In ancient times, a sacred ashram was established by the great sage Markandeya. It became known as Markandeya’s ashram, and those who bathed there, purifying themselves, gained the spiritual merit equal to that of a Vajapeya sacrifice. A person cleansed of all sins at this holy site would enjoy a long life. Pulastya, the wise sage, then promised to recount another ancient tale. He began to tell how the holy place called Pushkara was established by Rama. Long ago, Rama, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, left Chitrakuta and journeyed through the forest. They reached the ashram of the eminent sage Atri, and Rama approached him with questions. “O great sage,” Rama asked, “which are the holy places, and what is the most sacred field? Please tell me of that place where, once visited, a person is never separated from yogins or from their own kin.” Rama continued, sharing his sorrow: “Through this exile in the forest, the death of my father, and separation from Bharata, I am tormented by these three afflictions.” Hearing Rama’s heartfelt words, the foremost of Brahmins, Atri, meditated deeply before replying. Atri said, “Well asked, O hero, enhancer of the Raghu dynasty. My father established a renowned tīrtha called Pushkara. There are two famous mountains known as the boundary-sacrifice mountains, and between them lie three sacred pools: the eldest, the middle, and the youngest. Go there and offer ancestral cakes to satisfy King Dasaratha. It is the foremost of holy places, the best of all sacred fields. O best of the Raghu line, there is also the delightful Aviyoga well and another auspicious well with pure water. By offering ancestral cakes in these places, the fathers attain liberation—this was declared by the Grandsire at the time of the great flood. Go there, O Raghava, and perform the rites repeatedly.” Rama accepted Atri’s counsel, setting his mind on pilgrimage. He journeyed, crossing the Rksha mountains, then the city of Vaidisha, and fording the river Carmanvati, until he reached the Yajna mountain. Swiftly passing beyond, he arrived at the middle Pushkara, where he satisfied his ancestors with water offerings and honored all the gods. After his ritual bath, Rama saw the eminent sage Markandeya arriving with his disciples. Rama approached him respectfully and asked, “O lord, in which direction is the well that grants freedom from separation? I am the son of Dasaratha, known as Rama among men. I have come by Atri’s instruction to see that well of good fortune. May you, blessed one, tell me the location of that place and those wells.” Markandeya replied warmly, “Well done, O Raghava. May you be blessed. You have acted righteously in coming here on pilgrimage to the holy places. Come, see your own well that removes separation. In this very well, freedom from separation arises for all—both in this world and the next, whether living or dead.” Hearing these words, Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana, remembered his father King Dasaratha, Bharata and Shatrughna, his mothers, and the citizens of Ayodhya. As Rama reflected, dusk descended, and he, along with the sages, performed the evening twilight worship. That night, Rama slept with his brothers and their wives. When morning came, Raghunandana awoke to find himself, it is said, in Ayodhya, surrounded by his father, mother, and many relatives after his wedding ceremony. He was seated with his wife, encircled by sages, and Lakshmana and Sita also saw him in this way. In the morning, the sages recounted all that had happened, affirming, “So it is, O best of the Raghu dynasty, this is true.” They explained that when one sees the deceased in a dream, the śrāddha rite should be performed, for the ancestors desire increase and long for food. They grant such visions in dreams to the devoted, O Raghava, and thus, there is no separation for you from your brothers, father, or Bharata. Certainly, O Raghava, fourteen years will be completed; therefore, O hero, perform the śrāddha for King Dasaratha. All the sages—Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Lomasha, Devarata, and Shamika—were ready to assist Rama, the mighty-armed, in gathering the necessary items for the śrāddha. The chief offerings were cakes of ingudi flour, jujube and amalaki fruits, ripe coconuts, and many varieties of roots, both high and low. Meat obtained along the way and various grains were also required to satisfy the Brahmins through the śrāddha. Whoever, with self-restraint and a regulated diet, performs offerings to the ancestors upon reaching the Pushkara forest attains the merit of an ashvamedha sacrifice. “For the sake of bathing, we shall go to the great Pushkara,” said the sages, and all departed together. Rama then instructed Lakshmana, “Bring me a pure-eyed deer fit for sacrifice, a hare, black greens, and honey. Also bring the best lemons, various roots, ripe kapittha fruits, and any other fruits. Quickly bring all these for the śrāddha, O Lakshmana.” At Rama’s command, Lakshmana gathered everything accordingly, and thus the sacred rites were performed as prescribed.