Section LXXXIII

("Narada continued, )

"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 says,

'I will live in Kurukshetra.'

The very dust of Kurukshetra, conveyed by the wind, leads a sinful man to a blessed course (in after-life). They that dwell in Kurukshetra which lies to the south of the Sarasvati and the north of the Drishadwati, are said to dwell in heaven. O hero, one should reside there, O you 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 desires to repair to Kurukshetra even mentally are all destroyed, and he finally goes into the region of Brahma. O son of the Kuru race, by repairing to Kurukshetra in a pious frame of mind, one obtaines the fruit of the Rajasuya and horse sacrifices. By saluting next the Yaksha called Mankanaka, that mighty gate-keeper (of Kuvera), cue obtaines 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 obtaines the fruit of the horse-sacrifice and repairs to the abode of Vishnu.

One should next repair to Pariplava, that tirtha celebrated over the three worlds, and (bathing there), O Bharata, one obtaines merit that is greater than that of the Agnishtoma and the Atiratra sacrifices.

Repairing next to the tirtha called Prithivi, one obtaines the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. The pilgrim should next, O king, proceed to Shalukini and bathing there in the Dasasvamedha one obtaines the merit of ten horse-sacrifices.

Proceeding next to Sarpadevi, that excellent tirtha of the Nagas, one obtaines the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and attains to the region of the Nagas.

O virtuous one, one should next proceed to Tarantuka, the gatekeeper, and residing there for one night one obtaines the merit of giving away a thousand kine.

Proceeding next with subdued senses and regulated diet to Pancananda and bathing in the tirtha there, called Koti, one obtaines the fruit of the horse-sacrifice.

Proceeding then to the tirtha of the twin Asvins one obtaines 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 obtaines, 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 obtaines the merit of Rajasuya sacrifice. By bathing in Ekahansa, a man obtaines the merit of giving away a thousand kine. O king, a pilgrim repairing to Kritasaucha obtaines 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 obtaines the status called Ganapatya. There, O king, is the celebrated tirtha called Yakshini. O king, repairing to that tirtha and bathing there, one obtaines 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 obtaines, O king, the merit of the horse-sacrifice and becomes 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 you of great good fortune, we have been gratified with you, O you of the Bhrigu race, for this your regard for the Pitris, and your prowess, O exalted one! Blessed be you and ask you the boon you choosest. What is that you desirest, O you 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 you 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 your asceticism increase in consequence of your regard for the Pitris. You have exterminated the Kshatriyas from wrath. Freed art you 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, offers 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 Brahmacarya mode of life and observing sacred vows, one should bathe in the lakes of Rama. Bathing therein and worshipping Rama, one obtaines, 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, raises, O king, his own race.

O best of the Bharatas, arriving next at the tirtha called Kayasodhana, and bathing there, one purifies, 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 earns, O king, by bathing there, numerous worlds for himself.

Repairing next with subdued soul to the tirtha called Shri, one acquires, by bathing there and worshipping the Pitris and the gods, high prosperity.

Leading a Brahmacarya 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 earns 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 obtaines the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and goes (finally) to the region of the Sun.

The pilgrim by proceeding next to Gobhavana and bathing there obtaines 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, obtaines high prowess.

O king, one should then proceed to the tirtha called Tarandaka situated in the Sarasvati and belonging to the illustrious chief of the Yakshas who is one of the gate-keepers (of Kuvera). O king, bathing there one obtaines the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

O virtuous king, one should next repair to the tirtha called Brahmavarta. Bathing in Brahmavarta, one ascends 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 obtaines the merit of the horse-sacrifice and goes (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 you best of the Bharata race, having bathed in the tirtha of Kasisvara, one becomes 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 has a large progeny and obtaines, O king, great prosperity.

One should next proceed with subdued sense and regulated diet to the tirtha called Shitavana. And, O great king, it has been seen that one merit of that tirtha which rarely belongs to any other, is that one only going thither obtaines holiness. By casting off his hair in that tirtha one acquires, 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 Dasasvamedhika. 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 Brahmacarya 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 restored to by the Siddhas. The man that offers there the syamaka grain in honour of the gods and the Pitris acquires 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 obtaines 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 by the name of Brahmodumvara. Bathing in the tank of the seven Rishis that is there, O bull among men, with pure mind and subdued soul, as also in the tirtha called Kedara of the high-souled Kapila, and beholding Brahma who is there, one’s soul being purified from all sins, one goes to the abode of Brahma.

