अगस्त्य उवाच पुरा ब्रह्मा जगत्स्रष्टा विज्ञाय हरिमच्युतम्
Agastya said: Long ago, Brahma, the creator of the world, having recognized Hari, the infallible one—
आगत्य कृतवांस्तत्र यात्रां ब्रह्मा यथाविधि
Having arrived there, Brahma performed the pilgrimage according to the prescribed manner.
ततः स कृतवांस्तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Then, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, performed the rites there.
विस्तीर्णजलकल्लोलकलितं कलुषापहम्
It was adorned with expansive waves of water, removing impurity.
हंससारसचक्राह्व विहंगममनोहरम्
Beautiful with birds called hamsa and sarasa, and known as cakra, delightful to behold.
तत्र कुण्डे सुराः सर्वे स्नाताः शुद्धिसमन्विताः
There, in the pond, all the gods bathed, endowed with purity.
तदाश्चर्य्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा ते सर्वे सहसा सुराः
Then, seeing a great wonder, all the gods were suddenly amazed.
अस्य कुण्डस्य सकलं खातस्य विमलत्विषः
The entire pond, excavated, shone with pure brilliance.
अत्र स्नानेन सर्वेषामस्माकं विगतं रजः सर्वे वयं सुरश्रेष्ठ कृपया त्वमतो वद ।। 2.8.2.
By bathing here, all our impurity is gone; O best of gods, by your grace, tell us further.
कुण्डस्यैतस्य माहात्म्यं नानाफलसमन्वितम्
The greatness of this pond is endowed with various fruits.
अत्र स्नानेन विधिवत्पापात्मानोऽपि जंतवः निवसंति ब्रह्मलोके यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्
By bathing here according to the proper method, even sinful creatures dwell in Brahma's world until the dissolution of creation.
अत्र दानेन होमेन यथाशक्त्या सुरोत्तमाः
By giving, by offering oblations, according to one's ability, O best of gods—
ममास्मिन्सरसि श्रीमाञ्जायते स्नानतो नरः
A man becomes prosperous by bathing in this lake of mine.
सर्वयज्ञसमं स्याद्वै महापातकनाशनम्
It is equal to all sacrifices and destroys great sins.
अस्मिन्कुण्डे च सांनिध्यं भविष्यति सदा मम
In this pond, my presence will always remain.
यात्रा भविष्यति सदा सुराः सांवत्सरी मम
O gods, my annual pilgrimage will always take place here.
स्वर्णं चैव सदा देयं वासांसि विविधानि च
Gold should always be given, as well as various kinds of garments.
अन्तर्दधे सुरैः सार्द्धं तीर्थं दृष्ट्वा तपोधन
Having seen the sacred place, O ascetic, it disappeared together with the gods.
तदाप्रभृति तत्कुण्डं विख्यातं परमं भुवि 2.8.2.
From that time onward, that pond became renowned as supreme on earth.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा स तपोराशिरगस्त्यः कुंभसंभवः
Sūta said: Having spoken thus, Agastya, the treasury of austerity, born from the pot,
ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु सरयूतीरसंगतम्
Went to the place called Ṛṇamocana, situated on the bank of the Sarayū.
ब्रह्मकुण्डान्मुनिवर धनुःसप्तशतेन च
O best of sages, the Brahma-pond was made with seven hundred bows.
तत्र पूर्वं मुनिवरो लोमशो नाम नामतः
There formerly was the eminent sage named Lomaśa, by name.
ततः स ऋणनिर्मुक्तो बभूव गतकल्मषः
Then he became freed from debt, his sins having departed.
पश्यन्त्वेतस्य महतो गुणांस्तीर्थवरस्य वै
Behold the great virtues of this foremost of sacred places.
यत्र स्नानेन जंतूनामृणनिर्यातनं भवेत्
Where, by bathing, creatures are released from the suffering of debts.
ऐहिकं पारलौकिक्यं यदृणत्रितयं नृणाम्
The threefold debt of men, both worldly and otherworldly, is removed.
सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं चैतत्सद्यः प्रत्ययकारकम्
This is the best of all sacred places, instantly producing conviction.
तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं च शक्तितः 2.8.2.
Therefore, here, one should bathe and give gifts according to one's ability, as prescribed.
स्नातव्यं च सुवर्णं च देयं वस्त्रादि शक्तितः
One should bathe, and give gold and garments and the like, according to one's means.