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.
प्रातरुत्थाय मतिमान्ब्रह्मकुण्डजले प्लुतः
Rising early in the morning, the wise one should plunge into the water of Brahma-kuṇḍa.
मंत्रेश्वरं ततो दृष्ट्वा महाविद्यां विलोकयेत्
Then, having seen Mantreśvara, one should behold the great Vidyā.
स्वर्गद्वारे नरः स्नात्वा सचैलो विजितेंद्रियः सचैलस्नानतो यांति तस्मात्सचैलमाचरेत्
Having bathed at Svargadvāra, clothed and with senses controlled, one should always bathe clothed, for those who do so attain the highest.
एषा वै गदिता यात्रा सर्वपापहरा शुभा
Thus this pilgrimage has been described, auspicious and remover of all sins.
य एवं कुरुते यात्रां नित्यं शुभफलप्रदाम्
Whoever undertakes this pilgrimage regularly attains all auspicious rewards.
तस्मात्त्वमपि विप्रेंद्रः अयोध्यां व्रज मा चिरम् 2.8.10.
Therefore, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, you too should go to Ayodhya without delay.
अयोध्या परमं स्थानमयोध्या परमं महत्
Ayodhya is the supreme place; Ayodhya is supremely great.
अयोध्या परमं स्थानं विष्णुचक्रे प्रतिष्ठितम्
Ayodhya is the highest abode, established within Viṣṇu's discus.
इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र मया पृष्टं हि यत्त्वया
Thus, O Brāhmaṇa, I have told you what you asked me.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं व्यासः स तपसां निधिः
Vyāsa, the treasure of austerities, spoke these sweet words.
व्यास उवाच धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि कृतकृत्योऽस्म्यहं मुने सर्वं च निष्फलं तस्य अयोध्यां नागतो यदि
Vyāsa said: I am blessed, I am favored, I am fulfilled, O sage; all is fruitless for one who has not gone to Ayodhya.
यस्मिन्मयि प्रसन्नेन त्वयोक्तो धर्मनिर्णयः त्वमपि व्रज विप्रेंद्र स्वमाश्रमपदं निजम्
By you, O great one, the decision on dharma has been declared to me with favor; now you too, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, go to your own hermitage.
जगाम तपसां राशिरगस्त्यः कुंभसंभवः
Agastya, the treasury of austerities, born from the pot, departed.
स्वमाश्रमपदं धीरो विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः
The steadfast sage, his eyes wide with wonder, returned to his own hermitage.
अयोध्यामागतो विप्रः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये
The brahmin came to Ayodhya to attain all desired aims and objects.
दृष्ट्वा महाश्चर्यकरं कारणं तीर्थमुत्तमम् 2.8.10.
Having seen the supreme holy place, the cause of great marvels,
ततो जगाम विप्रेंद्रः स्वमाश्रमपदं मुनिः
Then the foremost of brahmins, the sage, went to his own hermitage.
मया श्रुत्वा च माहात्म्यं यात्रां कृत्वा विधानतः
Having heard of its greatness from me and performed the pilgrimage according to rule,
इदं माहात्म्यमतुलं यः पठेत्प्रयतो नरः
Whoever, with devotion, recites this incomparable glory,
तस्मादेतत्प्रयत्नेन श्रोतव्यं च जनैः सदा
Therefore, this should always be listened to with effort by people.