whom had brought forth only her first calf,
at many great sacrifices which I performed. It is not, however, through
the merits of those acts that I have attained to this region. I adored
the deities in a sacrifice that is completed in eleven days. Twice I
adored them in sacrifices that are completed in twelve days. I adored
them also many a time in the horse-sacrifices. Six and ten times I
performed the Arkayana sacrifice. It is not through the merits of those
acts that I have attained to this region. I also gave unto each Brahmana
a forest of Kanchana trees extending for a Yojana on every side, and with
each tree adorned with jewels and gems. It is not through the merits of
that act that I have attained to this region. For thirty years, with
heart perfectly freed from wrath, I observed the Turayana vow that is
possessed of very superior merit, and gave away unto the Brahmanas every
day nine hundred kine. Indeed, O Lord of the universe, every one of those
kine belonged to the Rohini species, and yielded milk at the time I gave
them away. It is not through the merits of those acts, O chief of the
deities, that I have attained to this region. I worshipped thirty fires,
O Brahmana, every day. I adored the deities in eight sacrifices in which
the fat of all animals was poured on the fire. I adored them in seven
sacrifices in which the fat of human beings was poured on the fire. I
adored them in a thousand and twenty-eight Viswajit sacrifices. It is not
through the merits of those sacrifices O Lord of all the deities, that I
have attained to this region. On the banks of Sarayu and Vahuda and Ganga
as also in the woods of Naimisha, I gave away millions of kine unto the
Brahmanas. It is not through the merits of those acts that I have
attained to this region. The vow of fast had been known to Indra. He had,
however, kept it a secret. Sukra, the descendant of Bhrigu, obtained a
knowledge of it by means of spiritual sight acquired through penances.
Blazing with energy as he does, it is Usanas who first made it known to
the universe. I observed that vow, O boon giving Deity! When I
accomplished that very superior vow, the Brahmanas became all gratified
with me. A thousand Rishis came thither. All those Brahmanas and Rishis,
O puissant lord, gratified with me, said, "Do thou repair to the region
of Brahman!" It is in consequence of the merits of that vow that I have
succeeded in attaining to this region of very superior felicity. The