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.'
तस्मिन्मंत्रयमाणे हि द्वारे तिष्ठति लक्ष्मणे
While he was deliberating thus, Lakṣmaṇa stood at the door.
आगत्य लक्ष्मणं शीघ्रं प्रीत्योवाच क्षुधाऽऽकुलः
Coming swiftly, he affectionately spoke to Lakṣmaṇa, who was overcome with hunger.
कार्यार्थिनमिदं वाक्यं नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि
You should not act otherwise regarding this instruction for one seeking to accomplish a purpose.
मुनिं निवेदयामास रामाग्रे दर्शनार्थिनम्
He informed the sage that someone was waiting before Rāma, desiring an audience.
रामोऽपि कालमामंत्र्य प्रस्थाप्य च बहिर्ययौ
Rāma, after consulting the proper time and sending him forth, went outside.
दुर्वाससं मुनिवरं प्रस्थाप्य स्वयमादरात्
He respectfully sent forth the eminent sage Durvāsas himself.
लक्ष्मणोऽपि तदा वीरः कुर्वन्नवितथं वचः
Then Lakṣmaṇa, the heroic one, carried out the command without deviation.
तत्र गत्वाथ च स्नात्वा ध्यानमास्थाय सत्वरम्
Going there, he bathed and quickly settled into meditation.
ततः प्रादुरभूत्तत्र सहस्रफणमण्डितः सुरलोकात्सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समागादमरैः सह ।। 2.8.2.
Then there appeared, adorned with a thousand hoods, the lord of the gods, Indra, who arrived from the world of the gods together with the immortals.
ततः शेषात्मतां यातं लक्ष्मणं सत्यसंगरम्
Then Lakṣmaṇa, steadfast in truth, attained the state of being Śeṣa.