शिवशर्मेति संचिंत्य बुद्धिं संधाय सर्वतः
Thinking 'Let me attain the bliss of Śiva,' I firmly resolved in every way.
यावत्स्वस्थोस्ति मे देहो यावन्नेंद्रियविक्लवः
As long as my body remains healthy, as long as my senses are not impaired,
दिनानि पंचपाण्येवमतिवाह्य गृहो द्विजः
For five days, the twice-born should thus pass his time at home.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां प्रातः श्राद्धं विधाय च 4.1.7.
After fasting for one night and performing śrāddha in the morning,
इति निश्चित्य निर्वाणपदनिःश्रेणिकां पराम्
Having thus resolved, he attains the supreme ladder leading to the state of liberation.
अथ पंथानमाक्रम्य कियंतमपि स द्विजः
Then, having set out on the path, that twice-born proceeds as far as he can.
भुवि तीर्थान्यनेकानि लोलमायुश्चलं मनः
On earth there are countless sacred places, but life is fickle and the mind is unsteady.
अयोध्यां च पुरीं गत्वा सरयूमवगाह्य च
Having gone to the city of Ayodhya and bathed in the Sarayu river,
पंचरात्रमुषित्वा तु ब्राह्मणान्परिभोज्य च
and having stayed there for five nights, and having fed the Brahmins,
सिताऽसिते सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे यत्रास्तां सुरदुर्लभे
at the best of rivers, both clear and dark, which are difficult even for the gods to attain,
क्षेत्रं प्रजापतेः पुण्यं सर्वेषामेव दुर्लभम्
there is the holy field of Prajapati, difficult for all to obtain.
दमयंतीं कलिं कालं कलिंदतनयां शुभाम्
Damayanti, Kali, Kala, and the auspicious daughter of Kalinda,
प्रकृष्टं सर्वयागेभ्यः प्रयागमिति गीयते
it is celebrated as Prayaga, supreme among all sacrifices.
यत्र स्थितः स्वयं साक्षाच्छूलटंको महेश्वरः 4.1.7.
There stands, manifest in person, Maheshvara, the Lord bearing the trident.
तत्राऽक्षय्यवटोऽप्यस्ति सप्तपातालमूलवान्
There too is the imperishable banyan tree, whose roots reach to the seven netherworlds.
हिरण्यगर्भो विज्ञेयः स साक्षाद्वटरूपधृक्
He is to be known as Hiranyagarbha, who has taken the very form of the banyan tree.
यत्र लक्ष्मीपतिः साक्षाद्वैकुंठादेत्य मानवान्
There, the Lord of Lakshmi himself, coming from Vaikuntha, blesses mortals.
श्रुतिभिः परिपठ्येते सिताऽसित सरिद्वरे
The best of rivers, both clear and dark, are extolled in the Vedas.
शिवलोकाद्ब्रह्मलोकादुमालोकवरात्पुनः तपोजनमहर्भ्यश्च सर्वे स्वर्लोकवासिनः
From the world of Shiva, from Brahma's realm, from Uma's supreme abode, and again from Tapoloka, Janaloka, Maharloka—all the residents of heaven,
अचला हिमवन्मुख्याः कल्पवृक्षादयो नगाः
the immovable ones, foremost among mountains like Himavat, and the wish-fulfilling trees and other great mountains,
दिगंगनाः प्रार्थयंति यत्प्रयागानिलानपि
even the celestial maidens desire the winds of Prayaga.
अश्वमेधादियागाश्च प्रयागस्य रजः पुनः
The dust of Prayaga surpasses even the horse-sacrifice and other great rites.
मज्जागतानि पापानि बहुजन्मार्जितान्यपि 4.1.7.
Sins that have entered the marrow, even those accumulated over many births,
धर्मतीर्थमिदं सम्यगर्थतीर्थमिदं परम्
This is the sacred place of righteousness, this is the supreme place of meaning.
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि तावद्गर्जंति देहिषु
Sins such as the killing of a Brahmin resound within embodied beings.
तद्विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यंति सूरयः
The sages always behold that supreme abode of Vishnu.
सरस्वती रजो रूपा तमोरूपा कलिंदजा
Sarasvati is of the nature of rajas, and Kali, born of impurity, is of the nature of darkness.
इयं वेणीहि निःश्रेणी ब्रह्मणो वर्त्मयास्यतः
This is the ladder of braids, the path of Brahma stretching forth.
काशीति काचिदबला भुवनेषु रूढा लोलार्क केशवविलोलविलोचना
There is a certain powerless one, established among worlds, whose restless eyes are agitated by the playful sun and Kesava.
अगस्तिरुवाच तीर्थराजप्रयागस्य तीर्थैः संसेवितस्य च
Agastya said: Of Prayaga, the king of sacred places, which is served by holy sites,