Long ago, in the sacred land of Puṣkara, the illustrious grandsire Brahmā himself undertook a great sacrificial rite. For the success and upliftment of the foremost sages assembled there, the divine river Sarasvatī, in all her purity and grace, arrived at that holy ground. Wherever Brahmā performed his sacrifices and kindled the sacred fires, Sarasvatī flooded those fire-pits with her celestial waters, sanctifying each spot before emerging anew. In that blessed field, renowned for its sanctity, the highly meritorious Sarasvatī manifested herself at Puṣkara. It is said that the very act of filling this holy place was accomplished by Vāyu, the life-breath of the world, making the spot supremely auspicious. Having reached this field, the goddess Sarasvatī took her abode there, ever present as the destroyer of sins for mortals. Those who perform virtuous deeds and are graced with the sight of Sarasvatī at Puṣkara are shielded from dreadful downfall and suffering. Moreover, any man who, with devotion, bathes in these sacred waters attains the world of Brahmā and delights in his company. Should one offer delicious curds to a brāhmaṇa at this place, he is rewarded with the world of Agni, enjoying splendid pleasures. Even the gift of a fine garment, offered with sincere devotion to a twice-born, brings a tenfold reward in return. A man of pure mind who bathes in the Jyeṣṭha pool and then offers oblations to his ancestors rescues them all—even those suffering in hell. In this pure ancestral field, having attained the holy Sarasvatī, what other sacred place could a man desire? So declared the son of Brahmā. Indeed, whatever fruits are gained by bathing at all the sacred places, a single plunge into the Jyeṣṭha pool bestows them all upon a mortal. Why speak at length? Whoever attains the triad of the field, the sacred place, and the auspicious path, surely attains the highest state. At the proper time, one who bathes, offers oblations, and gives to a brāhmaṇa in this field and sacred place enjoys endless happiness. Particularly auspicious are the times: the bright fortnight of Kārttika, the moon-adorned month of Vaiśākha, moments of lunar or solar eclipse, and the land of the Kurus. Among all these fields and sacred places praised by the great sages, Pitāmaha himself declared Puṣkara to be the most meritorious of all. If one bathes in the middle pool during Kārttikā and gives wealth to a brāhmaṇa, he gains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. Even in the lesser pool, a devoted bather who gives beautiful rice to a brāhmaṇa quickly attains the delightful world of Agni, enjoying great reward there with twenty-one generations of his ancestors. Therefore, with every effort, a man should firmly resolve to journey to the auspicious Puṣkara. Upon reaching the Puṣkara forest, where the eastern Sarasvatī flows, one gains pure resolve, memory, wisdom, intelligence, and supreme compassion—these six are alternate names of Sarasvatī, for wherever she flows eastward, these qualities arise. Those who merely stand on the bank and see the water there obtain the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice—of this there is no doubt. Should one cross over and bathe there again with a concentrated mind, he becomes an attendant of Brahmā himself. Even if a man honors his ancestors there with simple offerings such as vegetables, he too attains great enjoyments through their influence. Those who perform the śrāddha there according to prescribed rite lead their ancestors to heaven, rescuing them even from the torments of hell. Ancestors of one who bathes and offers pure water mixed with kuśa grass and sesame become deeply satisfied. Of all sacred fords, this is regarded as the highest; thus, it is called the original tīrtha, renowned among all tīrthas on earth. It stands as the treasure-house of dharma and liberation, for there is no tīrtha more excellent than this meeting of Sarasvatī. It grants all four aims of life—dharma, wealth, pleasure, and liberation—to those who enter its waters to remove impurity. The results are said to be equal to the gift of a cow, and the wise even compare them to the gift of gold. By offering libations and balls of food, even ancestors who dwell in hell are led to heaven, rescued by their son at this sacred spot. Those who drink the water of Sarasvatī at Puṣkara attain imperishable worlds, honored by Brahmā and Viśveśa. Here, Sarasvatī becomes a ladder to heaven, attainable by men of merit. At every place in Puṣkara, she is frequented by sages who know the essence of dharma; thus, Sarasvatī is pure and present everywhere. Yet, at Puṣkara, she is the purest of the pure, and her sacred presence is easily found in the world. She is rare at Kurukṣetra, Prabhāsa, and even at Puṣkara; yet, this tīrtha remains the foremost among all tīrthas on earth. Attaining the eastern Sarasvatī fulfills all four aims of life. Whoever, after reaching it, seeks another tīrtha is like one who abandons nectar held in his hand and desires poison instead. Among all tīrthas, the eastern is called the best, the middle one is middling. The wise, therefore, circumambulate the pools to the right, keeping the smaller one to their right. In all three pools, one should bathe and perform circumambulation. Offering water mixed with sesame seeds to the ancestors there pleases them, and when they are pleased, they grant boundless rewards in return. Thus, the glory of Puṣkara and the sacred Sarasvatī is revealed—a place where all desires are fulfilled, all impurities washed away, and the highest spiritual rewards are attained for those who come with faith, devotion, and pure intent.