ood to the gods, said, 'O great Rishi, O
virtuous one, why dost thou dance? O bull among Munis, what can be the
reason of this thy present joy?' The Rishi answered, 'O best of
Brahmanas, I am an ascetic that tread the path of virtue. Dost thou not
behold, O Brahmana, that vegetable juice floweth from the wound in my
hand? Filled with great joy at sight of this, I am dancing.' Addressing
the Rishi blinded by emotion, the god laughingly said, 'O Brahmana, I do
not wonder at this. Behold me.' Having said this, O best of men,
Mahadeva, O sinless king, pressed his thumb by the tip of his own
finger. And, lo, from the wound thus inflicted, there came out ashes
white as snow. And beholding this, O king, that Muni became ashamed and
fell at the feet of the god. And believing that there was nothing better
and greater than the god Rudra, he began to adore him in these words: 'O
holder of the trident, thou art the refuge of the celestials and the
Asuras, of, indeed, the universe. By thee have been created the three
worlds with their mobile and immobile beings. It is thou again that
swallowest everything at the end of the Yuga. Thou art incapable of
being known by the gods themselves, far less by me. O sinless one, the
gods with Brahma at their head are all displayed in thee. Thou art all,
the Creator himself and the Ordainer of the worlds. It is by thy grace
that all the gods sport without anxiety or fear.' And adoring Mahadeva
thus the Rishi also said, 'O god of gods, grant me thy grace, so that my
asceticism may not diminish.' Then that god of cheerful soul answered
the regenerate Rishi,--saying, 'Let thy asceticism, O Brahmana, increase
a thousandfold through my grace. And, O great Muni, I shall dwell with
thee in this thy asylum. Bathing in _Saptasaraswata_, they that will
worship me, shall be able to attain everything here and hereafter. And,
without doubt, they shall all attain to the _Saraswata_ region in the
end.' Having said this, Mahadeva disappeared then and there. After
visiting _Saraswata_, one should proceed to _Ausanasa_ celebrated over
the three worlds. There, O Bharata, the gods with Brahma at their head,
and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, and the illustrious
Kartikeya, were ever present during two twilights and the mid-day,
impelled by the desire of doing good to Bhargava. There in that _tirtha_
is another called _Kapalamochana_, which cleanseth from every sin. O
tiger among men, bathing there one is clea