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.
यो लुब्धः पिशुनः क्रूरो दांभिको विषयात्मकः
He who is greedy, slanderous, cruel, hypocritical, and sensual—
न शरीर मल त्यागान्नरो भवति निर्मलः
A man does not become pure by merely removing the dirt from his body.
जायंते च म्रियंते च जलेष्वेव जलौकसः
Those who dwell in water are born and die in water alone.
विषयेष्वति संरागो मानसो मल उच्यते
Attachment to sense objects is called the impurity of the mind.
चित्तमंतर्गतं दुष्टं तीर्थस्नानान्न शुद्ध्यति
The mind, when corrupted within, is not purified by bathing at sacred places.
दानमिज्यातपःशौचं तीर्थसेवा श्रुतं तथा
Charity, sacrifice, austerity, purity, service at holy sites, and study of scripture—
निगृहीतेंद्रियग्रामो यत्रैव च वसेन्नरः 4.1.6.
Wherever a man dwells with his senses well restrained—
ज्ञानपूते ज्ञानजले रागद्वेषमलापहे
In the water of knowledge, purified by wisdom, which removes the stains of passion and hatred—
एतत्ते कथितं देवि मानसं तीर्थलक्षणम्
O Goddess, thus I have described to you the characteristics of the mental pilgrimage.
यथा शरीरस्योद्देशाः केचिन्मेध्यतमाः स्मृताः
Just as certain regions of the body are considered especially pure,