Sanatkumāra said:
1. The king Gaya, performed a Yajña1 wherein Dakşhiņā was offered and much food was cooked. It is impossible to calculate the number of articles made use of in it.
1. Verses 1-11a give the story of King Gaya’s munificent sacrifice. The object of the story is to inform that Brāhmaṇas who were cursed by Brahmå for their greed were absolved of that curse. Verses 7-9 state the names of the 14 Brahmaņas—which are the Gotras of present-day Gayāwals. Out of these 11 are Madhyandins, 2 Samavedins and only one Rugvedin (follower of Ashvalayana Sūtra). (Vidyarthi, Appendix IV, p. 145)
2-4. At Gayā there were twentyfive mountains of cooked food and other articles. The Brāhmaṇas who were well-honour ed in the different lands, praise it like this: “No one did like this before. No one will (can) do like this in future. The monetary gifts (in gold) coins offered were innumerable like the sand particles in the world and the stars in the sky. Formerly no one has done like this. No one will be doing like this in future.”
5. The Brāhmaṇas who were well propitiated and honoured well in the different lands, praised it. Vishņu and others (gods) who were pleased spoke to Gaya, “Mention the boon you wish to choose.”
6. Gaya requested them, “May those Brāhmaṇas who were formerly cursed by Brahmā, become sanctified. Let them be honoured in the sacrifices.”
7-9. For the performance of Gayāśhrāddha there were Brāhmaṇas of fourteen Gotras. Even Brahmå himself has to carry out their behests. They were: Gautama, Kaśhyapa, Kautsa, Kaushika, Kaņva, Bhāradvaja, Uśhanas, Våtsya, Parāśhara. Haritkumara, Māndavya, Lokākşhi the greatest in the world, Vasistha and Atreya. These were the names of the Gotras.
10. May this city be known as Gayå after my name. Let it be as renowned as the city of god Brahma.” The Suras said, “May this be so”. After granting the boon they vanished.
11. After enjoying various pleasures Gaya attained the great Vişhnuloka.
There was a king named Višala,1 in the city called Viśhāla. He had no sons. He spoke to the Brāhmaṇas thus:
1. Verses 11b-20a give the story of the childless King Viśhāla, how by performing Shraddha and Pinda dána at Gayā he got a son and promoted his father, grandfather and great-grandfather (though sinners) to Brahmaloka. Story repeated in AP. 115.54-59 and NP.II-44.26-42; GP.I.84-34-39.
12. “How can I beget sons etc.?” The Brāhmanas said to Vishäla, “You will have everything by offering Pindas at Gaya.”
13-14. Vishala offered Pindas at Gayasirsa and begot sons. He saw in the sky three persons white, red and black in colour. He then asked, “Who are you?” One of them, the white one, said to Viśhāla, “I, the white-one, am your father. I have come here from Indra’s world.
15. O Son, my father is this red one. He had slain a Brähmana. He was a sinner. This black one is your grandfather by whom many sages had been killed.
16-17. They had fallen into the hell called Avichi. They have been liberated by your offer of Pindas. O destroyer of enemies, you offered the water libation saying, “I shall propitiate my Pitris, Pitamahas and Prapitāmahas”. O excellent one, as a result thereof and in view of your above statement, we have come here simultaneously.
Pathāntara (Additional verses)
1. All of us have been liberated by you. We shall go to the imperishable heavenly abode. Accompanied by you, the good son, all of us shall go to Brahmaloka.
2. You shall be endowed with sons and grandsons. You will rule over the kingdom and then go to heaven. Becoming satiated with the pleasures thereof, you shall attain salvation.
[End of addl. verses]
18. O son, liberation has been effected by you. We shall go to the excellent heaven. In this manner the excellent liber ation of the Pitris must be effected by all sons.
19. You will rule over the kingdom for a long time. You will enjoy the rarest of pleasures. You will perform Yajñas with suitable Dakşhiņās and go to Vişhnu’s city (Vaikuntha) thereafter.”
20. The king who secured the boon thus ruled over the kingdom and went to heaven. The king of ghosts1 attained heaven along with the other ghosts, thanks to Gayāśhrāddha.
1. Verses 20-25 tell how a ghost attained heaven when at his request (and for consideration of some property) an unrelated merchant offered piņdas at Gaya.
This story is also found in NP.11.44.44-50 and in AP. 115.60-63, GP I.84 32-33.
21-23. In order to secure his liberation, a certain ghost spoke thus to a certain merchant: “Please offer Pinda in my name at Gayāśhiras in order to secure for me release from my ghosthood. Take (all) my wealth. Taking all the wealth to meet theexpenses connected with the Gayāśhrāddha. I have given you five-sixteenth part of my wealth (as your remuneration). I have mentioned my name (etc.) in the proper manner.”
24. The man went to Gaya along with his kinsmen and offered Pindas to the king of ghosts at Gayaśhīrsha. It was only after that, that he offered the Pindas to his own Pitris.
25. The ghost was liberated from ghosthood. The merchant came back to his house. Thus is the holy centre of Gaya, of Shambhu, Vişhnu and Ravi.
