Adhyaya 2

Verse 1

सूत उवाच । अगस्त्यमुनिरित्युक्त्वा चक्रतीर्थाश्रयां कथाम् । विभोर्विष्णुहरेश्चापि पुनराह द्विजोत्तमाः

Sūta said: Having thus spoken the tale of Cakratīrtha and also of the mighty Viṣṇu-Hari, the sage Agastya again addressed the best among the twice-born.

Verse 2

अगस्त्य उवाच । पुरा ब्रह्मा जगत्स्रष्टा विज्ञाय हरिमच्युतम् । अयोध्यावासिनं देवं तत्र चक्रे स्थितिं स्वयम्

Agastya said: Long ago Brahmā, creator of the worlds, having realized Hari the Unfailing (Acyuta), by his own will established there the abode of that God who dwells in Ayodhyā.

Verse 3

आगत्य कृतवांस्तत्र यात्रां ब्रह्मा यथाविधि । यज्ञं च विधिवच्चक्रे नानासंभारसंयुतम्

Arriving there, Brahmā duly performed the pilgrimage rites; and he also conducted a sacrifice according to rule, furnished with many kinds of ritual requisites.

Verse 4

ततः स कृतवांस्तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । कुण्डं स्वनाम्ना विपुलं नानादेवसमन्वितम्

Thereafter Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, created there a vast sacred tank bearing his own name, attended by many deities.

Verse 5

विस्तीर्णजलकल्लोलकलितं कलुषापहम् । कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारपुंडरीककुलाकुलम्

Spread wide and adorned with rippling waves, it removes impurity. It is thronged with clusters of water-lilies—kumuda, utpala, kahlāra, and puṇḍarīka—filling the holy pool with beauty.

Verse 6

हंससारसचक्राह्व विहंगममनोहरम् । तटांतविटपोल्लासि पतत्त्रिगणसंकुलम्

Delightful with birds—swans, sārasas, and cakrāhvas—it is charming with flocks of winged creatures. Along its banks the spreading boughs shine, and the shore is crowded with birds.

Verse 7

तत्र कुण्डे सुराः सर्वे स्नाताः शुद्धिसमन्विताः । बभूवुरद्धा विगतरजस्का विमलत्विषः

There, in that sacred pool, all the gods bathed and became endowed with purity. Indeed, they were freed from the dust of taint, shining with spotless radiance.

Verse 8

तदाश्चर्य्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा ते सर्वे सहसा सुराः । ब्रह्माणं प्रणिपत्योचुर्भक्त्या प्रांजलयस्तदा

Seeing that great marvel, all the gods at once bowed down to Brahmā and spoke with devotion, their hands joined in reverence.

Verse 9

देवा ऊचुः । भगवन्ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन माहात्म्यं कमलासन । अस्य कुण्डस्य सकलं खातस्य विमलत्विषः

The gods said: “O Blessed One, O Lotus-seated Brahmā, tell us truthfully the full greatness of this pond—this excavated kuṇḍa of spotless splendor.”

Verse 10

अत्र स्नानेन सर्वेषामस्माकं विगतं रजः । महदाश्चर्यमेतस्य दृष्ट्वा कुंडस्य विस्मिताः । सर्वे वयं सुरश्रेष्ठ कृपया त्वमतो वद

“By bathing here, the impurity of all of us has been removed. Seeing this kuṇḍa’s great wonder, we are astonished. O best among the gods, out of compassion, therefore tell us (its secret and glory).”

Verse 11

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृण्वन्तु सर्वे त्रिदशाः सावधानाः सविस्मयाः । कुण्डस्यैतस्य माहात्म्यं नानाफलसमन्वितम्

Brahmā said: “Let all you thirty gods listen—attentive and filled with wonder—to the greatness of this kuṇḍa, endowed with many kinds of spiritual fruits.”

Verse 12

अत्र स्नानेन विधिवत्पापात्मानोऽपि जंतवः । विमानं हंससंयुक्तमास्थाय रुचिरांबराः । निवसंति ब्रह्मलोके यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

By proper bathing here, even beings of sinful disposition ascend a celestial chariot yoked with swans; clothed in radiant garments, they dwell in Brahmā’s world until the cosmic dissolution of beings.

