Reading section 20

"'"Having dwelt for twelve nights at Pushkara with regulated diet and vows, and having walked round (the place), one must go to _Jamvu-marga_. One that goeth to _Jamvu-marga_ which is resorted to by the celestials, the Rishis, and the _Pitris_, acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and the fruition of all his wishes. The man that resideth there for five nights, hath his soul cleansed from all sins. He never sinketh into hell, but acquireth high success. Leaving Jamvu-marga one must go to _Tandulikasrama_. He that goeth there never sinketh into hell but ascendeth to the abode of Brahma. He that goeth to the lake of Agastya and occupieth himself with the worship of the _Pitris_ and celestials, fasting for three nights, acquireth, O king, the fruit of the _Agnishtoma_. Going thither, he that liveth on vegetables or fruits acquireth the status called _Kaumara_. One should next proceed to the beautiful asylum of Kanwa, which is worshipped by the whole world. That sacred wood characterised by holiness, existeth, O bull of the Bharata race, from very remote times. As soon as one entereth it, he is freed from all his sins. He who with regulated diet and vows worshippeth the _Pitris_ and the gods there, obtaineth the fruit of a sacrifice that is capable of bestowing the fruition of all one's desires. Having walked round this asylum one must then go to the spot where Yayati fell (from heaven). He that goeth thither, acquireth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. One must then go to _Mahakala_ with regulated diet and senses subdued. And having bathed in the _tirtha_ called _Koti_, one obtaineth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. A virtuous man should next proceed to the _tirtha_ of Sthanu, the husband of Uma, known over the three worlds by the name of _Bhadravata_. That best of men who goeth to _Bhadravata_, beholdeth Isana and obtaineth the fruit of a gift of a thousand kine. And through the grace of Mahadeva, he acquireth the status of _Ganapatya_ blessed with prosperity and peace and high grace. Having arrived then at the _Narmada_, that river celebrated over the three worlds, and given oblations of water to the _Pitris_ and the gods, one acquireth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. He that goeth into the Southern ocean, practising the Brahmacharya mode of life, and with senses subdued, acquireth the fruit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and ascendeth to heaven. Having arrived at _Charmanwati_, with regulated diet and senses subdued, one acquireth, at the command of Ramideva, the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. One must then go, O virtuous chief of warriors, to _Arauda_, the son of Himavat, where there was a hole through the earth in days of yore. There is the asylum of Vasistha, celebrated over the three worlds. Having resided for one night, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. He that, leading a Brahmacharya mode of life batheth in the _tirtha_ called _Pinga_, obtaineth, O tiger among kings, the merit of the gift of a hundred _Kapila_ kine. One must next go, O king, to that excellent _tirtha_ called _Prabhasa_. There Hutasana is always present in his own person. He, the friend of Pavana, O hero, is the mouth of all the gods. The man that with subdued and sanctified soul batheth in that _tirtha_, obtaineth merit greater than that of the _Agnishtoma_ or _Atimtra_ sacrifices. Proceeding next to the spot where the Saraswati mingleth with the sea, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine and heaven also besides, O

bull of the Bharata race, blazing forth for all time like Agni himself. He that with subdued soul batheth in the _tirtha_ of the king of waters, and giveth oblations of water unto the _Pitris_ and the gods, living there for three nights, blazeth forth like the Moon, and obtaineth also the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed, O best of the Bharata, unto the _tirtha_ known by the name of _Varadana_, where (the Rishi) Durvasa had given a boon unto Vishnu. A man by bathing in Varadana obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. One should next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet to _Dwaravati_, where by bathing in _Pindaraka_, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of gold in abundance. O blessed one, it is wonderful to relate that in that _tirtha_, to this day, coins with the mark of the lotus and lotuses also with the mark of the trident, are seen, O represser of heroes! And O bull among men, the presence of Mahadeva is there. Arriving then, O Bharata, at the spot where the _Sindhu_ mingleth with the