In that sacred region, the offerings made to the ancestors are imperishable, fulfilling every desire and truly delighting the forefathers. There, Jataveda—the stone embodiment of Agni—stands as the eternal witness of the fire sacrifice. If anyone were to enter the fire at this holy place, even the joys of the highest heaven would not compare, for the fire itself becomes tranquil and is reborn; whatever is given here remains undying. At the fords where ten and fifty Ashvamedha sacrifices are commemorated, the reward for such offerings is as the scriptures declare—there is no doubt. The ford called Hayashira is renowned, bestowing boons in an instant; offerings to the ancestors made there are imperishable, and one finds delight in heaven as a result. Śrāddha offerings placed in a pot at this place are known to destroy all sins. Indeed, śrāddha performed here is said to be imperishable, as are recitation of sacred texts, fire oblations, and austerities. At this lofty and auspicious holy site, one should ever strive to satisfy the ancestors. On festival days, the very shadows of celestial beings are seen there. Whatever is offered to the ancestors on that earth remains undying, and it was there that the Pāṇḍavas dwelled, free from every disease. This place is ever frequented by masters of yoga, pure and free from all sin. Whoever performs śrāddha here, listen now to the fruit that is gained: the ancestors are truly worshipped and honored; the performer becomes powerful in this world and, after death, rejoices in heaven. Most excellent and holy is the lake called Śiva, and there too are the sacred lakes of Vyāsa and Brahmā, which are divine. The holy mountain Ujjanta, belonging to the great sage Vasiṣṭha, rises nearby. The Kāpotaka, known as Puṣpasāhvaya, is revered as the head of the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas; it is said that Brahmā created the fifth Veda among these very places. Any twice-born who visits these sacred spots is freed from sin, as the eternal fire is freed from fuel. At Puṇḍarīka, the great holy place, one attains merit equal to the place itself; at Brahmatīrtha, the reward is as great as that of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. At the confluence of the Sindhu and the ocean, and at Pañcanada, merit is inexhaustible; and at Maṇḍavā mountain, the soul is purified. Śrāddha should be offered at the seven lakes, especially at Mānasā, and also on the mountains Mahākūṭa, Vanda, Girau, Trirau, and Trikakuda. At twilight, on the great altar, a marvelous wonder can be seen: only those who are firm in their vows approach, while the faithless do not. There is a stone called Jātaveda, the very embodiment of the eternal fire; śrāddha and fire rituals performed there are always inexhaustible. By simply staying there each evening, one should always offer śrāddha to the ancestors, seeking imperishable merit. No matter one’s level of spiritual perfection, whoever is recognized there as a true man, that holy place is called the giver of the path to heaven, bestowing boons at once. It was there, having abandoned all enmities, that the Seven Sages ascended to heaven. Even today, the very places where they departed, freed from enmity, can be seen; whoever bathes at that supreme holy site attains heaven. There lies a renowned sanctuary, frequented by Nandi and the Siddhas; but the form of Nandīśvara is never seen by the wicked. Golden sacrificial posts are visible there, glowing at sunrise; after circumambulating them, the pure ascend to heaven, becoming invisible. All around is Kurukṣetra, a most holy region, especially sacred to the great yogin Sanatkumāra. It is said that by offering sesame there, the ancestors always receive inexhaustible merit. For strength, an imperishable śrāddha should be performed in the abode of Dharmarāja; a śrāddha offered on the new moon day, according to the proper procedure, is also so. Especially at Kurukṣetra, one should worship the ancestors who are present there; by doing so, a true son becomes free from the debt owed to his forebears. At the place where the Sarasvatī disappears, at Plakṣa Praśravaṇa, at Vyāsa Tīrtha on the Sarasvatī, and especially at Brahmakṣetra, one who desires imperishable śrāddha should offer it while reciting the sacred Oṃkāra, and also anywhere on the Gaṅgā and on the great mountain Maināka. At the source of the Yamunā, one is freed from all sins; the extremely hot and cold waters there bear witness to this. She, the virtuous sister of Yama and daughter of Mārttaṇḍa, makes śrāddha imperishable at her source, as the ancestors have praised. By bathing in the lake favored by Brahmā, one immediately becomes a brāhmaṇa; there, śrāddha, recitation, offerings, and austerities are endless. There, the great ascetic Vasiṣṭha became motionless as a pillar; even today, trees adorned with jewels are seen in that place. A balance is seen there, revealing righteousness and unrighteousness; when brāhmaṇas weigh upon it, the supreme fruit of the sacred places is known. The daughter of the ancestors, called Yogā and also Gandhakālī, is renowned; she is a fourth part of Brahmā, and the glory of the lineage of Parāśara. That wise and great sage will divide the one Veda into four; he, the great yogin and great soul, will beget Vyāsa. There is a lake called Acchodaka, where Acchodā rose up; she was reborn in the womb of a fish by the command of Vāraṇa. Where her holy hermitage is, frequented by the virtuous, a śrāddha offered even once there is declared imperishable; whatever is given there in yogic concentration arises at once. On the summit of Kubera, on the height of Vyāma, and at Vyāsa Tīrtha, a brāhmaṇa who gives śrāddha there attains endless, imperishable merit. These places are always frequented by perfected ones and are not seen by those of impure mind; at the altar in the northeast direction, at Nandā, there is no return. That field of the perfected ones is cherished; having reached it, one does not return. In the great abode, the wise Mahādeva established his own place. In the abode of the goddess, the Lord performed austerity standing on one foot, and the divine water—like mist—remains on the summit of Umā. On the summit of Umā, on the summit of Bhṛgu, on the summit of Brahmā, at the great abode, at Kādravatī, at Śāṇḍilya, and in the cave of Vāmana as well, these places are held as supremely sacred.