ततो भगवता ह्यत्र मनसा निर्मितं सरः
Then, by the Blessed One, a lake was created here by the mind.
किं कुर्म भगवन्धातरादेशं देहि नः प्रभो
"What shall we do, O Lord? Give us your command, O Master."
एतस्मिन्सरसि स्थेयं तीर्थैः सर्वैरथात्र च
One should remain in this lake, along with all the sacred bathing places, and here as well.
कोटीनामेव तीर्थानां लिंगानां स्नानपूजया 1.2.52.
By bathing and worshipping the liṅgas of even ten million sacred places,
यः श्राद्धं कुरुते चात्र पिंडदानं यथाविधि
Whoever performs śrāddha here, and offers the ancestral cake according to the proper method,
स्नात्वा योऽभ्यर्चयेद्देवं कोटीश्वरमनन्यधीः
Who, after bathing, worships the deity Koṭīśvara with undistracted mind,
त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा
All the sacred bathing places in the three worlds, and likewise the rivers beginning with the Gaṅgā,
एवं दत्त्वा वरं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोकं ययौ प्रभुः
Thus, having granted the boon, Brahmā the Lord went to the world of Brahmā.
अस्य तीरे पुरा पार्थ ब्रह्माद्यैर्देवसत्तमैः
On this bank, O Pārtha, in ancient times, by Brahmā and other foremost gods,
वसिष्ठाद्यैर्मुनिवरैस्तपश्चीर्णं पुरानघ
By eminent sages beginning with Vasiṣṭha, penance was performed here in ancient times, O sinless one.
अत्र तीर्थे पुरा पार्थ अत्रिणा विहितं तपः
At this sacred place, O Pārtha, formerly, Atri performed austerity.
अत्रीश्वराभिसंज्ञं तु महापापहरं परम्
It is known as Atrīśvara, supreme and remover of great sins.
तत्र स्नात्वा च यो मर्त्यः श्राद्धं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः
There, whoever bathes and diligently performs śrāddha, though mortal,
भरद्वाजेन मुनिना कोटितीर्थे सरोवरे 1.2.52.
By the sage Bharadvāja, at the Koṭitīrtha lake,
भरद्वाजेश्वरं लिंगं स्थापितं सुमनोहरम्
The charming liṅga called Bharadvājeśvara was established there.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याद्विधानतः
There, after bathing, a man should perform śrāddha with devotion and according to rule.
ततश्च कोटितीर्थेऽस्मिन्गौतमो भगवानृषिः
Then, at this Koṭitīrtha, the venerable sage Gautama,
तं कामं प्राप्तवान्धीमान्परां मुदमुपागतः
That wise one obtained his desire and attained supreme joy.
अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महालिंगं गौतमेश्वरसंज्ञितम्
In this field stands the great liṅga known as Gautameśvara.
तन्मम ब्रूहि सकलमहल्यासरःकारणम्
Tell me in full, the entire reason for the lake of Ahalyā here.
पुरा चेंद्रसमायोगे परं दुःखमुपागता
Long ago, during her union with Indra, she suffered great distress.
ततो दुःखार्तः स मुनिः कोटितीर्थेऽकरोत्तपः
Then, afflicted by sorrow, that sage performed austerities at Koṭitīrtha.
ततः साध्वी परं हृष्टा अत्र क्षेत्रे सरोवरम्
After that, the virtuous woman became exceedingly joyful at this sacred site, at the lake.
अहल्यासरसि स्नानं पिंडदानं समाचरेत् 1.2.52.
One should bathe in the Ahalyā Lake here and perform the offering of rice-balls.
कोटितीर्थे नरश्रेष्ठ अनेके मुनयोऽमलाः
At Koṭitīrtha, O best of men, many pure sages have gathered.
राजभिर्बहुभिः पूर्वं तपो दानं तथाध्वराः
Formerly, many kings performed austerities, gave gifts, and conducted sacrifices here.
अस्य तीरे द्विजं चैकं मृष्टान्नैर्यश्च तर्पयेत्
On its bank, one should satisfy a single Brāhmaṇa with well-cooked food.
अस्य तीरे नरः पार्थ रत्नानि विविधानि च
On its bank, O Pārtha, a man should offer various kinds of jewels.
श्रद्धया परया पार्थ द्विजेभ्यः संप्रयच्छति कोटितीर्थे प्रतिश्रुत्य द्विजेभ्यो न प्रयच्छति
With supreme faith, O Pārtha, he gives to the Brāhmaṇas; but if, after vowing at Koṭitīrtha, he does not give to the Brāhmaṇas—
नरके पातयित्वा च कुलमेकोत्तरं शतम्
He causes his lineage to fall into hell for one hundred generations.