The Nilamata Purana

by Dr. Ved Kumari

Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages

Srinagar

Om auspiciousness. Salutation to the auspicious Ganesa.

Salutation to the venerable Vasudeva Om.

1-2. Having paid homage to the god Hari - the abode of Sri, the giver of boons, the highest lord, the master of three worlds, the finder of cow (earth), the imperishable and the unchangeable - the honourable king Janamejaya, the supporter of the family of Pariksita, asked Vyasa's pupil Vaisampayana.

3. Janamejaya (said): "Kings of various countries - the great heroes - came to the great Bharata war of my forefathers.

4-5. Say, why did not the king of Kasmira come there? Why was that king not chosen by the sons of Pandu and Dhrtarastra? The region of Kasmira, of course, occupies an important place in the world.

6. Vaisampayana (said): "Accompanied by his four-fold armies (the king of Kasmira) went to the Svayamvara to fight with Madhava, the son of Vasudeva.

7. A fight between him and the wise Vasudeva took place there as had taken place between Naraka and Vasudeva.

8-9. Consequently he was thrown down by Vasudeva in that good combat. Out of respect for that country, Vasudeva coronated his pregnant queen, so that the posthumous son might rule.

10. Afterwards, she gave birth to a male child who was named Gonanda. Being a child, he was brought neither by the Pandavas nor by the Kauravas."

11. Janamejaya (spoke): "O best among the twice-born, why did the high-minded Vasudeva honour (so much) the country that he himself coronated a woman?"

12- 13. Vaisampayana (said): "O best amongst the kings, the goddess Uma is the same as Kasmira. What was formerly, an enjoyable, heart-enrapturing lake for six Manvantaras since the beginning of the Kalpa, became a beautiful territory in this Manvantara.

14-16. Filled with rows of rice-fields, fully thriving and endowed with good fruits etc., inhabited by the people who perform sacrifices and are engaged in self-study and contemplation - virtuous ascetics well-versed in the Vedas and the Vedangas - by highly prosperous Ksatriyas adept in (the use of) all the arms and weapons, by Vaisyas engaged in (earning) the means of livelihood, and by Sudras serving the twice-born, it is bedecked with the temples of the gods and all the holy places, and is auspicious.

17. 0 protector of men! all the sacred places, which are on the earth, are there. Thronged with the hermitages of the sages (it is) pleasant in heat and cold and is auspicious.

18. Unconquerable by the enemy-kingdoms, ignorant of the fears born of them, rich in cows, horses. elephants etc. it is devoid of the fear of famines.

19. Not dependent on rains, enjoyable, holy, beneficial for living beings, endowed with the qualities (of producing) all grains, it is devoid of dangers and is thickly populated.

20. Possessed of the grace like that of a temple due to the (presence of) tender ladies, it is devoid of evil serpents, tigers, buffaloes and bears.

21. Always full of festivals, twangings of the bows and the sounds of the Vedic recitals, it is crowded with ever-sportive men and is surrounded by ever happy persons.

22. Full of gardens and pleasure-groves and resounding with the sounds of drums and lutes, it is always crowded with people fond of drinks and is dear to the hearts of good men.

23. Laden with various types of flowers, fruits, trees, creepers and medicinal herbs, it is full of hosts of wild beasts and is enjoyed by the Siddhas and the Caranas.

24-25. O controller of the enemies, the holy region of Kasmira is possessed of all the sacred places. There are sacred lakes of the Nagas and the holy mountains; there are holy rivers and also the holy lakes; there are highly sacred temples and also the hermitages attached to them.

26. In the center flows, making as it were the parting of the hair, the Vitasta - the highest goddess visibly born of the Himalaya."

27. Janamejaya (asked): "O Twice-born, how did that which was a pure lake in former Manvantaras, become a province in Vaivasvata (Manvantara)?"

28-29. Vaisampayana (replied): "O best of the kings, once in olden days, the excellent king Gonanda enquired the same point from Brhadasva after worshipping him who had reached there in the course of a pilgrim's journey".

30. Gonanda (asked): 'There did not exist, in the previous Manvantaras, this country named Kasmira How did it come into being in Vaivasvata Period?'

31-33. Brhadasva(spoke): 'The passage of the sun through one sign of the zodiac is called a solar month. Two months should be known as a season and three seasons as an Ayana. Similarly, two Ayanas make one year and O king, the years, numbering four lacs and thirty two thousands, make Kaliyuga. Twice as much as this, O king, is Dvapara. Thrice-multiplied is Treta and four times multiplied should be known as Krta.

34. Of seventy one Caturyugas is called one Manvantara here.

35. At the end of that Manvantara, all the movable, and immovable creations on the earth are destroyed completely.

36-38. 0 lord of the earth, this whole world then turns into a sea. The mountains Himavat, Hemakuta, Nisadha, Nila, Sveta, Srngavat, Meru, Malyavat, Gandhamadana, Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Suktimat, Rksavat, Vindhya and Pariyatra are not destroyed. The whole of the rest of Jambudvipa is effaced completely.

