स्मरेद्गंगादिका नद्यो विष्णुशर्वादिदेवताः
One should remember rivers such as the Ganges and deities like Viṣṇu and Śarva.
कार्तिकेऽहं करिष्यामि प्रातःस्नानं जनार्दन
In Kārtika, I will perform the morning bath, O Janārdana.
नित्ये नैमित्तिके कृत्वा कार्तिके पापनाशन
Having performed the daily and occasional rites, in Kārtika, the destroyer of sin,
तीर्थादिदेवताभ्यश्च क्रमादर्घ्यादि दापयेत्
One should offer arghya and other oblations in order to the deities presiding over holy places and so forth.
नमः कमलनाभाय नमस्ते जलशायिने
Salutations to the lotus-naveled one; obeisance to you who recline upon the waters.
व्रतिनः कार्तिके मासि स्नातस्य विधिवन्मम
For one observing vows, in the month of Kārtika, after bathing according to the prescribed method—
किरणा धूतपापा च पुण्यतोया सरस्वती
The rays, the sin-cleansing waters, and Sarasvatī, the holy river—
अन्यासां च नदीनां च दद्यादर्घ्यं यथाविधि 2.4.4.
And likewise, for the other rivers, one should offer arghya as prescribed.
नान्यत्तीर्थं तु जाह्नव्यां स्मरणीयं कदाचन
No other sacred place on the Jāhnavī is ever to be remembered.
मृत्स्नानं च पितृस्नानं गुरुस्नानं ततः परम्
Then, the clay bath, the ancestral bath, and the bath for the teacher, in due order.
अघमर्षणकं कृत्वा स्नानांगं तर्पणं तथा
Having performed the aghamarṣaṇa rite, and the ritual bath, one should also offer libations.
ततस्तु बहिरागत्य तीर्थं शिरसि निक्षिपेत्
Then, coming out, one should place the sacred water upon the head.
ततो जलाद्विनिष्क्रम्य चांचलं पीडयेद्बहिः
After emerging from the water, one should wring out the wet cloth outside.
तद्दोषपरिहारार्थं यक्ष्मणं तर्पयाम्यहम्
For the removal of that fault, I offer oblation to Yakṣmaṇa.
अरुणं प्रति सूर्येण यदुक्तं च सविस्तरम्
What was spoken by the Sun to Aruṇa, in detail—
क्षेत्रे वा एतदाऽऽख्याहि भगवन्स्नानयोगतः
O blessed one, declare this in the field as pertains to the practice of bathing.
यत्र कुत्राऽपि कर्तव्यं जले स्नानं तु कार्तिकं
Wherever it may be, the Kārtika bath should be performed in water.
ततो दशगुणं पुण्यं शीततोयनिमज्जनात् 2.4.4.
Then, tenfold merit arises from immersion in cold water.
कूपात्सहस्रगुणितं फलं वापीनिषेकतः
A thousandfold fruit accrues from drawing water from a well.
ततो दशगुणं पुण्यं निर्झरेषु निमज्जनात्
Then, tenfold merit comes from immersion in streams.
नद्या दशगुणं प्रोक्तं तीर्थस्नानं खगोत्तम
O best of birds, bathing in a river is said to yield ten times the merit.
नदीत्रयस्य संयोगे पुण्यस्यांऽतो न विद्यते
At the confluence of three rivers, there is no limit to the merit.
गोदावरी विपाशा च नर्मदा तमसा मही
The Godāvarī, Vipāśā, Narmadā, and Tamasā rivers, and the earth,
वितस्ता वेदिका शोणो वेत्रवत्यपराजिता
Vitastā, Vedikā, Śoṇa, Vetravatī, and Aparājitā,
वाग्मती च शतद्रुश्च तथा बदरिकाश्रमः
Vāgmatī, Śatadru, and likewise the hermitage of Badarikā,
सर्वेभ्यश्च स्थलेभ्यश्च आर्यावर्तं तु पुण्यदम्
And from all these places, Āryāvarta is indeed the most meritorious.
अनंतसेनवसतिर्वराहक्षेत्रमेव च
The dwelling of Anantasena and the Varāha-kshetra as well,
अवंतिका ततः श्रेष्ठा ततो बदरिकाश्रमः 2.4.4.
Then Avanti is supreme, and after that, the hermitage of Badarikā.
ततः कनखलं तीर्थं ततो मधुपुरी वरा
Then comes the sacred place Kanakhala, and after that, the excellent city of Madhupurī.
यैः स्नातस्ते तु वैकुंठे बहुकालं वसंति हि
Those who have bathed at these places truly dwell in Vaikuṇṭha for a long time.