32 - Review of the Greatness of Five Tirthas 

Brahmä said: 

1. Sages know these five holy centres as very holy, viz. Såvitri, Gayatrī, Sraddha (Faith), Medha (Intellect) and Sarasvati. 

2-4. By taking bath there and drinking water therein one is released from all sins. Sāvitrī, Gayatri, Sraddha, Medha and Sarasvati—these were my eldest daughters. (Then)I created the most beautiful woman in the world, the most excellent among all. 

On seeing her, O excellent sage, my mind became deranged. I was desirous of seizing her and on seeing what I was going to do that lady fled. 

5. That maiden assumed the form of a hind and I became a stag then. In order to save virtue, Sambhu became a hunter of the stag. 

6. Those five daughters of mine (also) became afraid of me and went to Gangā, the great river. Thereupon Maheśvara went ahead for the sake of saving virtue. 

7. Then Hara, the hunter of stag, took up his bow and arrows. Isha said to me, "I will kill you." 

8-11. I desisted from that (evil) action and gave the maiden to the Sun. The five daughters beginning with Savitri assumed the forms of rivers and flowed together. Again they came near me to the heavenly world. The place where these rivers joined the divine river Gangă came to be called Pañchatirtha. All confluences are holy. Sarasvati (is the most important of) these five rivers. Holy dip, distribution of charitable gifts, whatever a man does in those rivers yields all cherished things. It yields salvation through Naiskarmya (cessation of activities). The holy centre of Mrugavyadha is also there. It bestows all objects on men. It has the benefit of heaven and salvation. It yields the benefit of Brahmatirtha.