ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 21: ‘Phala Shruti’ of Nilamata Purana
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
The virtuous Brihadashwa concluded his narration of Nilamata Purana to King Gonanda as follows:
Kashmirakaanaam Tirthaanaam phalam tey Kathitam mayaa,
Sakalam Nila Vaakyamcha Gamishyaami Sukhi bhava/
Idam dhaaryam prayatnena yanmayaabhitam tava,
Shrutvaitata phalamaapnoti Dasha Go-daanaam Narah/
(The unfolding of facts as described above by King Nila concerning Tirthas in Kashmira and the rewards in visiting them should make one delighted; retention of these details in memory with some effort would indeed yield the remuneration of charity of ten cows).
While winding up the recounting of Nilamatha Purana, King Janamejaya specifically asked Maharshi Vaishampayana about the Mahatmya of River Vitasta. The Maharshi replied that Devi Daakshaayani / Sati Devi the better half of Maha Deva was herself a sacred manifestation of Kashmira:
Harasya dayitaa Bhaaryaa Sati Daakshaayani shubhaa,
Saivomaa kathitaa Rajan praapotey Vaivaswatentarey/
Himadra tanayaa saiva Yamunaa paapanaashani,
Manvantaraantey saivokthaa nourgarishtha Jagattraye/
Kashmiraa kathitaa Devi Vitastaa saiva nimnagaa,
Pataalaadyutthitaa Devee Shulaghaatita Taranginee/
( Devi Katyayani the wife of Hara was Sati Devi at the end of Vaivaswantaraa and was also the River Yamuna which sprang from Patala loka by the hit of Skanda’s Sula; that was the River Vitasta identified with Sati Devi herself).
River Vitasta was considered as Sacred and Sin-demolishing as River Ganga; in fact Bhagiratatha brought the River from the Heavens to purify the bones of the dead ‘Sagara Putras’, where as Vitasta did not have any such eventuality but purified the persons of all their blemishes.All those who drank the holy waters of Vitasta were all destined to ascend to Swagraloka where they would be treated to drink Somarasa. While Devas were satisfied with the oblations that were made at the Yagnas on the banks of the holy Vitasta, Pitras were contented with the ‘Shraadhas’ and ‘Tarpanas’ and Brahmanas with ‘Mrishtaanna bhojana’ along with Dakshinas. Nagas, Rivers, Maharshis, Brahmanas, persons of all other ‘Varnas’, Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Apsaras and Rakshasaas and so on approach the Great Vitasta for their own reasons and most sigificanly to wash their body, heart and soul!
Further the various prominent Rivers approach The Most Hallowed Vitasta:
Sindhurtrikoti cha tathaa Vishoka Punyaa Nadi Harshapathaa Shivaa chaiva,
Punyaa Sukhaa Chandravati Sugandhaa Punyodaka kilbisha nashani cha/
Kulaaranih Paapaharaacha Krishna Nadi Supunyaa Madhumatyaathaapi,
Nadi Paroshani cha tatthaatra Punyaa Praayanti Divyaa varadaam Vitastaam/
Gangaa Nadi Shambhujataakalaapey Chandrena Devena tathaa vibhinna,
Proktaa Nrilokey Nripa Chandrabhaagaa aayaati punyaam vitataam Vitastaam/
(All the great Rivers like Sindhu, Trikoti, Vishoka, Harshapatha, Sukha, Chandravati, Sugandha, Punyodaka, Kulakarni, Krishna, Madhumati, Paroshini, Chandrabhaga, which is the alternate Rupa of Ganga, do all move towards the Unique and Immortal Vitasta River) and so do all Tirthas, Sarovaras, Nadis, ‘Tadakas’and Wells; all others concerned mentioned above approach the Celestial River to maximise their ‘Punya’, especially on Bhadrapada Shukla Trayodashi.
Shrutwaa Vitasta Mahaatmyam muchyatey sarvakilbishaih,
Shrutwaa Nilamatam Sarvam Dasha Dhenu phalam labhet/
(Paying sincere attention to ‘Vitasta Mahamya’ would indeed destroy all sins and transgressions. But closely following the proceedings of Nilamata Purana should grant the additional worth of ‘Dasha Go-Daana’).
