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.
सत्यंसत्यं पुनः सत्यं नासत्यं मम भाषितम्
Truth, truth, again truth—never is my speech untrue.
हित्वा दिव्यानि भौमानि तीर्थानि सकलान्यपि
Forsaking all the divine and earthly sacred places,
तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं प्रातः स्नानं विशेषतः 2.8.3.
Therefore, here one should especially perform the morning bath.
त्यजंति प्राणिनः प्राणान्स्वर्गद्वारांतरे द्विज
Creatures relinquish their lives within the gateway to heaven, O twice-born.
मुक्तिद्वारमिदं पश्य स्वर्गप्राप्तिकरं नृणाम्
Behold this gateway to liberation, which grants attainment of heaven to men.
स्वर्गद्वारं सुदुष्प्राप्यं देवैरपि न संशयः
The gateway to heaven is exceedingly difficult to attain—even for the gods, there is no doubt.
स्वर्गद्वारे परा सिद्धिः स्वर्गद्वारे परा गतिः ध्यानमध्ययनं सर्वं दानं भवति चाक्षयम्
At the gateway to heaven, supreme accomplishment; at the gateway to heaven, supreme passage; all meditation, study, and giving become inexhaustible.
जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम्
The sin accumulated in previous births over a thousand lifetimes,
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा वै वर्णसंकराः।। कृमिम्लेच्छाश्च ये चान्ये संकीर्णाः पापयोनयः
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and those of mixed castes, worms, foreigners, and others of impure birth,
कीटाः पिपीलिकाश्चैव ये चान्ये मृगपक्षिणः
Insects, ants, and all other beasts and birds,