नारद उवाच- अथ संध्यां समासाद्य स विद्यांतीर्थमुत्तमम् । उपस्पृश्य नरो विद्वान्भवेन्नास्त्यत्र संशयः
Nārada said: Then, upon reaching Saṃdhyā, the supreme sacred site of knowledge, and touching its waters, a person becomes wise; there is no doubt about this.
रामस्य च प्रसादेन तीर्थराजं कृतं पुरा । तल्लौहित्यं समासाद्य विंद्याद्बहुसुवर्णकम्
By the grace of Rāma, the king of sacred sites was established long ago; upon reaching that Lauhitya, one finds abundant gold.
करतोयां समासाद्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति शक्रलोकं च गच्छति
A man who, having reached the Karatoya river, fasts for three nights attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and goes to the realm of Indra.
गंगायास्त्वथ राजेंद्र सागरस्य च संगमे । अश्वमेधं दशगुणं प्रवदंति मनीषणः
O king, at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean, the wise declare the merit to be ten times that of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
गंगायास्तु परं द्वीपं प्राप्य यः स्नाति भारत । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो राजन्सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्
O Bharata, whoever, after reaching the supreme island of the Ganga, bathes there and fasts for three nights, attains all desired objects.
ततो वैतरणीं गत्वा नदीं पापप्रमोचनीम् । विरजं तीर्थमासाद्य विराजति यथा शशी
Then, having gone to the Vaitarani river, which releases from sin, and reached the pure Viraja tirtha, one shines like the moon.
प्रभावे च कुलं पूत्वा सर्वपापं व्यपोहति । गोसहस्रफलं लब्ध्वा पुनाति स्वकुलं नरः
By its power, purifying his lineage, he removes all sin; having obtained the fruit of a thousand cows, a man sanctifies his own family.
शोणस्य ज्योतिरथ्याश्च संगमे निवसञ्छुचिः । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवानग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
Dwelling in purity at the confluence of the Shona and Jyotirathya rivers, after offering oblations to ancestors and gods, one obtains the fruit of an Agnishtoma sacrifice.
शोणस्य नर्मदायाश्च प्रभवे कुरुपुंगव । वंशगुल्ममुपस्पृश्य वाजिमेधफलं लभेत्
O foremost of the Kurus, at the source of the Shona and Narmada rivers, after touching the bamboo thicket, one obtains the fruit of a Vajimedha sacrifice.
ऋषभं तीर्थमासाद्य कोशलायां नराधिप । वाजिमेधमवाप्नोति त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः
O king, having reached the Rishabha tirtha in Kosala, a man who fasts for three nights attains the fruit of a Vajimedha sacrifice.
कोशलायां समासाद्य कालतीर्थमुपस्पृशेत् । वृषभैकादशगुणं लभते नात्र संशयः
Having reached Kosala and touched the Kala tirtha, one obtains a merit eleven times that of the Rishabha; there is no doubt about this.
पुष्पवत्यामुपस्पृश्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः । गोसहस्रफलं विंद्यात्कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत्
A man who, after touching the Pushpavati river and fasting for three nights, obtains the fruit of a thousand cows and also uplifts his lineage.
ततो बदारिकातीर्थे स्नात्वा प्रयतमानसः । दीर्घायुष्यमवाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति
Then, bathing at the Badarika tirtha with a pure mind, one attains long life and goes to the heavenly realm.
ततो महेंद्रमासाद्य जामदग्न्यनिषेवितम् । रामतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत्
Then, having reached Mahendra, frequented by Jamadagni, a man who bathes at Rama tirtha obtains the fruit of a Vajimedha sacrifice.
मतंगस्य तु केदारं तत्रैव भरतर्षभ । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
O best of Bharatas, at Matanga's Kedara, there itself, a man who bathes there, O king, obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.
श्रीपर्वतं समासाद्य नदीतीरमुपस्पृशेत् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति परां सिद्धिं च गच्छति
Having reached Shri Parvata and touched the riverbank, one attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and achieves supreme accomplishment.
श्रीपर्वते महादेवो देव्या सह महाद्युतिः । न्यवसत्परमप्रीतो ब्रह्मा च त्रिदशैर्वृतः
On Shri Parvata, the great god, radiant, dwelt with the goddess, supremely pleased, and Brahma surrounded by the gods.
तत्र देवह्रदे स्नात्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति परां सिद्धिं च गच्छति
There, bathing in the divine lake with purity and a focused mind, one attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and achieves supreme accomplishment.
ऋषभं पर्वतं गत्वा भांडेषु सुरपूजितम् । वाजपेयमवाप्नोति नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते
Having gone to the Rishabha mountain, revered by the gods in Bhanda, one attains the fruit of a Vajapeya sacrifice and rejoices in the highest heaven.
ततो गच्छेत कावेरीं वृतामृप्सरसां गणैः । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Then one should go to the Kaveri, surrounded by groups of celestial nymphs; there, bathing, O king, a man obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.
तत्र तीर्थे समुद्रस्य कन्यातीर्थमुपस्पृशेत् । तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
There, at the holy place of the ocean, one should bathe at the Maiden's Ford; having bathed there, O king, one is freed from all sins.
अथ गोकमर्णमासाद्य त्रिषुलोकेषु विश्रुतम् । समुद्रमध्ये राजेंद्र सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्
Then, reaching Gokarna, renowned in the three worlds, in the midst of the ocean, O king, revered by all beings,
यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा मुनयश्च तपोधनाः । भूतयक्षाः पिशाचाश्च किन्नराः समहोरगाः
Where Brahma and the other gods, ascetics rich in austerity, spirits, yakshas, piśācas, kinnaras, and great serpents,
सिद्धचारणगंधर्वा मानुषाः पन्नगास्तथा । सरितः सागराः शैला उपासंते उमापतिम्
Siddhas, charanas, gandharvas, humans, and also nagas, rivers, oceans, and mountains worship the Lord of Uma.
तत्रेशानं समभ्यर्च्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः । दशाश्वमेधमाप्नोति गाणपत्यं च विंदति
There, having worshipped the Lord and fasted for three nights, a man attains the fruit of ten ashvamedha sacrifices and obtains the favor of Ganesha.
उपोष्य द्वादशरात्रं कृतार्थो जायते नरः । तस्मिन्नेव तु गायत्र्याः स्थानं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
By fasting for twelve nights, a man achieves his purpose; there, too, is the seat of Gayatri, famed throughout the three worlds.
त्रिरात्रमुषितस्तत्र गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । निदर्शनं च प्रत्यक्षं ब्राह्मणानां नराधिप
By staying there for three nights, one obtains the merit of a thousand cows, and, O king of men, witnesses a visible sign among the Brahmins.
गायत्रीं पठते यस्तु योनिसंकरजो द्विजः । गाथा वा गीतिका वाणी तस्य संपद्यते नृप
Whoever, though born of mixed caste, recites the Gayatri there, O king, his speech becomes song or poetry.
अब्राह्मणस्य पठतः सावित्री तूपनश्यति । संवर्तस्य तु विप्रर्षे वापीमासाद्य दुर्ल्लभाम्
If a non-Brahmin recites the Savitri, it is lost; but by reaching the rare pond of the sage Samvarta,
रूपस्य भागी भवति सुभगश्चाभिजायते । ततो वेणां समासाद्य तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः
He becomes endowed with beauty and is born fortunate; then, reaching the Vena, he should offer libations to the ancestors and the gods.