Tarkshya

The sage Tarkshya asks Sarasvati what is best for a man, how to avoid straying from dharma, and how to perform the agnihotra. She answers with detailed instructions on purity, offerings, and the rewards of righteous deeds. When he asks who she is, she reveals she arose from the agnihotra itself to remove the doubts of sages.

In the forest, the sage Markandeya tells Yudhishthira about a dialogue between the wise Tarkshya and the goddess Sarasvati. Tarkshya asks how a man should live, how to offer oblations, and how to keep dharma intact. Sarasvati answers with precise instructions on purity, sacrifice, and the rewards that await the righteous.