26. The pilgrim should observe fast in the holy centre of Gayatri, on the banks of the great river Phalgu (Mahānadi). After taking bath, in front of Gayatrī, one should perform Prātaḥ-Sandhyā (Sandhya prayer to be perfromed at dawn).
27-28. By performing the Shraddha along with the offering of the Pindas, the pilgrim shall lead his family to the state of being favourabler to the Brahmaņas. After taking the holy dip in the Samuditatirtha (in the holy centre mentioned) in front of Savitri and performing Sandhyā at the midday junction, the pilgrim leads hundred members of his family to heaven. Then with a desire for the liberation of the Pitris, he should offer the Pindas unto them.
29. After taking bath duly in the holy water called Prăchisarasvati and performing the Sandhya-prayer in the evening the pilgrim shall lead the Pitris to Vişhnuloka.
30-32. A person who has incurred sin due to negligence of performing Sandhya (prayer to be performed during the twilight period e.g. dawn and dusk) in many births becomes liberated by performing Sandhya on three occasions in the holy centre Lelihāna, in Viśhāla as well as in the hermitage of Bharata.
A person who takes holy ablution and offers Pindas on the ridge of the mountain Munda (Prşhtha) marked by footprints and near Gadadhara, in the holy centre Akāśhaganga and in those called Girikarņamukhas, leads hundred members of his family to Brahmaloka. He who takes bath in the celestial river Vaitarani leads his Pitris to heaven.
33-37. A person who takes bath and makes gifts of cows in Vaitarani, uplifts twentyone generations. O Nárada (I repeat it three times to emphasize that it is true) it is true that he who takes bath in Vaitarani redeems twentyone generations; they say so, there is no doubt in this. The river Vaitarani which is well known in the three worlds has descended down into Gayākşhetra for the redemption of Pitris. A person who performs Shraddha in (on the bank of) the Godāvarī, Vaitaraṇī, Yamunā and in the celestial river (i.e. Ganga) in the holy centre Gopracāra, leads his Pitris to heaven. A person who offers Pindas in Puşhkariņi, in Ghrutakulya and Madhukulyā, in the Kotitirtha pertaining to Rukmini leads his Pitris to heaven by observing fast for three nights and visiting the sacred waters.
38-39. By not giving gold or kine, a man becomes indigent. A man who takes ablutions in Ghrutakulya, Madhukulyā, Devikā, Mahanadi (Phalgu) and in the celebrated place of meeting of Shilä (called) Madhusravā,1 attains the benefit of ten thousand Aśhvamedhas.
1. Verses 26-43 describe other sacred spots at Gaya such as Gāyatritirtha, Prāchi-Sarasvati Tīrth, Viśhālā, Lelihāna and Bharata’s hermitage (30-32), Mundaprustha, Akashagangă (26-32), Vaitaraņi (33-37) and others.
40. After performing the Shrāddha along with the offering of Pindas, the man uplifts a hundred generations in his family and leads them to Vişhnuloka.
41. One who offers Piņdas in Daśhāśhvamedha, Hamsatirtha, Amarakanţaka, Koțitirtha and Rukmakunda leads his Pitris to heaven.
42-43. By taking bath in Vaitarani, Ghrutakulya, Madhu kulya and Kotitirtha and visiting Kotiśhvara, the pilgrim becomes a rich Brāhmaṇa and a master of all the Vedas fora crore of births. Bowing to Märkandeyeśha and Kotīsa he shall be the redeemer of his Pitris.
44. Formerly Shankara sported secretly with Parvati2 in the forest called Rukmapārijatavana for ten thousand Yugas.
2. Verses 44-51 tell how Marichi was absolved of the curse of Shiva by performing penance at Gayā.
45. Marichi went to this Pārijātavana for gathering fruits and flowers. He was seen by Maheśha. Since he had become the cause of the obstruction of his (Shiva’s) pleasure he was cursed by Mahesha.
46. “You shall become miserable.” This was the curse. Afraid of him, Marichi eulogised Shiva. The delighted Shambhu spoke to him, “Choose an excellent boon”.
47. Marichi spoke to Shankara, “May I have the absolution from the curse”. “At Gayā you will have the liberation”, spoken thus by Shiva, he went to Gaya.
48. Marichi who had been cursed by Isvara formerly attained Krişhnatva (blackness of complexion). Seated on a rock, he performed a penance very difficult for anyone else to perform.
49. By means of a terrible penance, that Brāhmaṇa attained Shuklatā (whiteness of complexion). Hari spoke to Marichi, “O son, choose a boon”.
50. Marichi said to Madhava, “When you are satisfied, what is inaccessible? I have been relieved from the curse of Hara. May this rock be sacred.
51. May it be conducive to the salvation of the Pitris”. Saying “So be it” he (Hari) went to heaven. A man approach ing Pushkariņi of the heaven-dwellers becomes pure.
52. Whatever is offered to the Pitris here becomes in exhaustible. He who takes bath there, goes to heaven with his own physical body.
53. He shakes off his sin like a serpent casting off its slough. That forest of clusters of lotuses is holy and is resorted to by meritorious persons.
