SECTION –CXXIX
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
"Lomasa said, 'Here, O king! The lord of
born beings himself performed a sacrifice in former times,--the ceremony called
Ishtikrita, which occupied one thousand years. And Amvarisha, son of Nabhaga,
sacrificed near the Yamuna river. And having sacrificed there, he gave away ten
Padmas (of gold coins) to the attendant priests, and he obtained the highest
success by his sacrifices and austerities. And, O Kunti's son! This is the spot
where that sovereign of the entire earth, Nahusha's son, Yayati, of unmeasured
force, and who led a holy life, performed his sacrificial rites. He competed
with Indra and performed his sacrifice here. Behold how the ground is studded
with places for the sacrificial fires of various forms, and how the earth seems
to be subsiding here under the pressure of Yayati's pious works. This is the
Sami tree, which hath got but a single leaf, and this is a most excellent lake.
Behold these lakes of Parasurama, and the hermitage of Narayana. O protector of
earth! This is the path which was followed by Richika's son, of unmeasured
energy, who roamed over the earth, practising the Yoga rites in the river
Raupya. And, O delight of the tribe of Kurus! Hear what a Pisacha woman (she-goblin),
who was decked with pestles for her ornaments, said (to a Brahmana woman), as I
was reciting here the table of genealogy. (She said), "Having eaten curd
in Yugandhara, and lived in Achutasthala, and also bathed in Bhutilaya, thou
shouldst live with thy sons. Having passed a single night here, if thou wilt
spend the second, the events of the night will be different from those that
have happened to thee in the day-time, O most righteous of Bharata's race!
Today we shall spend the night at this very spot. O scion of Bharata's race!
this is the threshold of the field of the Kurus. O king! At this very spot, the
monarch Yayati, son of Nahusha, performed sacrificial rites, and made gifts of
an abundance of gems. And Indra was pleased with those sacred rites. This is an
excellent holy bathing-place on the river Yamuna, known as Plakshavatarana
(descent of the banian tree). Men of cultured minds call it the entrance to the
region of heaven. O respected sir! here, after having performed sacrificial
rites of the Saraswata king, and making use of the sacrificial stake for their
pestle, the highest order of saints performed the holy plunge prescribed at the
end of a sacred ceremony. O monarch! King Bharata here performed sacrificial
rites. To celebrate the horse-sacrifice, he here set free the horse who was the
intended victim. That monarch had won the sovereignty of the earth by
righteousness. The horse? he let go more than once were of a colour checkered
with black. O tiger among men! it was here that Marutta sheltered by Samvartta,
leader of saints, succeeded in performing excellent sacrifices. O sovereign of
kings! Having taken his bath at this spot, one can behold all the worlds, and
is purified from his evil deeds. Do thou, therefore, bathe at this spot.'"
Vaisampayana said, "Then that most
praiseworthy of Pandu's sons, there bathed with his brothers, while the mighty
saints were uttering laudatory words to him. And he addressed the following
words to Lomasa, 'O thou whose strength lieth in truthfulness! By virtue of
this pious act, I behold all the worlds. And from this place, I behold that
most praiseworthy of Pandu's sons Arjuna, the rider of white steed."
'Lomasa said, 'It is even so, O thou of powerful
arms! The saints of the highest order thus behold all the regions. Behold this
holy Saraswati here, thronged by persons who look upon her as their sole
refuge. O most praise worthy of men! having bathed here, thou wilt be free from
all thy sins. O Kunti's son! here the celestial saints performed sacrificial
rites of Saraswata king: and so did the saints and the royal saints. This is
the altar of the lord of beings, five yojanas in extent on all sides round. And
this is the field of the magnanimous Kurus, whose habit it was to perform
sacrifices.'"
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