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.
माघमासे तु संप्राप्ते प्रातःकाले तथाऽमले
When the pure morning of the month of Māgha arrives,
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वयज्ञेषु यत्फलम्
Whatever merit is gained at all holy places, whatever fruit is obtained from all sacrifices,
तत्पुण्यं लभते मर्त्यो नात्र कार्या विचारणा
That merit is obtained by a mortal here—there should be no doubt about this.
पितरस्तस्य तुष्यंति गयाश्राद्धशतैर्न तु 1.2.52.
His ancestors are satisfied here in a way not achieved by hundreds of ancestral rites at Gayā.
तदक्षयफलं सर्वं ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा
All these imperishable results are just as the word of Brahmā declares.
कन्यां ब्राह्मेण विधिना दत्त्वा कोटिगुणं फलम्
By giving a maiden according to Brāhma marriage rites, one obtains a reward a crore times greater.
कोटि तीर्थे त्यजेत्प्राणान्हृदि कृत्वा तु माधवम्
If one gives up his life at Koṭitīrtha, having fixed Mādhava in his heart,
कोटितीर्थे तीर्थवरे देहत्यागं करोति यः
Whoever abandons the body at Koṭitīrtha, the foremost of holy places—
अस्य तीरे देहदाहो यस्य कस्य प्रजायते
On this bank, the cremation of anyone's body takes place.
तत्फलं गदितुं पार्थ वागीशोऽपि न वै क्षमः
O Partha, even the lord of speech is not able to describe its result.