ततो मत्तर्णकं राजन्द्वारपालं महाबलम् । यं वै समभिवाद्यैव गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Then, O King, the intoxicated Arṇaka, the mighty gatekeeper—whoever approaches him with reverence attains the merit equal to a thousand cows.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ विष्णोः स्थानमनुत्तमम् । सततं नाम राजेंद्र यत्र सन्निहितो हरिः
After that, the righteous one should proceed to the supreme abode of Viṣṇu, O King, where Hari is always present.
तत्र स्नात्वा च दृष्ट्वा च त्रिलोकप्रभवं हरिम् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति
There, after bathing and beholding Hari, the origin of the three worlds, one attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and reaches the realm of Viṣṇu.
ततः पारिप्लवं गच्छेत्तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः
Then one should go to Pāriplava, the renowned tīrtha of the three worlds; a person obtains the fruit of Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra sacrifices.
पृथिव्यां तीर्थमासाद्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततः शाल्विकिनीं गत्वा तीर्थसेवी नराधिप
Upon reaching the tīrtha on earth, one gains the merit equal to a thousand cows; then, O ruler of men, after going to Śālvikinī, the tīrtha devotee—
दशाश्वमेधिके स्नात्वा तदेव लभते फलम् । सर्पनीविं समासाद्य नागानां तीर्थमुत्तमम्
By bathing at the place of ten Aśvamedhas, one attains that very fruit; upon reaching Sarpanīvi, the supreme tīrtha of the nāgas—
अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति नागलोकं च गच्छति । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ द्वारपालमतर्णकम्
One obtains the fruit of Agniṣṭoma and attains the world of the nāgas; then, O knower of dharma, proceed to the gatekeeper Arṇaka.
तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततःपंचनदंगत्वानियतोनियताशनः
By staying there for one night, one attains the merit equal to a thousand cows; then, after going to Pañcanada, with disciplined conduct and regulated food—
कोटितीर्थमुपस्पृश्य हयमेधफलं लभेत् । अश्विनीतीर्थमागम्य रूपवानभिजायते
By touching the Koṭitīrtha, one attains the fruit of the horse sacrifice; upon reaching the Aśvinī tīrtha, one is born beautiful.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ वाराहं तीर्थमुत्तमम् । विष्णुर्वाराहरूपेण पुरा यत्र स्थितोऽभवत्
Then, O knower of dharma, proceed to the supreme Vārāha tīrtha, where Viṣṇu formerly dwelled in the form of a boar.
तत्र स्थित्वा नरव्याघ्र अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । ततो जयिन्यां राजेंद्र सोमतीर्थं समाविशेत्
By staying there, O tiger among men, one attains the fruit of Agniṣṭoma; then, O King, enter the Soma tīrtha at Jayinī.
स्नात्वा फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयस्य मानवः । एकहंसे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
By bathing, a person attains the fruit of the Rājasūya sacrifice; by bathing at Ekahaṃsa, one gains the merit equal to a thousand cows.
कृतशौचं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी कुरूद्वह । पुंडरीकमवाप्नोति कृतशौचो भवेच्च सः
Upon reaching Kṛtaśauca, O best of Kurus, the tīrtha devotee attains Puṇḍarīka and becomes purified.
ततो मुंजावटं नाम महादेवस्य धीमतः । तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्
Then, the place called Muṃjāvaṭa of the wise Mahādeva; by staying there for one night, one attains the merit of Gaṇapati.
तत्रैव च महाराज जयां लोकपरिश्रुताम् । स्नात्वाभिगम्य राजेंद्र सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्
There itself, O great King, at Jayā, famed throughout the worlds, by bathing and approaching, O King, one attains all desires.
कुरुक्षेत्रस्य तद्द्वारं विश्रुतं भरतर्षभ । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य तीर्थसेवी समावृतः
That gateway of Kurukṣetra, renowned, O bull among Bharatas, by circumambulating it, the tīrtha devotee is fulfilled.
