चतुर्भुजत्वं संप्राप्तः शंखचक्रादिचिह्नितम् । पुरुषोत्तमदर्शनेन न पुनर्गर्भमाविशम्
Having attained four arms, marked with the symbols of the conch and discus, by the vision of the Supreme Person, I do not enter the womb again.
राजंस्त्वमपि तत्राशु गच्छ नीलाभिधं गिरिम् । कृतार्थं कुरु चात्मानं गर्भदुःखविवर्जितम्
O King, you too should quickly go there, to the mountain called Nīla; fulfill your purpose and make yourself free from the suffering of the womb.
इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य वाडवाग्र्यस्य धीमतः । पप्रच्छ हृष्टगात्रस्तु तीर्थयात्राविधिं मुनिम्
Hearing these words of the wise and foremost sage Vāḍavāgra, his body thrilled with joy, he then asked the sage about the procedure for pilgrimage.
राजोवाच। साधु विप्राग्र्य हे साधो त्वया प्रोक्तं ममानघ । पुरुषोत्तममाहात्म्यं शृण्वतां पापनाशनम्
The king said: Excellent, O best of Brāhmaṇas, O holy one, you have spoken to me, O sinless one, of the greatness of the Supreme Person, which destroys sin for those who hear it.
ब्रूहि तत्तीर्थयात्रायां विधिं श्रुतिसमन्वितम् । विधिना केन संपूर्ण फलप्राप्तिर्नृणां भवेत्
Tell me, what is the procedure for pilgrimage, accompanied by scriptural authority? By what method is the full fruit obtained by people?
ब्राह्मण उवाच। शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थयात्राविधिं शुभम् । येन संप्राप्यते देवः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः
The Brāhmaṇa said: Listen, O King, I shall explain the auspicious procedure of pilgrimage, by which one attains the Lord, worshipped by gods and demons.
वलीपलितदेहो वा यौवनेनान्वितोऽपि वा । ज्ञात्वा मृत्युमनिस्तीर्यं हरिं शरणमाव्रजेत्
Whether one's body is wrinkled and gray or still endowed with youth, knowing that death is inescapable, one should take refuge in Hari.
तत्कीर्तने तच्छ्रवणे वंदने तस्य पूजने । मतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या नान्यत्र वनितादिषु
In his praise, in hearing about him, in saluting him, in worshipping him—one's mind should be engaged, not in women or elsewhere.
सर्वं नश्वरमालोक्य क्षणस्थायि सुदुःखदम् । जन्ममृत्युजरातीतं भक्तिवल्लभमच्युतम्
Seeing all as perishable, lasting but a moment and full of suffering, one should remember Acyuta, who is beyond birth, death, and old age, and dear to the devoted.
क्रोधात्कामाद्भयाद्द्वेषाल्लोभाद्दंभान्नरः पुनः । यथाकथंचिद्विभजन्न स दुःखं समश्नुते
Whether by anger, desire, fear, hatred, greed, or hypocrisy, however one worships him, that person does not experience suffering.
स हरिर्जायते साधुसंगमात्पापवर्जितात् । येषां कृपातः पुरुषा भवंत्यसुखवर्जिताः
That Hari arises from the company of the virtuous, free from sin; by his compassion, such people become free from unhappiness.
ते साधवः शांतरागाः कामलोभविवर्जिताः । ब्रुवंति यन्महाराज तत्संसारनिवर्तकम्
Those virtuous ones, free from passion and devoid of desire and greed, O great king, speak that which leads to release from worldly existence.
तीर्थेषु लभ्यते साधू रामचंद्र परायणः । यद्दर्शनं नृणां पापराशिदाहाशुशुक्षणिः
In holy places are found such virtuous ones devoted to Rāma; the sight of whom quickly dries up the heap of sins in people.
तस्मात्तीर्थेषु गंतव्यं नरैः संसारभीरुभिः । पुण्योदकेषु सततं साधुश्रेणिविराजिषु
Therefore, those who fear worldly existence should always go to holy places with sacred waters, adorned by assemblies of virtuous people.
