बहुदेवयुगांस्तप्त्वा तपस्तीव्रं सुदश्चरम्
Having performed severe austerity for many ages of the gods,
पाप्मानमुत्सृजत्याशु जीर्णां त्वचमिवोरगः
One quickly casts off sin, just as a serpent sheds its worn-out skin.
लेलिहानैर्महाघोरै रक्ष्यते सुमहोरगैः
It is guarded by very fierce, licking, great serpents.
उदीच्यां मुण्डपृष्टस्य ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम्
In the north, on Muṇḍapṛṣṭa, attended by hosts of brahmarṣis,
दत्तं वापि सदा श्राद्धमक्षय्यं समुदाहृतम्
A śrāddha offering given there is always declared imperishable.
मानसे सरसि स्नात्वा श्राद्धंनिर्वर्त्तयेत्ततः
After bathing in the lake of the mind, one should then perform the śrāddha.
आरुह्य तु जपंस्तत्र सिद्धो याति दिवं ततः
Ascending there, one who recites attains perfection and then goes to heaven.
स्नात्वा तस्मिन्सरश्रेष्ठे दृश्यते महादद्भुतम्
After bathing in that best of lakes, a great and wondrous sight is seen.
गङ्गा त्रिपथगा देवी विष्णुपादाच्च्युता सती
The goddess Gaṅgā, the threefold river, indeed flowed forth from Viṣṇu’s feet.
जांबूनदमयं पुण्यं स्वगद्वारमिवायतम्
It is pure, made of gold from the Jāmbū tree, and stretches like the gateway to heaven.
पावनी सर्वभूतानां धर्मज्ञानां विशेषतः
She is the purifier of all beings, especially of those who know righteousness.
सागरं पश्चिमं यातो दिव्यः सिंधुनदो वरः
The divine, excellent Sindhu river flows towards the western ocean.
आयतो वै सहस्राणि योजनानां बहुनि तु
It extends for many thousands of yojanas.
तत्र पुष्करिणी रम्या सुषुम्णा नाम नामतः
There is a beautiful lake named Suṣumnā by name.
श्राद्धं भवति चानन्तं तत्र दत्तं महोदयम्
There, the śrāddha rite becomes inexhaustible, and gifts given there yield great merit.
सर्वत्र हिमवान्पुण्यो गङ्गा पुण्या समन्ततः
Everywhere the Himālaya is holy, and the Gaṅgā is sacred on all sides.
एवमादिषु चान्येषु श्राद्धं निर्वर्तयेद्बुधः
In such places and others like them, the wise should perform śrāddha.
शेलसानुषु शृङ्गेषु कन्दरेषु गुहासु च
On mountain slopes, peaks, in ravines, and in caves,
पुलिनेष्वापगानां च तथैव प्रभवेषु च
On the banks of rivers and likewise at their sources,
सुसंमृष्टोपलिप्तेषु त्दृद्येषु सुरभिष्वथ
In places well-swept, plastered, and fragrant,
कुर्याच्छ्राद्धमथैतेषु नित्यमेव यथाविधि
One should always perform śrāddha in these places according to the prescribed rules.
एवमेतेषु सर्वेषु श्राद्धं कुर्यादतन्द्रितः
In all these places, one should diligently perform śrāddha.
त्रैवर्णविहितैः स्थाने धर्मे वर्णाश्रमे रतैः
In places prescribed for the three varṇas, by those devoted to righteousness and the varṇāśrama order,
तीर्थान्यनुसरन्वीरः श्रद्दधानः समाहितः
A heroic, faithful, and collected person, following the sacred fords,
तिर्यग्योनिं न गच्छेच्च कुदेशे च न जायते
Does not go to a lower birth and is not born in an unholy place.
अश्रद्दधानः पापायुर्नास्तिको ऽच्छिन्नसंशयः
But one who lacks faith, is sinful, atheistic, and full of unbroken doubts,
गुरुतीर्थे परा सिद्धिस्तीर्थानां परमं पदम्
In the teacher's sacred place is supreme attainment, the highest state of the sacred fords.
उपवासात्परं ध्यानमिन्द्रियाणां निवर्त्तनम्
Beyond fasting, meditation is supreme, as is the restraint of the senses.
प्राणापानौ वशे कृत्वा वशगानीन्दियाणि च
Having brought the breath and the outgoing breath under control, as well as the senses subdued,
प्रत्याहारं कृतं विद्धि मोक्षोपायमसंशयम्
Know that withdrawal (pratyāhāra) has been accomplished; it is undoubtedly a means to liberation.