price of gems has been explained.

CHAPTER SEVENTYFOUR.

On the test of Gems — Topaz.

Suta said:

1. From the particles of the skin of demon Bala that fell on the top of the Himalaya mountain Pusparaga (Topaz) gems of great virtue have come up.

2. A gem of this variety, yellowish grey in colour, is called Padmaraga (Ruby). If it is crimson-yellow it is called Kaurundaka.

3. A transparent variety slightly red and yellow is called Kasayaka; slightly blue and white in colour, glossy and commendable is called Somanaka.

4. That which is of deep red colour is indeed Padmaraga (Ruby); if it is of deep blue colour, it is called Indranlla (Sapphire).

5. The price of this gem is fixed like that of Vaidurya {Lapis Lazuli) by experts in Gems. The result is also similar but it blesses women with sons.

CHAPTER SEVENTYFIVE.

On the test of Gems — Karketana.

Suta said:

1. The wind in his delight gathered together the nails of the king of demons Bala and scattered them amid clusters of lotuses. Thereafter, Karketana 1 which is prized very much in the world cropped up.

1. What sort of gem it might be is not dear.

2. The best variety of Karketana has the copper colour of blood, the yellowish tinge of the moon, and burning fiery brilliance of honey. The other variety of rough surface bluish white in colour is not approved of since it brings about evils such as sickness, etc.

3. Those Karketanas are very auspicious which are glossy, pure, of uniform reddish hue, of yellowish tinge, heavy, of diverse colours and free from defects, such as Tiasa, cracks, snakelike scratches, etc.

4. If, when it is set in an ornament of gold, it sheds brilliant rays as if heated in fire, Karketana removes sickness, dispels Kali defects and is conducive to longevity, flourishing family and general happiness.

5. Those who wear Karketana of auspicious and commendable virtues for the sake of embellishments are highly honoured, rich, surrounded by many kinsmen and they prosper always enjoying all kinds of happiness.

6. Some spurious Karketana gems of distorted untied aspect and pale blue colour and affected by pale red hue appear to have the shape of the genuine Karketana though devoid of brilliance and colourful effect, 7. If Karketana is scrupulously tested for its colour and features and found to be bright and brilliant like the rising sun, it is to be priced in accordance with its greatness. The price is based on weight, as expounded by experts in Gem-literature.

CHAPTER SEVENTYSIX.

On the test of Gems — Bhlsmamani.

SUta said:

1. The Semen of the demon fell in the northern region of the Himalayas which became the source of the gems called Shi$m& n.

2. Bh!? ma stones, white like Sankha and lilies or Syonaka 1 (the white fruit of the tree of that name) are lustrous.

There are some Bh2? ma stones similar to a fairly big-sized diamond.

3. The man who wears a pure Bhi? ma stone with reverence and faith round his neck after setting it in gold acquires wealth.

4. Wild leopards, wolves, Sarabhas (the fabulous eightfooted monsters), elephants, lions, tigers, fly from him at the very sight.

5-6. He need not fear any one. He can wander like an unfettered elephant. Wearing tills stone in the ring if one performs Pitf-tarpana the manes will be satisfied for many years.

Poisons of snakes, birds, mice and scorpion are ineffective. He has no fear from floods, fire, enemies or thieves.

7. An intelligent man must shun spurious Bhi§ma stones of the colour of moss or clouds, rough of surface, lustreless or yellowish in tinge, or faded and dirty-coloured.

8. Scholars shall fix the price of Bhi$ma stones after observing the place of origin and according to the reason. If the stone comes from far, its price is more than that of one of local origin.

CHAPTER SEVENTYSEVEN.

On the test of Gems — Pulaka.

Suta said:

1. The Serpents publicly worshipped the chief of demons, Bala, in a famous place and scattered his claws over various holy mountains, and other places and in rivers flowing in the northern region.

