off succeed in attaining to heaven when they
leave this world. In consequence of their association with persons that
are righteous, through the especial efficacy of the earth itself of those
spots and of particular waters, there are certain portions of the earth
that have come to be regarded as sacred. The Tirthas of the mind are
separate and distinct from those of the earth. That person who bathes in
both attains to success without any delay. As strength without exertion,
or exertion without strength can never accomplish anything singly, and
as these, when combined, can accomplish all things, even so one that
becomes endued with the purity that is contributed by the Tirthas in the
body as also by that which is contributed by the Tirthas on the earth,
becomes truly pure and attains to success. That purity which is derived
from both sources is the best."'"

SECTION CIX

"'Yudhishthira said, "It behoveth thee, O grandsire, to tell me what are
the highest, the most beneficial, and the most certain fruit of all kinds
of fasts in this world."

"'Bhishma said, "Listen, O king, to what was sung by the Self-born himself
and by accomplishing which a person, without doubt, attains to the
highest happiness. That man who fasts on the twelfth day of the moon in
the month called Margasirsha and worships Krishna as Kesava for the whole
day and night, attains to the merit of the Horse-sacrifice and becomes
cleansed of all his sins. He who, after the same manner, fasts on the
twelfth day of the moon in the month of Pausha and worships Krishna as
Narayana, for the whole day and night, attains to the merits of the
Vajapeya sacrifice and the highest success. He who fasts on the twelfth
day of the moon in the month of Magha and worships Krishna as Madhava,
for the whole day and night, attains to the merits of the Rajasuya
sacrifice, and rescues his own race (from misery).[504] He who fasts on
the twelfth day of the moon in the month of Phalguna and worships Krishna
as Govinda, for the whole day and night, attains to the merit of the
Atiratra sacrifice and goes to the region of Soma. He who fasts on the
twelfth day of the moon in the month of Chaitra and worships Krishna as
Vishnu, for the whole day and night, attains to the merit of the
Pundarika sacrifice and proceeds to the region of the deities. By
observing a similar fast on the twelfth day of the month of Vaisakha and
worshipping Krishna as the slayer of Madhu for the whole day a