Vaishampayana tells King Janamejaya about Sapta-Sarasvati, where the Sarasvati River manifests in seven sacred forms:
Each form appeared during significant sacrifices or divine events and later converged at the tirtha now called Sapta-Sarasvati, where Baladeva performed rituals.
The sage Mankanaka, son of Vayu and Sukanya, once began dancing when vegetable juice, not blood, flowed from a wound. His ecstatic energy caused the entire world to join in. The gods, alarmed, requested Mahadeva’s intervention. Śiva struck his thumb, revealing ash instead of blood, humbling Mankanaka. The sage praised Mahadeva, who granted him merit and promised blessings to worshippers at the Sapta-Sarasvati, marking it as a path to earthly and celestial rewards.
जनमेजय उवाच
सप्तसारस्वतं कस्मात् कश्च मङ्कणको मुनिः ।
कथं सिद्धः स भगवान् कश्चास्य नियमोऽभवत् ॥ १॥
janamejaya uvāca
saptasārasvataṃ kasmāt kaśca maṅkaṇako muniḥ |
kathaṃ siddhaḥ sa bhagavān kaścāsya niyamo’bhavat || 1||
Janamejaya said Why was that tirtha called Sapta-Sarasvat? Who was the ascetic Mankanaka? How was that worshipful one successful? What were his vows and observances?
कस्य वंशे समुत्पन्नः किं चाधीतं द्विजोत्तम ।
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विधिवद् द्विजसत्तम ॥ २ ॥
kasya vaṃśe samutpannaḥ kiṃ cādhītaṃ dvijottama |
etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ vidhivad dvijasattama || 2 ||
In whose family was he born? What books did that great Rishi study? I desire to hear all this, O foremost of Rishis.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
राजन् सप्त सरस्वत्यो याभिर्व्याप्तमिदं जगत् ।
आहूत बलवदभिर्हि तत्र तत्र सरस्वती ॥ ३ ॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
rājan sapta sarasvatyo yābhirvyāptamidaṃ jagat |
āhūta balavadabhirhi tatra tatra sarasvatī || 3 ||
Vaishampayana said "O King, the seven Sarasvatis by whom this entire world is pervaded are invoked by her immense energy; they are present everywhere, in all places, and all things.
सुप्रभा काञ्चनाक्षी त विशाला च मनोरमा ।
सरस्वती चौघवती सुरेणुर्विमलोदका ॥ ४ ॥
suprabhā kāñcanākṣī ta viśālā ca manoramā |
sarasvatī caughavatī sureṇurvimalodakā || 4 ||
Sarasvati is supremely radiant, with golden eyes, vast and enchanting. Sarasvati is four-armed, with a pure, untainted form and a clear, refreshing water flow. These are the seven forms of the Sarasvati: Suprabha, Kanchanakshi, Vishala, Manorama, Oghavati, Surenu and Vimalodaka.
पितामहस्य महतो वर्तमाने महामखे ।
वितते यज्ञवाटे च संसिद्धेषु द्विजातिषु ॥ ५ ॥
pitāmahasya mahato vartamāne mahāmakhe |
vitate yajñavāṭe ca saṃsiddheṣu dvijātiṣu || 5 ||
Brahma once celebrated a great sacrifice. While that sacrifice was being celebrated on the site selected, many Rishis, crowned with ascetic success, came there.
पुण्याहघोषैर्विमलैर्वेदानां निनदैस्तथा ।
देवेषु चैव व्यग्रेषु तस्मिन् यज्ञविधौ तदा ॥ ६ ॥
puṇyāhaghoṣairvimalairvedānāṃ ninadaistathā |
deveṣu caiva vyagreṣu tasmin yajñavidhau tadā || 6 ||
The spot was filled with the sound of the Vedas being recited and chanted. Seeing those sacrificial rites, even the gods lost their temper.
