Chapter 82

“Pulastya said, ‘O thou of excellent vows, I have been much gratifiedwith thy humility, thy self-control, and thy truth, thou blessed oneversed in morality! O sinless one, it is for this virtue of thine whichthou hast acquired from regard to thy ancestors, that I have beengratified with thee and thou hast, O son, obtained a sight of my person.O Bhishma. my eyes can penetrate into everything. Tell me what I may dofor thee. O sinless one, O thou foremost of the Kuru race, I will grantthee whatever thou mayst ask me.’

“Bhishma said, ‘O highly blessed one, when thou who art worshipped by thethree worlds hast been gratified with me and when I have obtained a sightof thy exalted self, I regard myself as already crowned with success.But, O thou foremost of virtuous persons, if I have deserved thy favour,I will tell thee my doubts and it behoveth thee to dispel them, O holyone, I have some religious doubts in respect of tirthas. Speak of thoseto me in detail, I desire to hear thee. O thou that resemblest acelestial himself, what is his merit, O regenerate Rishi, who goeth roundthe whole earth (visiting shrines). O tell me this with certainty.”

“Pulastya said, ‘O son, listen with attention. I will tell thee of themerit which attacheth to tirthas and which constituth the refuge of theRishis. He whose hands and feet and mind and knowledge and asceticism andacts are under wholesome control, enjoyeth the fruits of tirthas. He whohas ceased to accept gifts, he that is contented, he that is free frompride enjoys the fruits of tirthas. He that is without sin, he that actswithout purpose, he that eats light, he that has his senses undercontrol, he that is free from every sin, enjoys the fruits of tirthas. Oking, he that is free from anger, he that adhereth to truth, he that isfirm in vows, he that regardeth all creatures as his own self, enjoyeththe fruits of tirthas. In the Vedas the Rishis have declared in due orderthe sacrifices and also their fruits here and hereafter truly. O lord ofearth, those sacrifices cannot be accomplished by him that is poor, forthose sacrifices require various materials and diverse things in largemeasures. These, therefore can be performed by kings or sometimes byother men of prosperity and wealth. O lord of men, that rite, however,which men without wealth, without allies, singly, without wife andchildren, and destitute of means, are capable of accomplishing and themerit of which is equal unto the sacred fruits of sacrifices, I will nowdeclare unto thee, thou best of warriors! O thou best of the Bharatarace, sojourns in tirthas which are meritorious and which constitute oneof the high mysteries of the Rishis, are even superior to sacrifices. Heis a poor man who having gone to a tirtha hath not fasted for threenights, who hath not given away gold, and who hath not distributed kine.Indeed, one acquireth not, by the performance of the Agnishtoma and othersacrifices distinguished by large gifts, that merit which one requirethby a sojourn to a tirtha. In the world of men, there is that tirtha ofthe God of gods, celebrated over the three worlds by the name ofPushkara. One that sojourneth there becometh equal unto that deity. Ohigh-souled son of the Kuru race, during the two twilights and mid-daythere is the presence of hundred thousand millions of tirthas inPushkara. The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Maruts,the Gandharvas, and the Apsaras are ever present, O exalted one, inPushkara. It was there, O king, that the gods, the Daityas andBrahmarshis, having performed ascetic devotions there, obtained greatmerit and finally attained to god-hood.'”

