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.
अतो मधुपुरी श्रेष्ठा यमुना च विशेषतः
Therefore, Madhupurī is the best, and especially the Yamunā.
द्वारावती ततः श्रेष्ठा प्रत्यहं स्नाति केशवः
After that, Dvārāvatī is supreme, where Keśava bathes every day.
द्वारकायां मृत्तिकायास्तिलको येन मस्तके द्वारकास्नानमाहात्म्यं न वक्तुं शक्यते मया
He who marks his forehead with clay from Dvārakā—its greatness as a place of bathing cannot be described by me.
गोविंदार्पितचित्तानां जायते पुण्यभास्करा
For those whose minds are devoted to Govinda, a sun of merit arises.
तस्माद्दशगुणं पुण्यं तीर्थराजेऽत्र जायते
Therefore, tenfold merit is produced here at the king of sacred fords.
कलौ दशसहस्रांऽते विष्णुस्त्यक्ष्यति मेदिनीम्
At the end of ten thousand years in the Kali age, Viṣṇu will leave the earth.
यावत्तिष्ठति गंगाऽत्र तावत्तीर्थानि संति च
As long as the Gaṅgā remains here, so long do the sacred fords exist.
यदैव गंगा नष्टा स्यात्को वा तत्पापमाहरेत् 2.4.4.
When the Gaṅgā is lost, who then can remove that sin?
तस्मान्मुनीश्वराः सर्वे यावत्तिष्ठति जाह्नवी
Therefore, all great sages, as long as the Jāhnavī remains,
समाधिं गृह्य सुदृढां यावत्कृतयुगं भवेत्
Should enter into firm meditation until the age of Kṛta returns.