The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Vana Parva, Part 1
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Vana Parva, Part 1
Epic literature, Sanskrit
To the east of _Saraka_, O chief of the
Kurus, there is an auspicious _tirtha_ known by the name of _Anajanma_,
of the high-souled Narada. He that bathes there, O Bharata, obtaineth,
after death, at the command of Narada various unrivalled regions. One
should next proceed, on the tenth day of the lighted fortnight, to the
_tirtha_ called _Pundarika_. Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the
merit of the _Pundarika_ sacrifice. One should next proceed to the
_tirtha_ called _Tripishtapa_ that is known over the three worlds. There
in that _tirtha_ is the sacred and sin-destroying river called
_Vaitarani_. Bathing there and adoring the god known by the mark of the
bull and holding the trident in his hand, one's soul being purified from
every sin one attaineth to the highest state. One should next proceed, O
king, to the excellent _tirtha_ called _Phalakivana_. There in that
_tirtha_ the gods, O monarch, having been present, performed their
ascetic austerities extending for many thousand years. One should then
proceed to the _Dhrishadwati_. Bathing there and worshipping the gods,
one obtaineth, O Bharata, merit that is superior to that of both the
_Agnishtoma_ and the _Atiratra_ sacrifices. O chief of the Bharatas,
bathing in that _tirtha_ called _Sarvadeva_, a man obtaineth, O king,
the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Bathing next in the _tirtha_
called _Panikhata_ and worshipping all the gods, a man obtaineth merit
that is superior to that of both the _Agnishtoma_ and the _Atiratra_
sacrifices, besides acquiring that of the _Rajasuya_ sacrifice and
finally going into the region of the Rishis. One should next proceed, O
virtuous one, to that excellent _tirtha_ called _Misraka_. There, O
tiger among kings, it hath been heard by us that the high-souled Vyasa,
for the sake of the Brahmanas, hath mixed all the _tirthas_. He,
therefore, that bathes in _Misraka_ really bathes in all the _tirtha_.
One should next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet, to the
_tirtha_ called _Vyasavana_. Bathing in the _tirtha_ called _Manojava_
that is there, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine.
Proceeding next to the _Devi tirtha_ that is in _Madhuvati_, one that
bathes there and worships the gods and the Pitris obtains at the command
of the Goddess the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. Proceeding with
regulated diet, he that bathes in the confluence of the _Kausiki_ and
the _Drishadwati_, becometh free from all his sins. One should next
proceed to _Vyasasthali_ where Vyasa of great intelligence, burning with
grief for his son had resolved to cast off his body but was cheered
again by the gods. Proceeding to that spot of Vyasa, one obtaineth the
merit of a thousand kine. O son of the Kuru race, proceeding next to the
well called _Kindatta_, he that throweth into it a measure of sesame, is
freed from all his debts and obtaineth his success. Bathing in the
_tirtha_ called _Vedi_, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a
thousand kine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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