यच्छुत्वा भारते खण्डे नृणां मुक्तिर्न दुर्लभा ।। 5.1.69.
Upon hearing this in the land of Bhārata, liberation for people is not difficult to attain.
मुक्तिप्रदोऽयं भगवान्संसारोत्तारकारणः
This Lord grants liberation and is the cause for crossing over worldly existence.
मानुष्यं दुर्लभं लोके तत्राऽपि च कुलीनता
Human birth is rare in this world, and even more so is noble lineage.
सत्संगमो न यत्राऽस्ति विष्णुभक्तिर्व्रतानि न
Where there is no association with the virtuous, nor devotion to Viṣṇu, nor observance of vows,
चातुर्मास्ये ऽव्रती यस्तु तस्य पुण्यं निरर्थकम्
He who does not observe vows during the four months, his merit is fruitless.
विष्णुमाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति चातुर्मास्ये समागते
Those who rely upon Viṣṇu remain steadfast when the four months arrive.
सुपुष्टेन च देहेन जीवितं तस्य शोभनम्
With a well-nourished body, his life is auspicious.
कृतार्थास्तस्य विबुधा यावज्जीवं वरप्रदाः
His purposes are fulfilled; the gods grant boons to him for as long as he lives.
तस्य पापशतान्याहुर्देहस्थानि न संशयः
They say that hundreds of sins residing in his body are destroyed, without doubt.
चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सुप्ते देवे जनार्दने।। चातुर्मास्ये नरः स्नात्वा कर्करात्रे द्विजोत्तम । देहशुद्धिं विधायाऽऽदौ मुक्तिमार्गमवाप्नुयात्
Especially during the four months, when the god Janārdana sleeps: if a man bathes, O best of twice-born, on the day of Karkarā, purifies his body, and at the outset follows the path to liberation.
तत्राऽपि निर्झरे कूपे तडागे वा सरस्यपि 5.1.69.
There also, whether in a waterfall, well, pond, or lake.
तेषु यः स्नाति वै नित्यं तस्य पापक्षयो भवेत्
Whoever bathes daily in these, his sins are destroyed.
तस्मान्नद्यधिका पुण्या समाख्याता सुरासुरैः
Therefore, rivers are declared more sacred by gods and demons.
चातुर्मास्ये तु यः स्नाति पुण्यसंख्या ततोऽधिका रेवायां भास्करे क्षेत्रे प्राच्यां सागरसंगमे
During the four months, whoever bathes gains greater merit; at the confluence of the Reva and the eastern ocean, in the field of the Sun.
एकाहमपि यः स्नाति चातुर्मास्ये न दुःखभाक्
Even if one bathes for a single day during the four months, he does not become subject to suffering.
सुप्ते देवे जगन्नाथे पापं याति सहस्रधा
When the Lord of the universe sleeps, sin increases a thousandfold.
स भित्त्वा कर्मजं देहं याति विष्णोः सलोकताम् क्षणमेकं क्षणार्धं वा चातुर्मास्ये ऽतिलंघयेत्
Having broken through the body born of karma, he attains the same world as Vishnu; if he neglects even a moment or half a moment during the four months.
तिलोदकेनामलसंयुतेन बिल्वोदकेनापि च मज्जयेद्यः
Whoever immerses himself with water mixed with sesame or with water from the bilva tree.
गंगां स्मरति यो नित्यमुदपानसमीपतः
Whoever remembers the Ganga daily near a water source.
गंगाऽपि देवदेवस्य चरणांऽगुष्ठवाहिनी 5.1.69.
The Ganga too flows from the toe of the Lord of gods.
चातुर्मास्ये जलगतो देवो नारायणो भवेत्
During the four months, the god Narayana resides in water.
स्नानं दशविधं कार्यं विष्णुनाम्ना महाफलम्
Bathing should be performed in ten ways, and with the name of Vishnu, it yields great fruit.
विना स्नानं तु यत्कर्म पुण्यकार्यमयं शुभ म्
Without bathing, any auspicious act performed, even if full of merit,
स्नानेन सत्यमाप्नोति सत्ये धर्मः सनातनः
Through bathing, one attains truth; in truth abides eternal dharma.
ये चाध्यात्मविदः पुण्या ये च वेदांतपारगाः
Those who are holy and know the Self, and those who have mastered the end of the Vedas,
कृतस्नानस्य हि हरिर्देहमाश्रित्य तिष्ठ ति
For one who has bathed, Hari dwells, having assumed his body.
सर्वपापविनाशाय देवतातोषणाय च
For the destruction of all sins and for the satisfaction of the deities.
निशायां चैव न स्नायात्संध्यायां ग्रहणं विना
One should not bathe at night, nor at twilight except during an eclipse.
भानुसंदर्शनाच्छुद्धिर्विहिता सर्वकर्मसु
Purification for all rites is prescribed by beholding the sun.
अशक्त्यां तु शरीरस्य भस्मस्नानेन शुध्यति 5.1.69.
But when the body is incapable, one becomes purified by bathing with ashes.