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.
अगस्त्य उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं लोमशो मुनिसत्तमः
Agastya said: Having thus spoken of the greatness of the sacred place, the eminent sage Lomaśa—
इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र ऋणमोचनसंज्ञकम् ऋणमोचनतीर्थं तु पूर्वतः सरयूजले
Thus has the place called Ṛṇamocana been described, O brāhmaṇa; the Ṛṇamocana tīrtha is to the east in the waters of the Sarayū.
धनुर्द्विशत्या तीर्थं च पापमोचनसंज्ञकम् जायते तत्क्षणादेव नात्र कार्या विचारणा
The tīrtha called Pāpamocana is made with two hundred bows; it arises instantly—there is no need for doubt here.
मया तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ दृष्टं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
O best of sages, I have seen the supreme greatness there.
पांचालदेशसंभूतो नाम्ना नरहरिर्द्विजः
A brāhmaṇa named Narahari, born in the land of the Pāñcālas,
नाना विधानि पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च
committed various kinds of sins, including the killing of a brāhmaṇa and others.
स कदाचित्साधुसंगात्तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगतः
Once, through association with the virtuous, he became inclined toward a pilgrimage.
पापमोचनतीर्थे तु स्नातः सत्संगतो द्विजः
At the sin-cleansing holy place, the brāhmaṇa bathed, accompanied by good people.
दिवः पपात तन्मूर्ध्नि पुष्पवृष्टिर्मुनीश्वर 2.8.2.
From the sky, a shower of flowers fell upon his head, O best of sages.
तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं मया च द्विजपुंगव
Seeing that great wonder, I too, O foremost of brāhmaṇas,
माघकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां तत्र स्नानं विशेषतः
On the fourteenth day of the dark half of Māgha, bathing there is especially meritorious.
अन्यदा(?) तु कृते स्नाने सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
At other times, too, bathing there leads to the destruction of all sins.
पापमोचनतीर्थे तु पूर्वं तु सरयूजले
Formerly, at the sin-cleansing holy place, in the waters of the Sarayū,
सहस्रधारासंज्ञं तु सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम् प्राणानुत्सृज्य योगेन ययौ शेषात्मतां पुरा
One called Sahasradhārā, destroyer of all sins—by yogic power, giving up his life, he attained the state of Śeṣa.
सार्द्धंहस्तत्रयेणैव प्रमाणं धनुषो विदुः
Its measure is known to be three and a half hastas, according to the standard of a bow.
कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासः पुनः पप्रच्छ कौतुकात्
Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, out of curiosity, again asked,
शृण्वंस्तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं न तृप्यति मनो मम
Hearing the greatness of the holy place, my mind does not become satisfied.
सहस्रधारातीर्थस्य समुत्पत्तिं महोदयात्
Tell me the origin of the Sahasradhārā tīrtha, from the great Udaya.
पुरा रामो रघुपतिर्देवकार्यं विधाय वै 2.8.2.
Long ago, Rāma, lord of the Raghu dynasty, having accomplished the task of the gods,
मया त्याज्यो भवेत्क्षिप्रमित्थं चक्रे स संविदम्
He resolved thus: 'I must quickly abandon it.'