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—
अगस्त्य उवाच शृणु तीर्थानि गदतो मानसानि ममानघ
Agastya said: Hear from me, O sinless one, as I recount the mental sacred fords.
सत्यतीर्थं क्षमातीर्थं तीर्थमिंद्रियनिग्रहः
Truth is a sacred ford, forgiveness is a sacred ford, and restraint of the senses is a sacred ford.
ज्ञानतीर्थं तपस्तीर्थं कथितं तीर्थसप्तकम्
Knowledge is a sacred ford, austerity is a sacred ford—thus is declared the sevenfold sacred ford.
न तोयपूतदेहस्य स्नानमित्यभिधीयते भौमानामपि तीर्थानां पुण्यत्वे कारणं शृणु
Bathing is not said to be for one whose body is purified only by water; hear the reason for the merit of even earthly sacred fords.
यथा शरीरस्योद्देशाः केचिन्मध्योत्तमाः स्मृताः
Just as, among the parts of the body, some are considered middling or excellent—
तस्माद्भौमेषु तीर्थेषु मानसेषु च संवसेत् 2.8.10.
Therefore, one should dwell at earthly sacred fords and at mental ones as well.
तस्मात्त्वमपि विप्रेंद्र विशुद्धेनांतरात्मना तं तु वक्ष्यामि विप्रेंद्र तीर्थयात्राविधिं क्रमात्
Therefore, you too, O foremost of Brahmins, with a purified inner self— I will tell you, O foremost of Brahmins, the procedure for pilgrimage, step by step.
जायन्ते च जलेष्वेव म्रियंते च जलौकसः
Creatures are born in water and die in water as well.
विषयेष्वनिशं रागो मनसो मल उच्यते
Constant attachment to sense objects is called the impurity of the mind.
चित्तमन्तर्गतं दुष्टं तीर्थस्नानं न शुध्यति
If the mind within is corrupted, bathing at sacred fords does not purify.