At the sacred ford of Nandā, it is said that gifts offered by those who have bathed there, especially to the golden-hued goddesses of the earth, yield inexhaustible rewards. The great sages proclaim that giving grain and wealth at this holy spot is especially praiseworthy, for whatever is given at these fords becomes the highest cause of righteousness. Those who, with discipline and resolve, undertake the solemn vow of fasting unto death at this place—be they men or women—are assured of union with the Divine at these holy sites, and thereafter enjoy the fruits of their deeds in the abode of Brahma, according to their desires. Even those beings—whether stationary or moving—who have died nearby and whose karmas are exhausted, are suddenly and forcibly granted the rare fruit of sacrifice, along with all others. For this reason, the great river Sarasvati, bestower of righteousness, should be diligently honored by all who are troubled by the sufferings of birth and worldly existence. She grants merit and auspicious results to those who serve her. Bhishma, having heard of the supreme glory of Pushkara and Nanda, recounted how, when the assembly of sages arrived at Pushkara, merely seeing its face bestowed perfect beauty upon them. He asked to hear more about the sacred threads and acts of devotion performed there, and how the division of holy places was made by those great souls. He inquired which sacred sites were established in the hermitage by the seers, and recalled that long ago, Vishnu left his footprints on Yajña Mountain, where the mighty serpents, with their potent venom, created the fivefold holy place. Bhishma wondered by whom the pond for offering ancestral cakes was first constructed, and how the northward-flowing Ganga and Sarasvati came to be underground. He also wished to know how Brahmins learned in the Vedas should perform pilgrimage at Tripushkara, and what fruits arise from such acts. Pulastya responded, acknowledging the weight and greatness of Bhishma’s questions. He urged Bhishma to focus his mind and listen to the great fruits of these holy places. He explained that one whose hands, feet, and mind are well-controlled, who possesses knowledge, austerity, and fame, attains the fruit of pilgrimage. Likewise, one who refrains from accepting gifts, is content with what comes, and is free from pride attains the fruit. A person who is free from anger, truthful in conduct, firm in vows, and regards all beings as oneself attains the fruit of pilgrimage. Pulastya then revealed the supreme secret of the sages. In ancient times, at the ancestral sacrifice, a multitude of fierce ascetics, numbering in crores, gathered at the chief Pushkara, relying on the sight of its face. Having attained supreme beauty, these foremost sages were filled with delight and joy, longing for a vision of Brahma. With sacred threads, they measured the earth in all four directions, establishing the divisions of the holy places, and remained devoted to worship. As they stood nearby, the Grandsire Brahma was pleased, and seeing the multitude of wise ones, he honored them, declaring that from that day onward, their righteousness would increase. Whoever came there and entered the water with any limb would float for the sake of form, and having made the pilgrimage, would be shaped by the sacred site within a circle measuring a yojana. The breadth of the site is half a yojana, and its length one and a half yojanas, as established by the sages. Pulastya explained that merely by going to Pushkara, a person attains the fruit of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices. The great and holy Sarasvati has entered the chief Pushkara, where Brahma, the other gods, sages, siddhas, and charanas assemble on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra. There, one should perform ablution, devoted to honoring ancestors and gods, and thus attains the fruit of the cow sacrifice, uplifting one’s lineage. Having satisfied ancestors and gods, the pilgrim is honored in the realm of Vishnu; bathing there, one becomes pure as the moon, attains Brahma’s world, and reaches the highest path. Among men, the sacred site of the god of gods is renowned throughout the three worlds. Pushkara, famed by name, destroys great sins, and among ten billion sacred sites, its presence is unique. At Pushkara, during the three junctions of the day, the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, and hosts of Maruts are present. Gandharvas and Apsaras too are always there for the Lord. The gods, having performed austerities, as well as the demons and Brahma sages, endowed with divine yoga and great merit, gather there. Even those who merely desire Pushkara in their minds are purified of all sins and rejoice in heaven. At that sacred site, the ancestor always dwelt supremely pleased, honored by gods and demons alike. At Pushkara, the gods led by sages attained perfection, endowed with great merit. Whoever performs ablution there, devoted to honoring ancestors and gods, gains ten times the fruit of the Ashvamedha, according to the wise. Even if one feeds a single Brahmin dwelling in the Pushkara forest, a crore are satisfied and honored. By such acts, one enjoys happiness both in this life and after death. Whatever one uses for sustenance—vegetables, roots, or fruits—should be given to a Brahmin with faith and without envy. By this act alone, a wise person attains the fruit of a horse sacrifice, whether he is a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra. Thus, the greatness of these sacred sites is revealed, O best of kings.