तयोः स्नानेन दानेन रामसंपूजनेन च इयं सा परमा मेध्याऽयोध्या धर्मनिधिः स्मृता
By bathing, giving, and worshipping Rama at those two, this Ayodhya is remembered as the supreme pure treasury of righteousness.
इत्युक्तास्तु ततः सर्वे वसिष्ठमुनिमादरात् कथयस्व तपोराशे कथामेतां सुदुर्लभाम्
Thus addressed, all of them then, with respect, said to the sage Vasishtha: 'O treasury of austerity, narrate this most rare story.'
अयोध्यायाः परं विप्र माहात्म्यं कथयंति यत् 2.8.8.
O Brahmin, tell that supreme glory of Ayodhya which is recounted.
यथा यात्रां विधास्यामः क्रमेण च विधानतः
How shall we undertake the pilgrimage, step by step and according to rule?
यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशय
Hearing which, one is freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt.
इदं गुह्यतरं क्षेत्रमयोध्याभिधमुत्तमम्
This most secret field, called Ayodhya, is supreme.
अस्मिन्सिद्धाः सदा देवा वैष्णवं व्रतमास्थिताः
Here, perfected beings and gods, having taken up the Vaishnava vow, always abide.
अभ्यस्यंति परं योगं युक्तप्राणा जितेन्द्रियाः
They practice supreme yoga, their breath controlled, their senses subdued.
कमलोत्पलशोभाढ्ये सरोभिः समलंकृते
Adorned with lakes shining with lotuses and water-lilies,
रोचते हि सदा वासः क्षेत्रे नित्यं हरेरिह
Indeed, dwelling always in this field of Hari is ever delightful.
यथा मोक्षमिहायांति नान्यत्र हि तथा क्वचित् महाक्षेत्रमिदं यस्मादयोध्याभिधमुत्तमम्
Just as liberation is attained here, so it is not attained elsewhere in the same way; for this is the great and supreme holy place known as Ayodhya.
नैमिषे च कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगाद्वारे च पुष्करे
At Naimisha, Kurukshetra, Gangadvara, and Pushkara—
इह संप्राप्यते यद्वत्तत एव विशिष्यते सर्वस्मादपि तीर्थाग्र्यादिदमेव महत्कृतम् ।। 2.8.8.
—even there, what is attained here is surpassed; among all foremost sacred places, this alone is considered the greatest.
अव्यक्तलिंगैर्मुनिभिः सर्वैः सिद्धैर्महर्षिभिः
By all sages with unmanifest marks, by perfected beings and great seers—
तेभ्यः प्रयच्छति हरिर्योगमैश्वर्य्यमुत्तमम्
—to them, Hari grants supreme yogic power and sovereignty.
ब्रह्मा देवर्षिभिः सार्द्धं श्रीश्च वायुर्दिवाकरः
Brahma, along with the divine sages, Shri, Vayu, and the Sun—
उपासते महात्मानः सर्वत्र हरिमादरात् अनन्यमनसो भूत्वा सर्वदोपासते हरिम्
—these great souls worship Hari everywhere with reverence; being single-minded, they always worship Hari.
विषयासक्तचित्तोऽपि त्यक्तधर्मरतिर्नरः
Even a man whose mind is attached to sense objects, who has abandoned delight in righteousness—
ये पुनर्निगमाधीनाः सत्रस्था विजितेंद्रियाः
But those who are devoted to the Vedas, who dwell at sacrificial sessions, whose senses are conquered—
देहभंगं समापद्य धीमंतः संगवर्जिताः
—when these wise ones, free from attachment, encounter bodily death—
जन्मान्तरसहस्रेषु युञ्जन्योगी न चाप्नुयात्
—even a yogi practicing for thousands of lifetimes may not attain what they do.
एतत्संक्षेपतो वच्मि क्षेत्रस्य महिमाद्भुतम् एतादृङ्नापरं स्थानं पुनरन्यत्र दृश्यते
I declare in brief the wondrous glory of this holy place; nowhere else is there found a place like this.
अत्र गत्वा प्रयत्नेन यात्रा पुण्याभिकांक्षिभिः ।। 2.8.8.
Coming here with effort, those who desire merit should undertake the pilgrimage.
प्रथमेऽहनि कर्त्तव्य उपवासो यतात्मभिः
On the first day, those who are self-controlled should observe a fast.
उपावृत्तस्तु पापेभ्यो यस्य वासो गुणैः सह
He whose dwelling is accompanied by virtues and who has turned away from sins—
उपवासं विधायासौ चक्रतीर्थे नरः कृती
—having observed the fast, that meritorious man at the Chakra Tirtha—
विप्रं संपूज्य विधिवत्पश्येद्विष्णुहरिं विभुम्
—should duly honor a Brahmin and behold the mighty Vishnu Hari.
क्षौरं च कारयेत्तत्र व्रती धर्माभिधे ततः
There, the vow-observant devotee should have his head shaved, as prescribed by dharma.
स्नात्वा सहस्रधारायां शेषं संपूज्य यत्नतः
After bathing in the thousand-streamed river, one should carefully worship Śeṣa.
ततश्चक्रहरिं दृष्ट्वा दद्याच्चैव स्वशक्तितः महाविद्यासमीपे तु रात्रौ जागरणं चरेत्
Then, beholding the discus-bearing Hari, one should offer according to one's ability; and at night, near the great goddess, one should keep vigil.