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.
नारायणाऽग्रतः स्नानं क्षेत्रे तीर्थे नदीषु च
Bathing before Nārāyaṇa, in a sacred field, at a holy place, or in rivers—
यश्च स्नाति नरो नित्यं स याति वैष्णवं पदम्
And the person who bathes daily attains the abode of Viṣṇu.
पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च
All the holy places and sanctuaries upon the earth—
कर्कस्थे च दिवानाथे स्नानं कुर्वंति ये नरा
Those men who bathe at Karkastha and Divānātha—
चातुर्मास्यं समासाद्य तत्रैव निवसाम्य हम्
When the Cāturmāsya arrives, I dwell there itself.
महेशान्नाऽपरो देवो मुक्तिदो न जनार्दनात्
There is no other god, O Maheśānna, who grants liberation besides Janārdana.
कर्कराजसमं तीर्थं नास्ति वत्स महीतले
There is no holy place on earth, dear one, equal to Karkarāja.
एवं व्यास समाख्यातं ब्रह्मणा भार्ग वाय च
Thus, Vyāsa, it has been declared by Brahmā and Bhārgava.
अस्माकं चाऽपि तत्रैव स्थानं परमशोभनम्
And our own most splendid abode is also there.
तावत्कालं हि तत्रैव मुक्तिरेव न संशयः 5.1.69.
For as long as one remains there, liberation is certain—there is no doubt.
यमलोके चिरं वासो जायते नाऽत्र संशयः
A long stay in Yama’s realm is produced—of this there is no doubt.
आत्मानं हि पणीकृत्य तत्रैव संनियोजयेत्
Indeed, having pledged oneself, one should dedicate oneself there.
पश्चाद्घृतसुवर्णेन मोचयित्वा स्वकं नयेत्
Afterwards, having redeemed oneself with clarified butter and gold, one should lead oneself away.
यस्य शिप्रोदके स्नानं कर्कराजेऽनुजायते
Whoever bathes in the waters of the Śiprā at Karkarāja—
पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि सरितः सागराश्च ये
All the holy places on earth, and all the rivers and oceans—
तस्माच्च तद्वरं तीर्थं कर्कराज इति स्मृतम्
Among them, that holy place is considered superior, known as Karkarāja.
य एतां वै कथां पुण्यां शृण्वंति श्रावयंति च
Whoever listens to or recites this sacred story,
ऋषभः पर्वतश्रेष्ठो देवगन्धर्वसेवितः
Ṛṣabha is the foremost of mountains, attended by gods and gandharvas.
यत्र देवांगना रम्याः क्रीडन्ति सततं द्विज
There, O twice-born one, the lovely celestial maidens always play.
तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा सुभगो जायते ध्रुवम्
A man who bathes at that holy place surely becomes fortunate.