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.
अना हारो क्षयं याति विद्यादनशनं तपः
When abstinence is practiced, decay ceases; know that fasting is austerity.
क्षीणेषु सर्वदोषेषु क्षीणेष्वेवेन्द्रियेषु च
When all faults are diminished, and likewise the senses are weakened,
कारणेभ्यो गुणेभ्यश्च व्यक्ताव्यक्ताच्च कुत्स्नशः
From causes and qualities, from manifest and unmanifest, completely,
न सन्नासन्न सदसन्नैव किञ्चिदवस्थितः
Nothing remains established as existent, non-existent, or both existent and non-existent.
इति श्रीब्रह्माण्डे महापुराणे वायुप्रोक्ते मध्यभागे तृतीय उपोद्धातपादे श्राद्धकल्पे पुण्यदेशानुकीर्त्तनं नाम त्रयोदशो ऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Brahmanda Mahapurana, spoken by Vayu, in the middle section, in the third part of the introduction, in the rites of Śrāddha, the thirteenth chapter named 'Enumeration of Sacred Places' (Puṇyadeśānukīrtana) ends.
श्राद्धकर्मणि मेध्यानि वर्जनीयानि यानि च
In the rites of Śrāddha, those things which are pure and those which are to be avoided,
अग्निहोत्रमुपायुष्यं पवित्रं परमं हितम्
The Agnihotra is to be performed; it is pure and supremely beneficial.
सर्वस्वेनापि कर्त्तव्यङ्क्षिप्रं वै राहुदर्शने
Even with all one's possessions, it must be performed quickly at the sight of Rāhu.
कुर्वाणस्तत्तरेत्पापं सती नौरिव सागरे
One who performs it crosses over sin, just as a boat crosses the ocean.
विषाणवर्जं खड्गस्य मात्सर्यान्नाशयामहे
Except for the horn, we destroy the envy of the sword.