तत्तीर्थेषु नरः स्नात्वा तत्तत्तीर्थफलं भवेत्
By bathing at those sacred places, a person attains the respective fruits of those holy sites.
फल्गुश्च सरितां श्रेष्ठा तथैव फलदायिनी
Phalgu is the best among rivers and likewise grants rewards.
गयाकोष्ठस्तथा प्रोक्तो गदाधरपदानि च
The Gayā shrine is also mentioned, as well as the footprints of Gadādhara.
प्रेतमुक्तिकरी नित्यं शिला चोक्ता तथैव च
The stone is also said to always grant liberation to the departed.
देवानां दानवानां च यक्षकिन्नररक्षसाम्
For the gods, demons, yakṣas, kinnaras, and rākṣasas,
एतत्स्थानेषु सर्वेषु स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः
In all these places, acts such as bathing and giving gifts are performed.
गयायां पितृरूपेण स्वयमेव जनार्दनः
At Gayā, Janārdana himself is present in the form of the ancestors.
एवं व्यास गयातीर्थं पुरावन्त्यां प्रतिष्ठितम् 5.1.59.
Thus, Vyāsa, the Gayā tīrtha was established in the ancient city of Avantī.
तदारभ्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ गया तत्र प्रतिष्ठिता
From that time onward, O best of twice-born, Gayā has been established there.
तत्पदे च महिमानं जनार्दनसमर्पितम्
And at that place, the greatness dedicated to Janārdana is present.
पंचक्रोशं गयाक्षेत्रं क्रोशमेकं गयाशिरः सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु गयाश्राद्धं विधीयते
The Gayā region is five krośas, and Gayāśira is one krośa; at all times and in every season, the Gayā śrāddha is performed.
संवत्सरे परं व्यास दिनमेकं प्रतिष्ठितम् महालयेति तत्प्रोक्तं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
In the year, O Vyāsa, one day is specially established, called Mahālaya, and the offering to the ancestors given then is imperishable.
सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु गयाश्राद्धं विधीयते
At all times and in every season, the Gayā śrāddha is performed.
संवत्सरे परं व्यास दिनमेकं प्रतिष्ठितम्
In the year, O Vyāsa, one day is specially established.
अक्षय्या जायते तृप्तिः पितॄणां कल्पसंख्यया
The satisfaction of the ancestors thus produced is inexhaustible, lasting for the measure of a kalpa.
भूयस्तु संप्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं परमाद्भुतम्
Now I shall further declare the most wondrous glory.
सप्तर्षीणां च या भार्या ऋषिपत्न्यः पतिव्रताः
The wives of the Seven Sages, who are devoted to their husbands,
ऋषिभिश्च परित्यक्ता बभ्रमुश्च वनाद्वनम् 5.1.59.
Were abandoned by the sages and wandered from forest to forest.
तासां च प्रियमन्विच्छन्समायातो वनांतरे
Desiring to please them, he arrived in another part of the forest.
उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा देशकालोचितं वचः
He spoke with gentle words, saying what was appropriate for the time and place.
कस्माच्च ऋषिभिस्त्यक्ता लोकमातरः पतिव्रताः
Why have the mothers of the world, devoted to their husbands, been abandoned by the sages?
ऋषिपत्न्य ऊचुः न जानीमो वयं तात येन दोषेण तापसैः
The wives of the sages said: 'We do not know, dear one, by what fault we have been cast off by the ascetics.'
लोकापवादजं किंचिज्जातं दिष्टवशादधम्
Some blame has arisen among people, due to fate, though we are innocent.
यस्याराधनपुण्येन पतिसांनिध्यमाप्नुयुः
By the merit of worshipping that place, one may attain the presence of one's husband.
इति पृष्टस्तदा ताभिर्ऋषिपत्नीभिर्नारदः
Thus questioned by those wives of the sages, Nārada...
महाकालवने रम्ये गयातीर्थमनुत्तमम्
...in the delightful great Kāla forest, spoke of the supreme Gayā tīrtha.
तत्रैव चाक्षयो नाम न्यग्रोधः शाखिनां वरः
There stands the imperishable banyan, named Akṣaya, the best of trees.
सर्वदोषहरं तीर्थं सर्वकामवरप्रदम् 5.1.59.
That sacred place removes all faults and grants every desired boon.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषिपन्त्यः सुचोदिताः
Hearing Nārada's words, the wives of the sages, well instructed...
आजग्मुस्तद्वनं तत्र यत्र तीर्थं गयाभिधम्
...went to that forest where the sacred Gayā tīrtha was.