the Grandsire performed sacrifices of yore.  There, O Yudhishthira, the sacred Bhagiratha entereth a lake and there also, O king, is that sacred river known by the name of the merit-bestowing Brahmasara, whose banks are inhabited by persons whose sins have been washed away, and whose sight alone produceth merit.  In that direction also lieth the high-souled Matanga’s excellent asylum, called Kedara which is sacred and auspicious and celebrated over the world.  And there also is the mountain called Kundoda, which is so delightful and abounding in fruits and roots and waters, and where the king of the Nishadhas (Nala) had slaked his thirst and rested for a while.  In that quarter also is the delightful Deva-vana which is graced by ascetics.  There also are the rivers Vahuda and Nanda on the mountain’s crest.  O mighty king, I have described unto thee all the tirthas and sacred spots in the Eastern quarter.  Do thou now hear of the sacred tirthas, and rivers and mountains and holy spots in the other three quarters!’”

SECTION LXXXVIII

“Dhaumya continued, ’Listen, O Bharata, I shall now narrate to thee in detail according to my knowledge, the sacred tirthas of the south.  In that quarter lieth the sacred and auspicious river Godavari, full of water abounding in groves and frequented by ascetics.  In that direction also are the rivers Venna and Bhimarathi, both capable of destroying sin and fear, and abounding in birds and deer, and graced with abodes of ascetics.  In that region also, O bull of the Bharata race, is the tirtha of the royal ascetic, Nriga viz., the river Payoshni, which is delightful and full of waters and visited by Brahmanas.  There the illustrious Markandeya, of high ascetic merit sang the praises in verse of king Nriga’s line!  We have heard respecting the sacrificing king Nriga that which really took place while he was performing a sacrifice in the excellent tirtha called Varaha on the Payoshni.  In that sacrifice Indra became intoxicated with quaffing the Soma, and the Brahmanas, with the gifts they received.  The water of the Payoshni, taken up (in vessel), or flowing along the ground, or conveyed by the wind, can cleanse a person from whatever sins he may commit till the day of his death.  Higher than heaven itself, and pure, and created and bestowed by the trident-bearing god, there in that tirtha is an image of Mahadeva beholding which a mortal goeth to the region of Siva.  Placing on one scale Ganga and the other rivers with their waters, and on the other, the Payoshni, the latter, in my opinion would be superior to all the tirthas, together, in point of merit!  Then, O foremost of the Bharata race, on the mountain called Varunasrotasa is the sacred and auspicious wood of Mathara abounding in fruits and roots, and containing a sacrificial stake.  Then, O king, it is said that in the region on the north of the Praveni, and about the sacred asylum of Kanwa, are many woody retreats of ascetics.