39. Then, after the destruction of this world, the lord Mahadeva himself, in the form of water, stays all around this world.

40-41. At that time, the goddess Sati assumes the form of a boat and the future Manu, through magical power, places all the seeds in that (boat). Having assumed the form of a fish, Visnu - the father of the world - drags off that boat by means of (His) horn.

42. 0 protector of the earth, the God, having drawn off the boat, fastens that to the top of that mountain and goes to an unknown state.

43. 0 king, see in this western region, this mountain-peak called Naubandhana, holy and destroyer of sins and fears.

44. 0 controller of the enemies, when the period equal to hat of Krta passes away, then Manu brings about the creation of beings as before.

45-46. The goddess Sati, with the body in the form of the boat, becomes the earth and on that earth comes into being a lake of clear water, known as Satidesa, six Yojanas long and half of that in breadth, enjoyable, heart-enrapturing, and the sporting-place of the gods.

47. Deep like the sky, bright with lotuses containing cool and clear water, it is the most charming (lake) on the whole earth.

48-49. 0 king, at the approach of this Vaivasvata Manvantara, Daksa gave his thirteen daughters to Kasyapa, the son of Marica.

O best of the kings, listen to their names from me. The sons of Aditi are the gods and those of Diti are the Daityas.

50. (The son) of Danayusa is Vrtra and (the sons) of Surabhi are the Bhadras. The Yaksas and the Raksasas are regarded to be the sons of Khasa.

51. Airavana is the son of Ira; ten Gayanas are (the sons) of Prava and the celestial host of the Apsaras is born of Muni.

52. The Kalakalpas and the Kalakeyas are regarded to be the sons of Kala. The Danavas are the sons of Danu, and of Krodha are born ten daughters.

53. 0 king, the Nagas are the sons of Kadru, and Garuda and Aruna - the best among the birds - are the two sons of Vinata.

54. Kadru and Vinata, jealous of each other were, as was destined, always at daggers drawn.

55-57. Once, seeing the horse Uccaihsravas born of the water, Vinata pronounced that to be white, while Kadru, bent on doing mischief, said to Vinata "I, by all means regard that horse as possessed of black hair." O lord of the earth, then both of them betted complete slavery of each other with reference to that horse. Persuaded thus by Kadru (her) sons did the same.

58. Afterwards both of them saw that excellent horse as black-haired, and Kadru said to beautiful Vinata, "You have been won over".

59. Highly glorious and highly strong Garuda rescued Vinata who had been won over as a slave, by bringing Soma from Indra.

60. From Indra he obtained the boon of eating the Nagas. He ate up the Pannagas as a consequence of their enmity to his mother.

61. While the Nagas were being eaten by the high-minded Garuda, Vasuki sought the protection of Janardana, the god of the gods.

62. Vasuki said: "Salutation to you, O unfathomable supreme god! Salutation to you, O holder of bow, mace and sword in your hands! Salutation to you, the destroyer of the Danavas! Salutation to you praised by the lotus-born (Brahma)!

63. Salutation to you engaged in good of the world! Salutation to you, the pleaser of Indra! Salutation to you, the giver of boons to the devotees! Salutation to you, the demonstrator of the right path.

64-65. I have approached the god possessed of a beautiful colour like the lustre of the fully bloomed blue lotus, clad in two garments like the glowing gold, sinless, worthy of being solicited, having lotus-like feet placed in (the lap of) the daughter of the sea, highest, earliest and eternal. I prostrate myself with devotion to that first god.

66. You lie on Sesa's pure hood variegated with thousand jewels of rows of the heads. Thinking about the good and evil of the whole world, O god, protect me today.

67. O infinite, the lord of the birds, possessed of highly fierce and dreadful speed, is destroying my family rapidly. O praised by the excellent sages, you check that Tarksya whose strength is like that of the wind. Protect me today".

68-69. Brhadasva (said): The venerable god said to Vasuki who was agitated with fear: "O possessed of unparalleled strength, you along with the pious Nagas may dwell in the country of Sati, in the sky-like lake of holy water.

70. The enemy of the serpents shall not kill those serpents who will make their abode in that lake.

71. O lord of the Nagas, my mount - the enemy of the Nagas - shall not kill him who, with his abode in the country of Sati, dwells unthreatened from all sides.

72. O highly fortunate one, coronate Nila in the kingdom of those highly strong Nagas who shall dwell in the country of Sati."

73. Vasuki did as was stated by the god of gods. Then there remained no fear of Garuda for the Nagas who stayed there.

74. O best among the kings, the lotus-eyed Indra accompanied by Paulomi was sporting once on the bank of that lake.

75. Induced by Time (i.e. Death) a Daitya-chief named Sangraha who was exceedingly difficult of being conquered, came there while Indra was sporting.