Proceeding next to the inaccessible tirtha called Kedara of Kapila, and burning one’s sins there by ascetic penances, one acquires the power of disappearance at will.

One should next proceed, O king, to the celebrated tirtha called Saraka, and beholding Mahadeva there on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, one obtaines all his wishes and goes also into heaven.

O son of the Kuru race, in Saraka and Rudrakoti as also in the well and the lakes that are there, thirty millions of tirthas are present. There in that tirtha, O chief of the Bharatas, is another called Ilaspada. Bathing there and worshipping the gods and the Pitris, one never sinks into hell but obtaines the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

Repairing next to Kindana and Kinjapya, one acquires, O Bharata, the merit of giving away in measureless abundance and the infinite recitation of prayers.

Repairing next to the tirtha called Kalasi and bathing there devoutly and with the senses under control, a man obtaines the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

To the east of Saraka, O chief of the Kurus, there is an auspicious tirtha known by the name of Anajanma, of the high-souled Narada. He that bathes there, O Bharata, obtaines, after death, at the command of Narada various unrivalled regions.

One should next proceed, on the tenth day of the lighted fortnight, to the tirtha called Pundarika. Bathing there, O king, one obtaines the merit of the Pundarika sacrifice.

One should next proceed to the tirtha called Tripishtapa that is known over the three worlds. There in that tirtha is the sacred and sin-destroying river called Vaitarani. Bathing there and adoring the god known by the mark of the bull and holding the trident in his hand, one’s soul being purified from every sin one attains to the highest state.

One should next proceed, O king, to the excellent tirtha called Phalakivana. There in that tirtha the gods, O monarch, having been present, performed their ascetic austerities extending for many thousand years.

One should then proceed to the Dhrishadwati. Bathing there and worshipping the gods, one obtaines, O Bharata, merit that is superior to that of both the Agnishtoma and the Atiratra sacrifices. O chief of the Bharatas, bathing in that tirtha called Sarvadeva, a man obtaines, O king, the merit of giving away a thousand kine.

Bathing next in the tirtha called Panikhata and worshipping all the gods, a man obtaines merit that is superior to that of both the Agnishtoma and the Atiratra sacrifices, besides acquiring that of the Rajasuya sacrifice and finally going into the region of the Rishis.

One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to that excellent tirtha called Misraka. There, O tiger among kings, it has been heard by us that the high-souled Vyasa, for the sake of the Brahmanas, has mixed all the tirthas. He, therefore, that bathes in Misraka really bathes in all the tirtha.

One should next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet, to the tirtha called Vyasavana. Bathing in the tirtha called Manojava that is there, one obtaines the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.

Proceeding next to the Devi tirtha that is in Madhuvati, one that bathes there and worships the gods and the Pitris obtains at the command of the Goddess the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.

Proceeding with regulated diet, he that bathes in the confluence of the Kausiki and the Drishadwati, becomes free from all his sins.

One should next proceed to Vyasasthali where Vyasa of great intelligence, burning with grief for his son had resolved to cast off his body but was cheered again by the gods. Proceeding to that spot of Vyasa, one obtaines the merit of a thousand kine.

O son of the Kuru race, proceeding next to the well called Kindatta, he that throws into it a measure of sesame, is freed from all his debts and obtaines his success. Bathing in the tirtha called Vedi, one obtaines the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.

There are two other celebrated tirthas called Ahas and Sudina. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one goes to the region of the Sun.

One should next proceed to the tirtha called Mrigadhuma that is celebrated throughout the three worlds. One should bathe there, O king, in Ganga. Bathing there and worshipping Mahadeva, one obtaines the merit of the horse-sacrifice.

Bathing next in the Devi tirtha one obtaines the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.

One should then proceed to Vamanaka celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there in Vishnupada and worshipping Vamana one’s soul being purified from every sin, one goes to the abode of Vishnu.

Bathing next in Kulampuna, one sanctifies his own race.

Proceeding then to the Pavana-hrada, that excellent tirtha of the Marutas, and bathing there, O king and tiger among men, one becomes adored in the region of the Wind-god.

Bathing in the Amara-hrada and worshipping with devotion the chief of the celestials, one becomes adored in heaven and courses, seated on an excellent car, in the company of the immortals.

