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 Siddkas. 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,