otishtoma was performed by me a hundred times. It is not, however,
through the merits of those sacrifices that I have attained to this
region of felicity.[454] For a hundred years I lived continuously by the
side of the holy Jahnavi, all the while practising the severest
austerities. There I made gifts unto the Brahmanas of thousands of male
and female slaves. By the side of the Pushkara lakes I made gifts unto
the Brahmanas, for a hundred thousand times, a hundred thousand steeds,
and two hundred thousand kine. I also gave away a thousand damsels of
great beauty, each adorned with golden moons, and sixty thousand more
decked with ornaments of pure gold. It is not, however, through the
merits of those acts that I have succeeded in attaining to these
regions.[455] O lord of the universe, performing those sacrifices known
by the name of Gosava, I gave away ten Arvudas of kine, presenting each
Brahmana with ten kine, each of whom was accompanied with her calf, each
of whom yielded milk at the time, and with each of whom were given a
vessel of gold and one of white brass for milking her. Performing many
Soma sacrifices, I gave away unto each Brahmana ten kine each of whom
yielded milk, and each of whom had brought forth only her first calf,
besides making presents unto them of hundreds of kine belonging to that
species which is known by the name of Rohini. I also gave away unto the
Brahmanas twice ten Prayutas of other kine, all yielding milk. It is not
through the merit of those gifts, O Brahman, that I have succeeded in
attaining to this region of felicity. I also gave away a hundred thousand
horses of the Valhika breed, all white of complexion, and adorned with
garlands of gold. It is not, however, through the merits of those acts
that I have attained to this region. I gave away eight crores of golden
coins unto the Brahmanas, O Brahman, and then another ten crores also, in
each sacrifice that I performed. It is not, however, through the merits
of those acts that I have attained to this region of felicity. I also
gave away ten and then seven crores of steeds, O Grandsire, each of green
complexion, each having ears that were dark, and each adorned with
garlands of gold. I also gave away ten and seven thousand elephants of
huge size, of teeth as large as plough-shares, each having those whorls
on its body which are called Padmas, and each adorned with garlands of
gold. I gave away ten thousand cars, O Grandsire, whose limbs w