O best of great men, bathing next with due rites in the tirtha called Sali surya, of Salihotra, one obtaines the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. O best of the Bharatas, there is a tirtha called Sreekunja in the Sarasvati. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaines the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

O son of the Kuru race, one should next repair to Naimishakunja. O king, the Rishis engaged in ascetic austerities in the woods of Naimisha had, in days of old, taking the vow of pilgrimage, gone to Kurukshetra. There, on the banks of the Sarasvati, O chief of the Bharatas, a grove was made, which might serve for a resting spot for themselves, and which was highly gratifying to them.

Bathing in the Sarasvati there, one obtaines the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the excellent tirtha called Kanya. Bathing there one obtaines the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.

One should next proceed to the excellent tirtha of Brahma. Bathing there, a person, of the (three) inferior orders, obtaines the status of a Brahmana, and if one be a Brahmana, his soul being purified from every sin, he attains to the highest state.

One should then, O best of men, proceed to the excellent tirtha called Soma. Bathing there, O king, one obtaines the region of Soma.

One should next proceed, O king, to the tirtha called Saptasarasvata, where the celebrated Rishi, Mankanaka, had obtained ascetic success. O king, it has been heard by us that in days of old Mankanaka having cut his hand with the pointed blade of the Kusa grass, there flowed from his wound vegetable juice (instead of blood). And beholding vegetable juice flow from his wound, the Rishi began to dance with wonder-expanded eyes. And as the Rishi danced, all the mobile and immobile creatures also, overwhelmed with his prowess, began to dance with him.

Then, O king, the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with the wealth of asceticism moved by the act of Mankanaka, represented the matter to Mahadeva, saying,

'It behoves you, O god, to act in such a way that this Rishi may not dance.'

Thus addressed, Mahadeva, with heart filled with joy, approached the dancing Rishi, and moved by the desire of doing good to the gods, said,

'O great Rishi, O virtuous one, why dost you dance? O bull among Munis, what can be the reason of this your present joy?'

The Rishi answered,

'O best of Brahmanas, I am an ascetic that tread the path of virtue. Dost you not behold, O Brahmana, that vegetable juice flows from the wound in my hand? Filled with great joy at sight of this, I am dancing.'

Addressing the Rishi blinded by emotion, the god laughingly said,

'O Brahmana, I do not wonder at this. Behold me.'

Having said this, O best of men, Mahadeva, O sinless king, pressed his thumb by the tip of his own finger. And, lo, from the wound thus inflicted, there came out ashes white as snow. And beholding this, O king, that Muni became ashamed and fell at the feet of the god. And believing that there was nothing better and greater than the god Rudra, he began to adore him in these words:

"O holder of the trident, you are the refuge of the celestials and the Asuras, of, indeed, the universe. By you have been created the three worlds with their mobile and immobile beings. It is you again that swallowest everything at the end of the Yuga. You are incapable of being known by the gods themselves, far less by me. O sinless one, the gods with Brahma at their heads are all displayed in you. You are all, the Creator himself and the Ordainer of the worlds. It is by your grace that all the gods sport without anxiety or fear.

And adoring Mahadeva thus the Rishi also said,

'O god of gods, grant me your grace, so that my asceticism may not diminish.'

Then that god of cheerful soul answered the regenerate Rishi,—saying,

'Let your asceticism, O Brahmana, increase a thousandfold through my grace. And, O great Muni, I shall dwell with you in this your asylum. Bathing in Saptasarasvata, they that will worship me, shall be able to attain everything here and hereafter. And, without doubt, they shall all attain to the Sarasvata region in the end.'

Having said this, Mahadeva disappeared then and there.

"After visiting Sarasvata, one should proceed to Ausanasa celebrated over the three worlds. There, O Bharata, the gods with Brahma at their head, and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, and the illustrious Kartikeya, were ever present during two twilights and the mid-day, impelled by the desire of doing good to Bhargava.

There in that tirtha is another called Kapalamocana, which cleanses from every sin. O tiger among men, bathing there one is cleansed from every sin.

One should then proceed to the tirtha called Agni. Bathing there, O bull among men, one obtaines the regions of agni and raises his own race (from lower regions). There in that tirtha is another, O chief of the Bharatas, that belongs to Visvamitra. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaines the status of a Brahmana.

