03.088
Dhaumya said:
O tiger among kings, I will recount to you the holy places and shrines that are in the northern direction. (03-88-1)
Sarasvatī, the meritorious river with pools and forest garlands, and Yamunā, swift and flowing to the ocean, are where the Pāṇḍavas (resided). (03-88-2)
There is the most sacred tīrtha, the auspicious Plakṣāvataraṇa, where twice-born sages of Sarasvatī, having completed rites, proceed for the ceremonial bath. (03-88-3)
This meritorious, divine, and auspicious Agniśiras is described, O sinless one. Here Sahadeva performed a sacrifice by casting a staff, O Bhārata. (03-88-4)
O Yudhishthira, indeed, in this matter, this Indra-gītā (song of Indra) circulates in this world, being sung by the twice-born. (03-88-5)
The fires that Sahadeva kindled along the Yamunā, a hundred, hundreds of thousands in number, accompanied by gifts of hundreds and thousands. (03-88-6)
There itself, King Bharata, a universal monarch of great fame, performed twenty-seven and eight horse sacrifices. (03-88-7)
O dear one, I have formerly heard of Saraka, the meritorious and ultimate hermitage, renowned among those twice-born who act according to desire. (03-88-8)
O Partha, the Sarasvati river was always worshipped by the virtuous. In ancient times, O great king, the Vālakhilya sages and other sages performed sacrifices there. (03-88-9)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, Dṛṣadvatī is renowned there as the most sacred. There, Vaivarṇya and Varṇa are also very sacred, O king of men. (03-88-10)
O best of the Bharatas, both of them, who are knowers of the Veda, known through the Veda, and mastered in learning and the Veda, always perform meritorious sacrifices with ritual offerings. (03-88-11)
Long ago, the gods, together with Indra and Varuṇa, repeatedly assembled and were afflicted at the Viśākhayūpa; therefore, that one is considered the most meritorious. (03-88-12)
The great and highly fortunate sage Jamadagni, renowned and illustrious, performed sacrifice among the sacred and beautiful groves of palāśa-trees. (03-88-13)
Where all the foremost rivers, having taken their own water, directly surrounded and approached that best among sages. (03-88-14)
Furthermore, O great king, here Viśvāvasu himself sang this verse at that time, O hero, after witnessing the valor of the great-souled one. (03-88-15)
Indeed, the gods of the sacrificer, having reached all the rivers belonging to the great-souled Jamadagni, satisfied (them) completely with honey. (03-88-16)
The mountain, chief among those having peaks, adorned by gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, and apsarases, and abode of kirātas and kiṁnaras. (03-88-17)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, Gaṅgā cleft forcefully at Gaṅgādvāra. That holy place, O king, is known to be frequented by assemblies of Brahmarṣis. (03-88-18)
Sanatkumāra, O Kaurava, the sacred Kanakhala, and the mountain called Puru where Purūravas was born. (03-88-19)
O King, that hermitage on the great mountain named Bhṛgu-tuṅga, where Sage Bhṛgu practiced austerities and was attended by assemblies of great seers, is well-known. (03-88-20)
O best of men, that which is past, future, and present—all this is Nārāyaṇa, the master, Viṣṇu, the eternal and supreme person. (03-88-21)
The hermitage of that highly renowned one, holy and vast along the sacred Badarī, is famed as holy and celebrated in all the three worlds. (03-88-22)
O king, the Gaṅgā carries hot water, while the other river carries cold water; it has golden sand and is vast, following (near) Badarī. (03-88-23)
Where sages, gods, and the most fortunate and powerful beings, having reached, always bow to Nārāyaṇa, the all-pervading Lord. (03-88-24)
Wherever Nārāyaṇa, the eternal Supreme God, resides, O Pārtha, there all the world, sacred places, and abodes are found. (03-88-25)
That is the merit, that is the supreme Brahman, that is the sacred place, that is the ascetic grove; there, all the divine sages, perfected beings, and ascetics endowed with austerity dwell. (03-88-26)
Where the primordial god, the great yogi Madhusūdana, abides—there is the supreme merit of merits; let there be no doubt of this for you. (03-88-27)
O king, these meritorious places on earth, O lord of the earth, have been declared, O best of men, as sacred places and shrines. (03-88-28)
These have been honored by the Vasus, Sādhyas, Ādityas, Maruts and Aśvins, by sages, Brahma-like beings, and other great souls. (03-88-29)
O son of Kunti, moving about here with the foremost Brahmins and your greatly fortunate brothers, you will abandon all anxiety. (03-88-30)
