worshipping the deity having the bull for his mark,
one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice as also
the status of Ganapatya. One should next proceed
to the tirtha of Dhumavati. Fasting there for
three nights, one obtaineth, without doubt, all the
wishes cherished by him. To the southern half
of this spot of the Goddess, there is, O king, a tirtha
called Rathavarta. One should, O virtuous one,
go up to that place, with devout heart, and having
his senses under control. By this, through the
grace of Mahadeva, one attaineth to an exalted state.
After walking round the place, one should, O bull
of the Bharata race, proceed to the tirtha named Dhara,
which, O thou of great wisdom, washeth off all sins.
Bathing there, O tiger among men, a man is freed from
every sorrow. One should then repair, O virtuous
one, after bowing to the great mountain (Himavat),
to the source of the Ganges, which is, without doubt,
like the gate of heaven. There should one, with
concentrated soul, bathe in the tirtha called Koti.
By this, one obtaineth the merit of the Pundarika
sacrifice, and delivereth his race. Residing
one night there, one acquireth the merit of giving
away a thousand kine. By offering oblations of
water duly to the gods and the Pitris, at Saptaganga,
Triganga and Sakravarta, (which are all there), becometh
adored in the regions of the virtuous. Bathing
next at Kanakhala, and fasting there for three nights,
a person reapeth the merit of the horse-sacrifice
and goeth to heaven. Then O lord of men, the
pilgrim should repair to Kapilavata. Fasting for
one night there, he obtaineth the merit of giving
away a thousand kine. O king, there is a tirtha
of the illustrious Kapila, king of the Nagas, that
is celebrated, O thou best of Kurus, over all the
worlds. Bathing there at the Nagatirtha one obtaineth,
O king, the merit of giving away a thousand Kapila
kine. One should next repair to the excellent
tirtha of Santanu, called Lalitika. Bathing there,
O king, one never sinketh into distress (hereafter).
The man that bathes at the confluence of the Ganga
and the Yamuna, obtains the merit of ten horse-sacrifices,
and also rescues his race. One should next, O
king, go to Sugandha, celebrated over the world.
By this, cleansed of every sin, he becometh adored
in the abode of Brahma. Then, O lord of men,
the pilgrim should repair to Rudravarta. Bathing
there, one ascendeth to heaven. Bathing at the
confluence of the Ganga and the Saraswati, a person
obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also
ascendeth to heaven. Proceeding next to Bhadrakarneswara
and worshipping the gods duly, one, without sinking
into distress, becometh adored in heaven. Then,
O lord of men, the pilgrim should proceed to the tirtha
called Kuvjamraka. By this he obtaineth the merit
of giving away a thousand kine, and heaven also.
Then, O king, the pilgrim should go to the Arundhativata.
Proceeding thither with concentrated soul and practising
the Brahmacharya vows, one that batheth in Samudraka