तानि तीर्थानि विधिना दृष्टानि प्रहरंत्यघम् । तं विधिं नृपशार्दूल कुरुष्व श्रुतिगोचरम्
Those holy places, seen according to the prescribed method, remove sin; O best of kings, perform that procedure which is in accord with the scriptures.
विरागं जनयेत्पूर्वं कलत्रादि कुटुंबके । असत्यभूतं तज्ज्ञात्वा हरिं तु मनसा स्मरेत्
First, one should generate detachment from wife and family, knowing them to be unreal; then, one should remember Hari in the mind.
क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा रामरामेति च ब्रुवन् । तत्र तीर्थादिषु स्नात्वा क्षौरं कुर्याद्विधानवित्
Then, going a krośa’s distance, uttering 'Rāma, Rāma,' one should bathe at those holy places and, being versed in the procedure, perform shaving.
मनुष्याणां च पापानि तीर्थानि प्रति गच्छताम् । केशानाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति तस्माद्वपनमाचरेत्
The sins of people going to holy places reside in their hair; therefore, one should perform the shaving.
ततो दंडं तु निर्ग्रन्थिं कमंडलुमथाजिनम् । बिभृयाल्लोभनिर्मुक्तस्तीर्थवेषधरो नरः
Then, free from greed, a man should carry a staff without knots, a water pot, and a deer skin, adopting the attire of a pilgrim.
विधिना गच्छतां नॄणां फलावाप्तिर्विशेषतः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तीर्थयात्राविधिं चरेत्
When people proceed according to the prescribed method, the attainment of the fruit is especially assured; therefore, one should undertake the pilgrimage ritual with all effort.
यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंहितम् । विद्या तपश्च कीर्तिश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He whose hands, feet, and mind are well composed, whose knowledge, austerity, and fame are established, attains the fruit of pilgrimage.
हरेकृष्ण हरेकृष्ण भक्तवत्सल गोपते । शरण्य भगवन्विष्णो मां पाहि बहुसंसृतेः
O Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, beloved of devotees, protector of cows, refuge, Lord Vishnu, save me from the many cycles of worldly existence.
इति ब्रुवन्रसनया मनसा च हरिं स्मरन् । पादचारी गतिं कुर्यात्तीर्थं प्रति महोदयः
Uttering thus with the tongue and remembering Hari in the mind, one should proceed on foot towards the holy place, bringing forth great merit.
यानेन गच्छन्पुरुषः समभागफलं लभेत् । उपानद्भ्यां चतुर्थांशं गोयाने गोवधादिकम्
A person traveling by vehicle obtains an equal share of the fruit; by footwear, a fourth part; by riding a cow or causing harm to cows, even less.
व्यवहर्ता तृतीयांशं सेवयाष्टमभागभाक् । अनिच्छया व्रजंस्तत्र तीर्थमर्धफलं लभेत्
A businessperson receives a third part, a servant an eighth share; one who goes unwillingly there gains half the fruit of pilgrimage.
यथायथं प्रकर्तव्या तीर्थानामभियात्रिका । पापक्षयो भवत्येव विधिदृष्ट्या विशेषतः
The pilgrimage to holy places should be performed as prescribed; the destruction of sin certainly occurs, especially according to the prescribed rule.
तत्र साधून्नमस्कुर्यात्पादवंदनसेवनैः । तद्द्वारा हरिभक्तिर्हि प्राप्यते पुरुषोत्तमे
There, one should honor the holy people with bowing and service to their feet; through them, devotion to Hari is attained in the Supreme Person.
इति तीर्थविधिः प्रोक्तः समासेन न विस्तरात् । एवं विधिं समाश्रित्य गच्छ त्वं पुरुषोत्तमम्
Thus the rule for pilgrimage has been stated briefly, not in detail; following this rule, you should go to the Supreme Person.
तुभ्यं तुष्टो महाराज दास्यते भक्तिमच्युतः । यथा संसारनिर्वाहः क्षणादेव भविष्यति
The infallible one, pleased with you, O great king, will grant devotion, so that the completion of worldly existence will occur in an instant.
तीर्थयात्राविधिं श्रुत्वा सर्वपातकनाशनम् । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्य उग्रेभ्यः पुरुषर्षभ
Having heard the rule of pilgrimage, which destroys all sins, one is freed from all severe sins, O best of men.