1. Oroxylum indicum.

2. These famous Pulaka gems originated from those nails and claws in the territories: Dasarna 1 (Eastern pari of modern Malva), Vagadava, Mekala 2, K& laga. They have the colours of Guftja (a red-black berry), Aftjana (collyrium), honey and lotus-stalk. They are brilliant like the musk-deer, fire and the plantain tree.

3. Pulakas of variegated colours of shell, lotus, honeybee and the Arka 3 (Sun-plant) flowers free from scratches and lines are very holy and auspicious. They are conducive to increasing prosperity.

4. Pulaka stones carried here and there by crows, dogs, donkeys, jackals and fierce vultures in their mouths wet with blood and flesh bring about death and hence should be avoided.

The price of a perfect Pulaka stone a pala in weight is five hundred silver pieces.

CHAPTER SEVENTYEIGHT.

On the test of Gems — Bloodstone.

Suta said:

1. The fire god carried the features of the demon Bala and deposited the same in the low-lyingmarshes of the river Narmada.

2. From that did originate the gem Blood-stone of various forms and sizes, with colours like that of a glowworm, the beak of a parrot, etc, but of manifest uniform thickness throughout.

3. The Blood-stone which is grey like the moon in the centre is of the purest type with the same merits as those of Indranila (sapphire). It is productive of prosperity and munificence, when boiled it assumes the colour of the lightning flash.

1. The region around Dhadna in Central India.

2. The region around Mount Mekala the source of the Narmadi river also called Mekala-suti.

3. Calotropis procera and C. gigantea. GVDB, p. 23.

CHAPTER SEVENTYNINE.

On the test of Gems — Crystal.

SUta said:

1. Balarama exerted himself and scattered the fat of the demon Bala over the mountains Kavera and Vindhya and the lands of Yavana, China and Nepal.

2. Sphafika (crystals) of different types originated therefrom: Akasasudd ha (as clear as the sky), Tailakhya (having the brilliance of oil) MrnalaSankhadhavala (white as lotus stalk and Sankha) and others of various colours.

3. A gem destructive of sins, like Sphatika, does not exist. Cut and polished well, it will fetch a little tidy sum immediately.

CHAPTER EIGHTY.

On the test of Gems — Coral.

Sutasaid:

1. Sesa (the Serpent king) carried the entrails of the demon Bala and deposited the same in Kerala and other places; there corals of great virtue are produced.

2. The most important of them is the one coloured like the blood of a hare, the Gufija-berry or the China-rose. The foreign lands where corals abound are Sunllaka, Devaka and Romaka. 1 Corals found there are of deep crimson colour.

Corals found elsewhere are not so important. The price of coral depends upon the efficiency of the artisan.

3. A coral of pleasing colour, soft and glossy, possessing deep crimson colour, 4. Is productive of wealth and foodgrain in the world and dispels the fear of poison and sorrow. O Saunaka, knowledge of crystals and corals is necessary for the knowledge of gems.

1. Modern Rome.

CHAPTER EIGHTYONE.

Sacred Places.

Suta said:

1-2. I shall enumerate the holy places and sacred rivers.

Ganga is the holiest of the holy rivers. Gaiiga is easy of access everywhere but in three places it is of very difficult access, viz., in Haridvara 1 (at the source), Prayaga (at the confluence with Yamuna) and Gahgasagarasangama (where it falls into the sea). Prayaga is a very holy place conducive of worldly enjoyments and salvation to those who die there.

3. By resorting to it (by taking a dip therein) it dispels sins; those to whom oblations are offered there enjoy all desires.

Varanasi is the holy place where Lord Kesava has taken the form of Vi£ ve£ a (Lord Siva).

4. Kuruksetra is a holy place. By acts of charity at this place it is conducive to worldly enjoyment and salvation.

Prabhasa 2 is a very holy place. Lord Somanatha is installed there.

5. Dvaraka is a beautiful city. It affords worldly pleasures and salvation. The eastern Saras vat! is holy. The surrounding territories known as Saptasarasvata arc very holy.

