Listen, O wise one, to the account of sacred vows and rituals, and the glory of holy places, as revealed in the ancient texts. It is remembered that on the bright second day of the lunar fortnight, when one gives a vessel of salt and, at the conclusion, offers a cow to a Brahmin at Shiva's temple, such a person attains the status of king of kings at the end of the age—this is celebrated as the Soma vow. On the first day, by eating only once and, at the end, gifting a tawny cow, one is elevated to the position of Vaishvanara; this is known as the Shiva vow. Again, on the tenth day, by eating only once, and ultimately giving ten cows and indicating the directions with gold, the devotee becomes lord of the universe. This is the universal vow, famed as the destroyer of great sins. Whoever recites or listens to these sixty excellent vows, even throughout a hundred cycles of Manu, becomes lord among the Gandharvas. O Narada, these sixty vows of merit, which generate the universe, have been declared by you. Should you wish to hear another, I am ready to speak—what else need be said among the beloved? Now, understand the sanctity of bathing. Without outer and inner purity, bathing is meaningless; therefore, for the sake of mental purification, bathing is prescribed at the outset. One should bathe with water, whether it is drawn or undrawn, and the wise should consecrate the bathing spot with the root mantra, which is declared as "Salutations to Narayana." Holding darbha grass as prescribed, having rinsed the mouth, and with a focused and pure mind, one should prepare a four-sided area and invoke the Ganga with these mantras. The invocation is as follows: "You are sprung from the feet of Vishnu, O Vaishnavi, divine power of Vishnu; protect us from sin from birth until death." The wind has proclaimed that there are three crore and a half crore sacred places, O Jahnavi, existing in heaven, on earth, and in the atmosphere. Among the gods, your names are Nandini and Nalini; you are also known as Daksha, Prithvi, Vihaga, Vishvakaya, Amrita, and Shiva. You are Vidyadhari, supremely tranquil, the joy-bringer to all, Kshemā, Jahnavi, Shanta, and the bestower of peace. These auspicious names should be recited at the time of bathing; then the Ganga, who moves through the three worlds, becomes present there. Having recited these names seven times with joined hands in reverence, one should pour water over the head three, four, five, or seven times, and perform the bath with earth, invoking as prescribed. The prayer to the earth is: "O earth, trodden by horses, chariots, and by Vishnu, O soil, take away my sin, whatever wrong I have committed." Further, "O soil, you were lifted by the boar, by Krishna of a hundred arms; you were given by Brahma, consecrated by Kashyapa; ascend my limbs and drive away all my sin." And again, "O soil, grant us nourishment; in you all is established. Salutations to you, O virtuous one, origin and support of all worlds." Having thus bathed, one should sip water as prescribed, rise, and put on clean white garments; then, one should perform the offering for the replenishment of the three worlds. The offering is made for the satisfaction of all beings: the gods, yakshas, nagas, gandharvas, apsarases, asuras, fierce serpents, suparnas, trees, jackals, and birds; for those who dwell in air, in water, those who move in space, those without support, and those who delight in righteousness. For the satisfaction of all these, water is offered. Having performed the upavīta for the gods, one should then perform the nivīta. With devotion, one should satisfy humans, the sons of Brahma, and the sages—Sanaka, Sananda, and Sanatana; Kapila, Asuri, Vodhu, and Panchashikha as well—may all these always be satisfied by the water thus offered. One should also satisfy Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasistha, Bhrigu, Narada, and all the divine and Brahmanical sages with unbroken water. Then, having made the sacred thread apasavya and then savya, with the right knee on the ground, one should offer to the Agnishvattas, the Saumyas, the Havishmats, and the Ushmapas, as well as the timely Barhishads, the Vajyapas, and again, satisfy the ancestors with devotion, with water mixed with sesame and sandalwood. To Yama, the lord of Dharma, to Death, to Antaka, to Vaivasvata, to Time, and to the destroyer of all beings; to Audumbara, to Dadhna, to Nila, to Parameshthin, to Vrikodara, to Chitra, and to Chitragupta, salutations are offered. Holding darbha grass, the wise should satisfy the ancestors as prescribed. Having satisfied the ancestors and maternal forebears by name and lineage, with devotion and according to the prescribed rite, one should recite: "Those who are not relatives, or those who were relatives in another birth, may they attain complete satisfaction, and whoever desires it from me as well." Then, having sipped water as prescribed, one should draw a lotus in front, and with unbroken rice, flowers, water, and red sandalwood, offer arghya with care, and recite the names of the Sun: "Salutations to the one of Vishnu's form, salutations to the one with Vishnu's face, to the thousand-rayed, eternal one, salutations to the all-radiant. Salutations to Shiva, lord of all, salutations to the one affectionate to all, master of the world, salutations to you adorned with divine sandalwood. Salutations to you seated on the lotus, adorned with earrings and armlets, salutations to the lord of all worlds, you awaken all the universe. You see all good and evil deeds, O all-pervading one, O god of truth, salutations to you; be gracious to me, O Bhaskara. Salutations to Divakara, salutations to Prabhakara." Having saluted the Sun three times and circumambulated, one should touch a Brahmin, a cow, and gold, then proceed to Vishnu's abode. Now, hear the account of Prayaga, as related by the sage Markandeya to the son of Pandu in days of old. When the events of the Bharata war had transpired and the son of Pritha had ascended to the throne, King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, was tormented by grief for his brothers. He pondered again and again, and sat with King Suyodhana, commander of eleven armies. All those who caused them suffering had perished; relying on Vasudeva, only the five Pandavas remained.