तिष्ठेद्युगसहस्रं तु पादेनैकेन यः पुमान्
Whoever stands for a thousand ages even on one foot—
लंबतेऽवाक्छिरा यस्तु युगानामयुतं पुमान्
And whoever hangs down with head inverted for ten thousand ages—
व्युष्टिर्भवति या पुंसां न सा क्रतुशतैरपि
The result attained by men here is not gained even by a hundred sacrifices.
पौषे मासि विशेषेण स्नानं बहुफलप्रदम्
Especially in the month of Pauṣa, bathing yields abundant rewards.
पौषे मासि विशेषेण यः कुर्यात्स्नानमादृतः स याति ब्रह्मणः स्थानं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् ।।2.8.6.
Especially in the month of Pauṣa, whoever bathes with devotion goes to the abode of Brahman, free from return.
पौषे मासे तु यो दद्याद्घृताढ्यं दीपमुत्तमम्
And in the month of Pauṣa, whoever gives a lamp filled with ghee, the best—
नानाजन्मार्जितं पापं स्वल्पं बह्वपि वा भवेत्
Whatever sin, little or great, accumulated over many births—
आयुरारोग्यमैश्वर्यं संततीः सौख्यमुत्तमम्
Long life, health, prosperity, offspring, and supreme happiness—
यस्तु शुक्लत्रयोदश्यां पौषेऽत्र प्रयतो व्रती
He who, with discipline and devotion, observes a vow on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Pauṣa,
जागरं विदधद्रात्रौ दीपं दत्त्वा तु सर्वशः
and keeps vigil through the night, offering lamps everywhere,
वैष्णवो विष्णुपूजां च कुर्वञ्छृण्वन्हरेः कथाम् कथाभिः पुण्ययुक्ताभिर्जागृयाच्छर्वरीं नरः
being a devotee of Viṣṇu, worships Viṣṇu and listens to the tales of Hari, spending the night awake with stories imbued with merit,
ततः प्रभाते विमले स्नात्वा विधिवदादरात्
then, at dawn, after bathing in pure water according to the prescribed rites and with reverence,
स्वर्णं चान्नं च वासांसि यो दद्याच्छ्रद्धयाऽन्वितः
whoever gives gold, food, and garments, endowed with faith,
वर्षेवर्षे तु कर्तव्यो जागरः पुण्यतत्परैः
should perform this vigil every year, those who are devoted to merit,
हरिः पूज्यो द्विजाः सम्यक्संतोष्याः शक्तितो नरैः भवंति निर्विषाः सर्पा यथा तार्क्ष्यस्य दर्शनात् 2.8.6.
Hari should be worshipped, and the twice-born should be properly satisfied by people according to their ability; serpents become harmless, just as they do at the sight of Tārkṣya.
तत्र स्नातो दिवं याति अत्र स्नातः सुखी भवेत
One who bathes there ascends to heaven; one who bathes here becomes happy.
त्रिषु लोकेषु ये केचित्प्राणिनः सर्व एव ते
Whatever living beings exist in the three worlds, all of them,
भूतानामिह सर्वेषां दुःखोपहतचेतसाम्
among all beings here whose minds are afflicted by suffering,
सप्तावरान्सप्तपरान्पुरुषश्चात्मनासह
seven inferior and seven superior ones, along with the person himself,
जात्यंधैरिह ते तुल्यास्तथा पंगुभिरेव च
here, those who are congenitally blind are equal, as are those who are lame,
वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो यद्वत्तथा तीर्थेषु संगमः
just as among the castes the brāhmaṇa is foremost, so is the confluence of sacred places,
अत्र स्नानेन दानेन यथा शक्त्या जितेंद्रियः
by bathing here, giving charity, and conquering the senses according to one's capacity,
नरो वा यदि वा नारी विधिवत्स्नानमाचरेत्
whether man or woman, should perform the prescribed bath,
यथा वह्निर्दहेत्सर्वं शुष्कमार्द्रमथापि वा
just as fire burns everything, whether dry or moist,
एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि नानाविधिफलानि वै 2.8.6.
on one side are all the sacred places, each with its various fruits,
सर्वतीर्थावगाहस्य फलं यादृक्स्मृतं श्रुतौ
the fruit of bathing in all the sacred places, as is remembered in the tradition,
गोप्रताराभिधं तीर्थमपरं वर्ततेऽनघ
There is another sacred ford called Gopratāra, O sinless one.
यत्र स्नानेन दानेन न शोचति नरः क्वचित्
Where, through bathing and giving, a person never grieves at any time.
वाराणस्यां यथा विद्वन्वर्त्तते मणिकर्णिका
Just as, O learned one, Maṇikarṇikā exists in Vārāṇasī,
नैमिषे चक्रवापी तु यथा तीर्थतमा स्मृता
So too, in Naimiṣa, the Cakravāpī is remembered as the foremost of sacred fords.