6. Kedara 3 dispels all sins. Samhhala 4 village is an excellent holy place. Narayana is a great holy place. For salvation Badarikasrama is the most suitable place.

7. Svetadvlpa, city of Mayanaimisa and Puskara are all great holy places. Ayodhya, Aryatlrtha, Citrakuta 5 6 and Gomatl are all holy.

1. Spelt HaradvSra now-a-da> s.

2. Prabhasapattana in Gujrata. Recently the Somanatha temple has been re-built here.

3. Modern Ked& ranatha in the Himalayas.

4. Modem Sambala in Uttara Pradesh.

5. A., town in the Banda district of Uttara Pradesh.

6. The Ramtek-hill near Nagpur in the Maharastra State.

8. The holy place of Vainayaka, and Ramagiri-Asrama are sacred most places. The city of Kfifici 1, the river TuAgabhadra, Srisailam 2 and Setubandhana are holy places.

9. Ramegvara is a great holy place, similarly Karttikeya is an excellent holy place. Bhrgutunga, Kamatirtha, and Amarakantaka 3 are equally holy places.

10. Mahakala (Lord Siva) is the deity in Ujjain; (Lord Hari in the form of Sridhara is the deity in Kubjaka 4;

Ivubjamraka is a great holy place; Kalasarpi 5 yields all desires.

11. MahakesI 6, Kaverl, Candrabhaga along with Vipasa are great holy rivers. Ekamra 7, Brahmatirtha 8, Devakojaka 9 are all great holy places.

12. Mathura is a beautiful city; Sona is a great holy river. Jambusaras 10 is a great holy pool;

13. Wherever the idols of Sun, Siva, Ganega, goddess and Lord Vi$nu are installed shall be considered sacred places. In all these and other similar sacred places, performance cf holy dip, giving of gifts, recital of prayers, austerities, 14. Worship, Sraddha and food oblations become everlasting in their efficacy. Salagrama is a holy place yielding everything; Pagupati’s (Lord Siva’s) Tirtha 11 is a holy place.

15. Similarly, the Tirthas of Kokamukha 12, Varaha 13, Bhandlra 14 and Svamitirtha 15 are holy places. Mahavisnu in Mohadantfa 16 and Madhusudana in Mandara 17 are holy installations.

1. Modern K& njeevaram in South India.

2. A sacred hill near Karnal, on the bank of Kr? Q&.

3. A place in Madhya Pradesh, the source of Narmada river, 4. Modem Kannauja in Uttara Pradesh.

5. Not identifiable.

6. Not identifiable.

7. Not identifiable 8. Not identifiable.

9. Not identifiable.

10. Not identifiable.

11. Not identifiable.

12. Not identifiable.

13. Not identifiable.

14. Not identifiable 15. Not identifiable.

16. Not identifiable.

17. Not identifiable.

16. Kimarupa 1 is a holy place where goddess K& makhya is the presiding deity. Pun< Jravardhanaka is a holy place where Karttikeya is installed.

1 7. Virajas 2 is a great Tlrtha as well as Sripuru§ottama. 2

Mahendra is a holy mountain and Kaveri is a holy river.

18. Godavari is a holy river; Pavosnl is a river that accords boons. Vindhya is holy mountain dispelling sins;

Narmada is an excellent holy river.

19. Gokarna 4 is a holy place; so is the city of Mahi$matl s a holy place; Kalafijara is a great Tlrtha; Sukratlrtha 7 is a holy place than which there is no other more sacred place.

20. Lord Vi$nu abides nearby, hence the place affords salvation even if a person defiles it. Viraja 8 is a holy place that accords everything; Svarnaksa® is an excellent Tirtha.

21. Nandi tlrtha 10 accords salvation yielding fruits of a crore of holy places. Nasikya 11 is a holy place and Govardhana 12 is beyond that.

22. Krsna, Veni, Bhimaratha, Gan< Jaki 13, Iravatl 14 are holy rivers. Bindusaras 16 is a sacred pool where water from Lord Vi$nu’s feet flows.

