Brahmarshis, as also the _tirtha_ Kanakhala (that is near to it), as
sacred. There also is the mountain named Puru which is resorted to by
great Rishis and where Pururavas was born, and Bhrigu practised ascetic
austerities. For this it is, O king, that asylum hath become known as
the great peak of Bhrigutunga. Near that peak is the sacred and
extensive Vadari, that highly meritorious asylum, famed over the three
worlds, of him, O bull of the Bharata race, who is the Present, the Past
and the Future, who is called Narayana and the lord Vishnu, who is
eternal and the best of male beings, and who is pre-eminently
illustrious. Near Vadari, the cool current of Ganga was formerly warm,
and the banks there were overspread with golden sands. There the gods
and Rishis of high fortune and exceeding effulgence, approaching the
divine lord Narayana, always worship him. The entire universe with all
its _tirthas_ and holy spots is there where dwelleth the divine and
eternal Narayana, the Supreme soul, for he is Merit, he is the Supreme
_Brahma_, he is _tirtha_, he is the ascetic retreat, he is the First, he
is the foremost of gods, and he is the great Lord of all creatures. He
is eternal, he is the great Creator, and he is the highest state of
blessedness. Learned persons versed in the scriptures attain to great
happiness by knowing him. In that spot are the celestial Rishis, the
Siddhas, and, indeed, all the Rishis,--where dwelleth the slayer of
Madhu, that primeval Deity and mighty Yogin! Let no doubt enter thy
heart that that spot is the foremost of all holy spots. These, O lord of
earth, are the _tirthas_ and sacred spots on earth, that I have recited,
O best of men! These all are visited by the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the
Adityas, the Marutas, the Aswins and the illustrious Rishis resembling
the celestials themselves. By journeying, O son of Kunti, to those
places, with the Brahmanas and ascetics that are with thee and with thy
blessed brothers, thou wilt be freed from anxiety!'"

SECTION XCI

Vaisampayana continued, "O son of the Kuru race, while Dhaumya was
speaking thus, there arrived at the spot the Rishi Lomasa of great
energy. And the king, who was the eldest of Pandu's sons, with his
followers and those Brahmanas sat round the highly righteous one, like
celestials in heaven sitting round Sakra. And having received him duly,
Yudhishthira the just enquired after the reason of his arrival, and the
object also of his wanderi