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.
यत्र रामाज्ञया विद्वन्साकेतनगरीजनाः
Where, by the command of Rāma, O learned one, the people of Sāketa city—
कथं च राघवो विद्वन्नेतत्कथय सुव्रत
And how did Rāghava, O learned one, tell me this, O steadfast one.
यथाजगाम रामोऽसौ स्वर्गं स च पुरीजनः
How Rāma went to heaven, and so did the people of the city.
पुरा रामो विधायैव देवकार्य्यमतंद्रितः
Once, Rāma, having accomplished the work of the gods, untiringly—
ततो निशम्य चारेण वानराः कामरूपिणः 2.8.6.
Then, having heard by means of spies, the monkeys who could assume any form—
देवगंधर्वपुत्राश्च ऋषिपुत्राश्च वानराः
The monkeys, sons of gods, gandharvas, and sages—
ते राममनुगत्योचुः सर्वे वानरयूथपाः
All the leaders of the monkey troops, following Rāma, spoke thus:
यदि राम विनास्माभिर्गच्छेस्त्वं पुरुषर्षभ
If, O best of men, you go without us, O Rāma—
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषामृक्षवानररक्षसाम्
Having heard the words of those bears, monkeys, and rākṣasas—
यावत्प्रजा धरिष्यंति तावदेव विभीषण
As long as living beings endure, so long, O Vibhīṣaṇa—