23. The meditation on Brahman is on a par with sacred places; control of sense organs, subjugation of mind and purity of thought have also on a par with these places.

1. Modern Assam.

2. Not identifiable.

3. Modern Puri in Orissa.

4. A place in the North-Kanara district of Karnataka.

5. Identified in north Onkar Mandhata on the bank of Narmada river.

Some identify it in north Maheivara, south of Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

6. There is a hill and a fort of this name in Central India.

7. Not identifiable.

8. Not identifiable.

9. Not identifiable.

10. Probably the same as the famous Nandigr& ma of the Rdm& yaiia.

It is now known as Nandgaon, South of Fyzabad in Uttara Pradesh.

11. Modem N& sika in Maharastra.

12. Most'probably some other Govardhana than the one near Mathura.

13. Modem Gai? daka.

14. Modern Ravi.

15. Not identifiable.

24. He who takes a holy dip in the Tirtha of Manasa that has the eddy of Jfiana (pure knowledge) and the pure water of Dhyana (meditation) that removes the dirt of Raga (passion) and Dvesa (hatred) attains the supreme goal.

25. The demarcation of places particularly holy or otherwise is for only those people who differentiate things and places saying “This is a holy place; this is not. ” He who identifies everything with Brahman will not find a place not holy.

26. All rivers and all mountains are holy places frequented by gods and others. Taking a holy dip, making gifts and performance of Sraddha and Pintjadana in these places have endless benefit.

27. Sriranga 1 is a holy place of Lord Visnu; Tapi is an excellent pious river. Territories surrounding Godavari called Saptagodavara are holy places and Konagiri 2 3 is a great sacred place.

28. The great river Pranlta flowing from Sahvadri with the shrines of Mahalaksml 1, Ekavlra 4 5 6, the lord of lords and SureSvarl 8, are the holiest of holy.

29. He who takes a holy dip in Gangadvara 8, Kusavarta 7 andKanakhala 8, in the mountains ofVindhya and Nllaparvata 9 is not born again.

SUta said:

30. After hearing the details of the Tlrthas from Lord Hari, Brahma addressed Vyasa, Daksa and others.

31. After mentioning the Tlrthas he spoke about Gaya the foremost among Tlrthas which affords to the devotee the attainment of Brahmaloka for ever.

1. The same as Shri-ranga-patanam near Tirichinapalli in Tamilnadu 2. Probably the place known as Konarka in Orissa.

3. Probably the temple of Mah51ak$mi in Kolhapur in Maharastra.

4. The temple of the Goddess in Goa.

5. Not identifiable.

6. Modem Haridvir.

7. Not identifiable.

8. Situated in Saharanpur District of Uttara Pradesh.

9. Modern Nilgiri.

CHAPTER EIGHTYTWO.

Greatness of Gayd.

Brahma said:

1. O Vyasa, listen. I shall narrate, in brief, the details of the greatness of Gaya.

2. There was a demon Gaya of great vitality. Once, he performed a terrible penance which scorched all living beings.

3-5. Devas, scorched extremely by his austerity, took refuge in Lord Visnu.

Lord Visnu said:

“When my great body is felled, all of you shall be experiencing, welfare within. ” The gods said “So be it. ” Thereafter, one day, he culled lotuses for worship of Siva from the Milk-ocean and brought them to Kikaja. The demon was deluded by Visnu’s Maya and instead of proceeding with his worship he lay down and slept. Then Visnu killed him with the mace.

6-7. Thenceforward, Lord Visnu has been staying there with the mace lifted up, ready to offer salvation. Over the purified mortal remains of that demon, Lord Siva, in the form of a linga (phallic emblem) and Visnu and Brahma too presided there. Lord Visnu the primordial deity demarcated the boundaries of the place and proclaimed that it would be a holy place.

8. A man who performs sacrifices, Sraddha, Pindadana and ceremonial baths there will attain heaven and the world of Brahma, never the hell.