Verse 13

अत्र दानेन होमेन यथाशक्त्या सुरोत्तमाः । तुलाश्वमेधयोः पुण्यं प्राप्नुयुर्मुनिसत्तम

Here, O best of sages, by charity and by offerings into the sacred fire—according to one’s capacity—even the foremost among the gods obtain the merit equal to the Tulā-dāna and the Aśvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 14

ममास्मिन्सरसि श्रीमाञ्जायते स्नानतो नरः । तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं जपादिकम्

In this lake of mine, a man becomes blessed and prosperous through bathing. Therefore, here one should perform, according to rule, bathing, charity, japa, and other such observances.

Verse 15

सर्वयज्ञसमं स्याद्वै महापातकनाशनम् । ब्रह्मकुण्डमिति ख्यातिमितो यास्यत्यनुत्तमाम्

This tīrtha shall be equal in merit to all sacrifices and shall destroy the greatest sins; from this moment it will attain unsurpassed renown as “Brahmakuṇḍa.”

Verse 16

अस्मिन्कुण्डे च सांनिध्यं भविष्यति सदा मम । कार्त्तिके शुक्लपक्षस्य चतुर्दश्यां सुरोत्तमाः

In this kuṇḍa My presence shall ever abide; and, O best among the gods, on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight in Kārttika…

Verse 17

यात्रा भविष्यति सदा सुराः सांवत्सरी मम । शुभप्रदा महापापराशिनाशकरी तदा

…then, O gods, My annual pilgrimage-observance shall ever be—bestowing auspiciousness and, at that time, destroying heaps of great sins.

Verse 18

स्वर्णं चैव सदा देयं वासांसि विविधानि च । निजशक्त्या प्रकर्तव्या सुरास्तृप्तिर्द्विजन्मनाम्

Gold should indeed be given, and garments of many kinds as well; according to one’s capacity, offerings should be made so that the gods are satisfied and the twice-born are duly gratified.

Verse 19

अगस्त्य उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवोऽयं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । अन्तर्दधे सुरैः सार्द्धं तीर्थं दृष्ट्वा तपोधन

Agastya said: “Having spoken thus, this God of gods—Brahmā, the grandsire and father of the worlds—vanished along with the gods, after beholding the tīrtha, O treasure of austerity.”

Verse 20

तदाप्रभृति तत्कुण्डं विख्यातं परमं भुवि । चक्रतीर्थाच्च पूर्वस्यां दिशि कुण्डं स्थितं महत्

From that time onward, that pond became supremely renowned upon the earth; to the east of Cakratīrtha stands this great kuṇḍa.

Verse 21

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा स तपोराशिरगस्त्यः कुंभसंभवः । पुनः पृष्टो मुनिवरो व्यासायावीवदत्कथाम्

Sūta said: “Thus having spoken, Agastya—an embodiment of austerity, born of the jar—when questioned again, the best of sages recounted the tale to Vyāsa.”

Verse 22

अगस्त्य उवाच । अन्यच्छृणु महाभाग तीर्थं दुष्कृतिदुर्ल्लभम् । ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु सरयूतीरसंगतम्

Agastya said: “Hear further, O blessed one, of a tīrtha hard to attain for those of evil deeds—named Ṛṇamocana—joined to the bank of the Sarayū.”

Verse 23

ब्रह्मकुण्डान्मुनिवर धनुःसप्तशतेन च । पूर्वोत्तरदिशाभागे संस्थितं सरयूजले

O best of sages, it lies seven hundred bow-lengths from Brahmakuṇḍa, in the north-eastern quarter, situated in the waters of the Sarayū.

Verse 24

तत्र पूर्वं मुनिवरो लोमशो नाम नामतः । तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन स्नानं चक्रे विधानतः

Formerly, there a great sage renowned as Lomaśa, on the occasion of a pilgrimage to sacred fords, performed ritual bathing according to proper rule.

Verse 25

ततः स ऋणनिर्मुक्तो बभूव गतकल्मषः । तदाश्चर्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा मुनीन्सानन्दमब्रवीत्

Thereupon he was freed from debt and cleansed of sin. Beholding that great wonder, he spoke to the sages with joy.

