Listen, O seeker, to the sacred power and glory of Gayā and its holy tīrthas, where the acts of bathing and śrāddha bestow benefits beyond measure, redeeming both oneself and one’s ancestors. It is said that whoever bathes at the Haṃsa ford is cleansed of all sins, washed pure by those holy waters. When a person performs the rite of śrāddha for twenty-one souls, he leads them to the world of Brahmā, that highest realm. Indeed, by offering śrāddha at the revered Rāma Lake, one uplifts the entire ancestral lineage, guiding them too to Brahmā’s world. The merit is equally profound at the southern Mānasa Lake, where the śrāddha rite ensures ancestors reach the same exalted realm. At the Kūṭa, where Bhīṣma is honored, the performer delivers his forebears; and in the Dhenuka forest, the fruit is once again the world of Brahmā for the ancestors. Such blessings await not only at these sites, but also at the tīrthas of Indra, Nara, Vāsava, and Vaiṣṇava, as well as the holy places of Gāyatra, Sāvitra, and Sārasvata. At each, the one who performs these rites uplifts his entire ancestral line to the world of Brahmā. When the ancestors and the gods are thus satisfied, the performer is spared from difficult rebirths, freed from the cycles of suffering. By conducting śrāddha at the Dharmāraṇya of Mataṅga or at the sacred pond, heaven itself is attained. Let the gods and the guardians of the worlds stand witness to this eternal truth. Bathing at Rāma Tīrtha and offering śrāddha at Prabhāsa bring further blessings. Even when one performs śrāddha in his own flourishing home, he uplifts three times seven generations—such is the power of these rites. In Gayā, every spot is sanctified; there is no place where a tīrtha is not found. Here, the fruits earned are imperishable, and the ancestors are led to the world of Brahmā. When the offering of the piṇḍa is placed into the hand of Janārdana, the performer surely attains the world of Brahmā along with his ancestors. Especially at the head of Gayā, beneath the imperishable fig tree, whatever is given to the ancestors remains imperishable for all time. Whoever witnesses these holy places uplifts twenty generations of ancestors and brings honor to his noble lineage. To the east lies the seat of Brahmā, the mountain of serpents, and the hermitage of Bharata. To the south of Gayāśīrṣa and west of the great river, in the region of Niścirā, the śrāddha rite should be performed on the third day. North of the Vaitaraṇī river is the reservoir called Tṛtīyā, and north of Krauñcapāda is another, named Niścirā. For one who remains established in such holy places, what can ever be difficult to obtain? He attains imperishable worlds and uplifts his lineage. Whoever dwells at Gayā during both the bright and dark fortnights purifies up to the seventh generation of his family—there is no doubt in this. At Gayā, the sacred sites of Muṇḍapṛṣṭha and the Aravinda mountain are also found. When a lunar or solar eclipse occurs in the sign of Makara, the merit is especially great at the great lake in Kauśikī and at the root sanctuary. Where the Maheśvarī stream flows, the performer of śrāddha becomes free from ancestral debts. By performing śrāddha, one attains the fruit of the great Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and ascends to heaven. By offering piṇḍa at the foot of the sun, even the fallen are rescued. The ancestors, fearful of hell, long for sons to perform these rites; when a son arrives at Gayā, it is a festival for the ancestors. Whenever a son or other relative is present at the Gayā well, and whoever bathes at Koṭitīrtha, he attains Puṇḍarīka and the world of Viṣṇu. The sacred river herself descended into the field of Gayā for the deliverance of the ancestors, and by her grace, the performer delivers twenty-one generations—there can be no doubt of this. Finally, let him feed those Brahmins who are appointed by Brahma himself, for in this way the rite is completed and the blessings assured. Thus is the glory of Gayā and its tīrthas proclaimed, a path of deliverance for all who follow with faith and devotion.