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.
इन्द्र उवाच लक्ष्मणोत्तिष्ठ शीघ्रं त्वमारोह स्वपदं स्वकम्
Indra said: 'Lakṣmaṇa, rise quickly and ascend to your own abode.'
वैष्णवं परमं स्थानं प्राप्नुहि त्वं सनातनम्
Attain the supreme, eternal Vaiṣṇava realm.
सहस्रधा क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रफणमण्डलैः
Piercing the earth in a thousand places with his thousand-hooded coils—
फणसाहस्रमणिभिर्दग्धाः शेषस्य सुव्रत ख्यातं सहस्रधारेति भविष्यति न संशयः
By the thousand-jewelled hoods of Śeṣa, O virtuous one, the earth was scorched; it will be renowned as 'Sahasradhāra,' without doubt.
एतत्क्षेत्रप्रमाणं तु धनुषां पञ्चविंशतिः सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं व्रजेन्नरः
The measure of this sacred place is twenty-five bows; a man purified from all sins attains the world of Viṣṇu.
अत्र स्नातो नरो धीमाञ्छेषं संपूज्य चाव्ययम्
Here, a wise man who bathes and worships the imperishable Śeṣa—
तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानं विधिपुरःसरम्
Therefore, here one should perform bathing according to prescribed rites.
स्वर्णं चान्नं च वासांसि देयानि श्रद्धयान्वितैः
Gold, food, and garments should be given by those endowed with faith.
तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् 2.8.2.
Therefore, this is a great sacred ford, bestowing the fruits of all desires.
श्रावणे शुद्धपक्षस्य या तिथिः पञ्चमी भवेत्
In the month of Śrāvaṇa, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight—