एवं या कुरुते भक्त्या तस्याः पुण्यफलं शृणु । मोदते देवलोकस्था यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश
Thus, she who performs this with devotion—hear the merit she gains: dwelling in the realm of the gods, she rejoices for as long as fourteen Indras reign.
अयने वा चतुर्दश्यां संक्रांतौ विषुवे तथा । स्नात्वा तु सोपवासः स निर्जितात्मा समाहितः
On the solstice, the fourteenth day, at the transition, or the equinox, one who bathes, fasting, self-controlled, and focused—
दानं दद्याद्यथाशक्त्या प्रीयेतां हरिशंकरौ । शुक्लतीर्थप्रभावेण सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम्
—should give gifts according to ability and seek the favor of Hari and Shankara; by the power of the sacred white pilgrimage, all becomes inexhaustible.
अनाथं दुर्गतं विप्रं नाथवंतमथापि वा । उद्वाहयति यस्तीर्थे तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
One who marries, at the sacred site, a destitute, unfortunate, or even orphaned Brahmin—hear the merit gained by such a deed.
यावत्तद्रोमसंख्या तु तत्प्रसूतिकुलेषु च । तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते
For as many hairs as are on that person and in their family, for that many thousands of years one is honored in Shiva's realm.
नारद उवाच- ततस्तु नरकं गच्छेत्स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । स्नातमात्रो नरस्तत्र नरकं तत्र पश्यति
Narada said: Then one goes to hell; one should bathe there. As soon as one bathes, one sees hell in that place.
अस्यतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं शृणु त्वं पांडुनंदन । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु राजेंद्र यान्यस्थीनि विनिक्षिपेत्
Hear the greatness of this sacred site, O son of Pandu. At that site, O king, whoever deposits bones—
विलयं यांति सर्वाणि रूपवान्जायते नरः । गोतीर्थं तु ततो गच्छेद्दृष्ट्वा पापात्प्रमुच्यते
—all are dissolved, and the person is born beautiful. Then, going to the cow-sacred site, upon seeing it, one is freed from sin.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र कपिलातीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Then, O king, one should go to the excellent Kapila sacred site. Bathing there, a person attains the merit of a thousand cows.
ज्येष्ठमासे तु संप्राप्ते चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः । तत्रोपोष्य नरो भक्त्या कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति
When the month of Jyeshtha arrives, especially on the fourteenth day, one who, fasting and devoted, gives a Kapila cow there—
घृतेन दीपं प्रज्वाल्य घृतेन स्नापयेच्छिवम् । सघृतं श्रीफलं दत्वा कृत्वा चांते प्रदक्षिणम्
—lighting a lamp with ghee, bathing Shiva with ghee, giving a coconut with ghee, and finally performing circumambulation—
घंटाभरणसंयुक्तां कपिलां यः प्रयच्छति । शिवतुल्यो नरो भूत्वा न चेह जायते पुनः
One who gives a Kapila cow adorned with bell ornaments becomes equal to Shiva and is not born again in this world.
अंगारकदिने प्राप्ते चतुर्थ्यां तु विशेषतः । स्नापयित्वा शिवं भक्त्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु भोजनम्
When Mars' day arrives, especially on the fourth day, after bathing Shiva with devotion, one should feed Brahmins.
अंगारकनवम्यां तु अमावस्यां तथैव च । स्नापयेत्तत्र यत्नेन रूपवान्सुभगो भवेत्
On Mars' ninth day and likewise on the new moon, one should bathe Shiva there with effort and becomes handsome and fortunate.
घृतेन स्नापयेल्लिंगं पूजयेद्भक्तितो द्विजान् । पुष्पकेण विमानेन सहस्रैः परिवारितः
Bathing the linga with ghee, worshipping the twice-born with devotion, surrounded by thousands in a celestial chariot—
शैवं पदमवाप्नोति नात्र चाभिगतं भवेत् । अक्षयं मोदते कालं यथा रुद्रस्तथैव च
—one attains the Shaiva abode and does not return here; one enjoys inexhaustible happiness for a time, just as Rudra does.
यदा तु कर्मसंयोगान्मर्त्यलोकमुपागतः । राजा भवति धर्मिष्ठो रूपवान्जायते बली
When, by the conjunction of karma, one comes to the mortal world, one becomes a righteous king, is born beautiful, and strong.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र ऋषितीर्थमनुत्तमम् । तृणबिंदुऋषिर्नाम शापदग्धो व्यवस्थितः
Then, O king, one should go to the supreme Rishi sacred site, where the sage named Trinabindu, cursed, resides.
तस्यतीर्थप्रभावेण पापमुक्तोऽभवद्द्विजः । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र गणेश्वरमनुत्तमम्
By the power of that sacred place, the twice-born was freed from sin; then, O king, he should proceed to the supreme Lord of the Gaṇas.
श्रावणेमासि संप्राप्ते कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशीम् । स्नातमात्रो नरस्तत्र रुद्रलोके महीयते
When the month of Śrāvaṇa arrives, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, a man who bathes there is honored in the world of Rudra.
पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात् । गणेश्वरसमीपे तु गंगावदनमुत्तमम्
Having offered libations to the ancestors, one is released from the threefold debt; near the Lord of the Gaṇas is the excellent mouth of the Gaṅgā.
अकामो वा सकामो वा तत्र स्नात्वा तु मानवः । आजन्मजनितैः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Whether without desire or with desire, a man who bathes there is freed from sins accumulated since birth—of this there is no doubt.
सर्वदा पर्वदिवसे स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात्
One should always perform bathing there on festival days; having offered libations to the ancestors, one is released from the threefold debt.
प्रयागे यत्फलं दृष्टं शंकरेण महात्मना । तदेव निखिलं पुण्यं गंगाराह्वर्कसंगमे
The merit seen at Prayāga by the great-souled Śaṃkara—all that accumulated merit is found at the confluence called Gaṅgārāhva.
तस्यैवं पश्चिमे स्थाने समीपेनातिदूरतः । दशाश्वमेधिकं नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
In that same western region, not far from there, is the place called Daśāśvamedhika, renowned in the three worlds.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां मासि भाद्रपदे तथा । अमावस्यां नरः स्नात्वा व्रजेद्वै यत्र शंकरः
Having fasted for one night in the month of Bhādrapada, on the new moon, a man who bathes there surely attains the place where Śaṃkara resides.
सर्वदा पर्वदिवसे स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत् । पितॄणां तर्पणं कृत्वा अश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
One should always perform bathing there on festival days; having offered libations to the ancestors, one obtains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
दशाश्वमेधात्पश्चिमतो भृगुर्ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु ईश्वरं पर्युपासत
To the west of Daśāśvamedha, O best of Brāhmaṇas, the sage Bhṛgu worshipped the Lord for a divine thousand years.
वल्मीकावस्थितश्चासौ दक्षिणं च निकेतनम् । आश्चर्यं च महज्जातमुमायाः शंकरस्य च
He dwelt in an anthill, and his abode was to the south; a great and wondrous event occurred there, concerning Umā and Śaṃkara.
गौरी तु पृच्छते देवं कोयमत्र तु संस्थितः । देवो वा दानवो वाथ कथयस्व महेश्वर
Gaurī then asked the god: 'Who is this present here? Is he a god or a demon? Tell me, O great Lord.'