Vayu Purana

वैतरण्यां घृतकुल्यां मधुकुल्यां तथैव च। कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा कोटीश्वरञ्च यः ।। ५०.

At the Vaitarani, Ghritakuli, Madhukuli, and likewise at Kotitirtha—whoever bathes and beholds Kotishvara there—

कोटिजन्म भवेद्विप्रो धनाढ्यो वेदपारगः । मार्कण्डेयेशकोचीशौ नत्वा स्यात्पितृतारकः ।। ५०.

A brahmin is born a hundred million times, wealthy and learned in the Vedas; having bowed to Markandeya and Kocisha, he becomes a savior of his ancestors.

रुक्म पारिजातवने पार्व्वत्या सह शङ्करः। रहस्ये संस्थितो रेमे युगानामयुतं पुरा ।। ५०.

In the golden Parijata forest, Shiva once dwelt in secret with Parvati, delighting there for ten million ages in times past.

मरीचिः फलपुष्पार्थं पारिजातवनं गतः। दृष्ट्वा शप्तो महेशेन यस्मात्सुखविघातकः ।। ५०.

Marici went to the Parijata forest seeking fruit and flowers; seeing him, Maheshvara cursed him, for he was an obstacle to happiness.

दुःखी भवेति तद्भीतो मरिचिस्तुष्टुवे शिवम्। तुष्टः प्रोवाच तं शम्भुर्वृणीष्व वरमुत्तमम् ।। ५०.

Frightened by this, Marici, who was told 'Become miserable,' praised Shiva; pleased, Shambhu said to him, 'Choose your highest boon.'

शापाद् भवतु मुक्तिर्म्मे मरीचिः प्राह शङ्करम्। भवेद्गयायां मुक्तिस्ते शिवोक्तः प्रययौ गयाम् ।। ५०.

Marici said to Shankara, 'Let there be release from the curse for me.' Shiva replied, 'You will gain liberation at Gaya,' and so he went to Gaya.

शिलास्थितस्तपस्तेपे सर्व्वेषां दुष्करञ्च यत्। मरीचिरीश्वराच्छप्तः कृष्णत्वमगमत्पुरा ।। ५०.

Standing upon a stone, Marici performed severe austerities, the most difficult of all; cursed by Ishvara, he had previously become dark in color.

तपसा दारुणेनेह स विप्रः शुक्लतां गतः । हरिरूचे मरीचिञ्च वरं वृणुहि पुत्रक ।। ५०.

By means of harsh austerity, that sage regained a fair complexion; Hari said to Marici, 'Choose a boon, my child.'

किमलभ्यं त्वयि तुष्टे मरीचिः प्राह माधवम्। हरशापाद्विमुक्तोऽहं शिला भवतु पावनी ।। ५०.

Marici replied to Madhava, 'What is unattainable when you are pleased? Freed from Hara's curse, may this stone become purifying.'

पितृमुक्तिकरी च स्यात्तथेत्युक्त्वा दिवं गतः। दिवौकसां पुष्करिणीं समासाद्य नरः शुचिः ।। ५०.

'Let it grant liberation to ancestors as well.' Saying so, he ascended to heaven. A pure man who reaches that divine pond—

यत्र दत्तं पितृभ्यस्तु भवत्यक्षयमित्युत। तत्र स्नातो दिवं याति स्वशरीरेण मानवः ।। ५०.

Whatever is given there to the ancestors truly becomes inexhaustible; one who bathes there ascends to heaven in his own body.

पाप्मानं प्रजहात्येष जीर्णत्वचमिवोरगः। तत्पङ्गजवनं पुण्यं पुण्यकृद्भिर्निषेवितम् ।। ५०.

He casts off sin there, just as a serpent sheds its old skin; that Parijata forest is holy, frequented by the righteous.

पाण्डुशिला वै तत्रास्ते श्राद्धं यत्राक्षयं भवेत्। युधिष्ठिरस्तु तस्यां हि श्राद्धं कर्त्तुं ययौ मुने ।। ५०.

There stands the Pandu stone, where the sraddha offering becomes inexhaustible; Yudhishthira went there, O sage, to perform the sraddha.

तत्र काले पाण्डुनोक्तं मद्धस्ते देहि पिण्डकम्। हस्तं त्यक्त्वा शिलायाञ्च पिण्डदानञ्चकार सः ।। ५०.

At that time, Pandu said, 'Place the pinda in my hand.' Abandoning the hand, he performed the pinda offering on the stone.

शिलायां पिण्डदानेन प्रहृष्टो व्यासनन्दनः। वरं ददौ स्वपुत्राय राज्यं कुरु महीतले ।। ५०.

By offering the pinda on the stone, Vyasa's son was delighted; he granted his own son the boon of ruling the earth.