9. Understanding the holy character of Gaya, Brahma himself performed a sacrifice there and honoured the brahmins who came there as Rtviks.

10. The Lord created a great stream of juice (of milk and milk products), ponds, etc. and different types of foodstuffs fruits, etc. He then created the divine K& madhenu 1.

11. The land 15 kilometres all round constituting the holy site of Gay5, was given as gift to the Brahmins.

1. The divine cow who fulfils all desires.

12. The easy acquisition of the land gift made the brahmins complacent. Then the brahmins were cursed.

13. Your learning will not extend even to three generations. Your riches will not survive your successive third heir.

The river will flow with water not milk. The mountains will be mere rocks (not fruits and other edibles).

14. The cursed brahmins pleaded and the lord relented and said: “Those who perform Sraddha here, will attain holy worlds and Brahma’s abode. I will consider myself worshipped if they worship you. ”

15. Knowledge of the supreme Brahman, performance of £ raddha at Gaya, death in a cowshed and residence in Kuruk$etra— these arc the four ways of attaining salvation.

16. Holy oceans, rivers, sacred ponds, wells and eddies go unto Gayatirtha for a holy dip. There is no doubt about this.

17. The five great sins, viz. the murder of a brahmin, drinking wine, stealing, illicit intercourse with the preceptor’s wife anu association with sinners are removed by performing & raddha at Gaya.

18. Those who die and are not cremated duly, those who are killed by animals and dacoits, and those who die due to snake-bite attain salvation if Gayafraddha is performed unto them.

19. It is difficult to explain in detail the greatness of the benefits accruing from offering food oblations at Gaya even in twenty crores of years.

CHAPTER EIGHTYTHREE.

Greatness of Gayd.

JBrahmd said:

1. In the land of Kikafa, Gaya is a great holy place:

the forest of R& jagfha and the places frequently watered by the river are very holy.

2-3. To the east of Gayi is the place Mundaprtfha. In the west, south and north it extends to 4$ kilometres. The whole expanse of Gayaksetra is 1 5 kilometres. The gift of oblations to the manes satiates as well as grants salvation.

Even a visit to this place frees a person from the obligation to the manes. The Gayaiiras ( the head of Gay& ) is three kilometres long.

4. From the mount Janardana and the well known manasa is Gaya£ iras. It is called Phalgu-tirtha.

5. By offering pinda there, the manes are freed. Simply by going to Gaya one is freed of mane’s debt.

6. The lord of lords Visnu presides over Gaya in the form of Manes. By visiting his shrine one is freed of three debts (to gods, manes, sages and guests).

7. Seeing the main highway at Gaya and visiting the shrines of Rudra, Kales'vara and Kedara a man becomes free from the debts to the manes.

8. By visiting the shrine of Brahma one becomes free from all sins. By seeing the Prapitamaha (the primordial deity) one attains region free of sickness.

9. After kneeling devoutly before the lord Gad& dhara, Madhava and Puru? ottama, the man is not born again.

10. O Brahmin Sage (Vyasa)! By visiting silently the shrines of Maunaditya and Kanakarka the noble, a man becomes free from debts to the manes. By worshipping Brahma one attains Brahma’s world.

1 1. Getting up early in the morning if one performs Sandhya and visits the shrine of Gayatri, one gets the fruit of visiting the shrines of all gods.

12. By visiting the shrine of Savitri in the midday, one gets the fruit of all sacrifices.

13. By visiting the shrine of Sarasvati in the evening one gets the fruits of charitable gifts. By visiting the shrine of Iivara on the top of the mountain, one becomes free from debts to the manes.

14. By visiting lord Dharma in Dharmaranya the material debts are wiped off. Who is not freed from bondage by visiting the shrine of lord GfdhreSvara?

15. By visiting the shrine of Cow in Dhenuvana one enables one’s ancestors to attain Brahmaloka. By visiting lord Prabh£ se£ a in the shrine Prabhasa one attains the highest goal.

