यस्य पूजावशान्नॄणां सिद्धयः करसंश्रिताः
By the power of worshipping him, success rests in the hands of men.
सरयूसलिले स्नात्वा पिंडारकं च पूजयेत्
After bathing in the waters of the Sarayu, one should worship Pindaraka.
तस्य यात्रा विधातव्या सपुष्या नवरात्रिषु
His procession should be performed with flowers during the Navaratri festival.
यस्य दर्शनतो नॄणां विघ्नलेशो न विद्यते
By seeing him, not even the slightest obstacle exists for men.
तस्मात्स्थानत ऐशाने रामजन्म प्रवर्त्तते
From that place in the northeast, the birth of Rama is celebrated.
विघ्नेश्वरात्पूर्वभागे वासिष्ठादुत्तरे तथा
To the east of Vighneshvara and to the north of Vasishtha likewise.
यद्दृष्ट्वा च मनुष्यस्य गर्भवासजयो भवेत् 2.8.10.
By seeing which, a person gains victory over the state of dwelling in the womb.
नवमीदिवसे प्राप्ते व्रतधारी हि मानवः
When the ninth day arrives, a man who observes the vow—
कपिलागोसहस्राणि यो ददाति दिनेदिने
Whoever gives a thousand tawny cows each and every day—
आश्रमे वसतां पुंसां तापसानां च यत्फलम्
The fruit gained by men and ascetics dwelling in hermitages—
नियमस्थं नरं दृष्ट्वा जन्मस्थाने विशेषतः
Upon seeing a man devoted to discipline, especially at his birthplace—
तत्फलं समवाप्नोति जन्मभूमेः प्रदर्शनात्
He attains that same fruit simply by beholding the land of his birth.
मन्वंतरसहस्रैस्तु काशीवासेषु यत्फलम् .
The merit obtained by dwelling in Kāśī for thousands of aeons—
गयाश्राद्धं च ये कृत्वा पुरुषोत्तम दर्शनम्
By performing ancestral rites at Gayā and beholding the Supreme Person—
मथुरायां कल्पमेकं वसते मानवो यदि
If a man dwells in Mathurā for a single age—
पुष्करेषु प्रयागेषु माघे वा कार्त्तिके तथा 2.8.10.
At Puṣkara, at Prayāga, in the month of Māgha or likewise in Kārttika—
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि ह्यवन्तीवासतो हि यत्
The merit from dwelling in Avantī for a thousand million aeons—
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि भागीरथ्यवगाहजम्
Bathing in the Bhāgīrathī for sixty thousand years—
निमिषं निमिषार्द्धं वा प्राणिनां रामचिन्तनम्
Contemplating Rāma for even a moment or half a moment—
यत्र कुत्र स्थितो यस्तु ह्ययोध्यां मनसा स्मरेत्
Whoever, wherever he may be, remembers Ayodhyā in his mind—
जलरूपेण ब्रह्मैव सरयूर्मोक्षदा सदा
The Sarayū, in the form of water, is verily Brahman and always bestows liberation.
पशुपक्षिमृगाश्चैव ये चान्ये पापयोनयः
Cattle, birds, wild animals, and all other beings of sinful birth—
इत्युक्त्वा विरते तस्मिन्मुनौ कलशजन्मनि
Having thus spoken, when that sage born from the jar became silent—
दुर्लभा सर्वजन्तूनां कथा विस्तरतः क्रमात्
This tale, in its full and gradual detail, is difficult for all beings to obtain.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि क्षेत्रस्थानं यथाविधि
Now I wish to hear, according to proper order, about the holy places.
फलं ब्रूहि क्रमेणैव विस्तरात्पृच्छतो मम 2.8.10.
Tell me, in detail and in sequence, the fruit, as I ask.
यथा श्रुत्वा क्रमेणैव यात्रां विश्वविदां वर
Just as, having heard in due order, the journey of the best among those who know the universe—
अयोध्यां सप्ततीर्थानां यथावदनुपूर्वशः
To Ayodhya and the seventy sacred fords, properly and in sequence—
मनोवाक्कायशुद्धेन निर्दोषेणांतरात्मना यः करोति विधिं सम्यक्स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
Whoever, with purity of mind, speech, and body, and an unblemished inner self, performs the rite correctly, attains the full fruit of the pilgrimage.
येषु स्नातवतां नॄणां विशुद्धिर्मनसो भवेत्
At those places where, for those who have bathed, there arises purification of the mind—