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.
इति रामो वरं प्रादात्सीतायै च प्रजाप्रियः
Thus Rama, beloved by the people, granted the boon to Sita.
सीताकुण्डमिति ख्यातं जनानां परमाद्भुतम्
Among people, it is renowned as Sita's pool, most wondrous.
तत्र स्नानेन दानेन तपसा च विशेषतः रामं संपूज्य सीतां च मुक्तः स्यान्नात्र संशयः
There, by bathing, giving, and especially by austerity, honoring Rama and Sita, one is liberated—there is no doubt.
मार्गे मासि च स्नातव्यं गर्भवासो न जायते
On the path and in the month, one should bathe; pregnancy does not arise.
विभोर्विष्णुहरेर्विप्र रम्ये पश्चिमदिक्तटे 2.8.6.
O Brahmin, of the Lord Vishnu-Hari, on the beautiful western shore—
तस्य चक्रहरेर्विप्र महिमा न हि मानवैः
O Brahmin, the greatness of Hari's discus cannot be measured by mortals.
ततः पश्चिमदिग्भागे नाम्ना पुण्यं हरिस्मृति यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Then, in the western direction, there is a sacred place named Hari's remembrance; by merely seeing it, one is freed from all sins.
तयोर्दर्शनतो यांति तेषां पापानि देहिनाम्
By seeing them, the sins of embodied beings depart.
पुरा देवासुरे जाते संग्रामे भृशदारुणे
Long ago, when a fierce battle arose between the gods and demons—
तेषां पलायमानानां देवानामग्रणीर्हरः
As the gods fled, their leader was Hari.