“Men of self-control, by even thinking mentally of Pushkara, are cleansedfrom their sins, and regarded in heaven. O king, the illustriousgrand-sire having the lotus for his seat, had dwelt with great pleasurein this tirtha. O blessed one, it was in Pushkara that the gods with theRishis having acquired of old great merit, finally obtained the highestsuccess. The person who, devoted to the worship of the gods and thePitris, batheth in this tirtha, obtaineth, it hath been said by the wise,merit that is equal to ten times that of the horse-sacrifice. Having goneto the Pushkara woods, he that feedeth even one Brahmana, becometh happyhere and hereafter, O Bhishma, for that act. He that supporteth himselfon vegetables and roots and fruits, may with pious regard and withoutdisrespect, give even such fare to a Brahmana. And, O best of kings, theman of wisdom, even by such a gift, will acquire the merit of ahorse-sacrifice. Those illustrious persons among Brahmanas or Kshatriyasor Vaisyas or Sudras that bathe in Pushkara are freed from the obligationof rebirth. That man in special who visits Pushkara on the full moon ofthe month of Karttika, acquireth ever-lasting regions in the abode ofBrahma. He that thinketh with joined hands morning and evening, of thePushkara, practically batheth, O Bharata, in every tirtha. Whether a maleor a female, whatever sins one may commit since birth, are all destroyedas soon as one batheth in Pushkara. As the slayer of Madhu is theforemost of all the celestials, so is Pushkara, O king, the foremost ofall tirthas. A man by residing with purity and regulated vows for twelveyears in Pushkara, acquireth the merit of all the sacrifices, and goethto the abode of Brahma. The merit of one who performeth the Agni-hotrafor full one hundred years, is equal to that of him who resideth for thesingle month of Karttika in Pushkara. There are three white hillocks andthree springs known from the remotest times, we do not know why, by thename of the Pushkara. It is difficult to go to Pushkara; it is difficultto undergo ascetic austerities at Pushkara; it is difficult to give awayat Pushkara; and it is difficult to live at Pushkara.”

“Having dwelt for twelve nights at Pushkara with regulated diet and vows,and having walked round (the place), one must go to Jamvu-marga. One thatgoeth to Jamvu-marga which is resorted to by the celestials, the Rishis,and the Pitris, acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and thefruition of all his wishes. The man that resideth there for five nights,hath his soul cleansed from all sins. He never sinketh into hell, butacquireth high success. Leaving Jamvu-marga one must go toTandulikasrama. He that goeth there never sinketh into hell but ascendethto the abode of Brahma. He that goeth to the lake of Agastya andoccupieth himself with the worship of the Pitris and celestials, fastingfor three nights, acquireth, O king, the fruit of the Agnishtoma. Goingthither, he that liveth on vegetables or fruits acquireth the statuscalled Kaumara. One should next proceed to the beautiful asylum of Kanwa,which is worshipped by the whole world. That sacred wood characterised byholiness, existeth, O bull of the Bharata race, from very remote times.As soon as one entereth it, he is freed from all his sins. He who withregulated diet and vows worshippeth the Pitris and the gods there,obtaineth the fruit of a sacrifice that is capable of bestowing thefruition of all one’s desires. Having walked round this asylum one mustthen go to the spot where Yayati fell (from heaven). He that goeththither, acquireth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. One must then go toMahakala with regulated diet and senses subdued. And having bathed in thetirtha called Koti, one obtaineth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. Avirtuous man should next proceed to the tirtha of Sthanu, the husband ofUma, known over the three worlds by the name of Bhadravata. That best ofmen who goeth to Bhadravata, beholdeth Isana and obtaineth the fruit of agift of a thousand kine. And through the grace of Mahadeva, he acquireththe status of Ganapatya blessed with prosperity and peace and high grace.Having arrived then at the Narmada, that river celebrated over the threeworlds, and given oblations of water to the Pitris and the gods, oneacquireth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. He that goeth into theSouthern ocean, practising the Brahmacharya mode of life, and with sensessubdued, acquireth the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and ascendeth toheaven. Having arrived at Charmanwati, with regulated diet and sensessubdued, one acquireth, at the command of Rantideva, the merit of theAgnishtoma sacrifice. One must then go, O virtuous chief of warriors, toArvuda, the son of Himavat, where there was a hole through the earth indays of yore. There is the asylum of Vasistha, celebrated over the threeworlds. Having resided for one night, one obtaineth the merit of the giftof a thousand kine. He that, leading a Brahmacharya mode of life bathethin the tirtha called Pinga, obtaineth, O tiger among kings, the merit ofthe gift of a hundred Kapila kine. One must next go, O king, to thatexcellent