od in the regions of the
firmament; _Kurukshetra_, however, is productive of good in respect of
all the three worlds. Even the dust of Kurukshetra, carried by the wind,
leadeth sinful men to a highly blessed state. They that reside in
Kurukshetra, which lieth to the north of the Drishadwati and the south
of the Saraswati, really reside in heaven. '_I will go to Kurukshetra,'
'I will dwell in Kurukshetra_,' he that uttereth those words even once,
becometh cleansed of all sins. The sacred _Kurukshetra_ which is
worshipped by Brahmarshis, is regarded as the sacrificial altar of the
celestials. Those mortals that dwell there, have nothing to grieve for
at any time. That which lieth between Tarantuka and Arantuka and the
lakes of Rama and Machakruka is Kurukshetra. It is also called
_Samantapanchaka_ and is said to be the northern sacrificial altar of
the Grandsire."'"

SECTION LXXXIV

"'Pulastya said, "Then, O great king, one should proceed to the
excellent _tirtha_ of _Dharma_, where the illustrious god of justice had
practised highly meritorious austerities. And it is for this that he
made the spot a sacred _tirtha_ and rendered it celebrated by his own
name. Bathing there, O king, a virtuous man with concentrated soul
certainly sanctifieth his family to the seventh generation. One should
then repair, O king, to the excellent _Jnanapavana_. Sojourning thither,
one obtaineth the merit of the _Agnishtoma_ sacrifice, and goeth to the
region of the Munis. Then, O monarch, a man should repair to the
_Saugandhika-vana_. There dwell the celestials with Brahma at their
head, Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, the Siddhas, the
Charanas, the Gandharvas, the Kinnaras and the serpents. As soon as one
entereth these woods, he is cleansed of all his sins. Then, O king,
should one repair to the sacred goddess Saraswati, known there as the
goddess Plaksha, that best of streams and foremost of rivers. There
should one bathe in the water issuing from an ant-hill. (Bathing there
and) worshipping the Pitris and the gods, one obtaineth the merit of the
horse-sacrifice. There existeth a rare _tirtha_ called _Isanadhyushita_,
lying from the ant-hill at the distance of six throws of a heavy stick.
As seen in the Puranas, O tiger among men, bathing there a man obtaineth
the merit of giving away a thousand Kapila kine and of the
horse-sacrifice. Journeying next, O foremost of men, to _Sugandha_, and
_Satakumbha_ and _Pancha-yaksha_, a ma