Chapter 38

Janamejaya said, “Why was that tirtha called Sapta-Saraswat? Who was theascetic Mankanaka? How did that adorable one become crowned with success?What were his vows and observances? In whose race was he born? What booksdid that best of regenerate ones study? I desire to hear all this, Oforemost of regenerate ones!”

Vaishampayana said, “O king, the seven Sarasvatis cover this universe!Whithersoever the Sarasvati was summoned by persons of great energy,thither she made her appearance. These are the seven forms of theSarasvati: Suprava, Kanchanakshi, Visala, Manorama, Oghavati, Surenu, andVimalodaka. The Supreme Grandsire had at one time performed a greatsacrifice. While that sacrifice was in course of performance on theground selected, many regenerate ones crowned with ascetic success camethere. The spot resounded with the recitation of sacred hymns and thechanting of the Vedas. In the matter of those sacrificial rites, the verygods lost their coolness (so grand were the preparations). There, Omonarch, while the Grandsire was installed in the sacrifice and wasperforming the grand ceremony capable of bestowing prosperity and everywish, many notable ones conversant with righteousness and profit werepresent. As soon as they thought of the articles of which they stood inneed, these, O monarch, immediately appeared before the regenerate ones(among the guests) that came there. The Gandharvas sang and the diversetribes of Apsaras danced. And they played upon many celestial instrumentsall the time. The wealth of provisions procured in that sacrificesatisfied the very gods. What shall I say then of human beings? The verycelestials became filled with wonder! During the continuance of thatsacrifice at Pushkara and in the presence of the Grandsire, the Rishis, Oking, said, ‘This sacrifice cannot be said to possess high attributes,since that foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, is not to be seen here!’Hearing these words, the divine Brahman cheerfully thought of Sarasvati.Summoned at Pushkara by the Grandsire engaged in the performance of asacrifice, Sarasvati, O king, appeared there, under the name of Suprava.Beholding Sarasvati quickly pay that regard to the Grandsire, the Munisesteemed that sacrifice highly. Even thus that foremost of rivers, theSarasvati, made her appearance at Pushkara for the sake of the Grandsireand for gratifying the Munis. (At another time), O king, many Munis,mustering together at Naimisha, took up their residence there. Delightfuldisquisition occurred among them, O king, about the Vedas. There wherethose Munis, conversant with diverse scriptures, took up their abode,there they thought of the Sarasvati. Thus thought of, O monarch, by thoseRishis performing a sacrifice, the highly blessed and sacred Sarasvati,for rendering assistance, O king, to those high-souled Munis assembledtogether, made her appearance at Naimisha and came to be calledKanchanakshi. That foremost of rivers, worshipped by all, thus camethere, O Bharata! While (king) Gaya was engaged in the performance of agreat sacrifice at Gaya, the foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, summoned atGaya’s sacrifice (made her appearance there). The Rishis of rigid vowsthat were there, named this form of hers at Gaya as Visala. That river ofswift current flows from the sides of the Himavat. Auddalaka had also, OBharata, performed a sacrifice. A large concourse of Munis had beengathered there. It was on that sacred region, the northern part ofKosala, O king, that the sacrifice of high-souled Auddalaka wasperformed. Before Auddalaka began his sacrifice, he had thought of theSarasvati. That foremost of rivers came to that region for the sake ofthose Rishis. Worshipped by all those Munis clad in barks and deer-skinsshe became known by the name of Manorama, as those Rishis mentally calledher. While, again, the high-souled Kuru was engaged in a sacrifice atKurukshetra, that foremost of rivers, the highly blessed Sarasvati, madeher appearance there. Summoned, O monarch, by the high-souled Vasishtha(who assisted Kuru in his sacrifice), the Sarasvati, full of celestialwater appeared at Kurukshetra under the name of Oghavati. Daksha at onetime performed a sacrifice at the source of Ganga. The Sarasvati appearedthere under the name of the fast-flowing Surenu. Once again, whileBrahman was engaged in a sacrifice on the sacred forest of the Himavatmountains, the adorable Sarasvati, summoned (by him), appeared there. Allthese seven forms then came and joined together in that tirtha whereBaladeva came. And because the seven mingled together at that spot,therefore is that tirtha known on Earth by the name of Sapta Sarasvati.Thus have I told thee of the seven Sarasvatis, according to their names.I have also told thee of the sacred tirtha called Sapta Saraswat. Listennow to a great feat of Mankanaka, who had from his youth led the life ofa brahmacari. While employed in performing his ablutions in the river, hebeheld (one day), O Bharata, a woman of faultless limbs and fair brows,bathing in the river at will, her person uncovered. At this sight, Omonarch, the vital seed of the Rishi fell unto the Sarasvati. The greatascetic took it up and placed it within his earthen pot. Kept within thatvessel, the fluid became divided into seven parts. From those sevenportions were born seven Rishis from whom sprang the (nine and forty)Maruts. The seven Rishis were named Vayuvega, Vayuhan, Vayumandala,Vayujata, Vayuretas, and Vayuchakra of great energy. Thus were born theseprogenitors of the diverse Maruts. Hear now a more wonderful thing, Oking, a fact exceedingly marvellous on Earth, about the conduct of thegreat Rishi, which is well known in the three worlds. In days of yore,after Mankanaka had become crowned with success, O king, his hand, on oneoccasion, became pierced with a Kusa blade. Thereupon, a vegetable juicecame out of the wound (and not red blood). Seeing that vegetable juice,the Rishi became filled with joy and danced about on the spot. Seeing himdance, all mobile and immobile creatures, O hero, stupefied by hisenergy, began to dance. Then the gods with Brahman at their head, and theRishis possessed of wealth of asceticism, O king, all went to Mahadevaand informed him of the act of the Rishi (Mankanaka). And they said untohim, ‘It behoveth thee, O god, to do that which may prevent the Rishifrom dancing!’ Then Mahadeva, seeing the Rishi filled with great joy, andmoved by the desire of doing good unto the gods, addressed him, saying,’Why, O Brahmana, dost thou dance in this way, acquainted as thou artwith thy duties? What grave cause is there for such joy of thine, O sage,that, an ascetic as thou art, O best of Brahmanas, and walking as thoudost along the path of virtue, thou shouldst act in this way?’

“The Rishi said, ‘Why, seest thou not, O Brahmana, that a vegetable juiceis flowing from this wound of mine? Seeing this, O lord, I am dancing ingreat joy!’ Laughing at the Rishi who was stupefied by passion, the godsaid, ‘I do not, O Brahmana, at all wonder at this! Behold me!’ Havingsaid this unto that foremost of Rishis, Mahadeva of great intelligencestruck his thumb with the end of one of his fingers. Thereupon, O king,ashes, white as snow, came out of that wound. Seeing this, the Rishibecame ashamed, O monarch, and fell at the feet of the god. He understoodthe god to be none else than Mahadeva. Filled with wonder, he said, ‘I donot think that thou art any one else than Rudra, that great and Supremebeing! O wielder of the trident, thou art the refuge of this universeconsisting of gods and Asuras! The wise say that this universe hath beencreated by thee! At the universal destruction, everything once moreenters thee! Thou art incapable of being known by the gods, how thencanst thou be known by me? All forms of being that are in the universeare seen in thee! The gods with Brahman at their head worship thy boongiving self, O sinless one! Thou art everything! Thou art the creator ofthe gods and it was thou who hadst caused them to be created! Through thygrace, the gods pass their time in joy and perfect fearlessness!’ Havingpraised Mahadeva in this manner, the Rishi bowed to him, ‘Let not thisabsence of gravity, ridiculous in the extreme, that I displayed, O god,destroy my ascetic merit! I pray to thee for this!’ The god, with acheerful heart, once more said unto him ‘Let thy asceticism increase athousandfold, O Brahmana, through my grace! I shall also always dwellwith thee in this asylum! For the man that will worship me in the tirthaSapta-Saraswat there will be nothing unattainable here or hereafter.Without doubt, such a one shall go to the region called Saraswat (inheaven) after death!’ Even this is the history of Mankanaka of abundantenergy. He was a son begotten by the god of wind upon (the lady) Sukanya.”