tirtha called Prabhasa. There Hutasana is always present in hisown person. He, the friend of Pavana, O hero, is the mouth of all thegods. The man that with subdued and sanctified soul batheth in thattirtha, obtaineth merit greater than that of the Agnishtoma or Atiratrasacrifices. Proceeding next to the spot where the Saraswati mingleth withthe sea, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine andheaven also besides, O bull of the Bharata race, blazing forth for alltime like Agni himself. He that with subdued soul batheth in the tirthaof the king of waters, and giveth oblations of water unto the Pitris andthe gods, living there for three nights, blazeth forth like the Moon, andobtaineth also the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed,O best of the Bharata, unto the tirtha known by the name of Varadana,where (the Rishi) Durvasa had given a boon unto Vishnu. A man by bathingin Varadana obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. Oneshould next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet to Dwaravati,where by bathing in Pindaraka, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift ofgold in abundance. O blessed one, it is wonderful to relate that in thattirtha, to this day, coins with the mark of the lotus and lotuses alsowith the mark of the trident, are seen. O represser of heroes! And O bullamong men, the presence of Mahadeva is there. Arriving then, O Bharata,at the spot where the Sindhu mingleth with the sea, one should withsubdued soul bathe in that tirtha of Varuna. And bathing there and givingoblations of water to the Pitris, the Rishis, and the gods one acquireth,O bull of the Bharata race, the region of Varuna, and blazeth forth ineffulgence of his own. Men of wisdom say that, by worshipping the godknown by the name of Shankukarneswara, one acquireth ten times the meritof the horse-sacrifice. O bull of the Bharata race, having walked roundthat tirtha, one should, O thou foremost of the Kurus, go to that tirthacelebrated over the three worlds and known by the name of Drimi. Thattirtha cleanseth from every sin, and it is there that the gods includingBrahma worship Maheswara. Having bathed there and worshipped Rudrasurrounded by the other gods, one is freed from all sins since birth. Itwas there, O best of men, that Drimi was adored by all the gods. Bathingthere, O best of men, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. Othou of great intelligence, Vishnu the creator of the universe, afterslaying the Daityas and Danavas, went thither to purify himself. Ovirtuous one, one should next proceed to Vasudhara adored by all. Themoment one arrives at that tirtha, one acquireth the fruit of thehorse-sacrifice. And, O thou best of the Kurus, by bathing there withsubdued soul and rapt attention, and giving oblations of water unto thegods and the Pitris one ascendeth unto the region of Vishnu and is adoredthere. In that tirtha, O bull of the Bharata race, there is a sacred lakeof the Vasus. By bathing there and drinking of its water, one becomethregarded of the Vasus. There is a celebrated tirtha of the name ofSindhuttama, which destroyeth every sin. O best of men, by bathing there,one acquireth the fruit of the gift of gold in abundance. By arriving atBhadratunga with sanctified soul and purity of conduct, one acquireth theregion of Brahma and a high state of blessedness. There is then thetirtha of the Kumarikas of Indra, that is much resorted to by theSiddhas. O best of men, by bathing there, one obtaineth the region ofIndra. In Kumarika there is another tirtha called Renuka, which is alsoresorted to by the Siddhas. A Brahmana by bathing there would become asbright as the Moon. Proceeding next to the tirtha called the Panchananda,with subdued sense and regulated diet, one obtaineth the fruit of thefive sacrifices that have been mentioned one after another in thescriptures. 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 calledYoni, 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 thegift of a hundred thousand kine. Proceeding next to Srikunda, celebratedover the three worlds and worshipping the grandsire, one obtaineth thefruit of the gift of a thousand kine. O virtuous one, one should then goto the excellent tirtha called Vimala, where to this day may be seenfishes of golden and silver hues. By bathing there, one soon acquireththe region of Vasava, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, heattaineth to a high state of blessedness. Proceeding next to Vitasta andgiving oblations of water unto the Pitris and the gods, a man, O Bharata,obtaineth the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. That sin-destroying tirthaknown by the name of Vitasta, is situate in the country of the Kasmirasand is the abode of the Naga Takshaka. Bathing there, a man certainlyobtaineth the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and his soul cleansed fromevery sin, he attaineth to a high state of blessedness. One should nextproceed to Vadava celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there withdue rites in the evening, one should offer rice boiled in butter andmilk, 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, becomethinexhaustible. The