Verse 26

पश्यन्त्वेतस्य महतो गुणांस्तीर्थवरस्य वै । भुजावूर्ध्वं तथा कृत्वा हर्षेणाहाऽश्रुलोचनः

“Behold the great virtues of this most excellent tīrtha!”—so he cried; and lifting his arms aloft, in joy his eyes brimmed with tears.

Verse 27

लोमश उवाच । ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु तीर्थमेतदनुत्तमम् । यत्र स्नानेन जंतूनामृणनिर्यातनं भवेत्

Lomaśa said: “This unsurpassed tīrtha is called Ṛṇamocana, ‘the Releaser from Debt.’ By bathing here, embodied beings gain release from indebtedness.”

Verse 28

ऐहिकं पारलौकिक्यं यदृणत्रितयं नृणाम् । तत्सर्वं स्नानमात्रेण तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नश्यति क्षणात्

Whatever threefold debt people bear—of this world and the next—every bit of it is destroyed in an instant by mere bathing at this tīrtha.

Verse 29

सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं चैतत्सद्यः प्रत्ययकारकम् । मया चास्य फलं सम्यगनुभूतमृणादिह

“This indeed is the best of all tīrthas, giving immediate and convincing proof. I myself have rightly experienced its fruit here—release from debt.”

Verse 30

तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं च शक्तितः । कर्त्तव्यं श्रद्धया युक्तैः सर्वदा फलकांक्षिभिः

Therefore, here one should, according to proper rule, perform bathing and also charity to the best of one’s ability—always with faith, by those who seek spiritual fruit.

Verse 31

स्नातव्यं च सुवर्णं च देयं वस्त्रादि शक्तितः

One should bathe for purification, and according to one’s ability, give gold and also cloth and the like in charity.

Verse 32

अगस्त्य उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं लोमशो मुनिसत्तमः । अन्तर्दधे मुनिश्रेष्ठः स्तुवंस्तीर्थगुणान्मुदा

Agastya said: Having thus spoken of the tīrtha’s greatness, Lomaśa—the best among sages—vanished from sight, joyfully praising the virtues of that sacred ford.

Verse 33

इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र ऋणमोचनसंज्ञकम् । यत्र स्नानेन जन्तूनामृणं नश्यति तत्क्षणात् । ऋणमोचनतीर्थं तु पूर्वतः सरयूजले

Thus, O brāhmaṇa, has been described the place called Ṛṇamocana, where by bathing the debt of beings perishes at that very moment. This Ṛṇamocana Tīrtha lies to the east, in the waters of the Sarayū.

Verse 34

धनुर्द्विशत्या तीर्थं च पापमोचनसंज्ञकम् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा तत्र स्नानेन मानवः । जायते तत्क्षणादेव नात्र कार्या विचारणा

And at a distance of two hundred dhanus is a tīrtha called Pāpamocana, ‘the Remover of Sin’. By bathing there, a person instantly becomes purified in soul from all sins—of this there is no need for doubt or deliberation.

Verse 35

मया तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ दृष्टं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

There, O best of sages, I beheld with my own eyes the supreme greatness (māhātmya).

Verse 36

पांचालदेशसंभूतो नाम्ना नरहरिर्द्विजः । असत्संगप्रभावेन पापात्मा समजायत

A twice-born brāhmaṇa named Narahari, born in the land of Pāñcāla, became sinful through the influence of wicked company.

Verse 37

नाना विधानि पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च । कृतवान्पापिसंगेन त्रयीमार्गविनिन्दकः

In the company of sinners he committed many kinds of sins—even brahmahatyā and the like—and became a reviler of the Vedic path.

Verse 38

स कदाचित्साधुसंगात्तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगतः । अयोध्यामागतो विप्र महापातककृद्द्विजः

At one time, through contact with holy men and the occasion of a pilgrimage, that twice-born—though a doer of great sins—came to Ayodhyā, O brāhmaṇa.