संस्मृते पुष्कराणां तु स्नात्वार्च्य पितृदेवताः । जामदग्न्येन रामेण आहूते वै महात्मना
By remembering Puṣkara and bathing, honoring the ancestors and deities, as summoned by the great-souled Rāma, son of Jamadagni—
कृतकृत्यो भवेद्राजन्नश्वमेधं च विंदति । ततो रामह्रदं गच्छेत्तीर्थसेवी नराधिप
One becomes accomplished, O King, and attains the fruit of the horse sacrifice; then, the tīrtha devotee, O ruler of men, should proceed to Rāmahrada.
यत्र रामेण राजेंद्र तरसा दीप्ततेजसा । क्षत्रमुत्सार्य वीर्येण ह्रदाः पंच निषेविताः । पूरयित्वा नरव्याघ्र रुधिरेणेति नः श्रुतम्
Where, O king, by the force and blazing brilliance of Rāma, the warrior class was driven away with his valor, and five lakes were frequented, filled by the blood of men—so we have heard.
पितरस्तर्पिताः सर्वे तथैव प्रपितामहाः । ततस्ते पितरः प्रीताः राममूचुर्महीपते
All the fathers and grandfathers were satisfied there; then, pleased, the ancestors spoke to Rāma, O king.
रामराम महाभाग प्रीताः स्म तव भार्गव । अनया पितृभक्त्या च विक्रमेण च तेऽनघ
O Rāma, O most fortunate, O Bhārgava, we are pleased with you—by your devotion to ancestors and your valor, O sinless one.
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते किमिच्छसि महामते । एवमुक्तः स राजेंद्र रामः प्रवदतां वरः
Choose a boon, may good fortune be yours; what do you desire, O wise one? Thus addressed, the best among speakers, Rāma, O king,
अब्रवीत्प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं पितॄन्स गगने स्थितान् । भवंतो यदि मे प्रीता यद्यनुग्राह्यता मयि
Spoke with joined palms to the ancestors standing in the sky: If you are pleased with me, if I am worthy of your favor,
पितृप्रसादादिच्छेयं तपसाप्यायनं पुनः । यच्च रोषाभिभूतेन क्षत्रमुत्सादितं मया
By the grace of the ancestors, I wish for renewal of my ascetic power; and that warrior class which I destroyed in anger,
ततश्च पापान्मुच्येयं युष्माकं तेजसा ह्यहम् । ह्रदाश्च तीर्थभूता मे भवेयुर्भुवि विश्रुताः
Then, by your radiance, may I be freed from sin; and may these lakes become holy places, renowned on earth.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं रामस्य पितरस्तदा । प्रत्यूचुः परमप्रीता रामं तोषसमन्विताः
Hearing these auspicious words of Rāma, the ancestors then replied, supremely pleased, to Rāma, filled with satisfaction.
तपस्ते वर्द्धतां भूयः पितृभक्त्या विशेषतः । यच्च रोषाभिभूतेन क्षत्रमुत्सादितं त्वया
May your ascetic power increase further, especially through your devotion to ancestors; and as for the warrior class destroyed by you in anger,
ततश्च पापान्मुक्तस्त्वं निहतास्ते स्वकर्म्मणा । ह्रदाश्च तव तीर्थत्वं गमिष्यंति न संशयः
Then you will be freed from sin; those slain have met their own fate. Your lakes will indeed attain the status of holy places—there is no doubt.
ह्रदेष्वेतेषु यः स्नात्वा पितॄन्संतर्पयिष्यति । पितरस्तस्य वै प्रीता दास्यंति भुवि दुर्ल्लभम्
Whoever bathes in these lakes and satisfies the ancestors, his ancestors, pleased, will grant him rare blessings on earth.
ईप्सितं मनसः कामं स्वर्गलोकं सशाश्वतम् । एवं दत्त्वा वरं राजन्रामस्य पितरस्तदा । आमंत्र्य भार्गवं प्रीतास्तत्रैवांतर्दधुस्ततः
Whatever desire he holds in his heart, and the eternal heavenly realm—thus granting the boon, O king, the ancestors, pleased, addressed Bhārgava and then vanished there.