one's
soul is cleansed of all sins. One should next proceed to the _tirtha_
known as _Gayatri_ celebrated over the three worlds. Staying there for
three nights, one acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. A
strange phenomenon is seen to occur there in respect to Brahmanas, O
Lord of men! If a Brahmana, whether born of a Brahmani or any other
woman, reciteth the _Gayatri_ there, the recitation becomes rhythmic and
musical, while, O king, a person who is not a Brahmana cannot adequately
hymn it at all. Proceeding next to the inaccessible tank of the Brahmana
Rishi Samvarta, one acquireth personal beauty and prosperity. Repairing
next to _Vena_, he that offers oblations of water to the gods and the
Pitris, obtains a car drawn by peacocks and cranes. Going next to the
_Godavari_, ever frequented by the Siddhas, one earneth the merit of the
cow-sacrifice, and goeth to the excellent region of _Vasuki_. Bathing
next at the confluence of the _Venna_, one obtains the merit of the
_Vajapeya_ sacrifice. By a dip next at the confluence of _Varada_, one
acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next at
_Brahmasthuna_, one that stayeth there for three nights acquireth the
merit of giving away a thousand kine, and also ascendeth to heaven.
Coming next to _Kusaplavana_, with subdued soul and leading a
Brahmacharya mode of life, and staying there for three nights he that
bathes in it obtains the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next at
the romantic _Deva-hrada_ that is supplied by the waters of the
Krishna-Venna, and also in the _Jatismara-hrada_, one acquireth the
memory of one's former life. It was there that the chief of the
celestials celebrated a hundred sacrifices and ascended to heaven. By a
visit only to that spot, one acquireth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_
sacrifice. Bathing next in the _Sarvadeva-hrada_, a person obtaineth the
merit of giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next to the highly
sacred tank called _Payoshni_, that best of waters, he that offers
oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris acquires the merit of the
gift of a thousand kine. Arriving next at the sacred forest of
_Dandaka_, a person should bathe (in the waters) there. By this, O king,
one at once obtains, O Bharata, the merit of giving away a thousand
kine. Proceeding next to the asylum of _Sarabhanga_ and that of the
illustrious Suka, one acquireth immunity from misfortune, besides
sanctifying his race. Then sho