Proceeding next to Brahmayoni in purity of body and with subdued soul, one obtaines, O tiger among men, by bathing there, the abode of Brahma, and sanctifies, without doubt, his own race to the seventh generation up and down.

One should next proceed, O king, to the tirtha celebrated over the three worlds, which is called Prithudaka, belonging to Kartikeya. One should bathe there and occupy oneself in the worship of the Pitris and the gods. Whatever evil has been committed, knowingly or unknowingly, by man or woman, impelled by human motives, is all destroyed, O Bharata, by a bath in that tirtha. Bathing there one obtaines, too, the merit of the horse-sacrifice and heaven also.

The learned have said that Kurukshetra is holy; that holier than Kurukshetra is the Sarasvati; that holier than the Sarasvati are all the tirthas together, and that holier than all the tirthas together is Prithudaka. He that engaged in the recitation of prayers casts off his body at Prithudaka, which is the best of all tirthas, becomes an immortal. It has been sung by Sanatkumara and by the high-souled Vyasa, and it is in the Vedas also, that one should, O king, go to Prithudaka, with subdued soul.

O son of Kuru race, there is no tirtha which is superior to Prithudaka. Without doubt, that tirtha is purifying, holy and sin-destroying. O best of men, it has been said by learned persons that men, however sinful, by bathing in Prithudaka, go to heaven.

O best of the Bharatas, there in that tirtha is another called Madhusrava. Bathing there, O king, one obtaines the merit of giving away a thousand kine.

One should then proceed, O king, to that celebrated and sacred tirtha where the Sarasvati unites with the Aruna. One that bathes there, having fasted for three nights, is cleansed of even the sin of slaying a Brahmana, and obtaines also merit that is superior to that of either the Agnishtoma or Atiratra sacrifice, and rescues his race to the seventh generation up and down.

There in that tirtha is another, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, that is called Ardhakila. From compassion for the Brahmanas, that tirtha was made by Darbhi in days of old. Without doubt, by vows, by investiture of the sacred, by fasts, by rites and by Mantras, one becomes a Brahmana. O bull among men, it has been seen, however, by learned persons of old that even one destitute of rites and Mantras, by only bathing in that tirtha becomes learned and endued with the merit of vows. Darbhi had also brought hither the four oceans. O best of men, one that bathes here, never meets with distress hereafter and obtaines also the merit of giving away four thousand kine.

One should next repair, O virtuous one, to the tirtha called Satasahasraka. Near to this is another called Sahasraka. Both are celebrated, and one that bathes in them, obtaines the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Fasts and gifts there multiply a thousandfold.

One should next proceed, O king, to the excellent tirtha called Renuka. One should bathe there and worship the Pitris and the gods. By this, cleansed from every sin, he obtaines the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Bathing next in the tirtha called Vimocana with passions and senses under control, one is cleansed from all the sins generated by the acceptance of gifts.

With senses under control and practising the Brahmacarya mode of life, one should next repair to the woods of Pancavati. By a sojourn thither, one earns much virtue and becomes adored in the regions of the virtuous.

One should next go to the tirtha of Varuna called Taijasa, blazing in effulgence of its own. There in that tirtha is the lord of Yoga, Sthanu himself, having for his vehicle the bull. He that sojournes there, obtaines success by worshipping the god of gods. It was there that the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, installed Guha as the generalissimo of the celestials.

To the east of that tirtha is another, O perpetuator of Kuru race, that is called Kuru tirtha. With senses under control and leading a Brahmacarya mode of life, he that bathes in Kuru-tirtha, becomes cleansed of all his sins and obtaines the region of Brahma.

With subdued senses and regulated diet one should next proceed to Svargadwara. Sojourning thither, one obtaines the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and goes to the abode of Brahma.

The pilgrim should then, O king, proceed to the tirtha called Anaraka. Bathing there, O king, one never meets with distress hereafter. There, O king, Brahma himself with the other gods having Narayana at their head, is ever present, O tiger among men! And, O royal son of the Kuru race, the wife also of Rudra is present there. Beholding the goddess, one never meets with distress hereafter.

There in that tirtha O king, is also (an image of) Visvesvara, the lord of Uma. Beholding the god of gods there, one is cleansed of all his sins. Beholding also (the image of) Narayana from whose navel had sprung the lotus, one blazes forth, O royal represser of all foes, and goes to the abode of Vishnu. O bull among men, he that bathes in the tirthas of all the gods, is exempted from every sorrow and blazes forth like the Moon.