SHRIRASTU SHUBHAMASTU SANMANGAANIBHAVANTU
Kashmirakaanaam Tirthaanaam phalam tey Kathitam mayaa,
Sakalam Nila Vaakyamcha Gamishyaami Sukhi bhava/
Idam dhaaryam prayatnena yanmayaabhitam tava,
Shrutvaitata phalamaapnoti Dasha Go-daanaam Narah/
(The unfolding of facts as described above by King Nila concerning Tirthas in Kashmira and the rewards in visiting them should make one delighted; retention of these details in memory with some effort would indeed yield the remuneration of charity of ten cows).
While winding up the recounting of Nilamatha Purana, King Janamejaya specifically asked Maharshi Vaishampayana about the Mahatmya of River Vitasta. The Maharshi replied that Devi Daakshaayani / Sati Devi the better half of Maha Deva was herself a sacred manifestation of Kashmira:
Harasya dayitaa Bhaaryaa Sati Daakshaayani shubhaa,
Saivomaa kathitaa Rajan praapotey Vaivaswatentarey/
Himadra tanayaa saiva Yamunaa paapanaashani,
Manvantaraantey saivokthaa nourgarishtha Jagattraye/
Kashmiraa kathitaa Devi Vitastaa saiva nimnagaa,
Pataalaadyutthitaa Devee Shulaghaatita Taranginee/
( Devi Katyayani the wife of Hara was Sati Devi at the end of Vaivaswantaraa and was also the River Yamuna which sprang from Patala loka by the hit of Skanda’s Sula; that was the River Vitasta identified with Sati Devi herself).
River Vitasta was considered as Sacred and Sin-demolishing as River Ganga; in fact Bhagiratatha brought the River from the Heavens to purify the bones of the dead ‘Sagara Putras’, where as Vitasta did not have any such eventuality but purified the persons of all their blemishes.All those who drank the holy waters of Vitasta were all destined to ascend to Swagraloka where they would be treated to drink Somarasa. While Devas were satisfied with the oblations that were made at the Yagnas on the banks of the holy Vitasta, Pitras were contented with the ‘Shraadhas’ and ‘Tarpanas’ and Brahmanas with ‘Mrishtaanna bhojana’ along with Dakshinas. Nagas, Rivers, Maharshis, Brahmanas, persons of all other ‘Varnas’, Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Apsaras and Rakshasaas and so on approach the Great Vitasta for their own reasons and most sigificanly to wash their body, heart and soul!
Further the various prominent Rivers approach The Most Hallowed Vitasta:
Sindhurtrikoti cha tathaa Vishoka Punyaa Nadi Harshapathaa Shivaa chaiva,
Punyaa Sukhaa Chandravati Sugandhaa Punyodaka kilbisha nashani cha/
Kulaaranih Paapaharaacha Krishna Nadi Supunyaa Madhumatyaathaapi,
Nadi Paroshani cha tatthaatra Punyaa Praayanti Divyaa varadaam Vitastaam/
Gangaa Nadi Shambhujataakalaapey Chandrena Devena tathaa vibhinna,
Proktaa Nrilokey Nripa Chandrabhaagaa aayaati punyaam vitataam Vitastaam/
(All the great Rivers like Sindhu, Trikoti, Vishoka, Harshapatha, Sukha, Chandravati, Sugandha, Punyodaka, Kulakarni, Krishna, Madhumati, Paroshini, Chandrabhaga, which is the alternate Rupa of Ganga, do all move towards the Unique and Immortal Vitasta River) and so do all Tirthas, Sarovaras, Nadis, ‘Tadakas’and Wells; all others concerned mentioned above approach the Celestial River to maximise their ‘Punya’, especially on Bhadrapada Shukla Trayodashi.
Shrutwaa Vitasta Mahaatmyam muchyatey sarvakilbishaih,
Shrutwaa Nilamatam Sarvam Dasha Dhenu phalam labhet/
(Paying sincere attention to ‘Vitasta Mahamya’ would indeed destroy all sins and transgressions. But closely following the proceedings of Nilamata Purana should grant the additional worth of ‘Dasha Go-Daana’).
SHRIRASTU SHUBHAMASTU SANMANGAANIBHAVANTU