प्रभावादद्भुताद्भूमेः सलिलस्य च तेजसः
Because of the wondrous power of earth, water, and fire,
तस्माद्भौमेषु तीर्थेषु मानसेषु च नित्यशः
Therefore, one should always honor both the earthly and the mental sacred places.
अनुपोष्य त्रिरात्राणि तीर्थान्यनभिगम्य च
Without fasting for three nights, and without visiting the holy places,
अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा विपुलदक्षिणैः
Having performed sacrifices such as the Agniṣṭoma, with abundant gifts,
यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंयतम्
He whose hands, feet, and mind are well controlled,
प्रतिग्रहादुपावृत्तः संतुष्टो येनकेनचित्
Who has turned away from accepting gifts, and is content with whatever comes,
अदंभको निरारंभो लघ्वाहारो जितेंद्रियः 4.1.6.
Who is free of deceit, without aggression, eats lightly, and has mastered his senses—
अकोपनोऽमलमतिः सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः तीर्थान्यनुसरन्धीरः श्रद्दधानः समाहितः
Who is not prone to anger, has a pure mind, speaks the truth, is firm in his vows, steadfastly visits holy places, full of faith and concentration—
तिर्यग्योनि न वै गच्छेत्कुदेशे नैव जायते
He does not go to a lower birth, nor is he born in an impure place.
अश्रद्दधानः पापात्मा नास्तिकोऽच्छिन्नसंशयः
But one who lacks faith, is wicked, an unbeliever, and full of unresolved doubts—
तीर्थानि च यथोक्तेन विधिना संचरंति ये
Those who travel to the holy places according to the prescribed rule—
तीर्थयात्रां चिकीर्षुः प्राग्विधायोपोषणं गृहे
Desiring to undertake a pilgrimage, one should first perform fasting at home as prescribed.
कृतपारणको हृष्टो गच्छेन्नियमधृक्पुनः
Having completed the pāraṇa, one should, with joy and self-restraint, proceed again.
न परीक्ष्यो द्विजस्तीर्थेष्वन्नार्थी भोज्य एव च
A twice-born should not be tested at sacred fords, nor one who is not seeking food, nor one who is to be fed.
कर्तव्यमृषिभिर्दृष्टं पिण्याकेन गुडेन च
What has been prescribed by the seers should be performed, with flour-cakes and with jaggery.
अकालेप्यथवा काले तीर्थे श्राद्धं च तर्पणम् 4.1.6.
Whether out of season or in season, at a sacred ford, one should perform śrāddha and tarpaṇa.
तीर्थं प्राप्य प्रसंगेन स्नानं तीर्थे समाचरेत्
Upon reaching a sacred ford, one should, as occasion arises, perform bathing at the ford.
नृणां पापकृतां तीर्थे पापस्य शमनं भवेत्
For people who have committed sins, at a sacred ford, there is pacification of sin.
षोडशांशं स लभते यः पराथं च गच्छति
He who goes further attains a sixteenth part.
कुश प्रतिकृतिं कृत्वा तीर्थवारिणि मज्जयेत्। मज्जयेच्च यमुद्दिश्य सोष्टमांशं लभेत वै
Having made an image of kuśa grass, one should immerse it in the water of the sacred ford; immersing it for the sake of Yama, one surely obtains an eighth part.
तीर्थोपवासः कर्तव्यः शिरसो मुंडनं तथा। शिरोगतानि पापानि यांति मुंडनतो यतः
One should undertake a fast at the sacred ford, and also shave the head; for the sins that reside on the head depart upon shaving.
यदह्नि तीर्थप्राप्तिः स्यात्ततोह्नः पूर्ववासरे
On the day when arrival at the sacred ford is to occur, one should stay there from the previous day.
तीर्थप्रसंगात्तीर्थांगमप्युक्तं त्वत्पुरोमया
Because of the occasion of the sacred ford, the approach to the ford has also been declared by me before you.
काशीकांती च मायाख्या त्वयोध्याद्वारवत्यपि
Kāśī, Kāntī, and Māyā by name, as well as Ayodhyā and Dvāravatī.
श्रीशैलो मोक्षदः सर्वः केदारोपि ततोऽधिकः
Śrīśaila grants liberation to all, but Kedāra is even greater than that.
प्रयागादपि तीर्थाग्र्यादविमुक्तं विशिष्यते 4.1.6.
Even more distinguished than Prayāga, the foremost of sacred fords, is Avimukta.
अन्यानि मुक्तिक्षेत्राणि काशीप्राप्तिकराणि च श्रावयित्वा द्विजांश्चापि श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितान्
Other fields of liberation, and those that grant attainment of Kāśī, having caused the twice-born who are endowed with faith and devotion to hear of them—
क्षत्रियान्धर्मनिरतान्वैश्यान्सन्मार्गवर्तिनः
—and the kṣatriyas devoted to dharma, and the vaiśyas who walk the good path—
अगस्तिरुवाच तस्य पुत्रो महातेजाः शिवशर्मेति विश्रुतः
Agastya said: His son, of great brilliance, was renowned as Śivaśarman.
अधीत्यवेदान्विधिवदर्थं विज्ञाय तत्त्वतः।. पठित्वा धर्मशास्त्राणि पुराणान्यधिगम्य च
Having duly studied the Vedas and truly understood their meaning, having recited the Dharmaśāstras and also mastered the Purāṇas,