समाप्य स्नानकर्माणि गंगायां समुपोषितः । कृतपंचमहायज्ञो गंगापूजां समाचरेत्
Having finished the bathing rituals in the Ganga and observed a fast, one who has performed the five great sacrifices should worship the Ganga.
गंगायाः प्रतिमां देव्याः श्रीविष्णोः प्रतिमां तथा । नालिकेरोदकैर्दिव्यैः स्नापयेद्भक्तितो बुधः
A wise person should bathe the image of the goddess Ganga and the image of Shri Vishnu with divine coconut water, with devotion.
जाह्नवीप्रतिमाभावान्नालिकेरोदकानि वै । निक्षिपेज्जाह्नवीतोये जाह्नवीं हृदि संस्मरन्
Due to the presence of the image of Jahnavi, one should pour coconut water into the waters of Jahnavi, remembering Jahnavi in the heart.
दिव्यैर्गंधैश्च दीपैश्च घृतपूर्णसमुज्ज्वलैः । धूपैः सुवासितैश्चैव नानापुष्पमनोहरैः
With divine fragrances, lamps filled with clarified butter shining brightly, incense of pleasant scent, and various delightful flowers,
नानाफलैः सुपक्वैश्च नैवेद्यैरुत्तमास्तथा । पाद्यार्घाचमनीयैश्च तांबूलैः खादिरान्वितैः
With various well-ripened fruits, excellent offerings, water for washing the feet, arghya, water for sipping, and betel leaves mixed with khadira,
अन्यैरप्युपहारैश्च विशिष्टैर्निजभक्तितः । स्तवैर्नाना च नैवेद्यैर्गङ्गां विष्णुं च पूजयेत्
With other distinguished offerings, according to one's devotion, with various hymns and offerings, one should worship Ganga and Vishnu.
ततः संपूजितां देवीं विष्णुं च परमेश्वरम् । अंगप्रदक्षिणां कुर्याद्भक्त्या वारत्रयं बुधः
Then, having worshipped the goddess and Vishnu, the supreme lord, a wise person should circumambulate them three times with devotion.
अथ स्थित्वा निराहारोऽपरेहनि सरिद्वरे । भोक्ष्यामि जह्नुतनये शरणं मे भवानघे
Then, having remained fasting on the next day at the river's edge, one should say, 'O daughter of Jahnu, I will eat; be my refuge, O sinless one.'
एवं संकल्प्य मतिमान्कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्याज्जितनिद्रो ऽतिहर्षितः
Thus resolving, the wise person, with mind, action, and speech, should remain awake at night, conquering sleep and filled with great joy.
अशक्त्या च द्विजश्रेष्ठ फलाहारो भवेदधः । अन्नमात्रं न भुंजीत न च कुर्याद्धि भोजनम्
If unable, O best of twice-born, one may subsist on fruits; one should not eat only food, nor should one prepare a meal.
प्रातर्गङ्गां च विष्णुं च पुनरभ्यर्च्य जैमिने । विप्राय दक्षिणां दद्याद्विभवस्यानुरूपतः
In the morning, having again worshipped Ganga and Vishnu, O Jaimini, one should give a gift to a Brahmin according to one's means.
अर्चनं जागरं चैव यत्कृतं पुरतस्तव । अच्छिद्रमस्तु तत्सर्वं त्वत्प्रसादात्सरिद्वरे
May all the worship and vigil performed before you be unbroken, O river goddess, by your grace.
इत्युक्त्वा तां नमस्कृत्य कृतनित्यक्रियो द्विजः । ततः सबंधुभिः सार्द्धं पारणं स्वयमाचरेत्
Having said this and bowed to her, the twice-born who has performed his daily rites should then, together with his relatives, break his fast himself.
तीर्थोपवासमेवं यः कुरुते जाह्नवीतटे । तस्य पुण्यफलं वत्स वदतो मे निशामय
Whoever observes a holy fast in this way on the bank of Jahnavi, listen, O child, to the merit he gains as I speak.
जन्मांतरार्जितैः पापैर्विमुक्तो विष्णुरूपधृक् । विष्णोः पुरं समासाद्य विष्णुना सह मोदते
Freed from sins accumulated over many births, taking the form of Vishnu, he attains the city of Vishnu and enjoys happiness with Vishnu.
