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—
उत्सवो विपुलः सद्भिः शेषपूजापुरःसरम्
A grand festival was held by the virtuous, preceded by the worship of Śeṣa.
सन्तोष्य च द्विजान्भक्त्या नागपूजापुरस्सरम्
And, having satisfied the twice-born with devotion, the worship of the Nāga was performed first.
वैशाखमासे ये स्नानं कुर्वंत्यत्र समाहिताः
Those who, with focused mind, perform bathing here in the month of Vaiśākha—
तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं माधवे यत्नतो नरैः तीर्थे कृतेऽत्र मनुजैः सर्वकामफलप्रदः
Therefore, here, during Mādhava, men should diligently perform rites; when bathing is done here by people, it grants the fruit of all desires.
विष्णुमुद्दिश्य यो दद्यात्सालंकारां पयस्विनीम्
Whoever gives a well-adorned, milch cow here, dedicated to Viṣṇu—
तस्य वासो भवेन्नित्य विष्णुलोके सनातने
His dwelling will be eternal in the everlasting world of Viṣṇu.
अत्र पूज्यौ विशेषेण नरैः श्रद्धासमन्वितः
Here, men endowed with faith should especially worship—
लक्ष्मीनारायणप्रीत्यै लक्ष्मीप्रात्यै विशेषतः
For the pleasure of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, and especially for the attainment of Lakṣmī.
सर्वाण्यपि च संगत्य स्थास्यंत्यत्र न संशयः सर्वतीर्थावगाहस्य भविष्यति फलं महत् ।। 2.8.2.
All the sacred places, gathering together, will surely abide here; the great fruit of bathing in all tīrthas will be obtained.
शेषं संस्थाप्य तत्तीर्थे भूभारहरणक्षमम्
Having established Śeṣa at that tīrtha, capable of removing the burden of the earth—
तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं विख्यातिं परमां ययौ
From that time onward, that tīrtha attained supreme fame.
पञ्चम्यामपि शुक्लायां श्रावणस्य विशेषतः सहस्रधारातीर्थे च नरः स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्
Even on the bright fifth day, especially in the month of Śrāvaṇa, at the Sahasradhārā tīrtha, a man attains heaven.
विधिवदिह हि धीमान्स्नानदानानि तीर्थे नरवर इह शक्त्या यः करोत्यादरेण
Here, O best of men, whoever, with reverence and to the best of his ability, performs bathing and charity at the tīrtha according to the prescribed method—
प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः
The sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana spoke sweet words.
श्रुत्वा त्वत्तो मम मनः परमानंदमाययौ
Hearing from you, my mind has attained supreme joy.
अन्यत्तीर्थवरं ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन मम शृण्वतः
Tell me, as I listen, of another excellent tīrtha in truth.
अगस्त्य उवाच शृणु विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थमन्यदनुत्तमम्
Agastya said: Hear, O brāhmaṇa, I shall tell you of another unsurpassed tīrtha.
स्वर्गद्वारस्य माहात्म्यं विस्तराद्वक्तुमीश्वरः
The Lord is able to describe in detail the greatness of the gateway to heaven.
सहस्रधारामारभ्य पूर्वतः सरयूजले
Beginning from the thousand streams in the waters of the eastern Sarayu,
स्वर्गद्वारस्य विस्तारः पुराणज्ञैर्विशारदैः
The expanse of the gateway to heaven has been described by the learned experts in ancient lore.