SECTION LXXXV

“Pulastya said, ’Arriving next at the excellent tirtha called Samvedya in the evening, and touching its waters, one surely obtaineth knowledge.  Created a tirtha in days of yore by Rama’s energy, he that proceedeth to Lauhitya obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in abundance.  Proceeding next to the river Karatoya, and fasting there for three nights, a man acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.  Even this is the injunction of the Creator himself.  It hath been said by the wise, O king, that if a person goeth to the spot where the Ganga mingleth with the sea, he reapeth merit which is ten times that of the horse-sacrifice.  Crossing over to the opposite bank of the Ganga, he that batheth there having resided for three nights is, O king, cleansed from all his sins.  One should next proceed to the Vaitarani capable of destroying every sin.  Arriving next at the tirtha named Viraja one shineth like the moon, and sanctifying his race rescueth it and is himself cleansed of all his sins.  He that bathes in Viraja further reapeth the merit of giving away a thousand kine besides sanctifying his line.  Residing with purity at the confluence of the Sona and the Jyotirathi, and offering oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris, a man reapeth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.  Touching next the waters of the Vansagulma constituting the sources of both the Sona and the Narmada, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.  Sojourning next to the tirtha called Rishabha in Kosala, O lord of men, and fasting there for three nights one earneth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and of the gift of a thousand kine, and also delivereth his race.  Arriving at Kosala, a man should bathe in the tirtha named Kala.  By this one surely obtaineth the merit of giving away one and ten bulls.  By bathing in Pushpavati and fasting there, O king, for three nights one sanctifieth his own race, besides earning the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.  Then, O foremost of the Bharata race, by bathing in the tirtha called Vadarika, one obtaineth long life, and also goeth to heaven.  Arriving next at Champa, and bathing in the Bhagirathi, and seeing Danda one earneth the merit of giving away a thousand kine.  Then should one go to the sacred Lapetika, graced by the presence of the pious.  By so doing one reapeth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice and also becometh regarded by the gods.  Proceeding next to the mountain called Mahendra, inhabited (of yore) by Jamadagnya, and bathing in Rama’s tirtha, a person acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.  Here is Matanga’s tirtha called Kedara, O son of the Kuru race!  Bathing in it, O foremost of the Kurus, a man obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine.  Going to the mountain Sree, one who toucheth the waters of the stream that is there by worshipping there the god having the bull for his mark obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.  On the mountain Sree dwelleth happily, the effulgent Mahadeva with the goddess, as also Brahma with the other gods.  By bathing in the lake of Deva, with purity and restrained mind, one obtaineth the merit of the-horse-sacrifice, and also attaineth to the highest success."’