54. The slab of Pandu (Panduśhila) is there.1 If Shraddha is performed (at Panduśhila), it becomes inexhaustible. O sage. once Yudhisthira went there to perform Shraddha.
1. Verses 54-58 state bow Yudhisthira deposited the Pinda at the Shila, not in the hand of Pandu though he appeared personally.
55. At that time he was requested by Pandu, “Give the Pinda into my hand.” Avoiding the hand, he placed the Pinda on the rock.
56-58. By the offer of the Pinda on the rock, Vyasa’s son (i.e. Pandu) was delighted. He granted this boon to his son: “Rule over the kingdom on the surface of the earth. May the kingdom flourish perfectly and devoid of thorns (trouble makers). O son, you are my saviour. Go unto heaven surround ed by your brothers and along with your physical body. Lead those in the hell to heaven after purifying them by means of your vision alone”. Saying this, Pāņdu attained the eternal immutable region.
59. All the four types of living beings, viz. Udbhijjas (plants), Svedajas (sweat-born germs), Andajas (egg-born birds) and Jarāyujas (womb-born animals) who approach Madhusravā shall go to the city of heaven after death.
60. By performing Shraddha in Daśhāśhvamedhika and Hamsatirtha one goes to heaven. By bowing to Daśhāśhvamedha and Hamsa, one goes to Shivapura.
61. By performing Shrāddha in the herinitage of Bharata one leads the Pitris to the abode of Brahma. One who per forms Shrāddha at the footprint of Matanga leads the Pitris to Brahmaloka.
62-63. After churning the fire within the Shami tree in the company of Vişhnu and others, Vidhi (Brahma) secured the Tīrtha for the purpose of Yajña. It is well known in the three worlds. That Tirtha named Makha (sacrifice) yields salva tion unto the Pitris. One who takes bath, performs the Tarpana rites and offers Piņdas shall attain salvation.
64. After bowing to Angaraka (Mars) and Iśhvara (Shiva) at the Sangama (confluence), the pilgrim leads the Pitris to heaven. By offering Pindas at Gayakūta one derives the benefit of Aśhvamedha.
65. After bowing to Bhasmanātha at Bhasmakūta, one shall redeem and uplift the Pitris. One who performs ablutions at Sangama, shall be relieved of sins and he becomes liberated.
66-67. The excellent sage Vasistha performed the sacrifice called Aśhvamedha. Shambhu who came out of the Ishti (sacrifice) said to Vasistha, “Choose a boon”. Vasistha too then replied, “O Shiva, if you are pleased with me, O lord of Devas, you stay here (alone).” Saying “So be it”, Shiva stayed there.
68. One who offers Piņdas at the footprints of Kamadhenu in Dhenukaranya after bathing, bowing down and worshipping them, leads the Pitris to Brahmaloka.
69. By taking bath and performing Shraddha etc. at Kardamála, holy centre in Gayanābhi, near the ridge of the mountain Mundapruşhtha, one is absolved of debts to his Pitris.
70. One shall worship (the deities) Phalgu, Chandī, Shmasha näkşhi, Margalā and others. By means of Vrushotsarga (letting loose a bull calf) one shall uplift twentyone generations of his family.
71-74. The deities and the sages who have conquered their sense organs are stationed here and there (in Gayā). Meditating on the primordial Gadadhara and offering Piņdas etc., one up lifts a hundred generations in his family and leads the Pitris to Brahmaloka. The six Gayas,1 viz. Gaya-gaya (Gayāgaja), Gaya-ditya, Gayatrī, Gadadhara, Gaya, and the demon Gaya- are the bestowers of salvation.
1. This enumerates the Six Gayas where worship and Pinda-dana lead to mukti. Gayāgaya may be Gayagaja. If so, Kane thinks it may a reference to the pillar with a figure of an elephant near Gadadhara temple- HD IV Foot Note 150a. This verse is found in NP. II. 47. 39-40.
A man who reads this holy narrative of Gaya continuously and listens to it with faith attains the greatest goal. A man who teaches the anecdote of Gaya to the Brāhmaṇas (or who causes Brāhmaṇas to read it) is meritorious.
75-79. Gayaśhraddha is performed by him. Certainly it is done. He who studies the glory of Gay, with purity of mind has actually performed Räjasūya and Aśhvamedha. О Närada, Goddess of fortune, Lakşhmi, will stay delightedly in the house of the person who writes this book or worships it or causes others to write it.
If this book containing this holy anecdote remains in the house, there is no fear due to serpents, fires or robbers there.
If anyone reads this glory of Gayå at the time of Shrāddha, it will be considered by Pitris on a par with Gayāśhrāddha even if it is against strict injunctions in the Shastras.
O Sage, if anyone knows, hears or reads the anecdote of Gayà, all the Tīrthas of the three worlds are visited by him.
Sūta said:
80. Sanatkumara thus narrated the holy story with devotion to the leading sage. He then bade farewell to the preceptor in music (i.e. to Närada) and went to his own hermitage surrounded by holy forests.