16. By visiting the shrines of KofRvara and Aivamedha the material debts are wiped off. By visiting the shrine of S vargad va r e£ vara one is freed from the bondage of worldly existence.

17. By visiting the lord with the mace in the shrine of Rame£ vara one attains to heaven. By visiting the shrine of Brahme^vara one is freed from the sin of murdering a Brahmin.

18. By visiting the shrine of Mahacand in the mountain Mundaprs{ha one attains all desires. By visiting the shrines of Phalgviga, Phalgucandl, Gauri, Mangala, Gomaka and lord Gopati one becomes free from debts to the manes, 19. Similarly, by visiting the shrines of AngareSa, Siddhcla, Gayaditya, Gaja and MarkandeycSvara one becomes free from debts to the manes.

20. A ceremonial bath in the holy pond of Phalgutirtha and a visit to the shrine of Gadadhara, 21. Are these not sufficient for men of meritorious deeds?

He makes his ancestors upto the twentyfirst remove attain Brahmaloka.

22. The holy rivers, oceans and lakes of the world will be coming to Phalgutirtha, once every day.

23. In the whole world, Gaya is the holiest; in Gaya, Gayagiras is the holiest spot and in gayafiras the Phalgutirtha is the holiest since it constitutes the mouth of gods.

24. To the north of Kanaka river is Nabhitirtha and in its middle is the holy TIrtha called Brahmasadas. A bath therein enables one to attain Brahmaloka.

25. After offering Pinda (food-balls) etc. in the well one becomes free from indebtedness to the manes. Sraddha at Ak^ayavafa takes ancestors to Brahmaloka.

26. By taking the ceremonial bath in Hamsatirtha a man becomes free from all sins. A person who performs Sraddha in Kofitirtha, Gayaloka, Vaitararri and in Gomaka takes ancestors upto the twenty first remove to the Brahmaloka.

27. A person who performs Sr& ddha in Brahmatirtha, R& matfrtha, Agneyatlrtha, Somatirtha or in Ramahrada takes all ancestors to Brahmaloka.

28. A man who performs §r& ddha in the Uttara-Manasa is not born again; and in the Dak$ina M& nasa takes his ancestors to the Brahmaloka.

29. A man who performs Tarpana on the top of the hill Bhisma makes the manes cross hell. A person who performs £ raddha in GrdhreSvara becomes free from debts to the manes.

30. A person who after taking his bath, gifts away gingelly seeds and cows, visits the shrine of cow and performs Sraddha in Dhenukaranya, takes his ancestors to the Brahmaloka.

31. A person who performs Sraddha in the Tirthas Aindra, Nara, Vasava and Vaisnava and also in Mahanadi takes his ancestors to the Brahmaloka.

32. A person who performs ceremonial bath, Sandhya, Tarpana and Sr& ddha in the Tirthas — Gayatra, Sivitra (and Sarasvata takes his ancestors up to the hundred and first remove to the Brahmaloka.

33. With the mind absorbed in contemplating his ancestors the devotee shall pass through the cleft Brahmayoni. Then by performing Tarpana to t^e manes and gods he will be freed from the pangs of birth (i. e. he will not be born again).

34. By performing Tarpana in the Tirtha Kakajangha he satiates manes forever. A person who performs & raddha in the holy pond of Matanga in Dharmaranya attains heaven.

35. By performing Sraddha, etc. in Dharmayupa and Kupa one becomes free from debts to the manes.

36. He shall invoke gods by saying “OGods! ye be the witness unto this. I have performed Sraddha for my ancestors today. ”

37. By taking the ceremonial bath in Ramatirtha and performing Sraddha on a rock in Prabhasa, the manes though long departed can be made liberated.

38. A person who performs Sraddha in the holy Tirtha Svapu& a shall uplift his ancestors upto the twentyfirst remove.

A person who performs Sraddha on the hill MuQ^apfftha shall lead his ancestors to the Brahmaloka.

