From this moment onward, the power of righteousness at Pushkara will grow ever greater. Whoever comes to this sacred site and first enters its waters—even with a single limb—will float for the sake of form, and after completing the pilgrimage, there can be no doubt: the sanctity of Pushkara will shape them within its sacred circle, which measures a yojana. The breadth of this holy place is half a yojana, and its length is one and a half yojanas. These are the boundaries established by the assembly of sages, marking the extent of Pushkara’s sanctity. O king, simply by traveling to Pushkara, the subduer of enemies, a person attains the fruits equal to those of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices. The great and holy river Sarasvati has entered the chief Pushkara, and there, Brahma himself, along with the other gods, sages, siddhas, and charanas, gather together. On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, O king, they assemble, and it is then that one should perform ablutions, honoring ancestors and deities with devotion. By these acts, one gains the fruits of the cow sacrifice and uplifts their entire lineage. Thus, the division of the sacred site was established by those venerable sages. Having satisfied both ancestors and gods, the pilgrim is honored in the realm of Vishnu; bathing in Pushkara, a mortal becomes pure, radiant as the moon. Such a person attains Brahma’s world and walks the highest path. Among men, the sacred site of the god of gods—Pushkara—is renowned throughout the three worlds. Famed by name, Pushkara destroys even the greatest sins. Among ten billion holy places, O king, Pushkara stands supreme. At the three junctions of the day, the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, and hosts of Maruts are present at Pushkara, O delight of the lineage. Gandharvas and Apsaras too are always present, serving the Lord. Here, gods, after performing austerities, and even demons and Brahma sages, endowed with divine yoga and great merit, gather. Even those wise ones who merely desire Pushkara in their hearts are purified of all sins and rejoice in heaven. At this sacred site, O king, the ancestor dwells supremely pleased, honored by gods and demons alike. At Pushkara, the gods led by sages attained perfection and great merit. Whoever performs ablution here, devoted to honoring ancestors and gods, the wise declare he gains ten times the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Even if one feeds a single Brahmin while dwelling in the Pushkara forest, it is as if a crore are satisfied and honored; by this act, O Bhishma, one enjoys happiness both in this life and after death. Whatever is used for sustenance—vegetables, roots, or fruits—should be given to a Brahmin with faith and without envy. By this very act, a wise person attains the fruit of a horse sacrifice, regardless of whether he is Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra, O best of kings. The sacred ancestral lake called Pushkara is renowned as the holy place that bestows merit upon perfected Vaikhanasa ascetics and sages. Sarasvati is the most sacred, for she flows into the great ocean, and the primordial god, the great yogi Madhusudana, resides there. It is famed as Adi-Varaha, worshipped by the gods. Even those of degraded castes who reach this ancestral holy place, after bathing at the site of the great soul, do not enter a womb again. Especially, whoever approaches Pushkara during Kartika, it is heard that the fruits gained there are imperishable. Whoever remembers Pushkara in the evening and morning with folded hands, O Kaurava, becomes purified as if visiting all holy places. Whatever sin has arisen from birth, whether of women or men, all is destroyed merely by bathing at Pushkara. Just as the grandsire is foremost among all the Asuras, so too is Pushkara regarded as the foremost among holy places. Having seen it, for ten years one remains disciplined and pure at Pushkara. He attains all sacrifices and goes to the world of Brahma. Yet, even one who worships the Agnihotra for a full hundred years, or dwells for a single Kartika month at Pushkara, attains equal merit. At Pushkara, sacrifice is difficult, austerity is difficult, charity is difficult, and dwelling there is exceedingly hard. A Brahmin learned in the Vedas, having gone to Jyestha Pushkara, attains liberation by bathing and uplifts his forefathers by offering ancestral rites. Even a Brahmin who merely visits and worships at twilight by name, if he worships at twilight here for twelve years, there is no doubt—this was spoken by Svayambhu in ancient times. The fault of Savitri does not arise in his lineage. The wife who supports her husband in performing twilight worship, using a copper vessel to release water, ascends to heaven. Having reached Brahma’s world, one remains there for a day of Brahma. Even if one goes alone, the twilight worship should be performed in proper order, using Pushkara water placed in an iron vessel. O best of kings, when one faces south and recites the Gāyatrī, the ancestors receive the highest satisfaction for twelve years. By offering a piṇḍa in the śrāddha rite, endless merit is bestowed upon the ancestors, lasting for a thousand ages. For this reason, the wise undertake the gathering of a wife. Having gone to a sacred place, piṇḍas should be offered with proper śrāddha rites; their sons will enjoy unbroken wealth, grain, and lineage. There should be no doubt about this—so said the Grandfather. After satisfying ancestors and gods, one attains the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.