यत्र लक्ष्मीपतिः साक्षाद्वैकुंठादेत्य मानवान्
Where the Lord of Lakshmi himself comes from Vaikuṇṭha to visit mortals.
श्रुतिभिः परिपठ्येते सिताऽसित सरिद्वरे
The best of white and dark rivers are recited in the scriptures.
शिवलोकाद्ब्रह्मलोकादुमालोकवरात्पुनः तपोजनमहर्भ्यश्च सर्वे स्वर्लोकवासिनः
Again, from the worlds of Shiva, Brahma, and the supreme abode of Uma, all the inhabitants of Tapoloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, and Svargaloka come.
अचला हिमवन्मुख्याः कल्पवृक्षादयो नगाः
The immovable Himalaya is foremost, and the trees such as the wish-fulfilling ones are mountains.
दिगंगनाः प्रार्थयंति यत्प्रयागानिलानपि
The celestial maidens desire even the breezes of Prayāga.
अश्वमेधादियागाश्च प्रयागस्य रजः पुनः
The dust of Prayāga surpasses even the merits of sacrifices like the horse sacrifice.
मज्जागतानि पापानि बहुजन्मार्जितान्यपि 4.1.7.
Sins accumulated over many births, even those deeply rooted in the marrow, are washed away.
धर्मतीर्थमिदं सम्यगर्थतीर्थमिदं परम्
This is truly a sacred pilgrimage for righteousness, and the highest pilgrimage for wealth.
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि तावद्गर्जंति देहिषु
Sins such as the killing of a Brāhmaṇa roar within embodied beings until then.
तद्विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यंति सूरयः
The sages always behold that supreme abode of Viṣṇu.
सरस्वती रजो रूपा तमोरूपा कलिंदजा
Sarasvatī is of the nature of dust, and Kaliṃdajā is of the nature of darkness.
इयं वेणीहि निःश्रेणी ब्रह्मणो वर्त्मयास्यतः
This braided stream is the ladderless path of Brahmā's course.
काशीति काचिदबला भुवनेषु रूढा लोलार्क केशवविलोलविलोचना
Some maiden named Kāśī, established among worlds, with restless eyes disturbed by the playful sun and Keśava.
अगस्तिरुवाच तीर्थराजप्रयागस्य तीर्थैः संसेवितस्य च
Agastya said: The king of pilgrimages, Prayāga, served by holy places—
पापिनां यानि पापानि प्रसह्य क्षालितान्यहो
The sins of sinners are forcibly washed away—how wondrous!
प्रयागस्य गुणान्ज्ञात्वा शिवशर्मा द्विजः सुधीः
Knowing the virtues of Prayāga, the wise Brāhmaṇa Śivaśarmā—
प्रवेश एव संवीक्ष्य स देहलिविनायकम् 4.1.7.
Upon entering, he beheld the lord of the threshold.
निवेद्यमोदकान्पंच वंचयंतं निजं जनम्
He offered five sweet dumplings, deceiving his own people.
आगत्य दृष्ट्वा मणिकर्णिकायामुदग्वहां स्वर्गतरंगिणीं सः
Having arrived and seen, at Maṇikarṇikā, the river flowing upward, the heavenly-streaming one.
सचैलमाप्लुत्य जलेऽमलेऽमलेऽविलंबमालंबित शुद्धबुद्धिः
Having plunged, clothed, into the pure water, lingering, his mind purified.
विधाय च द्राक्स हि पंचतीर्थिकां विश्वेशमाराध्य ततो यथास्वम्
Having performed the fivefold pilgrimage, worshipped Viśveśa, then according to his own manner—
न स्वः पुरी सा त्वनया पुरासमं समंजसापि प्रतिसाम्यमावहेत
That city is not heaven; even with her, the ancient city could not attain equality.
पयोपि यत्रत्यमचिंत्यवैभवं दिविस्थिता साधुसुधाप्यतोमुधा
The milk here is of inconceivable splendor, even the nectar of the gods in heaven is surpassed by it, given freely and abundantly.
अनामयाश्चिंतनया न येशितुर्जनामनाग्यत्र विना पिनाकिना
Those who dwell here are free from disease and anxiety, except for those who are not devoted to the Lord with the bow.
न वर्ण्यते कैः किल काशिकेयं जंतोः स्थितस्यात्र यतोंतकाले
Who indeed could describe this Kāśī? For one who remains here until the end, at the time of death—
संसारिचिंतामणिरत्र यस्मात्तं तारकं सज्जनकर्णिकायाम्
Because here is the wish-fulfilling gem for those bound in saṃsāra, that liberating star in the lotus of the good.
मुक्तिलक्ष्मी महापीठ मणिस्तच्चरणाब्जयोः 4.1.7.
The goddess of liberation, the great seat, the jewel at the lotus feet—
जरायुजांडजोद्भिज्जाः स्वेदजाह्यत्र वासिनः
Here dwell those born from womb, egg, moisture, and sprout.
मम जन्म वृथाजातं दुर्वृत्तस्य जडात्मनः
My birth has been in vain, for I am of wicked conduct and dull mind.
पुनःपुनश्च तत्क्षेत्रमतिथीकृत्यनेत्रयोः
Again and again, I have made that field the guest of my eyes.