“Lomasa said, ’There is the land, O Kunti’s son, where the Kalinga tribes dwell.  Through it passeth the river Vaitarani, on the banks whereof even the god of virtue performed religious rites, having first placed himself under the protection of the celestials.  Verily, this is the northern bank, inhabited by saints, suitable for the performance of religious rites beautified by a hill, and frequented by persons of the regenerate caste.  This spot (in holiness) rivals the path whereby a virtuous man, fit for going to heaven, repairs to the region inhabited by gods.  And verily at this spot in former times, other saints likewise worshipped the immortals by the performance of religious rites.  And at the very spot it was that the god Rudra, O king of kings, seized the sacrificial beast and exclaimed, “This is my share!” O chief of the descendants of Bharata, then when the beast was carried away by Siva, the gods spake to him saying, “Cast not a covetous glance at the property of others, disregarding all the righteous rules.”  Then they addressed words of glorification of a pleasing kind to the god Rudra.  And they satisfied him by offering a sacrifice, and paid him suitable honours.  Thereupon he gave up the beast, and went by the path trodden by the gods.  Thereupon what happened to Rudra, learn from me, O Yudhishthira!  Influenced by the dread of Rudra, the gods set apart for evermore, the best allotment out of all shares, such as was fresh and not stale (to be appropriated by the god).  Whosoever performs his ablutions at this spot, while reciting this ancient story, beholds with his mortal eyes the path that leads to the region of the gods.”

Vaisampayana said, “Then all the sons of Pandu and likewise the daughter of Drupada—­all of whom were the favoured of Fate—­descended to the river Vaitarani, and made libations to the names of their fathers.

“Yudhishthira said, ’O Lomasa, how great must be the force of a pious deed!  Having taken my bath at this spot in a proper form, I seem to touch no more the region inhabited by mortal men!  O saint of a virtuous life, I am beholding all the regions.  And this is the noise of the magnanimous dwellers of the wood, who are reciting their audible prayers.’

“Lomasa said, ’O Yudhishthira, the place whence this noise comes and reaches thy ears is at the distance of three hundred thousand yojanas, to be sure.  O lord of men, rest thou quiet and utter no word.  O king, this is the divine forest of the Self-existent One, which hath now come to our view.  There, O king, Viswakarma of a dreaded name performed religious rites.  On the mighty occasion of that sacrifice, the Self-existent One made a gift of this entire earth with all its hilly and forest tracts, to Kasyapa, by way of gratuity, for ministering as a priest.  And then, O Kuru’s son, as soon as that goddess Earth was giving away, she became sad at heart, and wrathfully spake the following words to that great lord, the ruler of the worlds, “O