Rishis, the Pitris, the gods, the Gandharvas, severaltribes of Apsaras, the Guhyakas, the Kinnaras, the Yakshas, the Siddhas,the Vidhyadharas, the Rakshasas, Daityas, Rudras, and Brahma himself, Oking, having with subdued senses, accepted a course of austerities for athousand years in order to move Vishnu to grace, cooked rice in milk andbutter and gratified Kesava with oblations, each offered with seven Riks.And, O king, the gratified Kesava thereupon conferred on them theeight-fold attributes called Aiswarya and other objects that theydesired. And having bestowed upon them these, that god disappeared intheir sight like lightning in the clouds. And it is for this, O Bharata,that that tirtha became known by the name of Saptacharu, and if oneoffereth Charu there to the seven flamed deity, he obtaineth meritsuperior to that of the gift of a hundred thousand kine, to that of ahundred Rajasuya sacrifices, as also of a hundred horse-sacrifices.Leaving Vadava, O king, one should then proceed to Raudrapada, andbeholding Mahadeva there one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.Proceeding then, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode oflife, to Manimat, and residing there for one night, one acquireth, Oking, the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. One should then go, O king,to Devika celebrated over the whole world. It was there, O bull ofBharata race, that, as heard by us, the Brahmanas first sprang intoexistence. There also is the region of the holder of the trident–aregion that is celebrated over the world. Having bathed in Devika andworshipped Maheswara by offering him, to the best of one’s might, riceboiled in milk and butter, a man obtaineth, O bull of the Bharata race,the merit of a sacrifice that is capable of filling every desire. Therealso is another tirtha of Rudra called Kamakhya, which is much resortedto by the gods. Bathing there, a man speedily obtaineth success. Bytouching also the water of Yajana. Brahmavaluka, and Pushpamva, onebecometh free from sorrow in after life. The learned have said that thesacred tirtha of Devika, the resort of the gods and the Rishis, is fiveYojanas in length and half a Yojana in breadth. One should then, in dueorder, proceed, O king, to Dirghasatra. There the gods with Brahma attheir head, the Siddhas, and the greatest Rishis, with regulated vows andthe recitation and acceptance of the preliminary pledge, perform thelong-extending sacrifice. O king, by going only to Dirghasatra, Orepresser of foes, one obtaineth merit that is superior, O Bharata, tothat of the Rajasuya or the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed withsubdued senses and regulated diet to Vinasana, where Saraswatidisappearing on the breast of Meru, re-appeareth at Chamasa, Shivodbhedaand Nagadbheda. Bathing in Chamasadbheda, one obtaineth the merit of theAgnishtoma sacrifice. Bathing in Shivodbheda, one acquireth the merit ofthe gift of a thousand kine. And bathing in Nagodbheda, one obtaineth theregion of the Nagas. One should proceed, next, to the inaccessible tirthaof Shasayana, where the cranes, O Bharata, disappearing in the form ofsasas, re-appear every year in the month of Karttika, and bathe, Oblessed chief of the Bharata race, in the Sarsawati. Bathing there, Otiger among men, one blazeth forth like the Moon, and obtaineth, O bullof the Bharata race, the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. One shouldnext proceed, O thou of the Kuru race, to Kumarakoti, with subduedsenses, and bathing there, worship the gods and the Puris. By doing this,one obtaineth the merit of the gift of ten thousand kine, and raiseth allhis ancestors to higher regions. One should next, O virtuous one, proceedwith subdued soul to Rudrakoti, where in olden days, O king, ten millionsof Munis had assembled. And, O king, filled with great joy at theprospect of beholding Mahadeva, the Rishis assembled there, each saying,’I will first behold the god! I will first behold the god!’ And, O king,in order to prevent disputes amongst those Rishis of subdued souls, theLord of Yoga, by the help of his Yoga power, multiplied himself into tenmillion forms, and stood before every one of them. And every one of theseRishis said, ‘I have seen him first!’ And gratified, O king, with thedeep devotion of those Munis of subdued souls, Mahadeva granted them aboon, saying, ‘From this day your righteousness shall grow!’ And, O tigeramong men, one that bathes, with a pure mind, in Rudrakoti obtaineth themerit of the horse-sacrifice and delivereth his ancestors. One shouldnext proceed, O king, to that highly sacred and celebrated region wherethe Saraswati mingles with the sea. Thither, O king, the gods with Brahmaat their head and Rishis with wealth of asceticism repair for adoringKesava on the fourteenth day of the lighted fortnight of the month ofChaitra. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one obtaineth the merit ofgiving away gold in abundance, and his soul being cleansed from everysin, he ascendeth to the region of Brahma. It is there, O king, that theRishis have completed many a sacrifice. By a trip to that spot oneobtaineth the merit of the gifts of a thousand kine.'”