76. The semen of that (demon) who had seen Saci, was discharged in that reservoir of water. Mad, due to being subject to passion and desirous of carrying away Saci...

77. Thereafter, the year was over in that fight against Indra. The fight between both of them - Indra and Sangraha - continued for one year.

78. Having killed him at the end of the year, the god Indra received honour from the gods and went to heaven while being worshipped by those who have their abodes in heaven.

79. A child was born in the waters out of that evil-minded Sangraha's discharged semen which had fallen in that lake.

80. Due to compassion, the Nagas brought up that child in the waters. As he was born in the water so he was called Jalodbhava (water-born).

81. Having propitiated the god Pitamaha with penance, he obtained from him a (triple) boon, viz, immortality in the water, magical power and unparalleled prowess.

82-83 Having obtained the magical power, that Daitya- chief devoured the human beings who lived in various countries near that lake, viz., the inhabitants of Darvabhisara, Gandhara and Juhundara, the Sakas, the Khasas, the Tanganas, the Mandavas, the Madras and the inhabitants of Antargiri and Bahirgiri.

84. Harassed by that sinner, they fled away in fear from the country and he roamed fearlessly in those desolate lands.

85. At this very time, the venerable sage Kasyapa travelled over the whole earth in connection with holy pilgrimage.

86-97. In this holy Bharatavarsa - the giver of the reward of good and evil - (he visited) auspicious Puskara, difficult of access and giver of the world of Brahma, Prayaga, teeming with sacrifices and destroyer of all sins, Kuruksetra, the field of piety, Naimisa, the destroyer of sins, Hayasirsa, the holy abode of high-souled Fathers, the celestial Carankata, the remover of all sins, the holy Varaha mountain, the holy Pancanada, Kalanjana along with Gokarna, Kedara along with Mahalaya, Badhirasrama, the holy abode of Narayana, Sugandha, Satakumbha, Kalikasrama, Sakambhari, Lalitika, Saligrama, Prthudaka, Suvarnaksa, Rudrakoti, Prabhasa, Sagarodaka, Indramarga, Matanga-vapi, the destroyer of sins, the holy Agastyasrama, Tandulikasrama, the holy Jambumarga, the holy Varanasi, the holy goddess Ganga, daughter of Jahnu and girdle of the sky, Yamuna, the destroyer of the noose of Yama, the swift-flowing Satadru, the Sarayu, possessed of the sacrificial posts, the goddess Sarasvati, the Godavari, the Vaitarani, the Gomati, the Bahuda, the Vedasmrti, the Asi along with the Varna, the Tamravarnotpalavati, the Sipra along with the Narmada, the Gona, the great river Parosni, the Iksumati, the Saratta, the Durga, the Jatasila, the Kaveri, the Brahmani, the Gauri, the Kampana the Tamasa, Gangasagara Sandhi and Sindhu sagarasangama.

98-99. 0 king, (he visited also) the Bhrgutunga, the Visala, Kubjamra, the Raivataka, Kusavarta at Gangadvara, Bilvaka, the mountain Nila, the holy place Kanakhala and other sacred places.

100. Having heard that Kasyapa was on a religious tour, Nila - the king of the serpents - went to the sacred place Kanakhala for seeing him.

101. Having reached there, that king of the serpents saw his father, pressed his feet and saluted him after announcing his own name.

102. The father smelled his forehead and honoured him in the proper manner. Directed then by him (the father), he sat on the matting made of Kusa grass.

103. 0 king, listen to what the seated Naga communicated respectfully to the father Kasyapa, the abode of all penances.

104. 'Having heard that you - lover of Dharma (piety) - are visiting the sacred places, I, with a desire to serve, have immediately approached your honour.

105. O Brahman, all the sacred places in the eastern, the southern and the western (part of the) country have been seen by you. Let us go now to the northern direction.

106. O honour-giver, there are holy places of pilgrimage in Madra country and on the Himalaya - the best of the mountains.

107-8. (There is) the auspicious Vipasa, the pacifier of sins and giver of eternal bliss, the river Devahrada, a bath in which gives the heaven, the sin-removing god Hara Haririsvara and the holy confluence near Karavirapura.

109. At that place the Devahrada joins the Vipasa, the best of the rivers. In the Vipasa, there is the perpetually holy Kalikasrama.

110-11. (There is) the holy Iravati, the destroyer of all Sins. Sixty thousand sacred places dwell in single Iravati, specially in Revati (Naksatra) and on the eighth day (of a fortnight).

112-13. (There are) Kumbhavasunda possessed of holy water, the river Devika possessed of holy water, the great river Visvamitra which is sacred always, (the river) called Udda which is highly sacred and the various confluences (of the rivers). The religious merit (lies) in the Iravati and also in the Devika.

