गम्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि कीर्तितान्यगमान्यपि । मनसाप्यभिगच्छेत सर्वतीर्थमनीषया
Even those holy places that are mentioned but not visited, one may approach them mentally, and thus all holy places are attained by intent.
एतानि वसुभिः साध्यैरादित्यैर्मरुदश्विभिः । ऋषिभिर्देवकल्पैश्च कृतानि सुकृतैषिभिः
These have been accomplished by the Vasus, the Adityas, the Maruts, the Ashvins, and by sages resembling gods, through their virtuous deeds.
एवं त्वमपि कौरव्य विधिनानेन सुव्रत । व्रज तीर्थानि नियतः पुण्यं पुण्येन वर्द्धते
Thus, O Kauravya, you too, with this discipline, O virtuous one, go to the holy places with restraint; merit increases with merit.
भावितैः करणैः पूर्वमास्तिक्याछ्रुतिदर्शनात् । प्राप्यंते तानि तीर्थानि सद्भिः शिष्टानुदर्शिभिः
Those holy places are attained by the noble, who possess purified actions, faith, and the vision of hearing; by the virtuous who follow the wise.
नाकृतो नाकृतात्मा च नाशुचिर्न च तस्करः । स्नाति तीर्थेषु कौरव्य न च वक्रमतिर्नरः
One who is unprepared, impure in self, unclean, or a thief, O Kauravya, does not bathe in the holy places, nor does one with crooked mind.
त्वया तु सम्यग्वृत्तेन नित्यं धर्मार्थदर्शिना । पितरस्तर्पितास्तात सर्वे च प्रपितामहाः । पितामहपुरोगाश्च देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा
But by you, who acts rightly, always seeing dharma and wealth, all the ancestors are satisfied, as are all forefathers, and the gods led by the Grandfather, and all the groups of sages.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- त्वं च धर्मेण धर्मज्ञ नित्यमेवाभितोषिताः । दिलीपकीर्तिं महतीं प्राप्स्यसे भुवि शाश्वतीम्
Vasiṣṭha said: You too, O knower of dharma, are always gratified by dharma; you will attain the great and eternal fame of Dilīpa on earth.
नारद उवाच- एवमुक्त्वाभ्यनुज्ञाप्य वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः । प्रीतः प्रीतेनमनसा तत्रैवांतरधीयत
Nārada said: Having spoken thus and given permission, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, pleased and with a joyful mind, vanished there.
दिलीपः कुरुशार्दूल शास्त्रतत्त्वार्थदर्शनात् । वसिष्ठवचनाच्चैव पृथिवीमनुचक्रमे
Dilīpa, O tiger among Kurus, by understanding the essence and meaning of scripture, and by the words of Vasiṣṭha, traversed the earth.
एवमेषा महाभाग प्रतिष्ठाने प्रतिष्ठिता । तीर्थयात्रा महापुण्या सर्वपापप्रमोचनी
Thus, O highly fortunate one, the pilgrimage is established at Pratiṣṭhāna; the journey to holy places is of great merit and releases from all sins.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु पृथिवीं पर्यटिष्यति । अश्वमेधशतं साग्रं फलं प्रेत्यैष भोक्ष्यते
Whoever travels the earth in this manner will, after death, enjoy the reward equal to a hundred and one Aśvamedha sacrifices.
ततश्चाष्टगुणं पार्थ प्राप्स्यसे धर्ममुत्तमम् । दिलीपः पार्थ नृपतिर्यथापूर्वमवाप्तवान्
Then, O Pārtha, you will obtain eightfold supreme merit, just as King Dilīpa did in ancient times.
नेता च त्वमृषीन्यस्मात्तस्मात्तेष्टगुणं फलम् । रक्षोगणविकीर्णानि तीर्थान्येतानि भारत
And since you are the leader of the sages, you will receive eightfold the reward; these sacred places, O Bhārata, are scattered with hosts of Rākṣasas.
न गतिर्विद्यतेऽन्यस्य त्वामृते कुरुनंदन । इदं देवर्षिचरितं सर्वतीर्थानुसंश्रितम्
No one else but you, O joy of the Kurus, can attain this; this is the story of the gods and sages, connected with all the sacred places.
