The Rishis said "O Rama, this Samantapanchaka the eternal northern alter of Brahman the Lord of all crcatures. There the celestials, the givers of great boons, performed in days of yore a great sacrifice.

That foremost of royal sages, viz., the great, intelligent and energetic Kuru, had cultivated this field for many years. Hence it came to be called Kurukshetra (the field of Kuru)!"

Rama said “Why did the great Kuru cultivated this field? I desire to have this described by you, you Rishis of great penances."

The Rishis said “Formerly, O Rama, Kuru was engaged in perseveringly cultivating this field. Coming down from heaven Shakra asked him the reason, saying-Why, O king, art art thou assiduously employed (in this task). What is your object, O royal sage, for the accomplishment of which you are tilling the soil? Thereupon Kuru replied, saying-'O performer of a hundred sacrifices, they that will die upon this plain shall proceed to regions of blessedness after being freed of their sins!'Ridiculing this, the lord Shakra, returned to heaven. Without being at all depressed, the royal sage Kuru, however, continued to till the soil.

Shakra repeatedly come to him and repeatedly receiving the same reply went away and ridiculed him. Kuru, however, was not at all depressed.

Seeing the king till the soil with great perseverance, Shakra summoned the celestials and informed them of the king's work.

Hearing Indra's words, the celestials said to their chief having thousand eyes-'Stop the royal sage, O Shakra, by granting him a boon, if you can.

If only by dying there men were to come to heaven, without having performed sacrifices to us, our very existence will be imperilled'Thus spoken to, Shakra returned to that royal saint and. said-Do not work any more! Act according to my words!

Those men that will die here, having fasted with all their senses awake, and those that will die here in battle, shall, O king, come to heaven.

They shall enjoy the blessings of heaven, O king!'-Thus addressed, king Kuru answered Shakra, saying-'So be it!'-Taking Kuru's leave, the slayer of Vala, viz., Shakra, then, with a glad heart speedily returned to heaven.

Thus, O foremost of Yadu's race, that royal sage had, formerly cultivated this plain and Shakra had promised great merit to those that would give up their lives here.

It was so sanctioned by all the foremost celestials headed by Brahman, and by the sacred Rishis, that on Earth there should be no more sacred place than this.

Those men, that practise austere penances here, would all, after renouncing their bodies, repair to Brahman's region.

Those meritorious men, who would give away their wealth here, would soon have their wealth doubled.

Those who will, in expectation of good, live constantly here, will never have to behold the region of Yama.

Those kings that will perforin great sacrifices here will live as long in heaven as Earth herself will exist.

The chief of the celestials, viz., Shakra, had himself composed a poem here and sang it. Listen to it, О Baladeva!-The very dust of Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, shall free persons of wicked acts and take them to heaven!. The leading celestials and Brahmanas and kings of the Earth such as Nriga and others, having performed rich sacrifices here, have, after renouncing their bodies, proceeded to heaven.

The space between the Tarantuka and the Arantuka and the lakes of Rama and Chamachakra is known Kurukshetra. Samantapanchaka is called the northern (sacrificial) alter of Brahman, the Lord of all creatures.

This place endued with all virtues is auspicious and highly sacred, and is much respected by the celestials. It is for this that Kshatriyas slain in battle here obtain sacred and blissful regions.

This was said by Shakra himself about the glory of Kurukshetra. All that Shakra said was again approved and sanctioned by Brahman, Vishnu, and Maheshivara. as