The pilgrim should next proceed, O king, to Svastipura. By walking around that place, one obtaines the merit of giving away a thousand kine.

Arriving next at the tirtha called Pavana, one should offer oblations to the Pitris and the gods. By this, he obtaines, O Bharata, the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Near to that is Ganga-hrada, and another, O Bharata, called Kupa. Thirty millions of tirthas, O king, are present in that Kupa. Bathing there, O king, a person obtaines heaven. Bathing also in the Ganga-hrada and adoring Mahesvara, one obtaines the status of Ganapatya and rescues his own race.

One should next proceed to Sthanuvata, celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there, O king, one obtaines heaven. One should then proceed to Vadaripacana, the asylum of Vasishtha. Having tasted there for three nights, one should eat jujubes. He that lives on jujubes for twelve years, and he that fasts at the tirtha for three nights, acquires merit that is eternal.

Arriving then at Indramarga, O king, and fasting there for a day and night the pilgrim becomes adored in the abode of Indra.

Arriving next at the tirtha called Ekaratra, a person that stays there for one night, with regulated vows and refraining from untruth, becomes adored in the abode of Brahma.

One should next go, O king, to the asylum of Aditya—that illustrious god who is a mass of effulgence. Bathing in that tirtha celebrated over three worlds, and worshipping the god of light, one goes to the region of Aditya and rescues his own race. The pilgrim then, O king, bathing in the tirtha of Soma, obtaines, without doubt, the region of Soma.

One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the most sacred tirtha of the illustrious Dadhicha, that sanctifying tirtha which is celebrated over the whole world. It was here that Angiras, that ocean of ascetic austerities belonging to the Sarasvata race, was born, Bathing in that tirtha, one obtaines the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and without doubt, gains also residence in the legion of Sarasvati.

With subdued senses and leading a Brahmacarya mode of life, one should next proceed to Kanyasrama. Residing there for three nights, O king, with subdued senses and regulated diet, one obtaines a hundred celestial damsels and goes also to the abode of Brahma.

One should next, O virtuous one, proceed to the tirtha called Sannihati. Sojourning thither the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism earn much virtue. Bathing in the Sarasvati during a solar eclipse, one obtaines the merit of a hundred horse-sacrifices, and any sacrifice that one may perform there produces merit that is eternal.

Whatever tirthas exist on earth or in the firmament, all the rivers, lakes, smaller lakes, springs, tanks, large and small, and spots sacred to particular gods, without doubt, all come, O tiger among men, month after month, and mingle with Sannihati, O king of men! And it is because that all other tirthas are united together here, that this tirtha is so called. Bathing there and drinking of its water, one becomes adored in heaven.

Listen now, O king, to the merit acquired by that mortal who performs a Sraddha on the day of the new moon during a solar eclipse. The person that performs a Sraddha there, after having bathed in that tirtha, obtaines the merit that one earns by properly celebrating a thousand horse-sacrifices. Whatever sins a man or woman commits, are, without doubt, all destroyed as soon as one bathes in that tirtha. Bathing there one also ascends to the abode of Brahma on the lotus-coloured tar.

Bathing next in Koti-tirtha, after having worshipped the Yaksha doorkeeper, Macakruka, one obtaines the merit of giving away gold in abundance.

Near to this, O best of the Bharatas, is a tirtha called Gangahrada. One should bathe there, O virtuous one, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacarya mode of life. By this, one obtaines merit that is greater than that of a Rajasuya and horse-sacrifices.

The tirtha called Naimisha is productive of good on earth. Pushkara is productive of good in the regions of the firmament; Kurukshetra, however, is productive of good in respect of all the three worlds. Even the dust of Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, leads sinful men to a highly blessed state.

They that reside in Kurukshetra, which lies to the north of the Drishadwati and the south of the Sarasvati, really reside in heaven.

'I will go to Kurukshetra,'

'I will dwell in Kurukshetra,'

he that utters those words even once, becomes cleansed of all sins. The sacred Kurukshetra which is worshipped by Brahmarshis, is regarded as the sacrificial altar of the celestials. Those mortals that dwell there, have nothing to grieve for at any time. That which lies between Tarantuka and Arantuka and the lakes of Rama and Macakruka is Kurukshetra. It is also called Samantapancaka and is said to be the northern sacrificial altar of the Grandsire.'