By doing this, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of ten thousand kine, and raiseth all his ancestors to higher regions.  One should next, O virtuous one, proceed with subdued soul to Rudrakoti, where in olden days, O king, ten millions of Munis had assembled.  And, O king, filled with great joy at the prospect 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, the Lord of Yoga, by the help of his Yoga power, multiplied himself into ten million forms, and stood before every one of them.  And every one of these Rishis said, ‘I have seen him first!’ And gratified, O king, with the deep devotion of those Munis of subdued souls, Mahadeva granted them a boon, saying, ‘From this day your righteousness shall grow!’ And, O tiger among men, one that bathes, with a pure mind, in Rudrakoti obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and delivereth his ancestors.  One should next proceed, O king, to that highly sacred and celebrated region where the Saraswati mingles with the sea.  Thither, O king, the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis with wealth of asceticism repair for adoring Kesava on the fourteenth day of the lighted fortnight of the month of Chaitra.  Bathing there, O tiger among men, one obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in abundance, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, he ascendeth to the region of Brahma.  It is there, O king, that the Rishis have completed many a sacrifice.  By a trip to that spot one obtaineth the merit of the gifts of a thousand kine.’”

SECTION LXXXIII

“Pulastya said, ’One should next proceed, O king, to the adored Kurukshetra at sight of which all creatures are freed from their sins.  He is freed from all sins who constantly sayeth, ’I will live in Kurukshetra.’  The very dust of Kurukshetra, conveyed by the wind, leadeth a sinful man to a blessed course (in after-life).  They that dwell in Kurukshetra which lieth to the south of the Saraswati and the north of the Drishadwati, are said to dwell in heaven.  O hero, one should reside there, O thou foremost of warriors, for a month.  There, O lord of earth, the gods with Brahma at their head, the Rishis, the Siddhas, the Charanas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yakshas and the Nagas, often repair, O Bharata, to the highly sacred Brahmakshetra.  O foremost of warriors, the sins of one that desireth to repair to Kurukshetra even mentally are all destroyed, and he finally goeth into the region of Brahma.  O son of the Kuru race, by repairing to Kurukshetra in a pious frame of mind, one obtaineth the fruit of the Rajasuya and horse sacrifices.  By saluting next the Yaksha called Mankanaka, that mighty gate-keeper (of Kuvera), cue obtaineth the fruit of giving away a thousand kine.  O virtuous king, one should next repair to the excellent region of Vishnu, where