तत्र चैव महाराज दीक्षिते प्रपितामहे ।
यजतस्तस्य सत्रेण सर्वकामसमृद्धिना ॥ ७ ॥
मनसा चिन्तिता ह्यर्था धर्मार्थकुशलैस्तदा ।
उपतिष्ठन्ति राजेन्द्र द्विजातींस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥ ८ ॥
tatra caiva mahārāja dīkṣite prapitāmahe |
yajatastasya satreṇa sarvakāmasamṛddhinā || 7 ||
manasā cintitā hyarthā dharmārthakuśalaistadā |
upatiṣṭhanti rājendra dvijātīṃstatra tatra ha || 8 ||
While the grandfather was initiated in the sacrifice and performed the grand ceremony capable of granting prosperity and wished-for objects, many great Rishis, conversant with virtue and profit, were present. As soon as they thought of necessary articles, they, O king, immediately came before the Rishis.
जगुश्च तत्र गन्धर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ।
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि वादयामासुरञ्जसा ॥ ९ ॥
jaguśca tatra gandharvā nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ |
vāditrāṇi ca divyāni vādayāmāsurañjasā || 9 ||
The Gandharvas sang, and the Apsaras danced. And they played many celestial instruments.
तस्य यज्ञस्य सम्पत्या तुतुषुर्देवता अपि ।
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः किमु मानुषयोनयः ॥ १० ॥
tasya yajñasya sampatyā tutuṣurdevatā api |
vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmuḥ kimu mānuṣayonayaḥ || 10 ||
Upon completing the sacrifice, even the gods were exceptionally pleased. They were filled with the highest astonishment. What, then, can be said of beings born as humans?
वर्तमाने तथा यज्ञे पुष्करस्थे पितामहे ।
अब्रुवन्नृषयो राजन्नायं यज्ञो महागुणः ॥ ११ ॥
न दृश्यते सरिच्छ्रेष्टा यस्मादिह सरस्वती ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् प्रीतः सस्माराथ सरस्वतीम् ॥ १२ ॥
vartamāne tathā yajñe puṣkarasthe pitāmahe |
abruvannṛṣayo rājannāyaṃ yajño mahāguṇaḥ || 11 ||
na dṛśyate saricchreṣṭā yasmādiha sarasvatī |
tacchrutvā bhagavān prītaḥ sasmārātha sarasvatīm || 12 ||
During the progress of that sacrifice at Pushkara and in the presence of Brahma, the Rishis, O king, said -"This sacrifice is not successful, since that foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, is not to be seen here." Hearing these words, the divine Brahman meditated on Sarasvati.
पितामहेन यजता आहूता पुष्करेषु वै।
सुप्रभा नाम राजेन्द्र नाम्ना तत्र सरस्वती ॥ १३ ॥
pitāmahena yajatā āhūtā puṣkareṣu vai|
suprabhā nāma rājendra nāmnā tatra sarasvatī || 13 ||
By the great Lord Brahma, who performed a yajna (sacrifice), Saraswati was invoked at Pushkara. O King, she is known there by the name 'Suprabha' (the radiant one).
तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयस्तुष्टास्तवरायुक्तां सरस्वतीम् ।
पितामहं मानयन्तीं क्रतुं ते बहु मेनिरे ॥ १४ ॥
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā munayastuṣṭāstavarāyuktāṃ sarasvatīm |
pitāmahaṃ mānayantīṃ kratuṃ te bahu menire || 14 ||
Seeing Sarasvati pay that regard to the grandfather, the ascetics regarded that sacrifice with great esteem.
Seeing Saraswati, sages were delighted and adorned her with hymns of praise. Honoring Lord Brahma, she elevated the yajna (sacrifice), which was very significant.
एवमेषा सरिच्छ्रेष्टा पुष्करेषु सरस्वती ।
पितामहार्थ सम्भूता तुष्ट्यर्थं च मनीषिणाम् ॥ १५ ॥
evameṣā saricchreṣṭā puṣkareṣu sarasvatī |
pitāmahārtha sambhūtā tuṣṭyarthaṃ ca manīṣiṇām || 15 ||
Thus, the foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, appeared at Pushkara to please the Grandfather Brahma and the ascetics.
