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,
कौमोदकीकराः सर्वे पक्षिणो गरुडध्वजाः
All makers of lotus garlands, and birds bearing Garuda's banner,
अकामो वा सकामो वा अपि तीर्थगतोपि वा
Whether without desire or with desire, or even those who have gone to the sacred place,
मुनयो देवताः सिद्धाः साध्या यक्षा मरुद्गणाः 2.8.3.
Sages, gods, accomplished ones, Sadhyas, Yakshas, and hosts of Maruts,
मध्याह्नेऽत्र प्रकुर्वंति सान्निध्यं देवतागणाः
At midday here, the hosts of deities make their presence.
कुर्वंत्यनशनं ये तु स्वर्गद्वारे जितेंद्रियाः
Those who fast at the gateway to heaven and have mastered their senses,
अन्नदानरता ते च रत्नदा भूमिदा नराः
Those devoted to giving food, and men who give jewels and land,
यत्र सिद्धा महात्मानो मुनयः पितरस्तथा
There, the perfected ones, the great souls, the sages, and the ancestors also dwell.
चतुर्द्धा च तनुं कृत्वा देवदेवो हरिः स्वयम्
The god of gods, Hari himself, having assumed fourfold form—
ब्रह्मलोकं परित्यज्य चतुर्वक्त्रः सनातनः
The eternal four-faced one, having abandoned the world of Brahma—
कैलासनिलयावासी शिवस्तत्रैव संस्थितः
Shiva, dwelling on Mount Kailāsa, is established there as well.