sea, one should with subdued soul bathe in that _tirtha_ of Varuna. And bathing there and giving oblations of water to the _Pitris_, the Rishis, and the gods one acquireth, O bull of the Bharata race, the region of Varuna, and blazeth forth in effulgence of his own. Men of wisdom say that, by worshipping the god known by the name of _Shankukarneswara_, one acquireth ten times the merit of the horse-sacrifice. O bull of the Bharata race, having walked round that _tirtha_, one should, O thou foremost of the Kurus, go to that _tirtha_ celebrated over the three worlds and known by the name of _Drimi_. That _tirtha_ cleanseth from every sin, and it is there that the gods including Brahma worship Maheswara. Having bathed there and worshipped Rudra surrounded by the other gods, one is freed from all sins since birth. It was there, O best of men, that _Drimi_ was adored by all the gods. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. O thou of great intelligence, Vishnu the creator of the universe, after slaying the Daityas and Danavas, went thither to purify himself. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to _Vasudhara_ adored by all. The moment one arrives at that _tirtha_, one acquireth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. And, O thou best of the Kurus, by bathing there with subdued soul and rapt attention, and giving oblations of water unto the gods and the _Pitris_ one ascendeth unto the region of Vishnu and is adored there. In that _tirtha_, O bull of the Bharata race, there is a sacred lake of the Vasus. By bathing there and drinking of its water, one becometh regarded of the Vasus. There is a celebrated _tirtha_ of the name of _Sindhuttama_, which destroyeth every sin. O best of men, by bathing there, one acquireth the fruit of the gift of gold in abundance. By arriving at _Bhadratunga_ with sanctified soul and purity of conduct, one acquireth the region of Brahma and a high state of blessedness. There is then the _tirtha_ of the _Kumarikas_ of Indra, that is much resorted to by the _Siddhas_. O best of men, by bathing there, one obtaineth the region of Indra. In _Kumarika_ there is another _tirtha_ called _Renuka_, which is also resorted to by the _Siddhas_. A Brahmana by bathing there would become as bright as the Moon. Proceeding next to the tirtha called the _Panchananda_, with subdued sense and regulated diet, one obtaineth the fruit of the five sacrifices that have

been mentioned one after another in the scriptures. Then, O king, one should go to the excellent region of Bhima. O best of the Bharatas by bathing in the _tirtha_ there, that is called _Yoni_, a man (in his next birth) becometh, O king, the son of a goddess, bearing ear-rings decked with pearls, and obtaineth also the merit of the gift of a hundred thousand kine. Proceeding next to _Srikunda_, celebrated over the three worlds and worshipping the grandsire, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. O virtuous one, one should then go to the excellent tirtha called _Vimala_, where to this day may be seen fishes of golden and silver hues. By bathing there, one soon acquireth the region of Vasava, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, he attaineth to a high state of blessedness. Proceeding next to _Vitasta_ and giving oblations of water unto the _Pitris_ and the gods, a man, O Bharata, obtaineth the fruit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice. That sin-destroying tirtha known by the name of _Vitasta_, is situate in the country of the _Kasmiras_ and is the abode of the Naga Takshaka. Bathing there, a man certainly obtaineth the fruit of the _Vajapeya_ sacrifice, and his soul cleansed from every sin, he attaineth to a high state of blessedness. One should next proceed to _Vadava_ celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there with due rites in the evening, one should offer rice boiled in butter and milk, according to the best of his might, unto the deity of seven flames. Men of wisdom say that a gift made here in honour of the _Pitris_, becometh inexhaustible. The Rishis, the _Pitris_, the gods, the Gandharvas, several tribes of Apsaras, the Guhyakas, the Kinnaras, the Yakshas, the _Siddhas_, the Vidhyadharas, the Rakshasas, Daityas, Rudras, and Brahma himself, O king, having with subdued senses, accepted a course of austerities for a thousand years in order to move Vishnu to grace, cooked rice in milk and butter and gratified Kesava with oblations, each offered with seven Riks. And, O king, the gratified Kesava thereupon conferred on them the eight-fold attributes called _Aiswarya_ and other objects that they desired. And having bestowed upon them these, that god disappeared