O great king, performed sacrifices. In that region
also, O Yudhishthira, is the well-known river Drisadwati,
which is productive of great merit. Then, O chief
of men, are Nyagrodhakhya, and Panchalya, and Punyaka
and Dalbhyaghosha, and Dalbhya, which are, O son of
Kunti, the sacred asylum in the world of illustrious
Anandayasas of excellent vows and great energy, and
which are celebrated over the three worlds. Here
also, O lord of men, the illustrious Etavarna and
Avavarana versed in the Vedas, learned in Vedic lore,
and proficient in the knowledge of Vedic rites, performed
meritorious sacrifices, O chief of the Bharata race!
There also is Visakhayupa to which, in days of yore,
came the gods with Varuna and Indra, and practised
ascetic austerities. And therefore is that spot
so eminently sacred. Here also is Palasaka, where
the great and illustrious and highly blessed Rishi
Jamadagni performed sacrifices. There all the
principal rivers in their embodied forms taking their
respective waters stood surrounding that best of sages.
And there also, O monarch, Vibhavasu (fire) himself,
beholding that high-souled one’s initiation,
sang the following sloka: “The river
coming to the illustrious Jamadagni while sacrificing
unto the gods gratified the Brahmanas with offerings
of honey." O Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga
rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which
is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas
and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras,
is called Gangadwara. O king, Sanatkumara regardeth
that spot visited by Brahmarshis, as also the tirtha
Kanakhala (that is near to it), as sacred. There
also is the mountain named Puru which is resorted to
by great Rishis and where Pururavas was born, and
Bhrigu practised ascetic austerities. For this
it is, O king, that asylum hath become known as the
great peak of Bhrigutunga. Near that peak is the
sacred and extensive Vadari, that highly meritorious
asylum, famed over the three worlds, of him, O bull
of the Bharata race, who is the Present, the Past
and the Future, who is called Narayana and the lord
Vishnu, who is eternal and the best of male beings,
and who is pre-eminently illustrious. Near Vadari,
the cool current of Ganga was formerly warm, and the
banks there were overspread with golden sands.
There the gods and Rishis of high fortune and exceeding
effulgence, approaching the divine lord Narayana,
always worship him. The entire universe with all
its tirthas and holy spots is there where dwelleth
the divine and eternal Narayana, the Supreme soul,
for he is Merit, he is the Supreme Brahma,
he is tirtha, he is the ascetic retreat, he
is the First, he is the foremost of gods, and he is
the great Lord of all creatures. He is eternal,
he is the great Creator, and he is the highest state
of blessedness. Learned persons versed in the
scriptures attain to great happiness by knowing him.
In that spot are the celestial Rishis, the Siddhas,