114-118. Brought down by your honour for doing favour to the Madras, it is the goddess Uma who is famous on the earth as Devika and by seeing whom a man certainly becomes purified in this world. (There are) Indramarga, Somatirtha, the holy Ambujana, Suvarnabindu, the auspicious abode of Hara, the sin-destroying abode of Skanda, the highly sacred lord of Uma at Rudratirtha, Durgadvara, possessed of holy water, Kotitirtha, the sacred place of Rudra, Kamakhya and Puspanyasa. 0 honour-giver, (there is) Hamsapada pronounced as holy and so also Rsirupa.

119. In the area extending over four krosas, there is Devikatirtha at all the places where every well and pool is holy in all respects.

120. (There is) the sacred river Apaga and the holy Tausi which pleases the sun. There is the Candrabhaga the best of the rivers - whose water is cool like the rays of the moon.

121. Vaivatitlamukha is the meritorious holy place of the Candrabhaga and so also is the sin-destroying Sankhamardala.

122. (There are) Guhyesvara, Satamukha, Istikapatha, the holy Kadambesa and the area around it.

123. The area extending from the holy Satamukhaupto the holy place Guhyesvara, is equal, in holiness, to Varanasi or is even higher than that.

124. The great river Candrabhaga is always holy everywhere but is specially so on the thirteenth of the bright half of Magha in conjunction with Pusya.

125. All the sacred places on the earth, including the seas and the lakes, shall go to the Candrabhaga, on the thirteenth of the bright half of Magha.

126. Vastrapatha is stated to be holy and so also the god Chagalesvara, the second Bhaumi and also her birth place.

127. The sacred place of the lake which is an incarnation of the body of Sati, is the lake Visnupada famous Kramasara, the destroyer of all the sins.

128. O sage, please visit immediately these and other holy places by bathing at which, even the evil-minded human beings are freed (from the sins).'

129. Brhadasva (said): Addressed thus he whose desire had already been aroused, said "Let it be so" and went to those holy places in the company of Nila.

130. Having crossed the river-goddesses Yamuna and Sarasvati, he visited Kuruksetra where Sanniti is famous.

131-132. O sinless, a multitude of the holy places is called Sanniti on the earth. It is, verily, the spot to which all the tirthas including the seas and the lakes always go in the end of the dark half of the month.

133. He, who performs Sraddha there at the time when the sun is eclipsed by Rahu, obtains the best award of (performing) a thousand horse-sacrifices.

134. Having seen that Sanniti, (he saw) Cakratirtha also about which a verse sung by Narada is current on the earth.

135. "Oh! the persistence of the people for the sun-eclipse! The religious merit obtained at Cakratirtha is ten times more than the eclipse.

136. Having visited the sacred places called Cakra and Prthudaka, he saw the holy Visnupada and Amaraparvata.

137. Afterwards, having crossed the rivers Satadru and Ganga, the sage reached Arjuna's hermitage and Devasunda.

138. Having crossed the illustrious and sin-destroying Vipasa, Kasyapa saw the whole country desolate at that time.

139-140, Seeing the country of the Madras as desolate, he spoke to the Naga, '~O Nila, tell me - the inquirer - as to why this country of the Madras has been deserted? This has always been charming, devoid of the calamity of famine and full of the wealth of grains!"

141. Nila said: "O venerable one, all this is known to you that formerly a demon-child named Jalodbhava - the son of Sangraha - was reared up by me.

142-143. Now that impudent fellow, who obtained boons from Brahma of imperceptible birth, ignores me like anything and I am incapable of keeping him under control due to the boon of the lord of three worlds.

144. By that villain of evil intellect - eater of human flesh - this whole country of the Madras has been depopulated.

145-146. O lord, the countries rendered desolate by him are mainly Darvabhisara, Gandhara, Juhundara, Antargiri, Bahirgiri and those of the Sakas, the Khasas, the Tanganas and the Mandavas. O venerable one, make up your mind to check him for the welfare of the world.

147. Brhadasva (spoke): Addressed thus he said "Be it so" and after taking bath in the holy places all around, he came to that best limpid lake in the country of Sati.

148. O king, after taking bath there, he gave up walking on foot and went to the eternal world of Brahma, merely by his own power.

149-150. He went along with Nila, the high-souled king of the Nagas. O controller of the enemies, both of them reached the abode of Brahma and made obeisance to the lotus-born god and the gods Vasudeva, Isvara and highly intelligent Ananta, who were present there by chance.

151-152. Honoured by them, these two told the activities of Jalodbhava (Water-born). Then the god Pitamaha said to this Naga-lord and the sage of unparalleled valour, "we shall go to Naubandhana to subdue him.

153. Then the god Kesava will undoubtedly kill him. "Having heard this, Hari, the killer of the strong enemies, went (mounted on) Tarksya.

154. O sinless, after him went Hara, mounted on the bull, along with his wife. Brahma went mounted on the swan and the two Nagas mounted on the cloud.

155. Kasyapa went by his supernatural power. Indra heard that and, in the company of the hosts of gods, went to that place where Kesava had gone.