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च । स्थित्वा विष्णुपुरं सर्वं सुखं भुंक्ते सुदुर्ल्लभम्
For thousands of millions of aeons and hundreds of millions of aeons, he remains in Vishnu's city, enjoying all happiness, which is exceedingly rare.
ततो नारायणादेशाद्ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति । ब्रह्मलोके सुखं भुंक्ते दुर्ल्लभं यत्सुरैरपि
Then, by the command of Nārāyaṇa, he goes to the world of Brahmā, where he enjoys happiness that is difficult even for the gods to attain.
तावत्कालं ब्रह्मलोके स्थित्वा ब्रह्मक्षयात्ततः । महादेवं ततो गच्छेद्रथमारुह्य शोभनम्
Having remained in Brahmā's world for that period, then, when Brahmā's time ends, he mounts a splendid chariot and proceeds to Mahādeva.
सुखं नानाविधं तत्र भुङ्क्तेऽत्यन्तसुदुर्ल्लभम् । गाणपत्यमवाप्नोति किमन्यैर्बहुभाषितैः
There he enjoys various kinds of happiness, exceedingly rare to obtain, and attains the state of Gaṇapati—what need is there for many other words?
तावत्कालं शिवपुरे स्थित्वा वै पुण्यवान्नरः । इन्द्रलोकं ततो गच्छेद्द्वितीय इव वासवः
Having dwelled in Śiva's city for that time, the virtuous man then goes to Indra's world, like a second Vāsava.
तेन पुण्यात्मना सार्द्धं वसेदेकासने ततः । तत्र भुक्त्वाखिलान्कामान्कल्पकोटिशतावधि
There, seated together with that virtuous soul, he enjoys all desires for hundreds of millions of aeons.
सूर्यलोकं ततो गच्छेद्द्वितीय इव चन्द्रमाः । तत्रामृतानि भुक्त्वा वै चिरं चन्द्रस्य सन्निधौ
Then he goes to the world of the Sun, like the Moon himself; there, having enjoyed ambrosial delights for a long time in the presence of the Moon,
पुनरागत्य पृथिवीं चक्रवर्ती नृपो भवेत् । पालयित्वा चिरं पृथ्वीं जित्वा वै सकलान्रिपून्
He returns again to earth and becomes a universal emperor; having ruled the earth for a long time, conquering all rival kings,
आयुषोंऽते च गङ्गायां सुखं मृत्युमवाप्नुयात् । भूयः स एवमारुह्य विमानं सुमहायशाः
At the end of his life, he attains a pleasant death in the Gaṅgā; then, ascending a celestial chariot, he becomes renowned with great glory.
पुरं भगवतो याति दैवतैरपि दुर्ल्लभम् । तत्र भुक्त्वाखिलान्भोगान्मन्वंतरचतुष्टयम्
He goes to the city of the Blessed Lord, which is difficult even for the gods to reach; there, he enjoys all pleasures for four cycles of Manu.
परमं ज्ञानमासाद्य दुर्ल्लभं मोक्षमाप्नुयात् । जाह्नवीतीरयात्रायां दैवाद्यस्य भवेत्पथि
Having attained supreme knowledge there, he obtains liberation, which is difficult to achieve; such is the path for one who undertakes the journey to the bank of the Jāhnavī by divine will.
पंचता सोऽपि परमं धाम गच्छेन्न संशयः । सत्यधर्मो नाम राजा धार्मिकश्च प्रियंवदः
Even if he dies on the way, he certainly goes to the supreme abode—there is no doubt; there was a king named Satyadharma, righteous and gentle in speech.
त्रेताद्वापरसंधौ च बभूव क्षितिमण्डले । विजया नाम महिषी तस्य भूमिपतेरभूत्
He lived on earth at the junction of the Tretā and Dvāpara ages; his queen was named Vijayā.
सुंदरी शीलयुक्ता सा पतिसेवापरायणा । सप्तवर्षसहस्राणि भुक्त्वा वसुमतीमिमाम्
She was beautiful, endowed with good conduct, devoted to serving her husband; having enjoyed this earth for seven thousand years,
कदाचित्प्राप्तकालोऽसौ सदारः पंचतां गतः । ततो यमभटैर्बद्धौ दंपती तौ भयंकरौ
Once, when the time had come, he, along with his wife, passed away; then the two, bound by Yama's terrifying attendants,