15 1 Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhyd-M.aha.tmya. [Xo. 2, 



" North of Rukmini-kund is the sacred place called C h i r o d a k a ; its 

 water is like milk. Bathing here releases one from all sins. At some time, Da- 

 s'aratha performed a sacrifice here, in order to be blessed with a son. At the 

 expiration of the sacrifice, the being in whose name it was performed, appeared 

 in a handsome shape, and holding a golden vessel filled with rice-milk. He gave 

 it to the Maharaj, who, by the advice of the Munis, divided it into three 

 equal parts, and gave one of them to Kaushalya, the second to Kaikeyi, and 

 the third to Sumitra after dividing it into two parts. Eamawas born of Kau- 

 shalya ; Bharata, of Kaikeyi ; and Lakshman and Satrughna of Sumitra. 

 The Brahmans cooked rice-milk and washed it with the water of the pond, 

 on which account it became white like milk, and the pond got the name of 

 Chirodaka. By bathing at this place, one is certainly blessed with a son, 

 and obtains all other wishes besides. Its pilgrimage is performed on the 

 11th of the light half of Kartika. Bathing, giving alms, and worshipping 

 Vishnu here, gives the above-mentioned benefits. The pond is called C h i r- 

 S a g a r by the people. West of it is C h i r e s' v a r a M a h a d e v a, stationed 

 there by Maharaja Das'aratha. A man is to worship him with the sixteen pre- 

 scribed articles and read the following praj^er — ' Thou livest at Kailas'a. Thy 

 companion is Kuvera, Thou hast got the moon on thy forehead, and the 

 Ganges in the tuft of thy hair. Thou enjoy est thyself in the woods of 

 Kalpa-tree. I have worshipped thee with the leaves of a Bel-tree and 

 water ; forgive my sins,' 



" South-west of it is D h a n y a, k s h a,* called D h a n a i c h af by the 

 people. Maharaj Harischandra here deposited a great treasure for the protec- 

 tion of which he stationed a Yaksha at this place. The Raja caused Yis'vamitra 

 Muni to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice, on which he became undisputed 

 king. He here deposited innumerable treasures. The Yaksha named Pir- 

 manthar protected the Treasury, called Pirmode A'nand, bestower of hap- 

 piness, and was very obedient to the Muni, who being much pleased with 

 him, told him to ask for a boon. He replied, ' O Muni, I lived in the 

 house of Kuvera and once stole perfumes, on which account he cursed me 

 and said, ' May thy body stink !' The Muni took some water from the 

 sacred place, threw it upon the Yaksha, and thus rendered his body perfum- 

 ed. Tie stood up before the Muni with folded hands and said, ' Lord, by 

 thy favor my body has become perfumed, therefore name this holy spot.' 

 The Muni replied, ' Its name shall be Dhanaicha in the world, and it will 

 be the bestower of beauty and wisdom. Bathing here will remove all stink, 

 and by giving alms in proportion to his riches and worshipping Lakshmi, a 

 man will obtain great wealth. Here a man should worship Maba-Padma.j 



* A tribe of celestial beings. 



t Place of great treasure. 



1 Names of the nine Kidhi or treasures. 



