resting spot for themselves, and which was highly gratifying to them.  Bathing in the Saraswati there, one obtaineth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.  One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the excellent tirtha called Kanya.  Bathing there one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.  One should next proceed to the excellent tirtha of Brahma.  Bathing there, a person, of the (three) inferior orders, obtaineth the status of a Brahmana, and if one be a Brahmana, his soul being purified from every sin, he attaineth to the highest state.  One should then, O best of men, proceed to the excellent tirtha called Soma.  Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the region of Soma.  One should next proceed, O king, to the tirtha called Saptasaraswata, where the celebrated Rishi, Mankanaka, had obtained ascetic success.  O king, it hath been heard by us that in days of old Mankanaka having cut his hand with the pointed blade of the Kusa grass, there flowed from his wound vegetable juice (instead of blood).  And beholding vegetable juice flow from his wound, the Rishi began to dance with wonder-expanded eyes.  And as the Rishi danced, all the mobile and immobile creatures also, overwhelmed with his prowess, began to dance with him.  Then, O king, the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with the wealth of asceticism moved by the act of Mankanaka, represented the matter to Mahadeva, saying, ’It behoveth thee, O god, to act in such a way that this Rishi may not dance.’  Thus addressed, Mahadeva, with heart filled with joy, approached the dancing Rishi, and moved by the desire of doing good to the gods, said, ’O great Rishi, O virtuous one, why dost thou dance?  O bull among Munis, what can be the reason of this thy present joy?’ The Rishi answered, ’O best of Brahmanas, I am an ascetic that tread the path of virtue.  Dost thou not behold, O Brahmana, that vegetable juice floweth from the wound in my hand?  Filled with great joy at sight of this, I am dancing.’  Addressing the Rishi blinded by emotion, the god laughingly said, ’O Brahmana, I do not wonder at this.  Behold me.’  Having said this, O best of men, Mahadeva, O sinless king, pressed his thumb by the tip of his own finger.  And, lo, from the wound thus inflicted, there came out ashes white as snow.  And beholding this, O king, that Muni became ashamed and fell at the feet of the god.  And believing that there was nothing better and greater than the god Rudra, he began to adore him in these words: 

“O holder of the trident, thou art the refuge of the celestials and the Asuras, of, indeed, the universe.  By thee have been created the three worlds with their mobile and immobile beings.  It is thou again that swallowest everything at the end of the Yuga.  Thou art incapable of being known by the gods themselves, far less by me.  O sinless one, the gods with Brahma at their heads are all displayed in thee.  Thou art all, the Creator himself and the Ordainer of the worlds.