The Adityas, who are revered as the great-grandfathers of the ancestors, gathered together with the Pitrs and the Vasus at the summons of Virinchi, the Creator. Once assembled, Virinchi addressed them all, saying, “Here, you must always accept the offerings of funeral cakes and other ancestral rites. Whatever ancestral ritual is performed at this place yields endless rewards.” He explained that, through these offerings, the fathers and grandfathers are nourished and satisfied. They receive fulfillment from the oblations and, by the gift of rice balls, attain heavenly realms. Therefore, one should set aside all else and become a giver of rice balls in the east; having made such offerings, a son diligently satisfies all his ancestors. Virinchi further revealed that before the lord of the east, who is established there, lies the original holy place. It is said that even by merely seeing this sacred site, one attains liberation. By touching its waters, the bonds of birth are broken; by immersing oneself, one becomes an attendant of Brahma himself. Whoever bathes at this original holy place and, with focused mind, offers even a small amount of food, generally attains heaven. And if, after bathing there, one gives wealth to devotees of Brahma—even if it is only a little gold—that person rejoices happily in heaven. Virinchi wondered aloud why anyone would seek higher merit anywhere else, for the fruit of bathing at the eastern Sarasvati is satisfaction equal to the results of great austerities and sacrifices. Those who drink the sacred waters of the eastern Sarasvati, the sage Markandeya declared, are not to be regarded as mere mortals. At the Sarasvati river, there is no restriction on bathing—one may enter its waters whether one has eaten or not, by day or by night. This holy place is remembered as the foremost among all holy sites in the east, proclaimed as the destroyer of sin and the generator of merit for all beings. Those whose minds are purified, who bathe there and worship Janardana according to their ability, ascend to heaven. Among the gods, Vishnu is foremost, and where Sarasvati is served by him, that supreme holy place on earth was declared by the son of Brahma. Thus, that great holy place is known as Mahodaya, where Sarasvati herself stands, gazing toward the Mandakini. Svayambhu proclaimed this place as supreme among all holy sites, where one attains a congregation of merit equal to that of Mandakini. There, the goddess Sarasvati, praised by the gods, stood thinking herself alone, her face sad and her mind sorrowful. Seeing her thus, Brahma created a companion for her, beautiful and pure-eyed. Hari, too, swiftly appeared as a lotus-eyed doe. The lord of the gods, Indra, bearer of the thunderbolt, created a radiant companion for Sarasvati, and Shiva, the bull-bannered, blue-throated god, did likewise. The three-eyed one generated yet another companion for Sarasvati, and as she was observed by her companions, Sarasvati shone among the divine beauties. Filled with joy, the gods set out for the great river as commanded. Sarasvati, together with her companions, prepared to journey east. Among them all, Sarasvati was regarded as the best. Even the wild animals who drank the waters of the Eastern Sarasvati would ascend to heaven, just as the best of the twice-born do through sacrifice. This eastern Sarasvati was to be known as a wish-fulfilling gem, the cause of all desires’ fulfillment. Then, looking south, Sarasvati turned to face west. She said to Ganga, “Go to the eastern direction, and do not forget me. Return, O goddess, as you came.” At this point, Bhishma inquired, “How was Rama instructed here by Markandeya? How did their meeting happen, and at what time? O sage, tell me: whose son is Markandeya? How was this great ascetic born? Tell me his lineage and true name.” Pulastya replied, “I will tell you again of the origin of Markandeya. In a former age, there was a renowned sage named Mrikandu, the greatly fortunate son of Bhrigu. Living with his wife and practicing severe austerities in the forest, a son was born to him. When the boy was five years old, though still a child, he was already excelling in virtue. One day, a wise man saw the boy wandering in the yard and, having stayed there for some time, became aware of the boy’s destined fate. Mrikandu then asked this sage about the length of his son’s life. ‘Tell me the number of years—whether few or many—of my son’s lifespan,’ he requested. The wise one replied, ‘The Creator has set your son’s lifespan at six months, O lord of sages. Do not grieve—this is truly declared.’ Hearing these words, Mrikandu performed the initiation ceremony for his son. He instructed the boy to greet the sages, and the boy joyfully offered his salutations to all, not knowing the distinctions of caste. By this time, five months and twenty-five days had passed. Then, by that path, the seven sages arrived. The boy saw them and greeted each one. The sages blessed him, saying, ‘May you live long,’ but seeing that his life was nearly spent, they became afraid. Knowing he had only five days left, they took the boy and went to Brahma. Releasing the boy before Brahma, they bowed and informed the Grandfather of everything, greeting him with due reverence.