यः पठेत्कल्यमुत्थाय सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । ऋषिमुख्याः सदा यत्र वाल्मीकिस्त्वथ कश्यपः
Whoever recites this, rising at dawn, is freed from all sins; where the foremost sages always reside—Vālmīki and also Kaśyapa,
आत्रेयस्त्वथ कौंडिन्यो विश्वामित्रोऽथ गौतमः । असितो देवलश्चैव मार्कंडेयोऽथ गालवः
Atri, Kauṇḍinya, Viśvāmitra, Gautama, Asita, Devala, Mārkaṇḍeya, and Gālava,
भरद्वाजस्य शिष्यश्च मुनिरुद्दालकस्तथा । शौनकः सह पुत्रेण व्यासश्च तपतां वरः
The sage Uddālaka, disciple of Bharadvāja, and also Śaunaka with his son, and Vyāsa, the best of ascetics,
दुर्वासाश्च मुनिश्रेष्ठो जाबालिश्च महातपाः । एते ऋषिवराः सर्वे त्वत्प्रतीक्ष्यास्तपोधनाः
And Durvāsas, the foremost sage, and Jābāli, great in austerity—all these eminent sages, rich in penance, are awaiting you.
एभिः सह महाभाग तीर्थान्येतान्यनुव्रज । प्राप्स्यसे महतीं कीर्तिं यथा राजा महाभिषः
Accompanied by these blessed ones, visit these sacred places; you will attain great fame, as did King Mahābhiṣa.
यथा ययातिर्धर्मात्मा यथा राजा पुरूरवाः । तथा त्वं कुरुशार्दूल स्वेन धर्मेण शोभसे
As the righteous King Yayāti and King Purūravas did, so too, O tiger among Kurus, will you shine by your own virtue.
यथा भगीरथो राजा यथा रामश्च विश्रुतः । यथा वै वृत्रहा सर्वान्सपत्नानदहत् पुरा
As King Bhagīratha and the renowned Rāma, and as Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, once destroyed all his rivals,
त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास देवराट्विगतज्वरः । तथा शत्रुक्षयं कृत्वा त्वं प्रजाः पालयिष्यसि
And ruled the three worlds, the king of the gods, free from distress—so too, after destroying your enemies, will you protect your people.
स्वधर्मेणार्जितामुर्वीं प्राप्य राजीवलोचन । ख्यातिं यास्यसि वीर्येण कार्त्तवीर्यार्जुनो यथा
Having gained the earth through your own righteous conduct, O lotus-eyed one, you will attain fame by your valor, as did Kārtavīryārjuna.
सूत उवाच- एवमाभाष्य राजानं नारदो भगवानृषिः । अनुज्ञाप्य महाराजं तत्रैवांतरधीयत
Sūta said: Having thus addressed the king, the venerable sage Nārada, after taking leave of the great king, vanished there itself.
युधिष्ठिरोऽपि धर्मात्मा ऋषिभिः सह सुव्रतः । जगामाखिलतीर्थानि सादरः पृथिवीपतिः
And Yudhiṣṭhira, righteous and steadfast, together with the sages, respectfully visited all the sacred places, O lord of the earth.
मयोक्तामृषयः सर्वे तीर्थयात्राश्रयां कथाम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स मुक्तः सर्वपातकैः
Whoever recites or hears this account of the pilgrimage to the sacred places, as narrated by me and the sages, is freed from all sins.
मयोक्तमखिलं तत्त्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छथ । ऋषीणां पुण्यकीर्तीनां नावक्तव्यं ममास्ति वै
All the truth I have spoken—what more do you wish to hear? There is nothing about the virtuous sages that I have left untold.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्तानि तीर्थानि विष्णुदेहानि सुव्रताः । एषामन्यतमा संगान्मुक्तो भवति मानवः
Sūta said: Thus have the sacred places, which are forms of Viṣṇu, been described, O virtuous ones; by associating with any one of these, a person is liberated.
तीर्थानुश्रवणं धन्यं धन्यं तीर्थनिषेवणम् । पापराशिनिपाताय नान्योपायः कलौयुगे
Hearing about holy places is blessed, and visiting holy places is blessed; in the age of Kali, there is no other means for the destruction of heaps of sin.
वासं कुर्यामहं तीर्थे तीर्थस्पर्शमहं तथा । एवं योऽनुदिनं ब्रूते स याति परमं महत्
I should dwell at a holy place, and likewise touch a holy place; whoever says this every day attains the highest greatness.