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.
भाद्रपदसिताष्टमी मैत्रर्क्षेण समन्विता
On the eighth day of the bright half of Bhādrapada, when the moon is in the Maitra constellation,
करोति सततं व्यास तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः
Whoever always performs (the rite), O Vyāsa, attains the eternal worlds.
बिन्दुसरेति विख्यातं सर्वकामवरप्रदम्
It is renowned as Bindusaras, bestower of all desired boons.
एताः सरिद्वरा यातास्तत्र सत्यवतीसुत
O son of Satyavatī, those excellent rivers have reached there.
उपासांचक्रिरे तत्र तस्य तीर्थस्य सर्वदा
There, they always worshipped at that holy place.
भाद्रपदे च शुक्ला वै चतुर्थी या प्रकीर्तिता
And in Bhādrapada, the bright fourth day is proclaimed.
मनःकामेश्वरः ख्यातः सर्वकामवरप्रदः मनोरथशतं प्राप्य कामचारी भवेन्नरः ।।5.1.70.
Known as Manaḥkāmeśvara, bestower of all desired boons, a man, having attained a hundred wishes, becomes a fulfiller of desires.
तीर्थानि कतिसंख्यानि देवतायतनानि च
How many holy places and shrines of the gods are there?
अवन्त्यां यानि तीर्थानि लिंगानि च महामुने
O great sage, the holy places and liṅgas that are in Avanti—
तानि वर्णयितुं शक्तः स्वयंभूश्चतुराननः
Even Svayambhū, the four-faced one, is able to describe them.