नैमिषे मुनयो राजन् समागम्य समासते।
तत्र चित्रा: कथा ह्यासन् वेदं प्रति जनेश्वर ॥ १६ ॥
naimiṣe munayo rājan samāgamya samāsate|
tatra citrā: kathā hyāsan vedaṃ prati janeśvara || 16 ||
On another occasion, O king many Munis assembled at Naimisha. They had many discussions amongst them, O king, on the Vedas.
यत्र ते मुनयो ह्यासन् नानास्वाध्यायवेदिनः ।
ते समागम्य मुनयः सस्मरुवै सरस्वतीम् ॥ १७ ॥
yatra te munayo hyāsan nānāsvādhyāyavedinaḥ |
te samāgamya munayaḥ sasmaruvai sarasvatīm || 17 ||
Where those sages, well-versed in various Vedic studies, gathered together, they remembered and invoked Saraswati.
सा तु ध्याता महाराज ऋषिभिः सत्रयाजिभिः ।
समागतानां राजेन्द्र साहाय्यार्थं महात्मनाम् ॥ १८ ॥
आजगाम महाभाग तत्र पुण्या सरस्वती ।
नैमिषे काञ्चनाक्षी तु मुनीनां सत्रयाजिनाम् ॥१९॥
sā tu dhyātā mahārāja ṛṣibhiḥ satrayājibhiḥ |
samāgatānāṃ rājendra sāhāyyārthaṃ mahātmanām || 18 ||
ājagāma mahābhāga tatra puṇyā sarasvatī |
naimiṣe kāñcanākṣī tu munīnāṃ satrayājinām ||19||
Meditated upon by the great sages and those performing yajnas, she came to the assembly of the noble-hearted, O King, to assist them in their sacred endeavors. The blessed Saraswati, who is worshipped in the holy place of Naimisha and is known as Kanchanākshi (the one with golden eyes), arrived to aid the sages performing the yajnas.
आगता सरितां श्रेष्ठा तत्र भारत पूजिता ।
यस्य यजमानस्य वेव महाक्रतुम् ॥ २० ॥
आहूता सरितां श्रेष्ठा गययज्ञे सरस्वती ।
विशालां तु यस्हुर्ऋषयः संशितव्रताः || २१ ||
āgatā saritāṃ śreṣṭhā tatra bhārata pūjitā |
yasya yajamānasya veva mahākratum || 20 ||
āhūtā saritāṃ śreṣṭhā gayayajñe sarasvatī |
viśālāṃ tu yashurṛṣayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ || 21 ||
Worshipped of all, that best of rivers, thus came there, O Bharata. While King Gaya was celebrating a great sacrifice at Gaya, the foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, summoned at Gaya's sacrifice, came there. The Rishis of rigid vows that were present there named her Vishala (vast and magnificent) at Gaya.
सरित् सा हिमावत्पार्श्वाडत् प्रस्रुता शीघ्रगामिनी ।
औद्दालकस्तथा यज्ञे यजतस्तस्य भारत ।। २२ ॥
sarit sā himāvatpārśvāḍat prasrutā śīghragāminī |
auddālakastathā yajñe yajatastasya bhārata || 22 ||
That quick-coursing river originates from the side of Himavat. Uddālaka, who was performing the yajna, offered his prayers to her in the sacrifice.
समेते सर्वतः स्फीते मुनीनां मण्डले तदा ।
उत्तरे कोसलाभागे पुण्ये राजन् महात्मनः॥२३॥
samete sarvataḥ sphīte munīnāṃ maṇḍale tadā |
uttare kosalābhāge puṇye rājan mahātmanaḥ||23||
Many ascetics were also assembled there. The great Ouddalaka's sacrifice was celebrated in the sacred north Koshala, O king.
