Chapter 161 - The Greatness of Sarpa Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Thereafter, O great king, a person should go to the excellent Sarpa Tīrtha where, O Yudhiṣṭhira, great serpents performed penance and became Siddhas.

They are the serpents Vāsuki, Takṣaka the terrible serpent, Airāvata, the highly fortunate Kāliya, Karkoṭaka, Dhanañjaya, the highly refulgent Śaṅkhacūḍa, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Vṛkodara, Kulika, Vāmana and the sons and grandsons of all these who performed a very difficult penance there at that highly meritorious Tīrtha. (Thereby) now they enjoy different kinds of pleasures. They now sport about as they please.

Śaṅkara has formerly declared that one who takes his holy bath there in that Tīrtha and offers libations to Pitṛs and Devas, obtains the benefit of a Vājapeya sacrifice. O descendant of Bharata, men who have taken their holy baths in the Sarpatīrtha have seldom fear from serpents, scorpions and the like anywhere on the earth.

One who dies there goes to the city of Bhogavatī and is honoured by great serpents surrounded by Nāga maidens. He shall be the Lord of great enjoyments.

8-11. On the eighth lunar day in the dark half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, a person should be pure and observe fast. He should cover the Liṅga with gingelly seeds. In accordance with his capacity, he should adore with sweet-smelling flowers. After doing thus duly, he should prostrate and crave for forgiveness.

O leader of men, listen to the benefit that has been enjoyed in his case. O king, he rejoices for as much time in Svarga (Amarāvatī) as he desires, nay as many years as there are gingelly seeds, leaves, flowers and fruits (in the adoration).

Having slipped down from Svarga, he is reborn in a pure family. He will be handsome, fortunate and highly rich. He will become a Lord of crores.