156-158. Yama, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Nirrti, Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas and the hosts of Maruts; Asvins, Bhrgus, Sadhyas, the sons of Angiras, the illustrious sages, Gandharvas, the hosts of heavenly maidens; all the wives of the gods, the mothers of the gods, the hosts of Vidyadharas, Yaksas, seas and rivers (all went there).

159. Ganga went mounted on crocodile, Yamuna on tortoise, Satadru on bull and Sarasvati on buffalo.

160. 0 King! Vipasa (went) mounted on horse, Iravati on elephant, Candrabhaga and Sindhu on tiger.

161. Devika (went) mounted on wild ox, Sarayu on deer, Mandakini on man and Payosni on goat.

162. O king, Narmada (went) mounted on peacock, Gomati on Saranga deer, Godavari on sheep and Kampana on swan.

163. O king, Gandaki (went) mounted on he crane, Kaveri on camel, the holy Iksumati on crocodile and the holy Sita on she crane.

164. Lauhitya (went) mounted on Camara deer, Vanksu - the fast going one - on Kroda (hog), Hladini on partridge and Hradini on cock.

165. Pavani (went) mounted on a horse, Sona on a serpent, Krsnaveni on cloud and Bhuvena on hare.

166. These and other rivers also went mounted on their respective mounts. All these, with a desire to see fight, followed the lord of the world.

167. Having reached Naubandhana, Kesava, verily, took a firm stand.

168. Hearing the sound of the retinue of the gods, the evil-minded demon, knowing himself to be imperishable in the water, did not come out.

169. Having come to know that he would not come out, the pleased Madhusudana entered Naubandhana, in the company of the gods.

170. Rudra (took stand) on Naubandhana peak, Hari on the Southern peak, Brahma on the Northern peak and the gods and the Asuras followed them.

171. Thus, they entered the mountain. Then the pious- minded god Janardana, with a view to kill the demon, said to Ananta:

172. "Breaking forth Himalaya today with the plough, make soon this lake devoid of water."

173. Brhadasva (said): Then Ananta, resembling a mountain and possessed of lustre equal to that of the full moon, expanded himself, covering the earth and the heaven and terrifying the hosts of demons all around.

174. Dressed in blue, wearing diadem fastened with gold, worshipped by all the gods, he, broke forth Himalaya, the best of the mountains on earth, with plough.

175-180. When the king of the best mountains had been broken, the water flowed forth hurriedly with force, terrifying all the beings with its violent rush and sound and overflowing the tops of the mountains with curved waves like Himalaya touching the sky. When the water of the lake was disappearing, Water-born practiced magic. He created darkness all around. O hero among men, the world became quite invisible.

Then the god Siva held the sun and the moon in his two hands. In a twinkling of the eye, the world was brought to light and all the darkness was destroyed.

When the darkness had vanished, unfathomable Hari, assuming another body with the power of Yoga, fought with the demon and witnessed that fight through a different body.

There was a terrible fight between Visnu and the demon, with trees and peaks of mountains. All those hosts of gods... (Hari) cut off, forcibly, the head of the demon and then Brahma obtained gratification.

181. Brahma, Visnu and Sambhu gave their own names to the peaks on which they had taken their stand, on the earth.

182-183. O best among men, they said to the high peaks of the high-souled king of the mountains: "Whoever shall see you after taking bath in this lake called Kramasara, shall see three of us on the mountain and will go to heaven."

184. Brhada¤va (said): See, O king, these are those peak - Brahma, Visnu, and Mahesvara. That which is Naubandhana peak is Sankara.

185. The one on its right side is celebrated as Hari and the left one as Brahma. Even the evil-doers are freed by seeing these (peaks)

186-187. To the north of that which is proclaimed as Visnupada in Kramasara, Brahma - the best of the gods - himself erected a hermitage. The venerable sage Kasyapa constructed a hermitage in the western half.

188. Mighty Mahadeva himself erected a hermitage at the spot where Visnu stood and obtained victory at that time.

189. In the other part of that place, the honourable plough-holder Ananta, abiding by the instructions of Vasudeva, constructed a great hermitage.

190. On the western side of Mahadeva's hermitage, the sun and the moon, honoured by the gods, constructed their beautiful and holy hermitages.

191. At a distance of one Yojana lessened by one-fourth of a Yojana from Mahadeva's hermitage, Hari erected his hermitage celebrated as Narasimha.

192-193. Afterwards, other gods erected their hermitages, each one separately, in the lake or on the waterless place. The sages whose wealth is penance erected hermitages, and the rivers created several places of pilgrimage. So did the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yaksas and the mountain-kings along with the Guhyakas.

194. Visnu and Rudra - the prominent ones in the world - made their abodes there along with the lotus-born (Brahma). The whole world has made its abode there. The country is meritorious and the holiest.

195. Then, the Sudarsana wheel - intoxicated with the blood of Jalodbhava - wandered in that deserted land and was caught by Sankara.