उद्दालकेन यजता पूर्वं ध्यात्वा सरस्वती ।
आजगाम सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा तं देशं मुनिकारणात् ॥ २४ ॥
uddālakena yajatā pūrvaṃ dhyātvā sarasvatī |
ājagāma saricchreṣṭhā taṃ deśaṃ munikāraṇāt || 24 ||
Previously, Uddālaka, meditating upon Saraswati, performed the yajna. The greatest of rivers, Saraswati, arrived in that land due to the sages' invocation.
पूज्यमाना मुनिगणैर्वल्कलाजिसंवृत्तैः।
मनोरमेति विख्याता सा हि तैर्मनसा कृता ॥ २५ ॥
सुरेणऋषभे द्वीपे पुण्ये राजर्षिसेविते ।
pūjyamānā munigaṇairvalkalājisaṃvṛttaiḥ|
manorameti vikhyātā sā hi tairmanasā kṛtā || 25 ||
sureṇṛṣabhe dvīpe puṇye rājarṣisevite |
Worshipped by all those Munis clad in barks and deer-skins, she passed by the name of Manorama (one who pleases the mind) as those Rishis mentally called her.
कुरोश्च यजमानस्य कुरुक्षेत्रे महात्मनः ॥ २६ ॥
आजगाम महाभाग सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सरस्वती ।
kurośca yajamānasya kurukṣetre mahātmanaḥ || 26 ||
ājagāma mahābhāga saricchreṣṭhā sarasvatī |
Again, while the great Kuru was engaged in a sacrifice at Kurukshetra, the foremost of rivers, the highly sacred Sarasvati, came there.
ओघवत्यपि राजेन्द्र वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ॥ २७ ॥
समाहूता कुरुक्षेत्रे दिव्यातोया सरस्वती ।
oghavatyapi rājendra vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā || 27 ||
samāhūtā kurukṣetre divyātoyā sarasvatī |
Summoned, O king, by the great Vashishtha who assisted Kuru in his sacrifice, the Sarasvati, of celestial water, came to Kurukshetra and passed by the name of Oghavati (which means plentiful, abundant, having a strong stream).
दक्षेण यजता चापि गङ्गाद्वारे सरस्वती ॥ २८ ॥
सुरेणुरिति विख्याता प्रस्तुता शीघ्रगामिनी ।
dakṣeṇa yajatā cāpi gaṅgādvāre sarasvatī || 28 ||
sureṇuriti vikhyātā prastutā śīghragāminī |
At one time, Daksha celebrated a sacrifice at the source of Ganga. The Sarasvati appeared there under the name of the quick-coursing Surenu.
विमलोदा भगवती ब्रह्मणा यजता पुनः ॥ २९॥
समाहूता ययौ तत्र पुण्ये हैमवते गिरौ ।
vimalodā bhagavatī brahmaṇā yajatā punaḥ || 29||
samāhūtā yayau tatra puṇye haimavate girau |
Once again, while Brahman was engaged in a sacrifice in the sacred forest of the Himavat mountains, the worshipful Sarasvati "Vimalodā" (meaning "immaculate" or "pure") he summoned came there.
एकीभूतास्ततस्तास्तु तस्मिंस्तीर्थे समागताः॥३०॥
सप्तसारस्वतं तीर्थं ततस्तु प्रथितं भुवि ।
ekībhūtāstatastāstu tasmiṃstīrthe samāgatāḥ||30||
saptasārasvataṃ tīrthaṃ tatastu prathitaṃ bhuvi |
All these seven streams then joined together in that tirtha where Baladeva came. And because the seven joined together at that spot, that tirtha is known on earth as Sapta-Sarasvati.
