158 Earn Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhya-Mahutmya. [No. 2, 



apologies, which the Muni did not accept ; he was therefore compelled to enter, 

 and to communicate to Raghunatha the Muni's request. Raghunatha took 

 leave of Kala, came to the door, paid his respects to the Muni, and having 

 given him food, dismissed him. Raghunatha became anxious and said, ' I have 

 never told a lie, it is improper to break a promise. Lakshmazia, it is now 

 necessary for us to separate for some time and you must disappear. Laksh- 

 man a obeying his order, went to the Sarayu, and intended to throw himself 

 into it, when S'esha burst the earth in a thousand places, and made his ap- 

 pearance, by virtue of which the spot was called Sahashra-dhara. Indra also 

 came with the gods and said to Lakshmana, ' You have performed the affairs 

 of the deities, please come to my regions, S'esha is waiting for you. Laksh- 

 man a then entered the river. This sacred place is fifty yards in extent. By 

 bathing and giving alms here, the people will go to the regions of Vishnu. 

 He who will bathe and worship S'esha at this spot, will be free from sins, and 

 obtain all his wishes. There is no doubt about it. Its pilgrimage is per- 

 formed on the fifth of the light half of S'ravana. The fear of serpents is 

 removed by the worship of S*esha on that day. By bathing here during 

 the whole month of Vaisakha, a man remains krors of kalpas in the regions 

 of the gods. To go to, and reside in, the place of Vishnu, one should give 

 a milch cow, clothes, and ornaments to a fit person. To please Lakshmi 

 Narayana, and to obtain riches, men should' worship Brahmans and their 

 wives in Vaisakha, because all other sacred spots come and remain here du- 

 ring that month." 



Mahadeva continued, "0 Goddess, Indra having sent S'esha to Patala 

 (the lower regions) and accompanied by the gods, took Lakshmana to his 

 realms. From that time, this kuncl has been called Lakshmana kuncL It 

 has a thousand streams." 



Chapter XVIII. 



Having heard the advantages of Lakshmana-kund, Parvati was delight-* 

 ed and requested Mahadeva to describe other sacred places. Mahadeva re- 

 plied, " Goddess, south of Vidya-kund is V a i t a r a n i (the destroyer of 

 sins) by bathing in which one does not go to Yama-loka. Its pilgrimage 

 takes place on the full moon day of Bhadra. 



South of Vaitarani is G h o s h a r k a, the destroyer of sins. By bathing 

 and giving alms here one is sure to. go to the regions of the sun. Bathing 

 at this spot cures leprosy and other diseases. Its pilgrimage is performed 

 every Sunday, on the sixth day of the light half of Bhadra and Magh, 

 on the sixth of the light half of Bhadra, if there be a Sunday on that day, 

 and on every Sunday in Pausa. The origin of Ghosharka is this : There 

 was a king named Ghosha, of the solar race, who was very powerful, 

 who protected his subjects, and whose renown had spread far and wide. 