196. With discus in his hand, he went where (stood) the god Janardana. Then laughing heartily, Hari said to that god Sankara.

197. "O divine one, hand over the discus - destroyer of the hosts of the Daityas to me." Sankara (too) said in a joke to Hari who was laughing.

198. "Wandering at its will it has been found by me by chance. O Janardana, I shall return your discuss on the receipt of a gift."

199-200. "Be it so", said the destroyer of Madhu and received the discus. O king, this is the place you stand on now, where Hari - the best of the gods - made a joke and got erected his own statue in that pose.

201-204. O lord of kings and controller of enemies, Janardana Hari, having got erected such establishment of Sambhu and the goddess (Parvati) in that pose, made his abode on the head of Jalodbhava. O lion among men, the sages, the gods, the Nagas, the Gandharvas, the hosts of the heavenly maidens, all came there at the head of Jalodbhava to see this (statue) in which both Kesava and Siva - the destroyers of all sins - are represented and to see Janardana, the god of gods who erected the divine image.

205-206. When the chief gods, sages and Nagas had taken their seats, Kasyapa, standing in front with joined hands, said to the boon-giver Visnu, "O god, let this country be inhabited by human beings and be holy as well as charming." When Kasyapa had spoken thus, the Nagas uttered these words:

207-208. "0 best among the sages, we would not live in the Company of men." Then Prajapati Kasyapa certainly became angry and said to them, "As you speak audaciously; without paying regard to my words, so you shall have to dwell in the company of the Pisacas. There is no doubt here.

209. Kasyapa having spoken thus, Nila said with joined hands, "O Brahman, they are overpowered by anger and know nothing".

210-212. Then Kasyapa, the most pious sage, spoke to him, "In the centre of the Sea of Sand, there is an oasis six yojanas long. There dwell highly terrible Pisacas belonging to the side of the Daityas. Nikumbha - the noble and strong lord of the Pisacas - has been appointed by Kubera for keeping them in check. Every time in the month of Caitra, he along with many Pisacas goes to fight.

213-214. There are five crore Pisacas who are the followers of Nikumbha. Nikumbha goes along with them and fights continuously (against the evil-minded Pisacas) for six months. Of the evil-minded Pisacas, too, there live only five crores.

215. O Nila, those who exceed ten crores on both the sides are destroyed every time, in the period of six months.

216. Due to the favour of the god (Kubera), the mighty Nikumbha, along with his five crore (followers), comes again every time on the bright fifteenth of Asvayuj.

217-218. For six months he lives happily on the Himacala. From today I have allotted to him a dwelling-place here for six months (of each year). You shall have to live here for six months with him along with his armies and for six months, after his departure, in the company of men."

219-220. Addressed thus, the pious Nila said to his father, "We are ready to live always in the company of men. We would not live with the Pisacas who are cruel and who like cruelty." When Nila the Naga-chief spoke thus, Visnu said :

221. "O Nila, the words of the sage will be effective for one Caturyuga (i.e. four aeons). After that you will live~ in the company of men only.

222. Here the Pisacas will always become weak. Endowed with strength, they will go, to the Sea of Sand for six months.

223-224. The men will worship the Naga in whose territory they shall dwell, with flowers, incense, ointments, eatable offerings, incenses of various types and excellent gifts of dramatic performances.

225. Those men in this country, who will follow the good customs laid down by you, will be endowed with animals and grains.

226. Prajapati is called Ka, and Kasyapa is also Prajapati. Built by him this country will be called Kasmira.

227. Because water called Ka was taken out by Balarama (the plough-wielder) from this country, so this will be called Kasmira in this world.

228-229. O Naga, because Kasmira is the same as Uma so - She - nourished by me, celebrated as Visoka and assuming the form of a woman shall dwell at Vrddhatirtha.

230. O Naga, at that sacred place there shall always be the dwelling-place of Vasuki, the king of the Nagas. Worship him who lives there.

231. O chief of the Nagas, that lord of the kings of the Nagas is a part of my own self. He who disobeys his order meets destruction at my hand.

232-233. O Naga, the dwelling of the Nagas is the city named Bhogavati. Having become a Yogi that Naga-chief (Vasuki) dwells there as well as here. But with his primary body, Vasuki, protecting the Nagas, shall live in Bhogavati. O sinless one, you (also) dwell here constantly."

234. Having said so, Visnu then went on his desired course. The gods, the sages, the Nagas, and the Gandharvas went away as they had come.

235. Since then, the country is inhabited for six months (of the year), by human beings belonging to various countries, and for six months by the eaters of raw flesh.

236. O chief of the kings, having collected rice, grains etc. the human beings go away after taking permission and came back always on (the full-moon day of) Caitra.

237-238. O king, pleased to see Kasmira thus populated, Kasyapa worshipped the god Sankara and induced the goddess Uma to purify this country by the gift of water. She - the in destroying one - is renowned as the river Vitasta.