इति सप्त सरस्वत्यो नामतः परिकीर्तिताः ॥ ३१ ॥
सप्ता सारस्वतं चैव तीर्थं पुण्य तथा स्मृतम् ।
iti sapta sarasvatyo nāmataḥ parikīrtitāḥ || 31 ||
saptā sārasvataṃ caiva tīrthaṃ puṇya tathā smṛtam |
Thus, according to their names, I have described the seven Sarasvatis to you. I have also given you an account of the sacred tirtha called Satpa-Sarasvat.
शृणु मङ्कणकस्यापि कौमारब्रह्मचारिणः ॥ ३२ ॥
आपगामवगाढस्य राजन् प्रक्रीडितं महत् ।
दृष्ट्वा यदृच्छया यत्र स्त्रियमम्भसि भारत ॥ ३३ ॥
जायन्तीं रुचिरापाङ्गी दिग्वाससमनिन्दिताम् ।
सरस्वत्यां महाराज चस्कन्दे वीर्यमम्भसि ॥ ३४॥
śṛṇu maṅkaṇakasyāpi kaumārabrahmacāriṇaḥ || 32 ||
āpagāmavagāḍhasya rājan prakrīḍitaṃ mahat |
dṛṣṭvā yadṛcchayā yatra striyamambhasi bhārata || 33 ||
jāyantīṃ rucirāpāṅgī digvāsasamaninditām |
sarasvatyāṃ mahārāja caskande vīryamambhasi || 34||
Listen now to a great deed of Mankanaka, who had, from his youth, led the life of a Brahmachari. While performing his ablutions in the river, he saw one day O Bharata, a damsel of beautiful features and fair brows, bathing in the river with her body uncovered. At this sight, O monarch, the seminal fluid of the Rishi, dropped to the Sarasvati.
तद् रेतः स तु जग्राह कलशे वै महातपाः ।
सप्तधा प्रविभागं तु कलशस्थं जगाम ह ।। ३५॥
tad retaḥ sa tu jagrāha kalaśe vai mahātapāḥ |
saptadhā pravibhāgaṃ tu kalaśasthaṃ jagāma ha || 35||
The great ascetic took it up and kept it within his earthen pot. Deposited within that pot, the fluid was divided into seven parts.
तत्रर्षयः सप्त जाता जज्ञिरे मरुतां गणाः ।
वायुवेगो वायुबलो वायुहा वायुमण्डलः ॥ ३६॥
वायुज्वालो वायुरेता वायुचक्राश्च वीर्यवान् ।
एवमेते समुत्पन्ना मरुतां जनयिष्णवः ॥३७॥
tatrarṣayaḥ sapta jātā jajñire marutāṃ gaṇāḥ |
vāyuvego vāyubalo vāyuhā vāyumaṇḍalaḥ || 36||
vāyujvālo vāyuretā vāyucakrāśca vīryavān |
evamete samutpannā marutāṃ janayiṣṇavaḥ ||37||
Seven Rishis were born from those seven portions, from whom forty-nine Maruts originated. The seven Rishis were named: Vāyuvega — "The speed of the wind" Vāyubala — "The strength of the wind" Vāyuhā — "The one who moves with the wind" Vāyumaṇḍala — "The circle or domain of the wind" Vāyujvāla — "The flame or blaze of the wind" Vāyureta — "The energy or force of the wind" Vāyucakrā — "The wheel or cycle of the wind" Vīryavān — "The one who is powerful or full of valor" Thus were born those progenitors of the various Maruts.
इदमत्यद्भुतं राजन्शृण्वाश्चर्यतरं भुवि ।
महर्षेश्चरितं याकं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ॥ ३८ ॥
idamatyadbhutaṃ rājanśṛṇvāścaryataraṃ bhuvi |
maharṣeścaritaṃ yākaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam || 38 ||
Hear now of a more wonderful account, O king, of the highly marvelous conduct of that great Rishi, who is well known in the three worlds.
