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.
दानमिज्या तपः शौचं तीर्थसेवा श्रुतिस्तथा
Charity, sacrifice, austerity, purity, service to sacred fords, and also study of scripture—
निगृहीतेंद्रियग्रामो यत्रैव वसते नरः
Wherever a man dwells with his group of senses restrained—
एतत्ते कथितं विप्र मानसं तीर्थलक्षणम्
Thus, O Brahmin, I have described to you the characteristics of a mental sacred ford.
प्रातरुत्थाय मतिमान्संगमे स्नानमाचरेत्
Rising early in the morning, the wise one should bathe at the confluence.
चक्रतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा चक्रहरिं विभुम्
Having bathed at the Cakra Tirtha, a man beholds the all-pervading Lord Hari with the discus.
एकादश्यामेकादश्यामियं यात्रा शुभावहा 2.8.10.
On the eleventh day, this pilgrimage brings auspicious results.
विधाय नित्यजं कर्म अयोध्यां च विलोकयेत्
Having performed the daily prescribed duties, one should also behold Ayodhya.
बंदीं च शीतलां चैव वटुकं च विलोकयेत्
One should see Bandī, Śītalā, and also the Vaṭuka.
पिण्डारकं ततो दृष्ट्वा ततो भैरवदर्शनम्
Then, having seen Piṇḍāraka, one should next have a vision of Bhairava.
अंगारकचतुर्थ्यां तु पूर्वोक्ता देवता अपि
On the fourth day of the waning moon dedicated to Maṅgala, the previously mentioned deities are also to be visited.