39. There is no spot in Gaya which is not a holy Tirtha.

A person who offers Pin< Ja anywhere in Gayakgetra, shall reap everlasting benefit and take his ancestors to Brahmaloka.

40. The pilgrim shall place the Pincja in the hand of Janardana (the idol) saying 41. “O Janardana, I have offered the Pinda in thy hand When I go to the other world let everlasting liberation bless me.

42. It is certain that he will attain Brahmaloka along with his manes. The oblations offered to the manes in

Dharmapr§tha, and Brahmasaras, in Gaya and in 43. Ak$ayava{a in GayaSrsa shall be everlasting. The act of visiting Tlrthas, Dhannaranya, Dharmapr§{ha and Dhenukaranya, 44. And performing Arghya to the manes uplifts twenty generations. Brahmaranya is to the west of the river Maya while in the east are Brahmasadas, Nagadri and Bharatairama.

45-47. Sraddha shall be performed in the region of Matanga in the A$rama of Bharata. There is the holy place called

Carnpakavana to the south of Gayasira and to the west of Mah& nadi. ' There Pamjusila is situated. If one performs Sraddha there in the zone of NiScira on the third day of the lunar fortnight dr in the sacked eddy of KaufikI everlasting benefit is secured.

48. To the north of Vaitaran! is the sacred pond called Tf tiya. There the sacred spot Krauficapada is situated. One who performs Sraddha there shall take his ancestors to the Heaven.

49. To the north of Krauficapada is the sacred pond Nttciri. Even a single visit to Gaya and offering of Pind a once is rarely secured, then what of those who stay there permanently?

50. If the pilgrim performs Tarpaga in MahanadI for the manes and gods he shall attain everlasting worlds and uplift his family.

51. If Sandhya is performed in the S& vitratirtha the benefit of performing the same for twelve years shall be acquired.

52. He who stays for two fortnights (the bright and the dark) in Gaya purifies his family upto the seventh generation.

There is no doubt in this.

53. By seeing the three mountains Mundapr$fha, Aravinda and Krauftcapada, the pilgrim is freed from all sins.

54. When solar or lunar eclipse occurs in the month of Makara (January — February) Pintfa shall be offered in Gaya.

It bestows rare merits and is highly beneficent to the people. 55. A Sraddha performed in Mahahrada (great-eddy) of Kausiki, in Mulaksetra and in the cave of Grdhrakfita is seven times fruitful.

56. A person who performs Sraddha where the river Mahesvari flows shall be freed from material debts. By visiting the holy river ViSala famous in the three worlds a man obtains the fruits of Agnisfoma sacrifice. By performing Sraddha he shall go to heaven.

57. A person who takes bath and performs Sraddha in Somapada shall derive the fruits of Vajapeya sacrifice.

58. By offering Pinzas in Ravipada the fallen souls shall be uplifted. The manes consider themselves blessed with a son if he goes to Gaya and offers food oblations.

59. Fathers desire for sons in their fear of falling into Hell thinking, “One of them will go to Gaya and uplift us”.

On seeing the son who has reached Gaya the manes are excessively jubilant.

60. They will think like this: “Either the son or some one else at some time or other shall offer us water at least by wading through it in Gayakupa. ”

61. A pilgrim takes any one with that name to the eternal Brahmaft by repeating which he offers the Pin< Ja. A person who visits Kojitlrtha shall attain the Visnuloka called Pundarika.

62. The river which is renowned in the three worlds as Vaitaragi has incarnated in Gayak§etra for the uplift of the manes.

63. There is no doubt in this that a person who performs Sraddha, offers Pintfa and makes a gift of a cow uplifts his ancestors to twenty one generations.

64. If a son goes to Gaya sometime ( after the death of 258 Garuia Purina his father) he shall feed the local brahmins who had been allotted that right by Brahma.

65. Their post is Brahmasadas. The same is the post of Somapas (drinkers of Soma juice).

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