पुरा मङ्कणक: सिद्ध: कुशाग्रेणेति नः श्रुतम्।
क्षतः किल करे राजंस्तस्य शाकरसोऽस्रवत ॥ ३९॥
purā maṅkaṇaka: siddha: kuśāgreṇeti naḥ śrutam|
kṣataḥ kila kare rājaṃstasya śākaraso’sravata || 39||
Formerly, after Mankanaka had become successful, O king, his hand was pierced with a Kusha blade. Vegetable juice, not blood, came out of the wound.
सवै शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टः प्रनृत्तवान् ।
ततस्तस्मिन् प्रनृत्ते वै स्थावरं जङ्गमं च यत् ॥ ४०॥
savai śākarasaṃ dṛṣṭvā harṣāviṣṭaḥ pranṛttavān |
tatastasmin pranṛtte vai sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ ca yat || 40||
Seeing that vegetable juice, the Rishi was joyful and danced about there. Beholding him dance, all mobile and immobile creatures, O hero, overpowered by his energy, began to dance.
प्रनृत्तमुभयं वीर तेजसा तस्य मोहितम् ।
ब्रह्मादिभिः सुरै राजन्नृषिभिश्च तपोधनैः॥४१॥
विज्ञप्तो वै महादेव ऋषेरर्थे नराधिप ।
नायं नृत्येद् यथा देव तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥४२॥
pranṛttamubhayaṃ vīra tejasā tasya mohitam |
brahmādibhiḥ surai rājannṛṣibhiśca tapodhanaiḥ||41||
vijñapto vai mahādeva ṛṣerarthe narādhipa |
nāyaṃ nṛtyed yathā deva tathā tvaṃ kartumarhasi ||42||
Then, the celestials, with Brahma at their head, and the Rishis, having asceticism for their wealth, O king, all approached Mahadeva and informed him of the doings of the great Rishi (Mankanaka). And they said to him - Thou shouldst, O god, do that which may prevent the Rishi from dancing."
ततो देवो मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टमतीव ह।
सुराणां हितकामार्थं महादेवोऽभ्यभाषत ॥ ४३ ॥
tato devo muniṃ dṛṣṭvā harṣāviṣṭamatīva ha|
surāṇāṃ hitakāmārthaṃ mahādevo’bhyabhāṣata || 43 ||
Then Mahadeva, seeing the Rishi filled with great joy and desirous of doing good to the celestials, addressed him, saying.
भो भो ब्राह्मण धर्मज्ञ किमर्थं नृत्यते भवान् ।
हर्षस्थानं किमर्थं च तवेदमधिकं मुने ॥ ४४ ॥
तपस्विनो धर्मपथे स्थितस्य द्विजसत्तम ।
bho bho brāhmaṇa dharmajña kimarthaṃ nṛtyate bhavān |
harṣasthānaṃ kimarthaṃ ca tavedamadhikaṃ mune || 44 ||
tapasvino dharmapathe sthitasya dvijasattama |
Why, O Brahmana, do you dance in this way, you who know your duties well? What must be the cause of your joy, O sage, that being an ascetic, O best of Brahmanas, and walking in the path of virtue, you should behave this way?
ऋषिरुवाच
किं न पश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन् कराच्छाकरसं स्रुतम् ॥ ४५ ॥
यं दृष्ट्वा सम्प्रनृत्तो वै हर्षेण महता विभो ।
ṛṣiruvāca
kiṃ na paśyasi me brahman karācchākarasaṃ srutam || 45 ||
yaṃ dṛṣṭvā sampranṛtto vai harṣeṇa mahatā vibho |
The Rishi said Do you not see that a vegetable juice is flowing from this wound? Seeing this, O lord, I am dancing in great glee.
तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद् देवो मुनिं रागेण मोहितम् ॥ ४६ ॥
अहं न विस्मयं विप्र गच्छामीति प्रपश्य माम् ।
taṃ prahasyābravīd devo muniṃ rāgeṇa mohitam || 46 ||
ahaṃ na vismayaṃ vipra gacchāmīti prapaśya mām |
Laughing at the Rishi, who was overpowered by passion, the God said - "I do not, O Brahmana, at all wonder at this. Behold me!"
एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठं महादेवेन धीमता ॥ ४७ ॥
अड्गुल्यग्रेण राजेन्द्र स्वङ्गुष्ठस्ताडितोऽभवत्।
evamuktvā muniśreṣṭhaṃ mahādevena dhīmatā || 47 ||
aḍgulyagreṇa rājendra svaṅguṣṭhastāḍito’bhavat|
Having said this to the best of Rishis, the brilliant Mahadeva struck his thumb with the end of one of his fingers.
ततो भस्म क्षताद् राजन् निर्गतं हिमसन्निभम् ॥ ४८॥
तद् दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो राजन् स मुनिः पादयोर्गतः ।
मेने देवं महादेवमिदं चोवाच विस्मितः ॥ ४९ ॥
tato bhasma kṣatād rājan nirgataṃ himasannibham || 48||
tad dṛṣṭvā vrīḍito rājan sa muniḥ pādayorgataḥ |
mene devaṃ mahādevamidaṃ covāca vismitaḥ || 49 ||
Thereupon, O king, white as snow ashes, came out of that wound. Beholding this, the Rishi became ashamed, O monarch, and fell at the feet of the God.
नान्यं देवादहं मन्ये रुद्रात परतरं महत् ।
सुरासुरस्य जगतो गति स्त्वमसि शूलधृत् ॥ ५० ॥
nānyaṃ devādahaṃ manye rudrāta parataraṃ mahat |
surāsurasya jagato gati stvamasi śūladhṛt || 50 ||
He understood the deity to be Mahadeva. Filled with wonder, he said, "I do not consider any other deity greater than Rudra, the supreme lord. You are the source of the Universe's motion, holding the trident.
त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं वदन्तीह मनीषिणः ।
त्वामेव सर्वं व्रजति पुनरेव युगक्षये ॥ ५१ ॥
tvayā sṛṣṭamidaṃ viśvaṃ vadantīha manīṣiṇaḥ |
tvāmeva sarvaṃ vrajati punareva yugakṣaye || 51 ||
O wielder of the trident, thou art the refuge of this Universe consisting of gods and demons. The wise say that you have created this Universe.
देवैरपि न शक्यस्त्वं परिज्ञातुं कुतो मया ।
त्वयि सर्वेस्म दृश्यन्ते भावा ये जगति स्थिताः ॥ ५२ ॥
devairapi na śakyastvaṃ parijñātuṃ kuto mayā |
tvayi sarvesma dṛśyante bhāvā ye jagati sthitāḥ || 52 ||
Even the gods cannot comprehend you fully, so how can I, who am insignificant, understand you? All the beings that exist in the world are seen in you.
त्वामुपासन्त वरदं देवा ब्रह्मादयोऽनघ ।
सर्वस्त्वमसि देवानां कर्ता कारयिता च ह ॥ ५३ ॥
त्वत्प्रसादात् सुराः सर्वे मोदन्तीहाकुतोभयाः ।
tvāmupāsanta varadaṃ devā brahmādayo’nagha |
sarvastvamasi devānāṃ kartā kārayitā ca ha || 53 ||
tvatprasādāt surāḥ sarve modantīhākutobhayāḥ |
The gods, including Brahma and others, who worship you, the bestower of boons, are free from sin. You are the creator and the guide of all the gods. By your grace, all the gods, free from fear, rejoice here.
एवं स्तुत्वा महादेवं स ऋषिः प्रणतोऽभवत् ॥ ५४ ॥
यदिदं चापलं देव कृतमेतत् स्मयदिकम् ।
evaṃ stutvā mahādevaṃ sa ṛṣiḥ praṇato’bhavat || 54 ||
yadidaṃ cāpalaṃ deva kṛtametat smayadikam |
Thus, having praised Mahadeva, the sage bowed down in reverence. O deity, this transitory and ever-changing creation is made by you, O smiling one.
