1G6 Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodliy a- Mahatmya. [Xo. 2, 



which a man gains his desires. The pilgrimage to it is performed on every 

 Sunday. By giving alms at this spot, one is cured of the sickness called 

 pandu (jaundice). West of it is Bharata-kunda, a beautiful pond 

 filled with lotuses, waterlilies and other flowers." 



Chapter XXIV. 



Mahadeva said, "0 Goddess, by bathing in the Bharata-kunda a man 

 is freed from all his sins. The advantages of bathing and giving alms here 

 are everlasting. A man should give grain to the poor at this place, and 

 give money and clothes to a Brahman and his wife. North of it lies X a n- 

 digrama, where Bharata lived. He was passionless, obedient to Baiua- 

 chandra, and protected his subjects. By visiting it, a man gains the benefits 

 of living at Kas'i for a thousand manvantaras, bathing at Prayaga for twelve 

 successing years in Makara, performing a s'raddha at Gaya, and visiting 

 Jagannatha. The pond is adorned with beautiful flowers and trees which 

 cast their shadow upon it. Performing the s'raddha at this spot, pleases 

 the deceased ancestors and the gods. The fruits of giving here gold, grain, 

 clothes, cows, and lands, are everlasting. 



" To the west of the tank is K a 1 k a, whose worship grants all desires. 

 West of it is J u t a - k u n d a, where Bamachandra and others were shaved 

 on their return from conquest. By bathing here, a person obtains all his 

 wishes. A man at Bharata-kunda should worship Bharata with his wife ; 

 and at Juta-kunda, Bamachandra, Lakshmana, and Janaki. The pilgrimage 

 to both these kun das is performed on the fourteenth of the dark half of 

 Chaitra. 



" To the west of Juta kund is A j i t a V i s h n u. He who lives on water 

 or milk, worships Ajita Vishnu, sings and dances here, gains all his desires. 



" To the east of it is S a t r u g h n a - k u n d. The pilgrimage to it is 

 performed on the eleventh of the dark half of Chaitra. 



" North of Satrughna-kund and south of Bharata-kund is G a y a - k u p, 

 the bestower of all desires. The deceased ancestors of a man who bathes 

 here and gives alms, are released from hell and go to the regions of Vishnu. 

 The performing of a s'raddha with parched grain, sweetmeat made of flour, 

 (jlii and sugar, pancake, rice milk, oil, and molasses, which ever of these the 

 pilgrim may be able to afford, satisfies the Pitris ; it is therefore necessary 

 for a man to do so, because thereby he obtains many sons, riches, and other 

 blessings. The s'raddha should particularly be performed on the 15th day 

 of a month, if it be a Monday. 



" East of it is the sacred place Pis'achamoehan, by bathing in 

 which and giving alms there, a man is never affected by the power of 

 ghosts ; s'raddhas should also be performed here. The pilgrimage is per- 

 formed on the fourteenth of the light half of Agraluiyana. 



