There, O hero, at
Kausika, should one reside for a month, O bull of the Bharata race! By a
month's residence there, one reapeth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.
He that resideth at the best of tirthas called _Maha-hrada_, enjoys
immunity from misfortune, and also obtains the merit of giving away gold
in abundance. Beholding next Kartikeya who dwelleth at _Virasrama_, a
man certainly reapeth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then
to _Agnidhara_ celebrated over the three worlds, and beholding there
after a bath the eternal and boon-giving Vishnu, that god of gods, one
obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Proceeding next to
the Grandsire's tank near the snowcapped of mountains, and bathing in
it, a man obtains the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice. Falling from
the Grandsire's tank, is that world-sanctifying (stream), celebrated
over the three worlds, called _Kumara-Dhara_. Bathing there, one
regardeth himself as having all his purposes fulfilled. Fasting in that
tirtha for three days, one is even cleansed from the sin of slaying a
Brahmana. The pilgrim should next, O virtuous one, proceed to the peak
of the great goddess Gauri, famed over the three worlds. Ascending it, O
best of men, one should approach _Stana-Kunda_. By touching the waters
of _Stana-Kunda_, a person obtaineth the merit of the _Vajapeya_
sacrifice. Bathing in that _tirtha_ and worshipping the gods and Pitris,
one acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also ascendeth to the
region of Indra. Arriving next at the well of _Tamraruna_, that is
frequented by the gods, one acquireth, O lord of men, the merit that
attaches to human sacrifice. Bathing next at the confluence of the
Kirtika with the Kausiki and the Aruna, and fasting there for three
nights a man of learning is cleansed of all his sins. Proceeding next to
the _tirtha_ called _Urvasi_, and then to _Somasrama_, a wise man by
bathing next at _Kumbhakarnasrama_ becometh adored in the world. The
ancients knew that by touching the waters of _Kokamukha_, with steady
vows and leading Brahmacharya mode of life, the memory of one's former
life is revived. Arriving next with speed to the river called _Nanda_ a
regenerate one becometh freed from all his sins and ascendeth with soul
under control to Indra's region. Proceeding next to the island called
_Rishabha_, that is destructive of cranes, and bathing in the Saraswati,
an individual blazeth forth in heaven. Proceeding next