तत्र मासं वसेद्धीरः सरस्वत्यां नराधिप । यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा यत्र ब्रह्मर्षिचारणाः
There, a steadfast person should dwell for a month on the Sarasvatī, O ruler of men, where Brahmā and the other gods, and the Brahmarṣis and celestial beings are present.
गंधर्वाप्सरसो यक्षाः पन्नगाश्च महीपते । ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं महापुण्यमभिगच्छंति भारत
Gandharvas, apsarases, yakṣas, and serpents, O King, go to that supremely holy Brahma-kshetra, O Bhārata.
मनसाप्यभिकामस्य कुरुक्षेत्रे युधिष्ठिर । पापानि विप्रणश्यंति ब्रह्मलोकं च गच्छति
Even one who desires it only in his mind, O Yudhiṣṭhira, in Kurukṣetra, his sins are destroyed and he attains the world of Brahmā.
गत्वा हि श्रद्धया युक्तः कुरुक्षेत्रं कुरूद्वह । वाजपेयाश्वमेध्याभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः
Having gone there with faith, O best of the Kurus, a man attains the fruit of both the Vājapeya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
ततो मत्तर्णकं राजन्द्वारपालं महाबलम् । यं वै समभिवाद्यैव गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Then, O King, one should approach Mattarṇaka, the mighty gatekeeper; simply by greeting him, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ विष्णोः स्थानमनुत्तमम् । सततं नाम राजेंद्र यत्र सन्निहितो हरिः
Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to the supreme abode of Viṣṇu, where Hari is always present, O King.
तत्र स्नात्वा च दृष्ट्वा च त्रिलोकप्रभवं हरिम् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति
There, after bathing and beholding Hari, the source of the three worlds, one attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha and goes to Viṣṇu's realm.
ततः पारिप्लवं गच्छेत्तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः
After that, one should go to Pāriplava, the holy place renowned throughout the three worlds; a man attains the fruit of Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra sacrifices.
पृथिव्यां तीर्थमासाद्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततः शाल्विकिनीं गत्वा तीर्थसेवी नराधिप
Having reached the holy place on earth, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows; then, going to Śālvikinī, the devotee of holy places, O ruler of men—
दशाश्वमेधिके स्नात्वा तदेव लभते फलम् । सर्पनीविं समासाद्य नागानां तीर्थमुत्तमम्
Bathing at Daśāśvamedhika, one obtains that very fruit; upon reaching Sarpanīvi, the supreme holy place of the serpents—
अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति नागलोकं च गच्छति । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ द्वारपालमतर्णकम्
He attains the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and goes to the world of serpents; then, O knower of dharma, he should proceed to the gatekeeper Atarṇaka.
तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततःपंचनदंगत्वानियतोनियताशनः
There, staying for one night, he obtains the merit equal to a thousand cows; then, proceeding to Pañcanada, with controlled conduct and regulated food—
कोटितीर्थमुपस्पृश्य हयमेधफलं लभेत् । अश्विनीतीर्थमागम्य रूपवानभिजायते
By touching the Koṭitīrtha, he gains the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice; arriving at the Aśvinī tīrtha, he is born possessing beauty.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ वाराहं तीर्थमुत्तमम् । विष्णुर्वाराहरूपेण पुरा यत्र स्थितोऽभवत्
Then, O knower of dharma, he should go to the excellent Vārāha tīrtha, where Viṣṇu once stood in the form of a boar.
तत्र स्थित्वा नरव्याघ्र अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । ततो जयिन्यां राजेंद्र सोमतीर्थं समाविशेत्
There, remaining, O tiger among men, he obtains the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice; then, O king, he should enter the Soma tīrtha at Jayinī.
स्नात्वा फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयस्य मानवः । एकहंसे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
By bathing there, a man attains the fruit of the Rājasūya sacrifice; by bathing at Ekahaṃsa, a man obtains the merit of a thousand cows.
कृतशौचं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी कुरूद्वह । पुंडरीकमवाप्नोति कृतशौचो भवेच्च सः
Having performed purification, O best of the Kurus, the devotee of tīrthas attains Puṇḍarīka, and he becomes purified.
ततो मुंजावटं नाम महादेवस्य धीमतः । तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्
Then, the place called Muñjāvaṭa, belonging to the wise Mahādeva; staying there for one night, he attains the favor of Gaṇapati.
तत्रैव च महाराज जयां लोकपरिश्रुताम् । स्नात्वाभिगम्य राजेंद्र सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्
There itself, O great king, is the renowned Jayā; by bathing and approaching, O king, one attains all desires.
कुरुक्षेत्रस्य तद्द्वारं विश्रुतं भरतर्षभ । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य तीर्थसेवी समावृतः
That is the famous gateway of Kurukṣetra, O best of the Bharatas; having circumambulated it, the devotee of tīrthas is fulfilled.
संस्मृते पुष्कराणां तु स्नात्वार्च्य पितृदेवताः । जामदग्न्येन रामेण आहूते वै महात्मना
Remembering the Puṣkaras, and having bathed and worshipped the ancestors and the gods, as summoned by the great-souled Rāma, son of Jamadagni—
कृतकृत्यो भवेद्राजन्नश्वमेधं च विंदति । ततो रामह्रदं गच्छेत्तीर्थसेवी नराधिप
He becomes one who has accomplished his purpose, O king, and obtains the fruit of the Aśvamedha; then, the devotee of tīrthas should go to Rāmahrada.
यत्र रामेण राजेंद्र तरसा दीप्ततेजसा । क्षत्रमुत्सार्य वीर्येण ह्रदाः पंच निषेविताः । पूरयित्वा नरव्याघ्र रुधिरेणेति नः श्रुतम्
There, O king, where Rāma, with blazing energy, by his might drove away the kṣatriyas and frequented five lakes, filling them, O tiger among men, with blood—as we have heard.
पितरस्तर्पिताः सर्वे तथैव प्रपितामहाः । ततस्ते पितरः प्रीताः राममूचुर्महीपते
All the ancestors, as well as the great-grandfathers, were satisfied there; then those pleased ancestors spoke to Rāma, O king.
रामराम महाभाग प्रीताः स्म तव भार्गव । अनया पितृभक्त्या च विक्रमेण च तेऽनघ
"Rāma, Rāma, highly fortunate one, we are pleased with you, O Bhārgava, by this devotion to ancestors and by your valor, O sinless one."
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते किमिच्छसि महामते । एवमुक्तः स राजेंद्र रामः प्रवदतां वरः
"Choose a boon, good fortune to you—what do you desire, O great-minded one?" Thus addressed, O king, Rāma, best of speakers, said—
अब्रवीत्प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं पितॄन्स गगने स्थितान् । भवंतो यदि मे प्रीता यद्यनुग्राह्यता मयि
With joined palms, he spoke these words 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, may I obtain renewal through austerity; and as for the kṣatriyas whom I destroyed, overcome by anger—"
ततश्च पापान्मुच्येयं युष्माकं तेजसा ह्यहम् । ह्रदाश्च तीर्थभूता मे भवेयुर्भुवि विश्रुताः
Then, by your radiance, I shall be freed from sins, and my lakes will become renowned as sacred places on earth.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं रामस्य पितरस्तदा । प्रत्यूचुः परमप्रीता रामं तोषसमन्विताः
Hearing these auspicious words of Rāma, his ancestors, filled with supreme delight and satisfaction, replied to him.