1875.] Earn Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhyd-MdMtmjja. 117 



said this, Yama riding- on a buffalo, and accompanied by Bhut, Parvati 

 Pisacha [evil spirits] and Ganas, went quickly to Ayodhya. Meeting Vis'va- 

 karma near the city, he asked him, * Where do you come from at this 

 time on the day of Navami ?' Vis'vakarma replied, ' I come from 

 Ayodhya after bathing at Sargadvar and visiting the Birthplace, and have 

 been ordered by Brahma to repair to Sakait with the gods, and build houses 

 there for the pilgrims of Navami.' Hearing this, Yama advanced, relating 

 the advantages of Ayodhya to his servants. He first arrived at the Tons, 

 and prayed to it with folded hands. Thence he went to the Guptar-Ghat, 

 and sat down on the bank of the Sarayu, praising Ayodhya." 



Chapter X. 



" Yama, having praised Ayodhya as described above, solicited pardon for 

 his sins. Ayodhya then appeared, to please him. Yama bowed to her, 

 upon which Ayodhya said, " You are very wise, I am much pleased with 

 you, ask for a boon, and let me know the object of your coming here." 

 Then Yama replied : " If you are pleased with me, tell me the way by 

 which the sins that stand under the Pipal tree outside the city, may be 

 destroyed, and secondly, forgive the faults of our messengers." Ayodhya 

 said, " Remain on the bank of the Sarayu, which shall be known by the 

 name of Yamasthala. It is called' Jama-thura by the people. Those who 

 bathe here on the second day of the lunar half of Kartika, shall be free from 

 your fear. Let the sins that stand under the Pipal tree be destroyed 

 by my order." Having thus spoken, Ayodhya disappeared. Yama then 

 remained at the bank of the Sarayu, and Chitra-Gupta, and the messengers of 

 Yama were greatly ashamed, and the sins were destroyed in a moment. 

 Yama, having built his house there, went to his place, relating the benefits 

 of Ayodhya to his messengers." 



Then Mahadeva said to the goddess, " I have told you the advantages 

 of Ayodhya, the Sarayu, the Birthplace, and the day of the Navami. He 

 who hears them, or relates them to others, obtains salvation in the end after 

 having enjoyed all pleasures. What Agastya Muni said to Sutikshna 

 Muni I have related to you. This religious story removes the sins of one 

 who is ignorant, the enemy of the Brahmans, the spiritual guide of the 

 Vedas, and of the Gods, provided he tell, read, and hear it in faith." 



Then Parvati said, " I shall now be glad to hear the advantages of the 

 Kitchen of Janak i." Mahadeva answered, " Goddess, listen to its 

 sin-destroying story. Her kitchen is always filled with articles of food ; it* 

 mere sight accomplishes our wants. Its pilgrimage is performed at all 

 times : no one can fully describe its benefits, but I will do so in a brief manner. 

 The house of one who daily visits it, remains filled with victuals. On seeing 

 it, Parasurama was released from the crime of destroying the Kshatriyas. A 

 s 



