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.
मेरुमन्दरमात्रोऽपि राशिः पापस्य कर्मणः
Even a mass of sinful deeds as great as Mount Meru or Mandara—
या गतिर्ज्ञानतपसां या गतिर्यज्ञयाजिनाम्
The destination attained by those devoted to knowledge and austerity, and by those who perform sacrifices—
ऋषिदेवासुरगणैर्जपहोमपरायणैः 2.8.3.
By sages, gods, and hosts of asuras devoted to recitation and oblation—
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि काशीवासेषु यत्फलम्
The fruit obtained from residing in Kāśī for six thousand years—
या गतिर्योगयुक्तानां वाराणस्यां तनुत्यजाम्
The destination of those united with yoga who relinquish the body in Vārāṇasī—
स्वर्गद्वारे मृतः कश्चिन्नरकं नैव पश्यति
One who dies at the gate of heaven does not see hell at all.
भूलोके चांतरिक्षे च दिवि तीर्थानि यानि वै
Whatever sacred places exist on earth, in the atmosphere, or in heaven—
विष्णुभक्तिं समासाद्य रमन्ते तु सुनिश्चिताः
Having attained devotion to Viṣṇu, they delight with full certainty.
शक्तितः सर्वतो युक्त्वा शक्तिस्तपसि संस्थिता
By applying power in every way, and with power established in austerity—
हन्यमानोऽपि यो विद्वान्वसेच्छस्त्रशतैरपि
Even if struck down, the wise one may live, though pierced by hundreds of weapons.