ततः प्रसादयामि त्वां तपो मे न क्षरेदिति ॥ ५५॥
ततो देवः प्रीतमनास्तमृषिं पुनरब्रवीत् ।
तपस्ते वर्धतां विप्र मत्प्रसादात् सहस्रधा ॥ ५६ ॥
आश्रमे चेह वत्स्यामि त्वया सार्धमहं सदा ।
tataḥ prasādayāmi tvāṃ tapo me na kṣarediti || 55||
tato devaḥ prītamanāstamṛṣiṃ punarabravīt |
tapaste vardhatāṃ vipra matprasādāt sahasradhā || 56 ||
āśrame ceha vatsyāmi tvayā sārdhamahaṃ sadā |
Let not my ridiculous childishness, which I displayed, O God, destroy my ascetic merit. I pray to thee for this. God cheerfully replied, "Let your asceticism increase a thousandfold, O Brahmana, through my grace. I shall also always live with you in this hermitage.”
सप्तासारस्वते चास्मिन यो मामर्चिष्यते नरः ॥५७॥
न तस्य दुर्लभं किञ्चिद् भवितेह परत्र वा ।
सारस्वतं च ते लोकं गमिष्यन्ति न संशयः ॥ ५८ ॥
saptāsārasvate cāsmina yo māmarciṣyate naraḥ ||57||
na tasya durlabhaṃ kiñcid bhaviteha paratra vā |
sārasvataṃ ca te lokaṃ gamiṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ || 58 ||
Whoever worships me with devotion in this sacred place of Sapta-Saraswat will attain my grace. Such a person will not face any difficulty in this life or the next. Without a doubt, they will reach the world of Saraswati.
एतन्मङ्कणकस्यापि चरितं भूरितेजसः ।
स हि पुत्र सुकन्यायामुत्पन्नो मातरिश्वना ॥ ५९ ॥
etanmaṅkaṇakasyāpi caritaṃ bhūritejasaḥ |
sa hi putra sukanyāyāmutpanno mātariśvanā || 59 ||
This is the story of the radiant Risi Mankanaka, who is truly blessed to be born as a son to the noble and virtuous mother Matariśvani.
Vaishampayana recounts to King Janamejaya the origins of the sacred tirtha called Sapta-Sarasvati, the seven forms of the Sarasvati River, and the remarkable story of the ascetic Mankanaka.
The Seven Sarasvatis
The Sarasvati River manifests in seven forms, each linked to specific locations and significant events:
These seven streams converged at the tirtha, now called Sapta-Sarasvati, where Baladeva later performed rituals.
The Ascetic Mankanaka
Mankanaka was the son of the Wind God (Vayu) and Sukanya. From his seminal fluid, which fell into the Sarasvati during an encounter with a bathing damsel, seven Rishis were born, who became progenitors of the forty-nine Maruts.
Once, while performing penances, Mankanaka's hand was accidentally pierced by a blade of Kusha grass, and instead of blood, vegetable juice flowed from the wound. Overjoyed by this wonder, Mankanaka began to dance. His energy caused all mobile and immobile creatures to join in the dance.
The gods, led by Brahma, sought Mahadeva's help to calm Mankanaka. Mahadeva approached the ascetic, and, to illustrate, a more incredible marvel struck his thumb, from which ashes flowed instead of blood. Realizing his folly, Mankanaka was humbled, praised Mahadeva, and sought forgiveness for his behavior. Mahadeva blessed him with increased ascetic merit and promised to reside with him in the hermitage.
Mahadeva declared that anyone who worships him at the Sapta-Sarasvati tirtha would achieve earthly success and heavenly rewards. The region is described as a sacred site where devotees can attain liberation and reach the celestial region of Sarasvati after death.
This story emphasizes the sacredness of the Sarasvati and its tirthas, the divine origins of Mankanaka, and the humility and enlightenment gained through interactions with higher powers.