करतोयां समासाद्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति प्रजापतिकृतो विधिः
A man who, having reached the Karatoya, observes a fast for three nights attains the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice, as prescribed by Prajapati.
गङ्गायास्तत्र राजेन्द्र सागरस्य च सङ्गमे। अश्वमेधं दशगुणं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
O king, at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean there, the wise declare the merit to be ten times that of an Ashvamedha.
गङ्गायास्त्वपरं पारं प्राप्य यः स्नाति मानवः। त्रिरात्रमुषितो राजन्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
O king, a person who, having reached the far shore of the Ganga, bathes there and remains for three nights, obtains all desired objects.
ततो वैतरणीं गत्वा सर्वपापप्रमोचनीम्। विरजातीर्थमासाद्य विराजति यथा शशी
Then, having reached the Vaitarani, which frees from all sins, and the holy Viraja ford, one shines like the moon.
प्रभवेच्च कुले पुण्ये सर्वपापं व्यपोहति। गोसहस्रफंल लब्ध्वा रपुनाति स्वकुलं नरः
He is born in a virtuous family, removes all sin, obtains the fruit equal to a thousand cows, and purifies his lineage.
शोणस्य ज्योतिरथ्यायाः संगमे नियतः शुचिः। तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवानग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
At the confluence of the Shona and Jyotirathya, being disciplined and pure, after offering libations to the ancestors and gods, one obtains the fruit of an Agnishtoma sacrifice.
शोणस्य नर्मदायाश् प्रभेदे कुरुनन्दन। वंशगुल्म उपस्पृश्य वाचजिमेधफलं लभेत्
O descendant of the Kurus, at the junction of the Shona and Narmada, by touching the bamboo thicket, one attains the fruit of a Vajapeya sacrifice.
वाजपेयमवाप्नोति त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः। गोसहस्रफलं विन्द्यात्कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत्
A man who fasts for three nights attains the merit of a Vajapeya sacrifice, gains the fruit of a thousand cows, and uplifts his lineage.
कोसलां तु समासाद्य कालतीर्थमुपस्पृशेत्। वृषभैकादशफलं लभते नात्र संशयः
Upon reaching Kosala and touching the holy Kālā ford, one obtains the fruit of eleven bulls; there is no doubt about this.
पुष्पवत्यामुपस्पृश्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः। गोसहस्रफलं लब्ध्वा पुनाति स्वकुलं नृप
By touching the waters at Pushpavati, after fasting for three nights, a man obtains the fruit of a thousand cows and purifies his lineage, O king.
ततो बदरिकातीर्थे स्नात्वा भरतसत्तम। दीर्घमायुरवाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति
Then, O best of the Bharatas, by bathing at the Badarika ford, one attains long life and goes to the world of the gods.
तथा चम्पां समासाद्य भागीरथ्यां कृतोदकः। दण्डाख्यमभिगम्यैव गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Likewise, by reaching Champa, offering water on the Bhagirathi, and then going to the place called Danda, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.
लपेटिकां ततो गच्छेत्पुण्यां पुण्योपशोभिताम्। वाजपेयमवाप्नोति देवैः सर्वैश्च पूज्यते
Then one should go to Lapeṭikā, holy and adorned with virtue; there, one attains the merit of a Vajapeya sacrifice and is honored by all the gods.
ततो महेन्द्रमासाद्य जामदग्न्यनिपेवितम्। रामतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत्
Then, reaching Mahendra, frequented by Jamadagni's son, by bathing at Rama's ford, a man attains the fruit of a Vajimedha sacrifice.
मतङ्गस्य तु केदारस्तत्रैव कुरुनन्दन। तत्र स्नात्वा कुरुश्रेष्ठ गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
There, O descendant of the Kurus, is the Kedara of Matanga; by bathing there, O best of the Kurus, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.
श्रीपर्वतं समासाद्य नदीतीरमुपस्पृशेत्। रअश्वमेधमवाप्नोति पूजयित्वा वृषध्वजम्
Upon reaching Shri Parvata, by touching the riverbank and worshipping the bull-bannered god, one attains the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
श्रीपर्वते महादेवो देव्या सह महाद्युतिः। न्यवसत्परमप्रीतो ब्रह्मा च त्रिदशैः सह
On Shri Parvata, the great god of brilliant splendor dwelt with the goddess, supremely pleased, and Brahma with the gods as well.
तत्र देवह्रदे स्नात्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत्
By bathing with a pure and devoted mind in the divine lake there, one attains the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and uplifts his lineage.
ऋषभं पर्वतं गत्वा पाण्ड्येषु नृपपूजितम्। वाजपेयमवाप्नोति नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते
Having reached the Ṛṣabha mountain, honored by kings in the land of the Pāṇḍyas, one attains the fruit of a Vājapeya sacrifice and rejoices in the world of heaven.
ततो गच्छेत कावेरीं वृतामप्सरसां गणैः। तत्रस्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Then, proceeding to the Kāverī, surrounded by hosts of Apsarases, a man who bathes there, O King, obtains the merit equal to a thousand cows.
ततस्तीरे समुद्रस्य कन्यातीर्थमुपस्पृशेत्। तत्तोयं स्पृश्य राजेन्द्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
After that, on the seashore, one should touch the waters at the Maiden’s Ford; by touching that water, O King of Kings, one is freed from all sins.
अथ गोकर्णमासाद्य त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्। समुद्रमध्ये राजेन्द्र सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्
Then, reaching Gokarṇa, renowned in the three worlds, in the midst of the ocean, O King, revered by all beings,
रयत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः। भूतयक्षपिशाचाश्च किन्नराः समहोरगाः
There, Brahmā and the other gods, the sages rich in austerity, spirits, yakṣas, piśācas, kinnaras, and great serpents,
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वमानुषाः पन्नगास्तथा। सरितः सागराः शैला उपासन्त उमापतिम्
Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, humans, serpents as well, rivers, oceans, and mountains worship the Lord of Umā.
तत्रेशानं समभ्यर्च्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति गाणपत्यं च विन्दति
There, having worshipped the Lord, and having fasted for three nights, a man attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and obtains the favor of Gaṇapati.
उष्य द्वादशरात्रं तु पूतात्मा च भवेन्नरः
By dwelling there for twelve nights, a man becomes pure in soul.
तत एव च गायत्र्याः स्थानं त्रैलोक्यपूजितम्। त्रिरात्रमुषितस्तत्र गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्। निदर्शनं च प्रत्यक्षं ब्राह्मणानां नराधिप
There also is the place of Gāyatrī, honored throughout the three worlds; one who stays there for three nights obtains the merit of a thousand cows, and, O King of Men, witnesses a visible sign among the Brāhmaṇas.
गायत्रीं पठते यस्तु योनिसंकरजस्तथा। गाथा च गाथिका चापि तस्य संपद्यते नृप
Whoever recites the Gāyatrī there, even if born of mixed caste, and also recites the Gāthā and Gāthikā, O King, attains their benefit.
अब्राह्मणस्य सावित्रीं पठतस्तु प्रणश्यति
But if a non-Brāhmaṇa recites the Sāvitrī, it is lost.
संवर्तस्य तु विप्रर्षेर्वापीमासाद्य दुर्लभाम्। रूपस्य भागी भवति सुभगश्च प्रजायते
Having reached the rare pond of the sage Saṃvarta, one becomes endowed with beauty and is born fortunate.