anga is purified; while he that beholdeth
her, receiveth prosperity; while he that bathes in her and drinks of her
waters sanctifieth seven generations of his race up and down. As long, O
king, as one's bones lie in contact with the waters of the Ganga, so
long doth he live regarded in heaven, even as one liveth in heaven in
consequence of the merit he earneth by pious pilgrimages to sacred
_tirthas_ and holy spots. There is no _tirtha_ that is like unto the
Ganga, there is no god like unto Kesava, and there is none superior to
Brahmanas,--this hath been said even by the Grandsire. O great king, the
region through which the Ganga flows should be regarded as a sacred
asylum, and a spot of land that is on the Ganga's banks, should be
regarded as one favourable to the attainment of ascetic success.

"'"This truthful description (of the _tirthas_) one should recite only
unto the regenerate ones, unto those that are pious, unto one's son and
friends and disciples and dependents. This narrative, without a rival,
is blessed and holy and leadeth to heaven. Holy and entertaining and
sanctifying, it is productive of merit and high worth. Destructive of
every sin, it is a mystery that the great Rishis cherish with care. By
reciting it in the midst of Brahmanas, one is cleansed of every sin, and
ascends to heaven. This description of _tirthas_ is auspicious and
heaven-giving and sacred; ever blessed as it is, it destroys one's
enemies; foremost of all accounts, it sharpens the intellect. By reading
this narrative the sonless obtains sons, the destitute obtains riches, a
person of the royal order conquereth the whole earth, the Vaisya cometh
by wealth, the Sudra obtaineth all his desires, and the Brahmana
crosseth the ocean (of the world). Purifying himself, he that listens
daily to the merits of the different _tirthas_, recollects the incidents
of many previous births and rejoices in heaven. Of the _tirthas_ that
have been recited here, some are easily accessible, while others are
difficult of access. But he that is inspired with the desire of
beholding all _tirthas_, should visit them even in imagination. Desirous
of obtaining merit, the Vasus, and the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Maruts,
the Aswins, and the Rishis equal unto celestials, all bathed in these
_tirthas_. Do thou also, O thou of the Kuru race, observing the
ordinance as explained by me, visit, with subdued senses, these
_tirthas_, increasing thy merit, O thou of excellent