in their sight like lightning in the clouds. And it is for this, O Bharata, that that _tirtha_ became known by the name of _Saptacharu_, and if one offereth _Charu_ there to the seven flamed deity, he obtaineth merit superior to that of the gift of a hundred thousand kine, to that of a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, as also of a hundred horse-sacrifices. Leaving _Vadava_, O king, one should then proceed to Raudrapada, and beholding Mahadeva there one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, to _Manirnat_, and residing there for one night, one acquireth, O king, the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. One should then go, O king, to _Devika_ celebrated over the whole world. It was there, O bull of Bharata race, that, as heard by us, the Brahmanas first sprang into existence. There also is the region of the holder of the trident--a region that is celebrated over the world. Having bathed in _Devika_ and worshipped Maheswara by offering him, to the best of one's might, rice boiled in milk and butter, a man obtaineth, O bull of the Bharata race, the merit of a sacrifice that is capable of filling every desire. There also is another _tirtha_ of Rudra called _Kamakhya_, which is much

resorted to by the gods. Bathing there, a man speedily obtaineth success. By touching also the water of _Yajana_, _Brahmavaluka_, and _Pushpamva_, one becometh free from sorrow in after life. The learned have said that the sacred _tirtha_ of _Devika_, the resort of the gods and the Rishis, is five _Yojanas_ in length and half a _Yojana_ in breadth. One should then, in due order, proceed, O king, to _Dirghasatra_. There the gods with Brahma at their head, the _Siddhas_, and the greatest Rishis, with regulated vows and the recitation and acceptance of the preliminary pledge, perform the long-extending sacrifice. O king, by going only to _Dirghasatra_, O represser of foes, one obtaineth merit that is superior, O Bharata, to that of the Rajasuya or the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet to _Vinasana_, where _Saraswati_ disappearing on the breast of Meru, re-appeareth at _Chamasa_, _Shivodbheda_ and _Nagadbheda_. Bathing in _Chamasadbheda_, one obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Bathing in _Shivodbheda_, one acquireth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. And bathing in _Nagodbheda_, one obtaineth the region of the Nagas. One should proceed, next, to the inaccessible _tirtha_ of _Shasayana_, where the cranes, O Bharata, disappearing in the form of _sasas_, re-appear every year in the month of _Kavttika_, and bathe, O blessed chief of the Bharata race, in the Sarasawati. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one blazeth forth like the Moon, and obtaineth, O bull of the Bharata race, the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. One should next proceed, O thou of the Kuru race, to _Kumarakoti_, with subdued senses, and bathing there, worship the gods and the _Puris_. By doing this, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of ten thousand kine, and raiseth all his ancestors to higher regions. One should next, O virtuous one, proceed with subdued soul to _Rudrakoti_, where in olden days, O king, ten millions of Munis had assembled. And, O king, filled with great joy at the prospect of beholding Mahadeva, the Rishis assembled there, each saying, '_I will first behold the god! I will first behold the god!_' And, O king, in order to prevent disputes amongst those Rishis of subdued souls, the Lord of _Yoga_, by the help of his _Yoga_ power, multiplied himself into ten million forms, and stood before every one of them. And every one of these Rishis said, '_I have seen him first!_' And gratified, O king, with the deep devotion of those Munis of subdued souls, Mahadeva granted them a boon, saying, '_From this day your righteousness shall grow!_' And, O tiger among men, one that bathes, with a pure mind, in _Rudrakoti_ obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and delivereth his ancestors. One should next proceed, O king, to that highly sacred and celebrated region where the Saraswati mingles with the sea. Thither, O king, the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis with wealth of asceticism repair for adoring Kesava on the fourteenth day of the lighted fortnight of the month of Chaitra. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in abundance, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, he ascendeth to the region of Brahma. It is there, O king, that the Rishis have completed many a sacrifice. By a trip to that spot one obtaineth the merit of the gifts of a thousand kine."'"

