In the sacred tradition, there exists a wondrous balance, a mystical scale by which righteousness and unrighteousness are revealed. When the brāhmaṇas weigh actions upon this balance, they discern the supreme fruits that arise from pilgrimage to holy places. Among the tales of these sacred realms is the story of Yogā, the illustrious daughter of the ancestors, also renowned as Gandhakālī. She is celebrated as a fourth part of Brahmā himself and shines as the glory of the lineage of Parāśara. In time, a wise and great sage from this line will divide the one Veda into four, becoming a great yogin and a soul of immense stature—he will beget Vyāsa, the arranger of the Vedas. There is also the hallowed lake called Acchodaka, where the pure Acchodā arose. By the decree of Vāraṇa, she was reborn in the womb of a fish. Where her hermitage stands, constantly visited by the virtuous, even a single śrāddha offering is declared imperishable, and whatever is given there with yogic focus instantly bears fruit. Other sacred summits are celebrated: on the peak of Kubera, on the height of Vyāma, and at the holy Vyāsa Tīrtha, a brāhmaṇa who offers śrāddha attains endless, imperishable merit. These places are frequented by the perfected ones—beings of pure mind and accomplishment—yet remain hidden from those whose minds are impure. Especially at Nandā, at the altar in the northeast, there is no return for those who reach it. This cherished field of the perfected is a place from which one does not return; in that great abode, wise Mahādeva himself established his own seat. In the dwelling of the goddess, the Lord performed severe austerities, standing on one foot, and the divine waters, like a veil of mist, remain atop Umā. On the summit of Umā, as well as on the heights of Bhṛgu and Brahmā, at the great abode, at Kādravatī, at Śāṇḍilya, and in the cave of Vāmana—these are places where, by merely arriving, one is purified. Any śrāddha performed there is truly imperishable, and likewise, any recitation, offering, meditation, or meritorious act yields abundant fruit. Those devoted to their teacher, practicing celibacy for a hundred years, are said to perform a great sacrifice; yet by bathing in these sacred places, one attains such excellent results immediately. There, the river Kumāradhārā, famed for destroying sin, flows, and whatever seat or vehicle is found there becomes instantly auspicious. The great tīrtha of Kāśyapa, known as Kālasarpi, is another such place where those desiring imperishable merit should always offer śrāddha. Indeed, śrāddha performed around Śālagrāma is imperishable; it is not seen by ordinary eyes but is revealed directly to the pure of heart. There, the unworthy are shown their limits, while the worthy find a true abode; in that holy lake, the divine lord of serpents dwells, accepting offerings only from the virtuous, never from the wicked. Because of the fierce, blazing serpents, food cannot be eaten there. At these two sacred places, righteousness is directly seen. In the Devadāru forest as well, this truth is manifest and serves as an example for all. Sins are shaken off and seen to depart from the virtuous at Bhāgīrathī and Prayāga, where imperishability is always proclaimed. At Kālañjara, Daśārṇā, Naimiṣa, Kurujāṅgala, and in the city of Vārāṇasī, śrāddha should be offered with care. The lord of yoga is ever present in these holy places, and whatever is offered there is imperishable. By giving at these sites, one is purified, and the śrāddha becomes infinite in merit. Austerity, offerings, meditation, or any meritorious act performed at Lauhitya, Vaitaraṇī, or Svarṇavedī also bear great fruit. Even once, at the edge of the ocean, meritorious deeds are seen; at Gayā, Dharmapṛṣṭha, and the lake of Brahmā, the same holds true. At Gayā and Gṛdhrakūṭa, śrāddha yields great fruit, and snow falls all around for five yojanas. In the holy hermitage of Bharata, the forest is remembered as most sacred, for there the physical footprint of Mataṅga is seen. There, the entirety of righteousness is proclaimed as an example for the world. Thus, the five sacred forests, frequented by the virtuous, are renowned, and among them, the holy place called Pāṇḍuviśāla stands out. By means of balances, bows, and various scriptures, those who have committed sins are raised up at the proper time. In the third quarter, at the place called Pavamaṇḍala, which is without a presiding deity, a śrāddha offered at the great lake Kauśikī yields immense merit. On Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, the wise Mahādeva placed his foot, having performed severe and difficult austerities for countless divine ages. Even in a short time here, a person devoted to righteousness quickly sheds sin, just as a serpent casts off its old skin. This place is guarded day and night by mighty serpents with great hoods, licking about—delighting the perfected and terrifying the sinful. To the north of Muṇḍapṛṣṭha lies Kanakanandī, a holy place famed in the three worlds and attended by hosts of divine sages. There, after bathing, birds of free movement ascend to heaven, and a śrāddha offered is declared imperishable. After bathing, a noble man is freed from the three debts owed to gods, sages, and ancestors. On the bank of that lake stands a great temple of the god; ascending there and reciting prayers, the accomplished one attains heaven from that very spot. By going to the northern Mānasa, one attains supreme accomplishment. There, upon arrival, the foremost of cities—a great wonder—is revealed. In that wondrous place, one should perform śrāddha according to one's means and strength, gaining both divine desires and the constant path to liberation. At the excellent lake Mānasa, another marvel is witnessed: those of great fortune who have fallen from heaven are seen shining in the sky. There, the goddess Gaṅgā, the threefold river, is beheld—having descended to earth from the foot of Soma, she appears in the sky as a radiant gateway, resplendent as the sun. This divine gateway, made of Jāmbūnada gold and vast like the entrance to heaven, is the source from which the river flows forth again, journeying to the eastern and the final ocean.