तीर्थयात्रा पर्व — धौम्यको तीर्थहरूको वर्णन

Dhaumya said : I shall (now) describe to you those sacred spots capable of producing merit that lie on the west, in the country of the Anartas.

O descendant of Bharata, there flows in a westward course the sacred river Narmada, graced by Priyangu and adorned with mango trees and engar-landed by cranes.

All the Tirthas, sacred spots, rivers, forests and those best of the mountains that are in the three worlds, all the celestials with the Grandsire, with the Siddhas, the Rishis and the Charanas. O foremost of Kurus, O descendant of Bharata, always come to bathe in the sacred waters of the Narmada.

It has been heard by us that the sacred hermitage of Rishi Vishvasrava stood there and there the lord of wealth, Kubera, having man as his vehicle, was born.

There is also that foremost of hills, the sacred and auspicious Vaidurya mountain, which is always abounding in trees that are green and that are always adorned with flowers and fruits.

O ruler of men, O great king, on the top of the mountain there is a sacred lake adorned with full blossomed lotuses and frequented by the celestials and the Gandharvas.

O great king, many wonders are to be seen on that sacred mountain which is like heaven itself and which is visited by the celestials Rishis.

O king, O conqueror of hostile cities, there is the sacred river called Vishvamitra belonging to the royal sage of that name and which abounds in many sacred Tirthas. It was on the banks of this river, the son of Nahusha, Yayati, fell (from heaven) among the pious and obtained again the eternal region of the virtuous.

There is also the sacred lake known by the name of Punya, the mountain called Mainaka and that other mountain called Asita abounding in fruits and roots.

O Yudhishthira, O son of Pandu, there is also the sacred hermitage of Kakshasena and also the hermitage of Chyavana known every where.

O lord, here men obtain success in their asceticism with less austerities. O great king, here also is Jambumarga, the herinitage of Rishis of subdued soul. O foremost of selfcontrolled men, the hermitage is frequented by birds and deer.

O king, there is the very sacred and ascetic surrounded, Ketumela, Medhaya also Gangadvara and the celebrated forest of Saindhava, frequented by the Brahmanas.

Then there is the sacred lake of the Grandsire, known by the name of Pushkara, the favourite hermitage of Valkhilyas, the Siddhas and the Rishis.

O foremost of Kurus, O best of all virtuous men, moved by the desire to get its shelter, the lord of creatures recited this verse at Pushkara.

"If a pure souled man wishes to go to the Pushkara even in his imagination, he is cleansed of all his sins and he rejoices in heaven.