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who performs three ablutions in course of the day for purifying himself and saying his prayers and doing his worship, and who
leads a life of Brahmacharya, divested of malice in his conduct, acquires the merit of the Gomedha sacrifice. He acquires an
excellent car adorned with pure gold, possessed of the effulgence of a blazing fire and drawn by swans and peacocks. He sleeps
on the lap of Apsaras and is awakened every morning by the melodious tinkle of Nupuras and Kanchis. He leads such a life of
happiness for ten thousand million years and three thousand million besides and eight and ten Padmas and two Patakas.[493]
Such a man resides also, honoured by all, in the region of Brahma for as many years as there are hairs on the bodies of
hundreds of bears. Fasting for six days, he who eats only one meal every seventh day and pours libations on the sacred fire
every day, for a full year, restraining speech all the while and observing the vow of Brahmacharya, and abstaining from the use
of flowers and unguents and honey and meat, attains to the region of the Maruts and of India. Crowned with the fruition of
every desire as it springs up in the mind, he is waited upon and adored by celestial damsels. He acquires the merits of a
sacrifice in which abundance of gold is given away. Proceeding to the regions named, he lives there for countless years in the
greatest happiness[494]. He who shows forgiveness to all and fasting for seven days eats on every eighth day for a whole year,
and, pouring libations every day on the sacred fire, adores the deities regularly, acquires the high merits of the Paundarika
sacrifice. The car he rides is of a colour like that of the lotus. Without doubt, such a man acquires also a large number of
damsels, possessed of youth and beauty, some having complexions that are dark, some with complexions like that of gold, and
some that are Syamas, whose looks and attitudes are of the most agreeable kind. He who fasts for eight days and takes only one
meal on every ninth day for a whole year, and pours libations on the sacred fire every day, acquires the high merits of a
thousand Horse-sacrifices. The car he rides in Heaven is as beautiful as a lotus. He always makes his journeys on that car,
accompanied by the daughters of Rudra adorned with celestial garlands and endued with the effulgence of the midday sun or
the fires of blazing flames. Attaining to the regions of Rudra, he lives there in great happiness for countless years. He who fasts
for nine days and takes only one meal every tenth day for a whole year, and pours libations on his sacred fire every day,
acquires the high merit of a thousand Horse-sacrifices, and attains to the companionship of Brahmanas' daughters endued with
beauty capable of charming the hearts of all creatures. These damsels, possessed of such beauty, and some of them possessed
of complexion like that of the lotus and some like that of the same flower of the blue variety, always keep him in joy[495]. He
acquires a beautiful vehicle, that moves in beautiful circles and that looks like the dense cloud called Avarta, verily, it may be
said to resemble also an ocean-wave. That vehicle resounds with the constant tinkle of rows of pearls and gems, and the
melodious blare of conchs, and is adorned with columns made of crystals and diamonds, as also with an altar constructed of the
same minerals. He makes his journeys on such a car, drawn by swans and cranes and lives for millions and millions of years in
great happiness in heaven. He who fasts for ten days and eats only ghee on every eleventh day for a whole year and pours
libations on his sacred fire every day, who never, in word or thought, covets the companionship of other people's wives and
who never utters an untruth even for the sake of his mother and father, succeeds in beholding Mahadeva of great puissance
seated on his car. Such a person acquires the high merit of a thousand Horse-sacrifices. He beholds the car of the Self-born
Brahman himself approach for taking him on it. He rides in it, accompanied by celestial damsels possessed of great beauty, and
complexion as effulgent as that of pure gold. Endued with the blazing splendour of the Yoga-fire, he lives for countless years
in a celestial mansion in heaven, full of every happiness. For those countless years he experiences the joy of bending his head
in reverence unto Rudra adored by deities and Danavas. Such a person obtains every day the sight of the great deity. That man
who having fasted for eleven days eats only a little ghee on the twelfth, and observes this conduct for a whole year, succeeds in
obtaining the merits attaching to all the sacrifices. The car he rides in is possessed of the effulgence of a dozen suns. Adorned
with gems and pearls and corals of great value, embellished with rows of swans and snakes and of peacocks and Chakravakas
uttering their melodious notes, and beautified with large domes, is the residence to which he attains in the region of Brahman.
That abode, O king, is always filled with men and women (who wait upon him for service). Even this is what the highly
blessed Rishi Angiras, conversant with every duty, said (regarding the fruits of such a fast). That man who having fasted for
twelve days eats a little ghee on the thirteenth, and bears himself in this way for a whole year, succeeds in attaining to the
merits of the divine sacrifice. Such a man obtains a car of the complexion of the newly-blown lotus, adorned with pure gold
and heaps of jewels and gems. He proceeds to the region of the Maruts that teem with celestial damsels, that are adorned with
every kind of celestial ornament, that are redolent with celestial perfumes, and that contain every element of felicity. The
number of years he resides in those happy regions is countless[496]. Soothed with the sound of music and the melodious voice
of Gandharvas and the sounds and blare of drums and Panavas, he is constantly gladdened by celestial damsels of great beauty.
