The holy rites and duties (Dharma) of those with and without attachment, those of ascetics, the religious students, householders, forest-hermits, women and Sudras have been particularly explained by you. Similarly the rites and duties of Brahmanas, K?atriyas, Vaisyas and the mixed castes have been recounted. You have described the big rivers Ganga and others. Many kinds of Yajfias, holy rites and penances have been explained in those Puranas. Many kinds of religious gifts, all kinds of Tamos (restraints and holy observances) , the duties of Yoga, Samkhya and Bhagavata (pertaining to the holy devotee of the lord) have been explained in them. The paths of devotion, knowledge, and detachment have been explained. The procedures for the Upasana (special forms of worship) with water and wind (i.e. such as Pranayama where the breath is controlled) by those whose minds have been purified by holy rites, have been mentioned. Though our text reiterates 18 as the number of Mah& Puranas actually a list of 16 Pur&^as is given. The Adipur&pa hereof is either Vfrgu or Agni or Li&ga but that number of verses approximates to those of Linga Purana. The number of verses attributed per Purana differs in different Pur&gas. But that is a minor point as these Pur&ga writers had no opportunity or inclination to verify the actual number of verses in each Puraga.