परोपकरणं येषां जागर्ति हृदये सताम्
in whose hearts, among the virtuous, the desire to help others is ever awake—
तीर्थस्नानैर्न सा शुद्धिर्बहुदानैर्न तत्फलम्
Purity is not attained by bathing at holy places, nor is that result gained by many gifts.
परोपकृत्या यो धर्मो धर्मो दानादिसंभवः
The true righteousness is that which arises from helping others, the righteousness born of giving and such acts.
परिनिर्मथ्य वाग्जालं निर्णीतमिदमेव हि
Having thoroughly examined all arguments, this alone is established as the conclusion.
उपकर्तुरगस्त्यस्य जातमेतन्निदर्शनम्
This is the example set by the benefactor Agastya.
करिकर्णाग्रचपलं जीवितं विविधं वसु
Life, and all its various riches, are as fleeting as the tip of an elephant’s ear.
यल्लक्ष्मीनाममात्राप्त्या नरो नो माति कुत्रचित् 4.1.6.
A man never finds satisfaction anywhere by merely acquiring a little wealth.
गच्छन्यदृच्छयासोथ दूराच्छ्रीशैलमैक्षत
Then, by chance, as he was traveling, he saw from afar the mountain Śrīśaila.
उवाच वचनं पत्नीं तदा प्रीतमना मुनिः
At that time, the sage, his mind pleased, spoke these words to his wife.
श्रीशैल शिखरं श्रीमदिदंतद्यद्विलोकनात्
This splendid peak of Śrīśaila, just by seeing it—
गिरि श्चतुरशीत्यायं योजनानां हि विस्मृतः
This mountain, it is said, extends for eighty-four yojanas.
ब्रूते हि याऽनुज्ञाता पत्या सा पतिता भवेत्
Indeed, a woman who acts without her husband's permission is considered fallen.
अगस्त्य उवाच किं वक्तुकामा देवि त्वं ब्रूहि तत्त्वमशंकिता
Agastya said: O goddess, what do you wish to say? Speak the truth without hesitation.
ततः पप्रच्छ सा देवी प्रणम्य मुनिमानता
Then that goddess, bowing respectfully to the sage, asked him,
लोपामुद्रोवाच इदमेव हि सत्यं चेत्किमर्थं काशिरिष्यते
Lopāmudrā said: If this alone is the truth, then why is Kāśī desired?
अगस्तिरुवाच आकर्णय वरारोहे सत्यं पृष्टं त्वयामले
Agastya said: Listen, O fair-hipped one, you have asked truly, O pure one.
मुक्तिस्थानान्यनेकानि कृतस्तत्रापिनिर्णयः 4.1.6.
There are many places of liberation, and their determination has also been made there.
प्रथमं तीर्थराजं तु प्रयागाख्यं सुविश्रुतम्
First is the king of sacred fords, renowned as Prayāga.
नैमिषं च कुरुक्षेत्रं गंगाद्वारमवंतिका
Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Gaṅgādvāra, and Avaṃtikā,
सरस्वती सिंधुसंगो गंगासागरसंगमः
The Sarasvatī, the confluence of the Sindhu, and the meeting of Gaṅgā and the ocean,
कालंजरं प्रभासश्च तथा बद रिकाश्रमः
Kālañjara, Prabhāsa, and likewise Badarikāśrama,
गोकर्णो भृगुकच्छश्च भृगुतुंगश्च पुष्करम्
Gokarṇa, Bhṛgukaccha, Bhṛgutuṅga, and Puṣkara,
मानसान्यपि तीर्थानि सत्यादीनि च वै प्रिये
There are also mental sacred fords, and those beginning with truth, O beloved.
गया तीर्थं च यत्प्रोक्तं पितॄणां हि मुक्तिदम्
And the sacred place called Gayā, which is said to grant liberation to the ancestors.
सधर्मिण्युवाच मानसान्यपि तीर्थानि यान्युक्तानि महामते
Sadharmiṇī said: The mental sacred fords that have been mentioned, O wise one,
येषु सम्यङ्नरः स्नात्वा प्रयाति परमां गतिम्
In which, when a man bathes properly, he attains the highest state.
सत्यं तीर्थं क्षमा तीर्थं तीर्थमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः 4.1.6.
Truth is a sacred ford, forgiveness is a sacred ford, and self-control of the senses is a sacred ford.
दानं तीर्थं दमस्तीर्थं संतोषस्तीर्थमुच्यते
Charity is a sacred ford, restraint is a sacred ford, and contentment is said to be a sacred ford.
ज्ञानं तीर्थं धृतिस्तीर्थं तपस्तीर्थमुदाहृतम्
Knowledge is a sacred ford, fortitude is a sacred ford, and austerity is declared to be a sacred ford.
न जलाप्लुतदेहस्य स्नानमित्यभिधीयते
Bathing is not said to be merely immersing the body in water.