239. Having worshipped the god Kesava, he induced Laksmi to purify this country. She is glorified as Visoka.

240. Induced by Kasyapa, Aditi, the mother of the gods also, having become the river named Trikoti, flows in this country.

241. Induced by Kasyapa, Saci also, who is the wife of Indra, became in this country, Harsapatha, by name the destroyer of sins.

242. Diti, following the advice of the sage, became (the river) Candravati. The goddess Yamuna gave her own portion to the Vitasta.

243. Thus, by the order of Kasyapa, the mothers of the gods and the demons and the holy wives of the gods assumed the forms of rivers.

244. O lord of the earth, then, due to the advice of Kasyapa, the sacred waters, the oceans and the rivers went to Kasmira and her vicinity.

245. O lord of the kings, thus, on the arrival of Vaivasvata Antara, the highly meritorious and beautiful wife of Hara was born as Kasmira.

246. Desiring continuous welfare, you should regard the king Kasmira as born of a portion of Hara and never disobey him.

247. Gonanda (spoke): "How did Sati, Saci, Ganga, Aditi, Yamuna, Diti and the goddess Karisini obtain the forms of rivers here?"

248. Brhadasva (said): "Once the glorified goddesses went to see Kasyapa. The venerable sage Kasyapa induced them there (thus).

249. The beautiful country named Kasmira has been created by me. O possessed of pure smiles, cherish that (country) by gift of water.

250. Aditi, Diti, Saci and the river Ganga said,"Let it be so" but neither Uma nor Karisini (spoke).

251. Then he worshipped Sankara for (inducing) Sati, Hara thereafter said to his wife: "Do as has been said by Kasyapa."

252. The goddess then spoke to the sage. "That country being my own body is already purified. What is to be done by me there?"

253. Kasyapa (said): "As the human beings are always associated with Pisacas there, so their intellect does not always diverge from sin.

254. Dishonoured in all countries, possessed of evil practices and covered with impurities...

255. O beautiful faced, their sin can be allayed by you alone, as the sin committed in this land is regarded to be very weighty by me.

256. Brhadasva (said): After knowing this fact, the goddess, having a face beautiful like the moon and possessed of great compassion, said to her lord:

257-59. "O father of the world, I shall assume the form of a river in the Nether World. Make a stroke with your spear near the abode of Nila, where, O lord, while breaking the mountain, was (placed) the point of the plough. By that stroke of the spear I shall come out of the Nether World and shall follow the way made with the plough up to the place where there is the great river Sindhu." The god Hara (accordingly) did this and so did the beautiful Sati.

260-61. Sankara himself named her as Vitasta. Because Hara had excavated with the spear a ditch measuring one Vitasti, through which the good river - gone to the Nether World - had come out, so she was given the name Vitasta by Svayambhu.

262. Then, O king, the people in all the countries heard that the goddess Sati, after assuming the form of a river, had appeared in Kasmira.

263-64. Then the people, possessed of great sins, came to have bath in that (river). Being afraid of them, she went away quickly from that way excavated by means of spear to the Nether world. Propitiating her, Kasyapa again brought her out near Pancahasta.

265. Issuing forth from the abode of the Naga Pancahasta, she had covered a distance of one gavyuti only when an ungrateful person, verily, saw her.

266-67. Seen by an ungrateful one, she again disappeared. Persuaded once more by the sayings of Kasyapa, the best of the rivers allowed her person to be seen at a distance of a Krosa from that Cakra. Then seen by one who had illicit relation with a friend's wife, she again disappeared.

268. By the word of Kasyapa and praised by thousands of Brahmanas, the beautiful river was brought out at the hermitage of Narasimha.

269. Again at a distance of one Krosa, the great river, seen by a Brahmana-killer, vanished at once and then Kasyapa said to her:

270. "Salutation to you, O daughter of the king of mountains; salutation to you, loved by the best sages; salutation to you, the giver of boons, worthy of being solicited and possessed of sacred character by association with Hara.

271-72. O goddess - devoid of impurities and grief, having holy and cool water, with the banks approached by the frolicsome wives of the gods, embraced by the twice-born and the gods - afraid of whom you are running away, those very men - devoid of all sins and shining with great lustre - surround you.

273. O goddess, just as a thing burnt in the fire gets purity, so is the purity (obtained) from your sight. All sins become purified in the same way. O great goddess, be favourable!

274. O great river, you have been requested for the purification of the sinners, so purify the sins. O swiftly going one, do not go out of sight."

275. Gratified thus with devotion of the high-minded Kasyapa, the goddess spoke to Kasyapa who was speaking in that way.

276-78. "I do not dare purify those who are associated with too much of sin. For this implore Laksmi, the beloved of the bowholder (i.e. Visnu). She is capable of purifying even the three worlds. Aditi, Diti, the great river Ganga and all other rivers do not bear any comparison to her. Request today only Laksmi - the beloved of Kesava."

