Sambodhi 2012 Vol 35

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 70

60
Satyavrat Varma
SAMBODHI
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि स्त्रियो वा पुरुषस्य वा ।
Agent gegndi Hd Fenrugritefataa: 11 VP, 45.24 The sanctity of Kuruksetra is emphasied in the VP with a measure of tenacity. It was considered so virtuous that a mere resolve to visit Kuruksetra or stay there was enough to absolve one of the greatest sin.? A regular stay there on the bank of Sarasvatī, and a dip in its sacred water bestow spiritual enlightenment, brahma - jñāna. The gods, siddhas and others who visited it were so uplifted that they beheld Brahman in their heart. Even the evil-minded people living there with self-restraint (niyatātmānah) are freed of misdeeds accumulated over several births and realise the supreme truth in their heart (VP, xxxiii. 11-14). Planets, stars and naksatras may suffer a fall in due course, but those who shed their mortal coil at Kuruksetra attain eternal bliss and are not born again. Those who observe fast, give charity, mutter prayers, perform sacrifices there and have a bath in its holy waters attain religious merit that never decays (VP, xxii. 34-35). As a matter of fact, Kuruksetra is a great bestower of merit (mahāpunyaphalamtviha, VP, xxii.33). According to the Mahābhārata people residing permanently at Kuruksetra do not fall prey to Yama. In fact a stay at Kuruksetra is as blissful as a stay in the heaven. Those who visit it with devotion attain the merit of performing the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
ये चेह नित्यं मनुजा निवत्स्यन्ति शुभैषिणः । । यमस्य विषयं ते तु न द्रक्ष्यन्ति कदाचन ॥ दक्षिणेन सरस्वत्या दृषद्वत्युत्तरेण च । ये वसन्ति कुरुक्षेत्रे ते वसन्ति त्रिविष्टपे ॥10 गत्वा हि श्रद्धया युक्तः कुरुक्षेत्रं कुरुद्वह ।
फलं प्राप्नोति च तदा राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः ॥1 The boundaries of Kuruksetra, as given in the VP, extended from Tarantuka to Arantuka, and from Rāmahrada to Caturamukha (VP, xxii. 58). Kurutīrtha
According to the VP the Kuruksetra region was dotted with thousands of holy places and a number of sages graced them with their presence (VP, xxxiii.3). Kurutīrtha was the most meritorious of them all (kuruksetre punyatamaṁ kurutīrtham, VP, 41.26). The place where Kuru performed penance before undertaking the systematic ploughing of the Samantapancaka