SECTION LXXXIII

"'Pulastya said, "One should next proceed, O king, to the adored Kurukshetra at sight of which all creatures are freed from their sins. He is freed from all sins who constantly sayeth, '_I will live in Kurukshetra_.' The very dust of Kurukshetra, conveyed by the wind, leadeth a sinful man to a blessed course (in after-life). They that dwell in Kurukshetra which lieth to the south of the Saraswati and the north of the Drishadwati, are said to dwell in heaven. O hero, one should reside there, O thou foremost of warriors, for a month. There, O lord of earth, the gods with Brahma at their head, the Rishis, the Siddhas, the Charanas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yakshas and the Nagas, often repair, O Bharata, to the highly sacred Brahmakshetra. O foremost of warriors, the sins of one that desireth to repair to Kurukshetra even mentally are all destroyed, and he finally goeth into the region of Brahma. O son of the Kuru race, by repairing to Kurukshetra in a pious frame of mind, one obtaineth the fruit of the Rajasuya and horse sacrifices. By saluting next the Yaksha called Mankanaka, that mighty gate-keeper (of Kuvera), he obtaineth the fruit of giving away a thousand kine. O virtuous king, one should next repair to the excellent region of Vishnu, where Hari is always present. Bathing there and bowing down unto Hari, the Creator of the three worlds, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice and repaireth to the abode of Vishnu. One should next repair to Pariplava, that _tirtha_ celebrated over the three worlds, and (bathing there), O Bharata, one obtaineth merit that is greater than that of the _Agnishtoma_ and the _Atiratra_ sacrifices. Repairing next to the _tirtha_ called Prithivi, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. The pilgrim should next, O king, proceed to Shalukini and bathing there in the Dasaswamedha one obtaineth the merit of ten horse-sacrifices. Proceeding next to _Sarpadevi_, that excellent _tirtha_ of the Nagas, one obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and attaineth to the region of the Nagas. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to _Tarantuka_, the gatekeeper, and residing there for one night one obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next with subdued senses and regulated diet to _Panchananda_ and bathing in the _tirtha_ there, called _Koti_, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then to the _tirtha_ of the twin _Aswins_ one obtaineth personal beauty. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Varaha_, where Vishnu formerly stood in the form of a boar. Bathing there one obtaineth, O foremost of men, the merit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next, O king, repair to the _tirtha_ called _Sama_ in Jayanti. Bathing there one obtaineth the merit of Rajasuya sacrifice. By bathing in _Ekahansa_, a man obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. O king, a pilgrim repairing to _Kritasaucha_ obtaineth the lotus-eyed deity (Vishnu) and perfect purity of soul. One should next proceed to _Munjavata_, that spot sacred to the illustrious _Sthanu_. Residing there without food for one night, one obtaineth the status called _Ganapatya_. There, O king, is the celebrated _tirtha_ called _Yakshini_. O king, repairing to that _tirtha_ and bathing there, one obtaineth fruition of all his desires. O bull of the Bharata race, that _tirtha_ is regarded as the gate of _Kurukshetra_. The pilgrim should with concentrated

soul, walk round it. Equal unto the Pushkaras, it was created by the high-souled Rama, the son of Jamadagni. Bathing there and worshipping the _Pitris_ and the gods, one obtaineth, O king, the merit of the horse-sacrifice and becometh successful in everything. The pilgrim should next repair with concentrated soul to the _Rama-hrada_. There, O king, the heroic Rama of resplendent energy, exterminating the Kshatriyas by his might, dug five lakes and filled them, O tiger among men, with the blood of his victims, as heard by us. And having filled those lakes with Kshatriya blood, Rama offered oblations of blood to his sires and grandsires. Gratified (with the oblations) those Rishis then addressed Rama and said, 'O Rama, O Rama, O thou of great good fortune, we have been gratified with thee, O thou of the Bhrigu race, for this thy regard for the Pitris, and thy prowess, O exalted one! Blessed be thou and ask thou the boon thou choosest. What is that thou desirest, O thou of great splendour!' Thus addressed (by them), Rama, that foremost of smiters, said with joined hands these words unto the _Pitris_, stationed in the firmament, 'If ye have been gratified with me, if I have deserved your favour, I desire this favour of the Pitris, _viz_., that I may have pleasure again in ascetic austerities. Let me also, through your power, be freed from the sin I have committed by exterminating, from wrath, the Kshatriya race. Let also my lakes become _tirthas_ celebrated over the world.' The Pitris, hearing these blessed words of Rama, were highly gratified, and filled with joy they answered him saying, 'Let thy asceticism increase in consequence of thy regard for the Pitris. Thou hast exterminated the Kshatriyas from wrath. Freed art thou already from that sin, for they have perished as a consequence