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.
तपस्ते वर्द्धतां भूयः पितृभक्त्या विशेषतः । यच्च रोषाभिभूतेन क्षत्रमुत्सादितं त्वया
May your ascetic power increase further, especially through your devotion to your ancestors; and as for the kṣatriya race that you destroyed in anger—
ततश्च पापान्मुक्तस्त्वं निहतास्ते स्वकर्म्मणा । ह्रदाश्च तव तीर्थत्वं गमिष्यंति न संशयः
Thus, you are freed from those sins, and those slain by you have met their fate through their own actions; your lakes will indeed become sacred for pilgrimage, without doubt.
ह्रदेष्वेतेषु यः स्नात्वा पितॄन्संतर्पयिष्यति । पितरस्तस्य वै प्रीता दास्यंति भुवि दुर्ल्लभम्
Whoever, having bathed in these lakes, offers libations to his ancestors, his forefathers, pleased, will grant him rare blessings on earth.
ईप्सितं मनसः कामं स्वर्गलोकं सशाश्वतम् । एवं दत्त्वा वरं राजन्रामस्य पितरस्तदा । आमंत्र्य भार्गवं प्रीतास्तत्रैवांतर्दधुस्ततः
He will obtain the desired wishes of his heart and the eternal heavenly realm; thus, having granted this boon, O King, Rāma's ancestors, after addressing Bhārgava with joy, disappeared there.
एवं रामह्रदाः पुण्या भार्गवस्य महात्मनः । स्नात्वा ह्रदेषु रामस्य ब्रह्मचारी शुभव्रतः
Thus, the sacred Rāma-lakes of the great-souled Bhārgava—one who bathes in Rāma's lakes, observing celibacy and pure vows—
राममभ्यर्च्य राजेंद्र लभेद्बहुसुवर्णकम् । वंशमूलं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी कुरूद्वह
Having worshipped Rāma, O king, he attains abundant gold; reaching the root of his lineage, the devotee of holy places, O best of the Kurus—
स्ववंशमुद्धरेद्राजन्स्नात्वा वै वंशमूलके । कायशोधनमासाद्य तीर्थं भरतसत्तम
O king, by bathing at the root of his lineage, he uplifts his own family; attaining bodily purification, O best of the Bharatas, at the sacred site—
शरीरशुद्धिमाप्नोति स्नातस्तस्मिन्न संशयः । शुद्धदेहस्तु संयाति शुभाँल्लोकाननुत्तमान्
By bathing there, he attains bodily purity, without doubt; with a purified body, he reaches the most excellent auspicious worlds.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभम् । लोका यत्रोद्धृताः पूर्वं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Then, O king, he should go to the sacred place rare even among the three worlds, where, in ancient times, the worlds were uplifted by mighty Viṣṇu.
लोकोद्धारं समासाद्य तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । स्नात्वा तीर्थवरे राजन्लोकानुद्धरते स्वकान्
Having reached that sacred place, famed throughout the three worlds for uplifting the worlds, by bathing in that supreme tīrtha, O king, he uplifts his own ancestors.
श्रीतीर्थं च समासाद्य विंदते श्रियमुत्तमाम् । कपिलातीर्थमासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः
Having reached the Śrī-tīrtha, he attains supreme prosperity; and at the Kapilā-tīrtha, the devoted celibate—
तत्र स्नात्वार्चयित्वा च देवानिह पितॄंस्तथा । कपिलानां सहस्रस्य फलं विंदति मानवः
There, by bathing and worshipping the gods and also the ancestors, a man attains the merit of a thousand Kapilās.
सूर्यतीर्थं समासाद्य स्नात्वा नियतमानसः । अर्चयित्वा पितॄन्देवानुपवासपरायणः
Having reached the Sūrya-tīrtha, bathing with a controlled mind, worshipping the ancestors and gods, devoted to fasting—
अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति सूर्यलोकं च गच्छति । गवांभवनमासाद्य तीर्थसेवी यथाक्रमम्
He attains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and goes to the world of the Sun; having reached the abode of cows, the devotee of tīrthas, in due order—
तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वाणो गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । गंगातीर्थं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी नराधिप
There, performing ablutions, he obtains the fruit of a thousand cows; having reached the Gaṅgā-tīrtha, the devotee of tīrthas, O lord of men—
केव्यास्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा लभते वीर्यमुत्तमम् (केव्या पाठभेदाः – कन्या, कोट्या, कोत्या, कोन्या)। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र द्वारपालं लवर्णकम्
By bathing at the Kevyā-tīrtha, a man attains supreme strength; then, O king, he should go to the Dvārapāla called Lavarṇaka.
तस्य तीर्थे सरस्वत्यां यथेंद्रस्य महात्मनः । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
At the sacred site of Sarasvati, belonging to the great Indra, O King, one who bathes there attains the reward of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ ब्रह्मावर्तं नराधिप । ब्रह्मावर्ते नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Then, O knower of righteousness, let him proceed to Brahmāvarta, O ruler of men; bathing there, a person attains the world of Brahma.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ सुतीर्थकमनुत्तमम् । यत्र सन्निहिता नित्यं पितरो दैवतैः सह
Next, O knower of righteousness, let him go to the supreme sacred site called Sutīrtha, where the ancestors are always present together with the gods.
तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत पितृदेवार्चने रतः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति पितृलोकं च गच्छति
There, one should perform ablutions, devoted to worshipping the ancestors and gods; he attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and reaches the world of the ancestors.