e most sacred _tirtha_ of
the illustrious _Dadhicha_, that sanctifying _tirtha_ which is
celebrated over the whole world. It was here that Angiras, that ocean of
ascetic austerities belonging to the Saraswata race, was born. Bathing
in that _tirtha_, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and
without doubt, gaineth also residence in the region of Saraswati. With
subdued senses and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, one should next
proceed to _Kanyasrama_. Residing there for three nights, O king, with
subdued senses and regulated diet, one obtaineth a hundred celestial
damsels and goeth also to the abode of Brahma. One should next, O
virtuous one, proceed to the _tirtha_ called _Sannihati_. Sojourning
thither the gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with wealth
of asceticism earn much virtue. Bathing in the Saraswati during a solar
eclipse, one obtaineth the merit of a hundred horse-sacrifices, and any
sacrifice that one may perform there produceth merit that is eternal.
Whatever _tirthas_ exist on earth or in the firmament, all the rivers,
lakes, smaller lakes, springs, tanks, large and small, and spots sacred
to particular gods, without doubt, all come, O tiger among men, month
after month, and mingle with _Sannihati_, O king of men! And it is
because that all other _tirthas_ are united together here, that this
_tirtha_ is so called. Bathing there and drinking of its water, one
becometh adored in heaven. Listen now, O king, to the merit acquired by
that mortal who performeth a _Sraddha_ on the day of the new moon during
a solar eclipse. The person that performeth a _Sraddha_ there, after
having bathed in that _tirtha_, obtaineth the merit that one earneth by
properly celebrating a thousand horse-sacrifices. Whatever sins a man or
woman committeth, are, without doubt, all destroyed as soon as one
batheth in that _tirtha_. Bathing there one also ascendeth to the abode
of Brahma on the lotus-coloured car. Bathing next in _Koti-tirtha_,
after having worshipped the Yaksha doorkeeper, Machakruka, one obtaineth
the merit of giving away gold in abundance. Near to this, O best of the
Bharatas, is a _tirtha_ called _Ganga-hrada_. One should bathe there, O
virtuous one, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life.
By this, one obtaineth merit that is greater than that of a Rajasuya and
horse-sacrifices. The _tirtha_ called _Naimisha_ is productive of good
on earth. _Pushkara_ is productive of go