280-81. Govinda said to Laksmi. "O goddess go, do not be late." Addressed thus by Kesava, Laksmi - filled with grief - spoke this sentence: "O Lord, Sati has already gone there. She will, verily, take away the credit of me who shall go afterwards.

282. Knowing her full of grief, Kasyapa spoke again. You are the supreme power appearing in various forms.

283-84. O goddess, daughter of the sea, devoid of dust, holy, abode of auspiciousness, it is you who are Kasmira, it is you who are glorified as Uma, it is you who, O goddess, are living in the forms of all goddesses.

285. The water of the Vitasta, mixed with your water, may be such as is the honey mixed with nectar. Bathed in your water, even the sinners become free at once and are purified."

286-87. Lauded by Kasyapa, she became devoid of grief. The giver of boons, (she) thought, "I must act according to the words of my lord and of the sage. Certainly, there is no use of my thinking. Having assumed the form of a river she went quickly. Kasmira spoke:

288-89. "Go soon before Sati reaches here to wait for you. O beautiful one, purify (this) country with water before she purifies it first. You will get a good name." Having heard her words she became griefless.

290. That river, therefore is always called Visoka (Griefless) by the people. Kasmira, whose speed is like that of the mind, also told (everything) to the goddess Sati.

291. Having listened to the activities of Laksmi, Sati, who had heard all the details, became pleased and stood waiting in the way near the hermitage of Dhaumya.

292. Visoka, too, afterwards, came through the hole of Akhu as it was vacant and saw Vitasta who was standing in front.

293. O chief of the kings, Visoka - freed of all jealousy on seeing Vitasta - joined her. Then Vitasta, who had reached there first, appropriated her name.

294-96. O lord, then angry Visoka cursed Kasmira, "O wicked one, as I have been absorbed by you today by means of falsehood and you have informed Sati about my activities, so your people will be mostly liars, possessed of impurities, hired servants and dishonoured in the worlds.

297. As regards taking away of my prestige by Sati, there is no humiliation to me as the goddess Sati, O Kasmira, undoubtedly is the same as I.

298. Then the best among the rivers, namely Sati accompanied by Laksmi, went slowly through the way made with the plough, purifying the people.

299. Aditi, the mother of the gods celebrated as Trikoti, joined the goddess Vitasta.

300. O king, then (joined) Saci, the wife of Indra, named as river Harsapatha, and Diti, the mother of Daityas, Candravati by name.

301. Receiving good rivers in this way, the goddess became united with the Ganga and the Sindhu.

302. The water of Vitasta mixed with that of Sindhu is like milk mixed with nectar, beauty associated with elegance and knowledge associated with good nature.

303-4. 0 king, she became there such as is bravery associated with humility, piety associated with wealth, clay of high quality refined through purification, Kama associated with mind, gem associated with gold, life associated with health, and profit associated with honour.

305-6. Bound by affection, Tapana's daughter - the goddess Ganga - due to the great respect and devotion for the sage, augmented with her own part the Vitasta, the best of the rivers, the destroyer of all sins. The Sindhu should be regarded as the Ganga and the Vitasta as the Yamuna.

307. The place, where there is the confluence of these two, should be regarded as equal to Prayaga. Appropriating the water of the Ganga, the Yamuna said to the Ganga:

308. "O possessed of beautiful colour, at Prayaga my name is appropriated by you and in Kasmira your name has been appropriated by me."

309. Then the Ganga said to her, "O beautiful one, I must again appropriate your name when I am designated as Sindhu."

310. Having come to know this fact, Sati - the river going in the company of the Sindhu - divided itself and did not go beyond the Himalaya, through the way made with the plough.

311-13. The sage Kasyapa again spoke to her possessed of great fortune: "O beautiful one, you must necessarily go by the way made with the plough, otherwise the whole country will be turned into a lake." Persuaded again and again by Kasyapa, that excellent river went in anger through the way made with plough. So, though clear, she is seen as a dirty one at that place.

314. Kasyapa said: "Assuming the form of a river called Vitasta, O goddess, the daughter of the mountain, you are not a river (but) an ascetic lady, wife of Sarva, even higher than Sarva.

315. May there be happiness for you. You are the daughter of the mountain and on account of (being born) from his body are (called) the mountain-river. O wife of Rudra, you are borne by Sambhu and being requested, you flow (in the form of a river).

316. Those great sinners also who having offered their bodies to you are gone to heaven are pleased to see their bodies carried away by (your) waves.

317. They are surprised to see their bodies (and say), 'We are in heaven, and being in the water, are still sporting in (the river which is a form of) Uma.

318. O goddess, the fire of hell for the human beings is pacified with your cool outpourings called waves, born of water-drops and sent forth by the wind.

319. O goddess, born of the mountain, you pacify the fire of three times seven hells for the human beings by means of your waves shining with earthen lamps.