एकाहारस्तु यस्तिष्ठेन्मासं तत्र यतव्रतः
Whoever observes a vow of eating only once a day for a month at that place—
अग्निप्रवेशं ये कुर्युर्गोप्रतारे विधानतः
Those who perform the prescribed ritual of entering the fire at Gopratara—
कुर्वंत्यनशनं येऽत्र विष्णुभक्त्या सुनिश्चिताः
Those who practice fasting here, firmly devoted to Vishnu—
अर्चयेद्यस्तु गोविंदं गोप्रतारे हि मानवः 2.8.6.
Whoever worships Govinda at Gopratara, O human—
अग्निहोत्रफलो धूपो गोविंदस्य समर्पितः
Incense offered to Govinda yields the fruit of the Agnihotra sacrifice.
अत्यद्भुतमिदं विद्वन्स्थानमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम्
O learned one, this place has been described as exceedingly wondrous.
स्वर्गद्वारे नरः स्नात्वा दशस्वर्णफलं लभेत्
By bathing at the gateway to heaven, a man obtains the merit equal to ten pieces of gold.
सुतीर्थे पर्वणि श्रेष्ठे दशस्वर्णफलप्रदे
At the excellent holy place during a festival, one attains the fruit equal to ten pieces of gold.
उपोषितः शुचिः स्नातो विष्णुपूजनतत्परः
Having fasted, being pure, having bathed, and devoted to the worship of Viṣṇu—
तावद्गर्जंति पुण्यानि स्वर्गे मर्त्ये रसातले
So long do the merits resound in heaven, on earth, and in the netherworld.
पौर्णमास्यां प्रभाते तु स्नात्वा निर्मलमानसः
On the full moon, in the morning, having bathed with a pure mind—
दत्त्वान्नं च यथाशक्त्या संतोष्य ब्राह्मणांस्ततः
Having given food according to one's ability and satisfied the Brāhmaṇas—
विभुं गुप्तहरिं दृष्ट्वा संपूज्य तु विशेषतः
Having seen the all-pervading, hidden Hari and especially worshipped him—
स्वर्गद्वारे च विधिवन्मध्याह्ने स्नानमाचरेत् 2.8.6.
At the gateway to heaven, one should perform the midday bath according to the proper rite.
इति परमविधानैर्गोप्रतारे विधाय प्रथितसुकृतमूर्त्तिः स्नानमुच्चैः प्रयत्नात्
Thus, by these supreme ordinances at the Go-pratāra, having performed the rites, the person of renowned virtue should bathe there with great effort.
सीताकुण्डाच्च वायव्ये वर्त्तते गुणसुन्दरम्
To the northwest of Sītākuṇḍa lies Guṇasundara.
पुरा दशरथो राजा पुत्रेष्टिनाम नामतः
Long ago, King Daśaratha performed a sacrifice called Putreṣṭi by name.
क्रतुं समापयामास सानन्दो भूरिदक्षिणम्
He, joyful and generous with gifts, completed the sacrifice.
हस्ते कृत्वा हेमपात्रं हविःपूर्णमनुत्तमम् चतुर्विधं विभज्यैव पत्नीभ्यो दत्तवान्नृपः
Taking a golden vessel filled with excellent oblation, the king divided it into four parts and gave it to his wives.
यत्र तत्क्षीरसंप्राप्तिर्जाता परमदुर्लभा उदकेनाभिव्यक्तं च उत्तमं च फलप्रदम्
There occurred the attainment of that milk, which was extremely rare; and, revealed by water, it bestowed the highest fruit.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो धीमान्विजितेन्द्रिय आदरात्
There, a wise man, self-controlled, who bathes with reverence—
आश्विने शुक्लपक्षस्य एकादश्यां जितव्रतः
On the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Āśvina, having observed vows—
विष्णुं संपूज्य विधिवत्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
Having properly worshipped Viṣṇu, he attains all desires.
तस्मात्क्षीरोदकस्थानान्नैर्ऋते दिग्दले श्रितम्
Therefore, from the place of the milk-water, it is situated in the southwestern quarter.
सर्वपापप्रशमनं पुण्यामृततरंगितम् 2.8.7.
It removes all sins and is imbued with the nectar of virtue.
यज्ञं च विधिवच्चक्रे बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः सुपर्णच्छायसंपन्नं कुण्डं तत्पापिदुर्ल्लभम्
Bṛhaspati, wise and noble-minded, performed the sacrifice according to the prescribed rites; the altar was adorned with the shade of Suparṇa, and was difficult for the sinful to attain.
इन्द्रादयोऽपि विबुधा यत्र स्नात्वा प्रयत्नतः
There, Indra and the other gods also bathed with great care.
यत्र स्नानेन दानेन नरो मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
There, by bathing and giving gifts, a person is freed from sin.
भाद्रे शुक्ले तु पंचम्यां यात्रा तत्र फलप्रदा
On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Bhādra, pilgrimage there yields fruit.
बृहस्पतेस्तथा विष्णोः पूजां तत्र य आचरेत्
Whoever performs worship of Bṛhaspati and Viṣṇu there,