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Library: Significance of the auspicious pilgrimage site known as Rāmatīrtha.
Vaishampayana said:
Bali, the chief of the Yadus, went to the sacred place of Indra and, after bathing according to the prescribed rules, gave wealth and jewels to the Brahmins.
There, indeed, the king of the gods performed a hundred sacrifices. And the lord of the gods, Bṛhaspati, bestowed abundant wealth.
He conducted all the rituals there smoothly, with chariots, horses, and various offerings, following the prescriptions of the Vedic scholars.
O best of the Bharatas, the greatly effulgent one fulfilled those sacrifices a hundred times properly; hence, he is known as Śatakratu.
By his name, that holy place is auspicious, sacred, and eternal. It is known as Indra's holy place, which is famous for removing all sins.
Musalāyudha, after performing the rituals properly and honoring the Brahmins with offerings of drinks, clothes, and food, proceeded to the auspicious pilgrimage site known as Rāmatīrtha.
In the place where Rama, the illustrious descendant of Bhrigu, known for his great penance, repeatedly annihilated all the warrior leaders on earth.
After honoring his teacher Kaśyapa, the eminent sage, he conducted a Vājapeya and a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices. He then gifted the entire earth, including its oceans.
Rama, after giving wealth to the Brahmins there, O Janamejaya, purified himself according to the rules and worshipped the Brahmins accordingly.
In the sacred and auspicious land, after offering wealth and paying respects to the sages, the one with the auspicious face arrived at the Yamuna pilgrimage site.
At the place where the Rājasūya sacrifice was brought, O king, there was Varuṇa, the son of Aditi, who was greatly fortunate and shone with a bright light.
There, after defeating both humans and gods in battle, Varuna, the destroyer of enemy heroes, received the boon of performing a sacrifice.
After the completion of the great sacrifice, a battle ensued that was destructive to both the gods and demons, threatening the three worlds.
After the completion of the Rājasūya, the greatest of sacrifices, a very dreadful battle arose against the Kshatriyas, O Janamejaya.
Then Sīrāyudha and Rama were in that great pilgrimage place. There, Madhava bathed and gave wealth to the Brahmins.
The forest-dweller, pleased and praised by the twice-born, then went to the sacred place of the sun, the lotus-eyed one.
Where, O best of kings, having worshipped the blessed sun, he attained the sovereignty and influence over the luminaries.
On the bank of her river, all the gods including Indra, the universal gods with the Maruts, along with the Gandharvas and Apsaras, were indeed present.
Vyasa, Shuka, Krishna, and Madhusudana, along with the Yakshas, Rakshasas, and Pisachas, O lord of men.
In that sacred and auspicious place of Sarasvati, thousands of others, perfected in yoga, also reside, O conqueror of enemies.
In that place, Viṣṇu, after having slain the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha, was once immersed in the most excellent of holy places, O best of the Bharatas.
Vyasa, the righteous soul, after bathing there, O Bharata, achieved the supreme state of union and reached the highest perfection.
Asita and Devala, the great ascetics, practiced supreme yoga in that very place, and the sage attained the ultimate state of yoga.
