Chapter 5 - The Efficacy of Tilodakī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1-2. O holy lord, tell me exactly how (and why) Sage Viśvāmitra, on being repeatedly requested and pressed, angrily asked his own disciple Kautsa to bring such a huge amount that was very difficult to get even with the greatest endeavour. If you have any kindness for me, narrate to me the entire episode.^[1]

Agastya said:

3-9. O Brāhmaṇa, listen with the concentration of all sense-organs on this story.

Once Viśvāmitra, the most excellent of all sages, endowed with the divine vision born of knowledge, performed a very difficult penance. He observed Vratas with great purity. Once Sage Durvāsas came there to see him. On arrival that Brāhmaṇa (Durvāsas) who was afflicted with hunger cried loudly: “I am thoroughly afflicted with hunger. Let food be served to me. I am famished; give me quickly hot pudding of pure milk, O Brāhmaṇa.”

On hearing these words, Viśvāmitra immediately (prepared the pudding) with great effort. He took the pudding in a pot and was about to give it to Durvāsas. On seeing him rising, holding the pudding in his hand, Durvāsas who was given to play his characteristic (pranks), spoke these sweet words to the sage:

“O eminent Brāhmaṇa, wait for a moment so that I shall take my bath and return. Stay for a moment; stay, do stay. I shall come presently.”

After saying this, Durvāsas went away to his hermitage then.

10-14. Viśvāmitra, the ascetic, remained motionless like a mountain for a thousand years in accordance with the divine reckoning. He stood there steadfast in mind.

Sage Kautsa devoted to holy rites remained there serving him. He was of great liberal mind, free from jealousy. Durvāsas devoid of sins came back once again, consumed the milk pudding and went away to his own hermitage.

When that excellent sage had gone, Viśvāmitra, the storehouse of penance, discharged Kautsa, the most excellent one among the learned, and permitted him to go home (to take to the householder’s life).

On being discharged, he said to the preceptor, “Let the fee be asked for.” Viśvāmitra said to him: “What fee will you give? Your service itself is my fee. Go back to your house, O sage devoted to holy rites.”

15-18. The disciple said this again and again to the preceptor and repeatedly pressed him. Then the preceptor became exceedingly furious and spoke these harsh words to the disciple:

“Bring me fourteen crores of gold pieces of excellent colour as my fee, O Brāhmaṇa, and go home thereafter.”

On being told thus by his preceptor, Kautsa pondered over it and approached the descendant of Kakutstha, the conqueror of the quarters. He requested him for the preceptor’s fee.

Thus, O excellent sage, what has been asked by you has been recounted.

Once again, listen to another Tīrtha, the excellent cause (of welfare).

19-23. To the south of this holy spot is the confluence that is resorted to by Siddhas. It is well-known on the earth due to the confluence of Tilodakī and Sarayū.^[2]

By taking a holy bath there, O highly fortunate one, men become free from sins. A righteous-souled one, devoted to holy rites, should, by taking the holy bath there, attain that benefit which is obtained if ten horse-sacrifices are performed.

He who gives gold etc. to a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedas obtains the auspicious goal. He shines like fire.

By giving cooked rice in accordance with the injunctions at the confluence of Tilodakī and Sarayū, that is well-known in the worlds, one is not reborn.

One who observes fast and propitiates Brāhmaṇas obtains the fruit of Sautrāmaṇi Yajña.

24. If a person stays there for a month while regularly performing holy rites and taking a single meal per day, all the sins committed by him throughout his life shall perish instantaneously.

25-28. On the new-moon day, in the month of Nabhasya (Bhādrapada) the annual festival is to be celebrated. Formerly this river was created by Rāma, as if it is another Sindhu. O sage of good holy rites, it was intended for the drinking purposes of the horses from Sindhu territory. Since the water therein shines always dark like gingelly seeds, it has come to be famous as Tilodakī. This river is of meritorious water always. If a person takes his holy bath in Tilodakī anywhere other than at the confluence, he is liberated from sins accruing in the course of seven births.

Hence the bath in the Tilodakī is destructive of all sins, O sage. It should be carefully undertaken by all living beings desirous of piety. Bath, gifts, Vrata and Homa here shall have infinite merit.

29. A person who performs pilgrimage in accordance with the different injunctions and acquires merit shall go to the greatest abode. His good qualities will develop gradually. He should worship Hari in all the Tīrthas with dedicated feelings. Somehow he shall get rid of all his sins.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 1-18 describe why Viśvāmitra demanded such an exorbitant Dakṣiṇā from his favourite pupil Kautsa.

[2]:

VV 19-29 describe the greatness of the confluence of Sarayū and Tilodakī—a river created by Rāma for horses from Sindhu (v 26). The confluence is to the south of Svarṇa-khani. Its annual festival is celebrated on the new-moon day of Bhādrapada.