SECTION –LXXXIII
(Tirtha-yatra Parva 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 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), cue 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 restored 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 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 goeth 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 acquireth 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 obtaineth all his wishes and goeth 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 sinketh into hell but obtaineth
the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. Repairing next to Kindana and Kinjapya,
one acquireth, 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 obtaineth
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, obtaineth, 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 obtaineth 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
attaineth 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 obtaineth, 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 obtaineth, O king, the merit of
giving away a thousand kine. Bathing next in the tirtha called Panikhata and
worshipping all the gods, a man obtaineth 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 hath been heard by us that the high-souled Vyasa, for the
sake of the Brahmanas, hath 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 obtaineth 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, becometh 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 obtaineth the merit of a thousand kine. O son of the
Kuru race, proceeding next to the well called Kindatta, he that throweth into
it a measure of sesame, is freed from all his debts and obtaineth his success.
Bathing in the tirtha called Vedi, one obtaineth 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 goeth 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 obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next in the
Devi tirtha one obtaineth 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
goeth to the abode of Vishnu. Bathing next in Kulampuna, one sanctifieth 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 becometh adored in
the region of the Wind-god. Bathing in the Amara-hrada and worshipping with
devotion the chief of the celestials, one becometh adored in heaven and courseth,
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 obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. O best of the Bharatas,
there is a tirtha called Sreekunja in the Saraswati. Bathing there, O best of
men, one obtaineth 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 Saraswati, 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
Saraswati there, one obtaineth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. One
should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the excellent tirtha called Kanya.
Bathing there one obtaineth 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, obtaineth the status of a Brahmana, and if one
be a Brahmana, his soul being purified from every sin, he attaineth to the
highest state. One should then, O best of men, proceed to the excellent tirtha
called Soma. Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the region of Soma. One
should next proceed, O king, to the tirtha called Saptasaraswata, where the
celebrated Rishi, Mankanaka, had obtained ascetic success. O king, it hath 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 behoveth thee, 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 thou dance? O bull among
Munis, what can be the reason of this thy present joy?' The Rishi answered, 'O
best of Brahmanas, I am an ascetic that tread the path of virtue. Dost thou not
behold, O Brahmana, that vegetable juice floweth 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, thou art the
refuge of the celestials and the Asuras, of, indeed, the universe. By thee have
been created the three worlds with their mobile and immobile beings. It is thou
again that swallowest everything at the end of the Yuga. Thou art 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 thee. Thou art all, the Creator
himself and the Ordainer of the worlds. It is by thy grace that all the gods
sport without anxiety or fear. And adoring Mahadeva thus the Rishi also said,
'O god of gods, grant me thy grace, so that my asceticism may not diminish.'
Then that god of cheerful soul answered the regenerate Rishi,--saying, 'Let thy
asceticism, O Brahmana, increase a thousandfold through my grace. And, O great
Muni, I shall dwell with thee in this thy asylum. Bathing in Saptasaraswata,
they that will worship me, shall be able to attain everything here and
hereafter. And, without doubt, they shall all attain to the Saraswata region in
the end.' Having said this, Mahadeva disappeared then and there.
"After visiting Saraswata, 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
Kapalamochana, which cleanseth 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
obtaineth the regions of agni and raiseth his own race (from lower regions).
There in that tirtha is another, O chief of the Bharatas, that belongeth to
Viswamitra. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaineth the status of a
Brahmana. Proceeding next to Brahmayoni in purity of body and with subdued
soul, one obtaineth, O tiger among men, by bathing there, the abode of Brahma,
and sanctifieth, 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 hath 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 obtaineth, too, the merit of the horse-sacrifice and heaven
also. The learned have said that Kurukshetra is holy; that holier than
Kurukshetra is the Saraswati; that holier than the Saraswati are all the
tirthas together, and that holier than all the tirthas together is Prithudaka.
