तत्कर्णिकायां तु महाप्रकाशो देयो हि दीपः परया च भक्त्या
In its center, a great light should be offered, with supreme devotion.
अनंगलग्नं धवलं च वस्त्रं नवं सुरक्तं ह्यथवा सुशुक्लम्
A new, spotless, white or bright red cloth, or else pure white,
तच्छालिपिष्टोपरि संनिधाय यथा न निर्याति न कंपते च
Placing it upon rice flour so that it neither spills nor trembles,
दलेषु शोभार्थमतीव कुर्यान्मनोरथप्रत्युपलब्धये च
One should arrange it beautifully on the petals, for the sake of splendor and the fulfillment of desires.
संलिप्य भूमिं त्वथ गोमयेन पुनः सुगंधेन जलेन लिप्त्वा
Then, having smeared the ground with cow dung, again anointed it with fragrant water.
ततो जलं शीतलमानयित्वा आपूर्य चाष्टौ कलशांस्तु रम्यान्
After that, bringing cool water, he filled eight beautiful water pots.
मध्वाज्ययुक्ता दधिदुग्धपूर्णा नैर्ऋत्यकोणादथ दक्षिणांतम्
Filled with honey and ghee, curd and milk, from the southwest corner to the southern end.
प्रजापतिभ्यः क्रमशो हि भक्त्या प्रेतेभ्य इंद्राय तथा पितृभ्यः
With devotion, he offered them in order to the Prajapatis, to the departed, to Indra, and to the ancestors.
गावो हिरण्यं रजतं च वस्त्रं फलानि मूलानि यवाश्च धान्यम्
Cows, gold, silver, cloth, fruits, roots, barley, and grain—
विद्याधिकेभ्यो द्विजसत्तमेभ्यः पौराणिकेभ्यश्च तथा द्विजेभ्यः 5.1.30.
To the foremost twice-born who are learned, to those versed in the Puranas, and likewise to the Brahmins.
विमानैः कामिकैर्दिव्यैरप्सरोगणसेवितैः
With celestial vimanas attended by hosts of Apsaras.
प्रवरं सर्वतीर्थानां त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
The foremost of all sacred bathing places, renowned in the three worlds.
तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा यः पश्यति महेश्वरम्
There, one who bathes and becomes pure, who beholds the great Lord—
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स्वकीयकुलसंयुतः
Is freed from all sins, together with his own lineage.
जटाशृंगे नरः स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा जितेंद्रियः
Having bathed at Jaṭāśṛṅga, becoming pure, with senses controlled—
महातपनमादौ च कृत्वा गच्छेच्छिवं प्रति
And having performed the great penance at the beginning, he should proceed towards Shiva.
इंद्रतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा चेंद्रेश्वरं शिवम्
One who bathes at Indratirtha and beholds Indreshvara Shiva—
कुंडेश्वरं तु यः पश्येच्छिवध्यानपरायणः
Or who beholds Kundeshvara, devoted to the meditation on Shiva—
गोपतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा गोपेश्वरं शिवम्
One who bathes at Gopatirtha and beholds Gopeśvara Shiva—
स्नात्वा तु चिपिटातीर्थे शिवं देवं प्रणम्य च
And having bathed at Cipiṭātirtha, having bowed to the god Shiva—
विजये च नरः स्नात्वा आनंदेश्वरपूजनात् 5.1.31.
And having bathed at Vijaya, by worship of Ānandeśvara—
अथान्यं संप्रवक्ष्यामि कुशस्थल्यां विनिर्मितम्
Now I shall describe another, established at Kuśasthalī.
चित्रकूटात्पुरा रामो मैथिल्या लक्ष्मणेन च
Once, from Citrakūṭa, Rāma departed together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
यत्र गत्वा न चाप्नोति वियोगं सह बांधवैः
Wherever he went, he did not experience separation from his relatives.
अनेन वनवासेन मरणेन पितुः प्रभो
Through this forest exile and the death of his father, the lord,
तद्वाक्यं राघवेणोक्तं श्रुत्वा विप्रर्षभस्तदा
Hearing those words spoken by Rāghava, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas then
साधु पृष्टं त्वया वीर रघूणां वंशवर्धन
"Well asked by you, O hero, enhancer of the Raghus' line."
अवंतीविषये राम पुरी तस्मिन्कुशस्थली
In the land of Avanti, O Rāma, there is a city called Kuśasthalī.
देवः स वै सदा राजन्वांछितार्थफलप्रदः
That god, O king, always bestows the fruits of desired aims.
तत्र गच्छंति ये विप्रा राजा चैव महावलः 5.1.31.
There, the Brāhmaṇas who go, and the mighty king as well,