आगत्य च क्षुधाक्रांत उच्चैः प्रोवाच स द्विजः पायसं शुचि चोष्णं च शीघ्रं क्षुधार्त्तिने द्विज
Arriving, afflicted by hunger, that Brāhmaṇa loudly said: ‘Give quickly pure and hot rice-milk to the one tormented by hunger, O Brāhmaṇa!’
इति श्रुत्वा वचः क्षिप्रं विश्वामित्रः प्रयत्नतः
Hearing these words, Viśvāmitra promptly and carefully—
तदादायोत्थितं दृष्ट्वा दुर्वासास्तं विलोकयन्
Taking that which had been brought, Durvāsas, seeing him rise, gazed at him.
क्षणं सहस्व विप्रेन्द्र यावत्स्नात्वा व्रजाम्यहम्
O best of Brāhmaṇas, endure for a moment until I return after bathing.
इत्युक्त्वा स जगामैव दुर्वासाः स्वाश्रमं तदा
Having said this, Durvāsas then went to his own hermitage.
विश्वामित्रस्तपोनिष्ठस्तदा सानुरिवाऽचलः 2.8.5.
Viśvāmitra, steadfast in austerity, was then like a mountain with its slope.
तस्य शुश्रूषणपरो मुनिः कौत्सो यतव्रतः
Kautsa, devoted to vows, was intent on serving the sage.
पुनरागत्य स मुनिर्दुर्वासा गतकल्मषः
Then, having returned, the sage Durvāsas was free from impurity.
तस्मिन्गते मुनिवरे विश्वामित्रस्तपोनिधिः
When that eminent sage had departed, Viśvāmitra, the treasure of austerity—
स विसृष्टो गुरुं प्राह दक्षिणा प्रार्थ्यतामिति दक्षिणा तव शुश्रूषा गृहं व्रज यतव्रत
Thus released, he addressed his teacher: ‘Let the honorarium be requested. Your service is the honorarium; return home, O observer of vows.’
पुनःपुनर्गुरुं प्राह शिष्यो निर्बन्धवान्यदा
Again and again, the disciple earnestly addressed the teacher.
सुवर्णस्य सुवर्णस्य चतुर्दश समाहर
Gather fourteen measures of gold.
इत्युक्तो गुरुणा कौत्सो विचार्य समुपागमत्
Thus instructed by his teacher, Kautsa considered and then approached.
इत्युक्तं ते मुनिवर त्वया पृष्टं हि यत्पुनः
Thus spoken by you, O best of sages, in response to what you have asked again.
तस्माद्दक्षिणदिग्भागे संभेदः सिद्धसेवितः
Therefore, in the southern direction, there is a junction frequented by the accomplished.
तत्र स्नात्वा महाभाग भवन्ति विरजा नराः तदाप्नोति स धर्मात्मा तत्र स्नात्वा यतव्रतः ।। 2.8.5.
There, O illustrious one, after bathing, people become free from impurity; the righteous person attains this, having bathed there with discipline.
स्वर्णादिकं च यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे
Whoever gives gold and similar gifts to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas,
तिलोदकीसरय्वोश्च संगमे लोकविश्रुते
At the renowned confluence of the Tilodaki and Sarasvati rivers,
उपवासं च यः कृत्वा विप्रान्संतर्पयेन्नरः
And whoever, having fasted, satisfies the Brahmins,
एकाहारस्तु यस्तिष्ठेन्मासं तत्र यतव्रतः
And whoever remains with one meal a day for a month, observing discipline there,
नभस्य कृष्णामावस्यां यात्रा सांवत्सरी भवेत्
On the dark new moon of the month of Nabhasya, the pilgrimage is annual.
सिंधुजानां तुरंगाणां जलपानाय सुव्रत
For the drinking of water by the horses born in Sindhu, O virtuous one,
तिलोदकीति विख्याता पुण्यतोया सदा नदी स्नातो विमुच्यते पापैः सप्तजन्मार्जितैरपि
Tilodaki is renowned, always a sacred river of pure waters; one who bathes is freed from sins, even those accumulated over seven births.
तस्मात्तिलोदकीस्नानं सर्वपापहरं मुने स्नानं दानं व्रतं होमं सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत्
Therefore, O sage, bathing in Tilodaki removes all sins; bathing, giving, discipline, and sacrifice—all become imperishable.
इति विविधविधानैस्तीर्थयात्रांक्रमेण प्रथितगुणविकासः प्राप्तपुण्योविधाय
Thus, by various prescribed methods, the pilgrimage to the holy places, with the expansion of virtues, bestows merit.
सीताकुण्डमितिख्यातं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्
Sita's pool is famed as granting all desired fruits.
यत्र स्नात्वा नरो विप्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते रामेण वरदानाच्च महाफलनिधीकृतम्
Where, O Brahmin, one who bathes is freed from all sins; and by Rama's granting of boons, it has become a repository of great rewards.
त्वत्कुण्डस्यास्य सुभगे त्वत्प्रीत्या कथयाम्यहम्
O fortunate one, I narrate to you the story of this pool for your pleasure.
अत्र स्नानं च दानं च जपो होमस्तपोऽथवा
Here, bathing, giving, recitation, oblation, or austerity—
मार्गकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां तत्र स्नानं विशेषतः
On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, bathing there is especially meritorious.