अकण्टकन्तु सम्पूर्णं त्वं मे त्राता हि पुत्रक। स्वर्गं व्रज शरीरेण भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ।। ५०.

'May you protect my son, making his reign complete and free of thorns; go to heaven in your body, surrounded by your brothers.'

दृष्टिमात्रेण सम्पूतान्नरकस्थान्दिवं नय। इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ पाण्डुः शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ।। ५०.

'By a mere glance, purify those in hell and lead them to heaven.' Having said this, Pandu departed to the eternal, imperishable abode.

उद्भिज्जाः स्वेदजा वापि ह्यण्डजा ये जरायुजाः। मधुस्रवां समासाद्य मृताः स्वर्गपुरं ययुः ।। ५०.

Beings born from moisture, from sweat, from eggs, or from wombs—having obtained the honey-flow, even if dead, have gone to the city of heaven.

दशाश्वमेधिके हंसतीर्थे श्राद्धाद्दिवं व्रजेत्। दशाश्वमेधहंसौ च नत्वा शिवपुरं व्रजेत् ।। ५०.

By performing śrāddha at the Hamsa Tirtha, which is equal to ten Ashvamedha sacrifices, one attains heaven; and by bowing to the ten Ashvamedha Hamsas, one attains the city of Shiva.

भरतस्याश्रमे श्राद्धान्नयेद्ब्रह्मालयं पितॄन्। मतङ्गस्य पदे श्राद्धी ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् ।। ५०.

By offering śrāddha at the hermitage of Bharata, one leads the ancestors to the abode of Brahma; by performing śrāddha at the place of Matanga, one leads the ancestors to the world of Brahma.

निर्म्मथ्याग्निं शमीगर्भे विधिर्विष्ण्वादिभिः सह। लेभे तीर्थन्तु यज्ञार्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ।। ५०.

Having churned fire within the Sami tree, the rite was performed together with Vishnu and others; that tirtha, renowned in the three worlds, was obtained for the sake of sacrifice.

मखसंज्ञन्तु तत्तीर्थं पितॄणां मुक्ति दायकम्। स्नात्वा च तर्पणं कृत्वा पिण्डदो मुक्तिमाप्नुयात् ।। ५०.

That tirtha, called Makha, grants liberation to the ancestors; by bathing and offering libations and pinda there, the giver of pinda attains liberation.

पितॄन्स्वर्गं नयेन्नत्वा सङ्गमेऽङ्गारकेश्वरौ। गयाकूटे पिण्डदानादश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।। ५०.

By bowing at the confluence to Angaraka and Ishvara, one leads the ancestors to heaven; by offering pinda at the summit of Gaya, one obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

भस्मकूटे भस्मनाथं नत्वा च तारयेत्पितॄन् । त्यक्तपापो भवेन्मुक्तः सङ्गमे स्नानमाचरेत् ।। ५०.

By bowing to Bhasmanatha at Bhasmakuta, one saves the ancestors; becoming free from sin and liberated, one should bathe at the confluence.

इष्टिं चक्रेऽश्वमेधाख्यं वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः। इष्टितो निर्गतः शम्भुर्वरं वृणु वसिष्ठकम् ।। ५०.

The eminent sage Vasishtha performed a sacrifice called Ashvamedha; from that sacrifice, Shambhu appeared and said, 'Choose a boon, O Vasishtha.'

प्राहेति तं वसिष्ठोऽपि शिव तुष्ठोऽसि मे यदि। वस्तव्यं चात्र देवेश तथेत्युक्त्वा शिवः स्थितः ।। ५०.

Vasishtha replied, 'If you are pleased with me, O Lord of the gods, then you must reside here.' Shiva, saying 'So be it,' remained there.

पिण्डदो धेनुकारण्ये कामधेनुपदेषु च। स्नात्वा नत्वाथ सम्पूज्य ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् ।। ५०.

By giving pinda in the Dhenuka forest and at the places of Kamadhenu, after bathing, bowing, and duly worshipping, one leads the ancestors to the world of Brahma.

कर्द्दमाले गयानाभौ मुण्डपृष्ठसमीपतः। स्नात्वा श्राद्धादिकं कृत्वा पितॄणामनृणो भवेत् ।। ५०.

At Kardama Lake, at the navel of Gaya, and near Mundapristha, by bathing and performing śrāddha and related rites, one becomes free from debt to the ancestors.

फल्गुचण्डीश्मशानाक्षीमङ्गलाद्याः समर्च्चयेत्। गयायाञ्च वृषोत्सर्गात्रिः सप्तकुलमुद्धरेत् ।। ५०.

One should worship Phalgu, Chandi, Smashana, Akshi, Mangala, and others; and by releasing a bull at Gaya, one uplifts seven generations of one's family.