Gadayuddha Parva — The story of Indra Tirtha

Vaishampayana said "The powerful chief of the Yadus, having gone to Indra's Tirtha, bathed there according to due rites and distributed wealth and gems amongst the Brahmanas.

There the chief of the celestials had performed a hundreds horse-sacrifices and given immense wealth to Brihaspati.

Indeed, through the assistance of Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas, Shakra performed all those sacrifice there, according to rites sectioned by the scriptures. Those sacrifices were performed on a liberal scale. Horses of all breeds were brought there. The gifts to Brahmanas were immense.

Having duly completed those hundred sacrifices, O chief of the Bharatas, Shakra passed by the name of Shatakratu.

That auspicious and sacred Tirtha, capable of dissipating every sin. came to be called after his name as Indra-Tirtha.

Having duly bathed there, Baladeva worshipped the Brahmanas with excellent food and raiments. He then went to that auspicious and foremost of Tirthas called after the name of Rama.

The highly blessed and ascetic Rama of Bhrigu's race, repeatedly conquered the Earth and killed all the foremost of Kshatriyas.

Then Rama performed in that Tirtha a Vajapeya sacrifice and a hundred horse sacrifices through the assistance of his preceptor Kashyapa. There, as sacrificial fee, Rama gave to his preceptor the whole Earth with her oceans.

The great Rama, having duly bathed there, made presents to the Brahmanas, O Janamejaya and adored them. Having made diverse presents consisting of various kinds of gems, kine, elephants, female slaves, sheep and goats, he then retired into the woods.

Having bathed in that sacred and foremost of Tirthas that was the resort of gods and Rishis. Baladeva duly adored the ascetics there, and then went to the Tirtha called Yamuna.

The highly effulgent and blessed son of Aditi, Varuna, had in days of yore performed in that Tirtha the Rajasuya sacrifice, O king.

Having in battle subjugated both men and celestials and Gandharvas and Rakshasas, Varuna, O king, that slayer of hostile heroes, celebrated his grand sacrifice in that Tirtha. Upon the commencement of that foremost of sacrifices a baitle took place between the gods and the Danavas, terrorising the three worlds.

After the termination of that foremost of sacrifices, viz., the Rajasuya (of Varuna), a terrible battle, O Janamejaya, ensued amongst the Kshatriyas.

Having worshipped the Rishis there, the ever liberal and powerful Baladeva, inade many presents to those that desired them.

Filled with joy and lauded by the great Rishis, Baladeva, that hero ever decked with garlands of wild flower and possessed of eyes like lotus leaves, then went to the Tirtha called Aditya.

There, O best of kings, having performed a sacrifice, the worshipful and effulgent Sun, obtained the sovereignty of all luminous bodies (in the universe) and acquired also his great energy.

There, in that Tirtha situate on the bank of that river, all the gods with Vasava at their head, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Island-born Vyasa, Shuka, Krishna the slayer of Madhu, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas and the Pisachas, O king and various others. thousands in numbers, all crowned with ascetic success, always live. Indeed, in that auspicious and sacred Tirtha of the Sarasvati, Vishnu himself having in days of yore slain the Asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, had, O chief of the Bharatas, performed his ablutions.

The Island-born Vyasa also, O Bharata, having bathed in that Tirtha, acquired great Yoga powers and Siddhi.

Having bathed in that very Tirtha with a concentrated mind, the Rishi Asita-Deval also obtained great Yoga powers.