At that sacred place, the devotee is to conclude the śrāddha rites and complete the ritual bath, marking the fulfillment of their offerings to the ancestors. Then, proceeding to the southern Mānasa, and maintaining a reverent silence, one should offer piṇḍa and perform the prescribed rites. Such acts bring delight to the perfected beings and, at the same time, strike fear into the hearts of the sinful. Within this holy region lies the renowned Kanakhala, celebrated throughout the three worlds. Bathing in its waters ensures ascent to heaven, and the śrāddha performed here becomes imperishable, never diminished by time. It is here that the illustrious deities—Kavyavāha, Soma, Yama, and Aryaman—are invoked, protected and honored by all. For the sake of offering piṇḍa to these great ones, the pilgrim comes to Gaya, the most auspicious of places. After these rites, the devotee should behold Gadādhara. By the mere sight of this form, one is freed from all ancestral debts. Not only does the devotee attain immediate liberation, but also liberates ten generations of ancestors before and after them. In the forest of Dharma or at the pond of Mataṅga, one is to perform the piṇḍa offerings and related rituals. At Brahma Tīrtha, the merit gained equals that of the great Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices. Even if the water used is drawn from a simple well, the offering made to the ancestors there becomes everlasting. Performing śrāddha and piṇḍa between the two sacrificial wells is especially potent; by such service, the ancestors are surely destined for liberation. At the holy Phalgu Tīrtha, on the fourth day, after a purifying bath, one should begin by offering oblations to the gods. Piṇḍas are also to be offered at the mouth of the Vyāsa, at the five fires, and at the three steps, following the sacred tradition. The śrāddha may be performed for nine deities, or for twelve, as prescribed. Here at Gaya, the śrāddha for the mother is performed separately, while elsewhere it is customarily done together with that for the father. Should one touch the feet of Rudra here, one is freed from the cycle of rebirth, never to return to this world. This same result is achieved by performing śrāddha at the summit of Gaya. The ancestors, too, are elevated to divine status—there can be no doubt about this. Even with little austerity, the merit gained here is immense: those suffering in hell ascend to heaven, while those already in heaven attain the final liberation. By offering piṇḍas to the ancestors at Gaya, one saves the entire lineage. Feeding even a single brāhmaṇa here is as meritorious as feeding a crore. The devotee who does so attains inexhaustible worlds and uplifts a hundred families. Alternatively, one may choose to perform an Aśvamedha sacrifice or release a blue bull, both acts of great merit. It is said, “In my name, perform the offering of piṇḍas at the summit of Gaya.” Upon hearing these words, a merchant faithfully offered a piṇḍa at Gayāśīrṣa to the Lord of the Dead. Through this act, all his ancestors—including Viśāla—were liberated, and the giver of the piṇḍa was blessed with sons. But the question arose: “How shall I have sons and brāhmaṇas, O Viśālaka?” Viśāla himself, having performed the offerings at Gayāśīrṣa, became a generous donor and, as a result, obtained a son. At that moment, among those gathered, one who was pale in appearance spoke to Viśāla, revealing, “My son, my father was attached to violence, a slayer of a Brahmin, foremost in evil deeds. He fell into the hell called Avīci, but through these offerings, he was liberated and became a recipient of the sacred piṇḍa.” Having fulfilled his duties and ruled his kingdom justly, Viśāla too ascended to heaven. The offerings made at Gaya are so powerful that even those who have not undergone the cūḍā ceremony, and those who perished before birth, are satisfied by what is given on earth, and, finding contentment, attain the highest state. So too are the mother, paternal grandmother, and great-grandmother—all are honored and uplifted by these acts of devotion and remembrance.