That man who having fasted for thirteen days eats a little ghee on the fourteenth day, and bears himself in this way for a full
year, obtains the merits of the Mahamedha sacrifice.[497] Celestial damsels of indescribable beauty, and whose age cannot be
guessed for they are for ever young in appearance, adorned with every ornament and with armlets of blazing effulgence, wait
upon him with many cars and follow him in his journeys. He is waked every morning from his bed by the melodious voice of
swans, the tinkle of Nupuras, and the highly agreeable jingle of Kanchis. Verily, he resides in a superior abode, waited upon by
such celestial damsels, for years as countless as the sands on the shores of Ganga. That man who, keeping his senses under
control, fasts for a fortnight and takes only one meal on the sixteenth day, and bears himself in this way for a whole year,
pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, acquires the high merits that attach to a thousand Rajasuya sacrifices. The car he
rides in is possessed of great beauty and is drawn by swans and peacocks. Riding in such a vehicle, that is, besides, adorned
with garlands of pearls and the purest gold and graced with bevies of celestial damsels decked with ornaments of every kind,
having one column and four arches and seven altars exceedingly auspicious, endued with thousands of banners and echoing
with the sound of music, celestial and of celestial attributes, embellished with gems and pearls and corals, and possessed of the
effulgence of lightning, such a man lives in heaven for a thousand Yugas, having elephants and rhinoceroses for dragging that
vehicle of his. That man who having fasted for fifteen days takes one meal on the sixteenth day and bears himself in this way
for one whole year, acquires the merits attaching to the Soma sacrifice. Proceeding to Heaven he lives in the company of
Soma's daughters. His body fragrant with unguents whose perfumes are as sweet as those of Soma himself, he acquires the
power of transporting himself immediately to any place he likes. Seated on his car he is waited upon by damsels of the most
beautiful features and agreeable manners, and commands all articles of enjoyment. The period for which he enjoys such
happiness consists of countless years.[498] That man who having fasted for sixteen days eats a little ghee on the seventeenth
day and bears himself in this way for a whole year, pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, proceeds to the regions of
Varuna and Indra, and Rudra and the Maruts and Usanas and Brahman himself. There he is waited upon by celestial damsels
and obtains a sight of the celestial Rishi called Bhurbhuva and grasps the whole universe in his ken. The daughters of the deity
of the deities gladden him there. Those damsels, of agreeable manners and adorned with every ornament, are capable of
assuming two and thirty forms. As long as the Sun and the Moon move in firmament, so long does that man of wisdom reside
in those regions of felicity, subsisting upon the succulence of ambrosia and nectar. That man who having fasted for seventeen
days eats only one meal on the eighteenth day, and bears himself in this way for a whole year, succeeds in grasping the seven
regions, of which the universe consist, in his ken. While performing his journeys on his car he is always followed by a large
train of cars producing the most agreeable rattle and ridden by celestial damsels blazing with ornament and beauty. Enjoying
the greatest happiness, the vehicle he rides in is celestial and endued with the greatest beauty. It is drawn by lions and tigers,
and produces a rattle as deep as the sound of the clouds. He lives in such felicity for a thousand Kalpas subsisting upon the
succulence of ambrosia that is as sweet as nectar itself. That man who having fasted for eighteen days eats only one meal on
the nineteenth day and bears himself in this way for a full year, succeeds in grasping within his ken all the seven regions of
which the universe consists. The region to which he attains is inhabited by diverse tribes, of Apsaras and resounds with the
melodious voice of Gandharvas. The car he rides in is possessed of the effulgence of the sun. His heart being freed from every
anxiety, he is waited upon by the foremost of celestial damsels. Decked with celestial garlands, and possessed of beauty of
form, he lives in such happiness for millions and millions of years. That man who having fasted for nineteen days eats only one
meal on every twentieth day and bears himself in this way for a full year, adhering all the while to truthfulness of speech and to
the observance of other (excellent) rituals, abstaining also from meat, leading the life of a Brahmacharin, and devoted to the
good of all creatures, attains to the extensive legions, of great happiness, belonging to the Adityas. While performing his
journeys on his own car, he is followed by a large train of cars ridden by Gandharvas and Apsaras decked with celestial
garlands and unguents. That man who having fasted for twenty days takes a single meal on the twenty-first day and bears
himself in this way for a full year, pouring libations every day on his sacred fire, attains to the regions of Usanas and Sakra, of
the Aswins and the Maruts, and resides there in uninterrupted happiness of great measure. Unacquainted with sorrow of every
kind, he rides in the foremost of cars for making his journeys, and waited upon by the foremost of celestials, damsels, and
possessed of puissance, he sports in joy like a celestial himself. That man who having fasted for one and twenty days takes a
single meal on the twenty-second day and bears himself in this way for a full year, pouring libations on his sacred fire every
day, abstaining from injuring any creature, adhering to truthfulness of speech, and freed from malice attains to the regions of
the Vasus and becomes endued with effulgence of the sun. Possessed of the power of going everywhere at will, subsisting upon
nectar, and riding in the foremost of cars, his person decked with celestial ornaments, he sports in joy in the company of
celestial damsels. That man who having fasted for two and twenty days takes a single meal on the twenty-third day and bears
himself in this way for a full year, thus regulating his diet and keeping his senses under control, attains to the regions of the
deity of Wind, of Usanas, and of Rudra. Capable of going every where at will and always roving at will, he is worshipped by