of their own misdeeds. Without doubt, these lakes of thine will become _tirthas_. And if one, bathing in these lakes, offereth oblations of the water thereof to the _Pitris_, the latter gratified with him will grant him desire, difficult of fulfilment in the world as also eternal heaven.' O king, having granted him these boons, the Pitris joyfully saluted Rama of the Bhrigu race and disappeared there and then. It was thus that the lakes of the illustrious Rama of the Bhrigu race became sacred. Leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and observing sacred vows, one should bathe in the lakes of Rama. Bathing therein and worshipping Rama, one obtaineth, O king, the merit of gift of gold in abundance. Proceeding next, O son of the Kuru race, to _Vansamulaka_, a pilgrim by bathing there, raiseth, O king, his own race. O best of the Bharatas, arriving next at the _tirtha_ called _Kayasodhana_, and bathing there, one purifieth, without doubt, his body, and proceeded with purified body to the blessed region of unrivalled excellence. One should next repair, O virtuous one, to that _tirtha_, celebrated over the three worlds, called _Lokoddara_, where formerly Vishnu of great prowess had created the worlds. Arriving at that _tirtha_ which is adored by the three worlds one earneth, O king, by bathing there, numerous worlds for himself. Repairing next with subdued soul to the _tirtha_ called _Sree_, one acquires, by bathing there and worshipping the Pitris and the gods, high prosperity. Leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and with concentrated soul, one should proceed next to the _tirtha_ called _Kapila_. Bathing there and worshipping one's own Pitris and the gods, a man

earneth the fruit of the gift of a thousand Kapila kine. Repairing next to the _tirtha_ called _Surya_ and bathing there with subdued soul and worshipping the Pitris and the gods, fasting all the while, one obtaineth the fruit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice and goeth (finally) to the region of the Sun. The pilgrim by proceeding next to Gobhavana and bathing there obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. O son of the Kuru race, a pilgrim by repairing then to the _tirtha_ called _Shankhini_ and bathing in the _Devi-tirtha_ that is there, obtaineth high prowess. O king, one should then proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Tarandaka_ situated in the Saraswati and belonging to the illustrious chief of the Yakshas who is one of the gate-keepers (of Kuvera). O king, bathing there one obtaineth the fruit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. O virtuous king, one should next repair to the _tirtha_ called _Brahmavarta_. Bathing in _Brahmavarta_, one ascendeth to the abode of Brahma. O king, one should then repair to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Sutirtha_. There the Pitris are ever present along with the gods. One should bathe there and worship the Pitris and the gods. By so doing, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and goeth (finally) into the region of the Pitris. It is for this, O virtuous one, that _Sutirtha_ situate in _Amvumati_ is regarded as so excellent. And, O thou best of the Bharata race, having bathed in the _tirtha_ of _Kasiswara_, one becometh freed from all diseases and is adored in the abode of Brahma. There in that _tirtha_, is another called _Matri_. One that bathes in _Matri tirtha_ hath a large progeny and obtaineth, O king, great prosperity. One should next proceed with subdued sense and regulated diet to the _tirtha_ called _Shitavana_. And, O great king, it hath been seen that one merit of that _tirtha_ which rarely belongs to any other, is that one only going thither obtaineth holiness. By casting off his hair in that _tirtha_ one acquireth, O Bharata, great sanctity. There, in that _tirtha_, is another called _Shwavillomapaha_, where, O tiger among men, and chief of the Bharata race, learned Brahmanas that go to _tirthas_ obtain great satisfaction by a dip into its waters. Good Brahmanas, O king, by casting off their hair in that _tirtha_ acquire holiness by _Pranayama_ and finally attain to a high state. There, O king, in that _tirtha_ is also another called _Dasaswamedhika_. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one attains to a high state. One should next proceed, O king, to the celebrated _tirtha_ called _Manusha_ where, O king, a number of black antelopes afflicted by the hunter's arrows, plunging into its waters, were transformed into human beings. Bathing in that _tirtha_, leading a _Brahmacharya_ mode of life and with concentrated soul, a man becomes freed from all his sins and is adored in heaven. Distant by a _krosa_, O king, to the east of _Manusha_ there is a river celebrated by the name of _Apaga_ that is resorted to by the _Siddhas_. The man that offereth there the _syamaka_ grain in honour of the gods and the Pitris acquireth great religious merit. And if one Brahmana is fed there, it becomes equivalent to feeding ten millions of Brahmanas. Having bathed in that _tirtha_ and worshipped the gods and the Pitris and resided there for one night, a man obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. One should then repair, O king, to that excellent region of Brahma which, O Bharata, is known on earth