Among the gods, your names are celebrated as Nandinī and Nalinī; you are known as Dakṣā, Pṛthvī, Vihagā, Viśvakāyā, Amṛtā, and Śivā. You are Vidyādharī, supremely tranquil, the one who brings joy to all, Kṣemā, Jāhnavī, Śāntā, and the bestower of peace. It is said that one should recite these auspicious names at the time of bathing, for then Gaṅgā herself, who flows through the three worlds, becomes present there. Having recited these names seven times, with hands joined in reverence, one should pour water on the head three, four, five, or seven times, performing the bath with earth, invoking as prescribed. With devotion, one addresses the earth: "O earth, trodden by horses, by chariots, and by Viṣṇu himself, O soil, take away my sin, whatever wrong I have committed. O soil, you were lifted by the boar, by Kṛṣṇa of a hundred arms; you were given by Brahmā, consecrated by Kāśyapa; ascend my limbs and drive away all my sin. O soil, grant us nourishment; in you all is established. Salutation to you, O virtuous one, origin and support of all worlds." Having thus bathed, one sips water as prescribed, rises, and puts on clean white garments. Then, one performs the offering for the replenishment of the three worlds. The gods, yakṣas, nāgas, gandharvas, apsarases, asuras, fierce serpents, suparṇas, trees, jackals, and birds—those who dwell in air and water, those who move in space, those without support, and those who delight in righteousness—all these beings are to be satisfied. For their satisfaction, this water is offered; having performed the upavīta for the gods, one then performs the nivīta. With devotion, one should satisfy humans, the sons of Brahmā, and the sages—Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana. Kapila, Asuri, Voḍhu, and Pañcaśikha as well—may all these always be satisfied by the water offered. One should satisfy Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, Nārada, 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 offers to the Agniṣvāttas, the Saumyas, the Haviṣmats, and the Uṣmapās. The timely Barhiṣads and others, the Vājyapās—again, one satisfies 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, salutations are offered. To Audumbara, to Dadhna, to Nila, to Parameshthin, to Vrikodara, to Chitra, and to Chitragupta, salutations are given. Holding darbha grass, the wise satisfy the ancestors according to the prescribed rite. Having satisfied the ancestors and maternal forebears by name and lineage, with devotion and as prescribed, one recites this mantra: "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 draws a lotus in front and, with unbroken rice, flowers, water, and red sandalwood, offers arghya with care, reciting the names of the Sun: "Salutations to the one of Viṣṇu's form, salutations to the one with Viṣṇu's face, to the thousand-rayed, eternal one, salutations to the all-radiant. Salutations to Śiva, 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 who awaken 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 thus saluted the Sun three times and circumambulated, one should touch a Brahmin, a cow, and gold, and then proceed to Viṣṇu's abode. Now, let me tell you the account of Prayaga, as it was once narrated by the sage Markandeya to the son of Pandu in ancient times. When the great events of the Bharata war had come to pass and the son of Pritha had attained the kingdom, King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, was tormented by grief for his brothers. Again and again, he pondered, sitting with King Suyodhana, who had commanded eleven armies. He reflected: "Having caused us much suffering, all those have perished; relying on Vasudeva, the five Pandavas alone remain. Having slain Bhishma, Drona, Karna of great might, and King Duryodhana with his sons and brothers, all the kings have been killed, and others who considered themselves heroes. O Govinda, what use is the kingdom to us, what use are pleasures or even life?" Thinking, "Alas, how terrible," the king, overcome by distress, stood motionless and dispirited, his head bowed in sorrow. When he regained his senses, he pondered again and again which observance or pilgrimage he should undertake, by which he might swiftly be released from the stain of great sin, and by abiding there, attain the supreme realm of Viṣṇu. He wondered, "How shall I ask Krishna, by whom I have been made to do this? How shall I question Dhritarashtra, whose hundred sons have been slain? How shall I ask Vyasa, whose lineage has been destroyed?" Thus, King Yudhishthira, overwhelmed by distress, and all the Pandavas, grieving for their brothers, wept. All those great souls gathered there—the Pandavas, Kunti, Draupadi, and the assembled—fell to the ground, weeping in every direction. In Varanasi, Markandeya was known to Yudhishthira, who, having fallen into deep distress, was weeping and afflicted. Very soon, Markandeya, the great ascetic, arrived at Hastinapura and stood at the royal gate.