He that engaged in the recitation of prayers casteth off his body at
Prithudaka, which is the best of all tirthas, becometh an immortal. It hath
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 hath 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 obtaineth the merit of giving away a
thousand kine. One should then proceed, O king, to that celebrated and sacred
tirtha where the Saraswati uniteth with the Aruna. One that batheth there,
having fasted for three nights, is cleansed of even the sin of slaying a
Brahmana, and obtaineth also merit that is superior to that of either the
Agnishtoma or Atiratra sacrifice, and rescueth 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 becometh a
Brahmana. O bull among men, it hath been seen, however, by learned persons of
old that even one destitute of rites and Mantras, by only bathing in that
tirtha becometh learned and endued with the merit of vows. Darbhi had also
brought hither the four oceans. O best of men, one that batheth here, never
meeteth with distress hereafter and obtaineth 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 batheth in them, obtaineth 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
obtaineth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Bathing next in the tirtha
called Vimochana 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 Brahmacharya mode of life, one should next repair to the
woods of Panchavati. By a sojourn thither, one earneth much virtue and becometh
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
sojourneth there, obtaineth 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 Brahmacharya mode of life, he
that bathes in Kuru-tirtha, becometh cleansed of all his sins and obtaineth the
region of Brahma. With subdued senses and regulated diet one should next
proceed to Svargadwara. Sojourning thither, one obtaineth the merit of the
Agnishtoma sacrifice and goeth to the abode of Brahma. The pilgrim should then,
O king, proceed to the tirtha called Anaraka. Bathing there, O king, one never
meeteth 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 meeteth with distress hereafter. There in that tirtha O
king, is also (an image of) Visweswara, 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 blazeth forth, O royal
represser of all foes, and goeth to the abode of Vishnu. O bull among men, he
that batheth in the tirthas of all the gods, is exempted from every sorrow and
blazeth forth like the Moon. The pilgrim should next proceed, O king, to
Swastipura. By walking around that place, one obtaineth 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 obtaineth, 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 obtaineth heaven. Bathing
also in the Ganga-hrada and adoring Maheswara, one obtaineth the status of
Ganapatya and rescueth his own race. One should next proceed to Sthanuvata,
celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth heaven.
One should then proceed to Vadaripachana, the asylum of Vasishtha. Having
tasted there for three nights, one should eat jujubes. He that liveth on
jujubes for twelve years, and he that fasteth at the tirtha for three nights,
acquireth merit that is eternal. Arriving then at Indramarga, O king, and
fasting there for a day and night the pilgrim becometh adored in the abode of
Indra. Arriving next at the tirtha called Ekaratra, a person that stayeth there
for one night, with regulated vows and refraining from untruth, becometh 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
goeth to the region of Aditya and rescueth his own race. The pilgrim then, O
king, bathing in the tirtha of Soma, obtaineth, 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 Saraswata race, was born, Bathing in that tirtha, one
obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and without doubt, gaineth also
residence in the legion of Saraswati. With subdued senses and leading a
Brahmacharya mode of life, one should next proceed to Kanyasrama. Residing
there for three nights, O king, with subdued senses and regulated diet, one
obtaineth a hundred celestial damsels and goeth 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 Saraswati during a solar
eclipse, one obtaineth the merit of a hundred horse-sacrifices, and any
sacrifice that one may perform there produceth 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 becometh adored in heaven. Listen now, O king, to the merit acquired
by that mortal who performeth a Sraddha on the day of the new moon during a
solar eclipse. The person that performeth a Sraddha there, after having bathed
in that tirtha, obtaineth the merit that one earneth by properly celebrating a
thousand horse-sacrifices. Whatever sins a man or woman committeth, are,
without doubt, all destroyed as soon as one batheth in that tirtha. Bathing
there one also ascendeth to the abode of Brahma on the lotus-coloured tar.
Bathing next in Koti-tirtha, after having worshipped the Yaksha doorkeeper,
Machakruka, one obtaineth 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 Brahmacharya mode of life. By this, one obtaineth
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, leadeth sinful men to a highly blessed state. They that reside in
Kurukshetra, which lieth to the north of the Drishadwati and the south of the
Saraswati, really reside in heaven. 'I will go to Kurukshetra,' 'I will dwell
in Kurukshetra,' he that uttereth those words even once, becometh 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 lieth between
Tarantuka and Arantuka and the lakes of Rama and Machakruka is Kurukshetra. It
is also called Samantapanchaka and is said to be the northern sacrificial altar
of the Grandsire.'
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