ere made
of gold, and which were adorned with diverse ornaments of gold. I also
gave away seven thousand other cars with steeds yoked unto each. All the
steeds that were yoked unto them were adorned with ornaments of gold.
Those cars represented the Dakshinas of a sacrifice and were of exactly
that kind which is indicated in the Vedas. In the ten great Vajapeya
sacrifices that I performed, I gave away a thousand horses each endued
with the puissance of Indra himself, judged by their prowess and the
sacrifices they had performed. Spending a vast sum of money, O Grandsire,
and performing eight Rajasuya sacrifices, I gave away (unto the Brahmanas
that officiated in them) a thousand kings whose necks were adorned with
garlands of gold, after having vanquished them in battle. It is not,
however, through the merits of those acts that I have attained to this
region. In those sacrifices, O Lord of the universe, the presents that
flowed from me were as copious as the stream of Ganga herself. Unto each
Brahmana I gave two thousand elephants decked with gold, as many steeds
adorned with golden ornaments, and a hundred villages of the best kind.
Verily, I gave these unto each Brahmana for three times in succession.
Observant of penances, subsisting on regulated diet, adopting
tranquillity of soul, and restraining speech, I dwelt for a long time on
the breast of Himavat by the side of that Ganga whose irresistible
current (as it fell from heaven) was borne by Mahadeva on his head. It is
not through the merit of these acts, O Grandsire, that I have attained
to this region. Throwing the Sami, I adored the gods in myriads of such
sacrifices as are completed in course of a single day, and such others as
take twelve days for completing, and others still as can be completed in
three and ten days, besides many Pundarikas. I have not attained to this
region through the merits of any of those sacrifices.[456] I gave unto
the Brahmanas eight thousand white-complexioned bulls, each graced with a
beautiful hump, and each having one of its horns covered with gold. Unto
them I also gave beautiful wives whose necks were adorned with chains of
gold. I also gave away large heaps of gold and wealth of other kinds.
Verily, I gave away hills of gems and precious stones. Villages,
numbering by thousands and teeming with wealth and corn, were also given
away by me. With all my senses about me, I gave away unto the Brahmanas a
hundred thousand kine each of