Even thus those receptacles of
water, O king, were formed in Naimisha. There, at Kurukshetra, O foremost
of Kuru's care, do thou perform grand sacrifices and rites! As he beheld
those many receptacles of water and seeing that foremost of rivers turn
her course, wonder filled the heart of the high-souled Rama. Bathing in
those tirthas duly and giving away wealth and diverse articles of
enjoyment unto the Brahmanas, that delighter of Yadu's race also gave
away diverse kinds of food and diverse desirable articles unto them.
Worshipped by those regenerate ones, Vala, O king, then set out from that
foremost of all tirthas on the Sarasvati (Sapta-Saraswat). Numerous
feathery creatures have their home there. And it abounded with Vadari,
Inguda, Ksamarya, Plaksha, Aswattha, Vibhitaka, Kakkola, Palasa, Karira,
Pilu, and diverse other kinds of trees that grow on the banks of the
Sarasvati. And it was adorned with forest of Karushakas, Vilwas, and
Amratakas, and Atimuktas and Kashandas and Parijatas. Agreeable to the
sight and most charming, it abounded with forests of plantains. And it
was resorted to by diverse tribes of ascetics, some living on air, some
on water, some on fruit, some on leaves, some on raw grain which they
husked with the aid only of stones, and some that were called Vaneyas.
And it resounded with the chanting of the Vedas, and teemed with diverse
kinds of animals. And it was the favourite abode of men without malice
and devoted to righteousness.
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