Listen to the sacred account of holy places and their immense merits. When a twice-born visits these sanctified sites, he is freed from sin, as if purified by the eternal fire itself. At Puṇḍarīka, the great holy place, one attains a reward equal to the very essence of Puṇḍarīka; while at Brahmatīrtha, the merit gained rivals that of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. At the confluence of the Sindhu and the ocean, and at Pañcanada, the merit acquired is inexhaustible. Then, upon reaching Maṇḍavā mountain, the soul is cleansed and purified. It is at the seven lakes—especially Mānasā—and on the mountains Mahākūṭa, Vanda, Girau, Trirau, and Trikakuda, that one should offer śrāddha for the ancestors. During twilight, on the great altar, a wondrous sight appears: those lacking faith do not approach, but those steadfast in their vows do. There exists a stone called Jātaveda, embodying the eternal fire; rituals and offerings made there are perpetually inexhaustible. By remaining there each evening and offering śrāddha for the ancestors, one acquires imperishable merit. Regardless of perfection, whoever is acknowledged there as a man finds this holy place to be a giver of the path to heaven, bestowing boons instantly. Here, the Seven Sages, having abandoned enmities, ascended to heaven. Even today, the places where they departed are visible; and whoever bathes at this supreme holy site attains heaven. A renowned sanctuary, frequented by Nandi and the Siddhas, exists where the form of Nandīśvara remains unseen by the wicked. Golden sacrificial posts shine at sunrise; after circumambulating them, the worthy ascend to heaven, becoming invisible. All around lies Kurukṣetra, most especially its holiest site, sacred to the great yogin Sanatkumāra. There, by offering sesame seeds, ancestors receive inexhaustible merit. For strength, one should perform imperishable śrāddha in the abode of Dharmarāja; a śrāddha done on the new moon day, following proper procedure, also bears such fruit. Especially at Kurukṣetra, one should honor the ancestors present there, for by doing so, a true son is freed from ancestral debt. At the place where the Sarasvatī disappears, at Plakṣa Praśravaṇa, at Vyāsa Tīrtha on the Sarasvatī, and especially at Brahmakṣetra, those desiring imperishable śrāddha should offer it while reciting the Oṃkāra, and likewise anywhere along the Gaṅgā or on the great mountain Maināka. At the source of the Yamunā, all sins are washed away; the extremely hot and cold waters there provide a sign of this purification. Yamunā is the virtuous sister of Yama and daughter of Mārttaṇḍa; śrāddha offered there is imperishable, as previously praised by the ancestors. Bathing in the lake favored by Brahmā transforms one instantly into a brāhmaṇa; there, śrāddha, recitation, offerings, and austerities are boundless. It was here that the great ascetic Vasiṣṭha became motionless as a pillar, and even today, trees adorned with jewels are seen. A balance is found there, revealing righteousness and unrighteousness; by weighing offerings, brāhmaṇas discern the supreme fruit of these sacred places. The daughter of the ancestors, known as Yogā and Gandhakālī, is renowned, being a fourth part of Brahmā and the glory of Parāśara’s lineage. That wise and great sage will divide one Veda into four; he, the great yogin and soul, will beget Vyāsa. There is a lake called Acchodaka, where Acchodā arose; she was reborn in the womb of a fish by Vāraṇa’s command. At her holy hermitage, frequented by the virtuous, a single śrāddha offered is declared imperishable, and whatever is given there in yogic concentration manifests immediately. On the summit of Kubera, the height of Vyāma, and at Vyāsa Tīrtha, a brāhmaṇa who gives śrāddha there attains endless, imperishable merit. These places are always frequented by the perfected ones, unseen by those with impure minds. There is no return from Nandā, at the altar in the northeast direction; that cherished field of the perfected ones ensures that whoever reaches it does not return. In the great abode, wise Mahādeva established his own place. In the abode of the goddess, the Lord performed austerity standing on one foot; the divine water, like mist, remains on the summit of Umā. On the summits of Umā, Bhṛgu, and Brahmā, at the great abode, at Kādravatī, at Śāṇḍilya, and in the cave of Vāmana, those who visit are purified, and any śrāddha performed there is truly imperishable. Recitation, offerings, meditation, or any meritorious act performed there bears great fruit. Those devoted to their teacher practice celibacy for a hundred years as a sacrifice; by bathing in these places, one immediately attains such excellent results. There, the stream called Kumāradhārā is seen, which destroys sin; and any seat or vehicle found there is immediately auspicious. The great sacred place of Kāśyapa is known as Kālasarpi; those desiring imperishable merit should always offer śrāddha there. Śrāddha performed all around Śālagrāma is truly imperishable; it is not seen by ordinary eyes, but is directly perceived by those whose selves are pure. There, the unworthy are shown their limits, while the worthy find residence. In that holy lake, the divine lord of serpents dwells, accepting offerings from the virtuous, but not from the wicked. Food cannot be eaten there due to the extremely blazing serpents. Righteousness is directly witnessed at these two sacred places, and in the Devadāru forest as well, serving as an example to be followed. Sins are shaken off and seen to depart from the virtuous; at Bhāgīrathī and Prayāga, imperishability is always declared.