Verse 39

पापमोचनतीर्थे तु स्नातः सत्संगतो द्विजः । पापराशिर्विनष्टोऽस्य निष्पापः समभूत्क्षणात्

After bathing at the Pāpamocana Tīrtha and keeping the company of the good, the brāhmaṇa’s mass of sins was destroyed, and in an instant he became sinless.

Verse 40

दिवः पपात तन्मूर्ध्नि पुष्पवृष्टिर्मुनीश्वर । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य विष्णुलोके गतो द्विजः

O lord of sages, a shower of flowers fell from heaven upon his head; mounting a divine aerial car, the brāhmaṇa went to Viṣṇu’s world.

Verse 41

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं मया च द्विजपुंगव । श्रद्धया परया तत्र कृतं स्नानं विशेषतः

Seeing that great wonder, O foremost of brāhmaṇas, I too bathed there with supreme faith—most especially, observing the rite with special care.

Verse 42

माघकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां तत्र स्नानं विशेषतः । दानं च मनुजैः कार्य्यं सर्वपापविशुद्धये

On the fourteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight of Māgha, bathing there is especially efficacious; and people should also give charity for the complete purification of all sins.

Verse 43

अन्यदा तु कृते स्नाने सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

And even when one bathes at other times, the destruction of all sins still comes to pass.

Verse 44

पापमोचनतीर्थे तु पूर्वं तु सरयूजले । धनुःशतप्रमाणेन वर्त्तते तीर्थमुत्तमम्

At the Pāpamocana Tīrtha—on the eastern side, in the waters of the Sarayū—this excellent sacred ford extends for the measure of a hundred bows.

Verse 45

सहस्रधारासंज्ञं तु सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम् । यस्मिन्रामाज्ञया वीरो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा । प्राणानुत्सृज्य योगेन ययौ शेषात्मतां पुरा

That sacred place is called Sahasradhārā, the destroyer of all sins. There, in former times, the heroic Lakṣmaṇa—slayer of enemy champions—by Rāma’s command relinquished his life through yogic withdrawal and attained the state of Śeṣa (Ananta).

Verse 46

सार्द्धंहस्तत्रयेणैव प्रमाणं धनुषो विदुः । चतुर्भिर्हस्तकैः संख्या दण्ड इत्यभिधीयते

The wise know the measure called “dhanuṣ” to be three and a half cubits; a count of four cubits is termed a “daṇḍa”.

Verse 47

सूत उवाच । इत्थं तदा समाकर्ण्य कुम्भयोनिमुनेस्तदा । कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासः पुनः पप्रच्छ कौतुकात्

Sūta said: Having thus heard the words of the jar-born sage (Agastya), Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana Vyāsa again questioned him, stirred by eager curiosity.

Verse 48

व्यास उवाच । सहस्रधारामाहात्म्यं विस्तराद्वद सुव्रत । शृण्वंस्तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं न तृप्यति मनो मम

Vyāsa said: O you of noble vow, describe in detail the greatness of Sahasradhārā. As I hear the glory of this tīrtha, my mind is not satisfied.

Verse 49

अगस्त्य उवाच । सावधानः शृणु मुने कथां कथयतो मम । सहस्रधारातीर्थस्य समुत्पत्तिं महोदयात्

Agastya said: O sage, listen attentively as I recount the auspicious account of the mighty origin of Sahasradhārā Tīrtha.

Verse 50

पुरा रामो रघुपतिर्देवकार्यं विधाय वै । कालेन सह संगम्य मंत्रं चक्रे नरेश्वरः

In ancient times, Rāma—lord of the Raghu line—having accomplished the gods’ work, met with Kāla (Time), and the king of men entered into a private counsel.

Verse 51

मया त्याज्यो भवेत्क्षिप्रमित्थं चक्रे स संविदम्

“He must be cast off by me at once”—thus did Rāma establish this compact (as the rule of that private meeting).

Verse 52

तस्मिन्मंत्रयमाणे हि द्वारे तिष्ठति लक्ष्मणे । आगतः स तपोराशिर्दुर्वासास्तेजसां निधिः

While that counsel was taking place, and Lakṣmaṇa stood at the door, the ascetic Durvāsā—an embodiment of austerity, a treasury of spiritual fire—arrived there.

Verse 53

आगत्य लक्ष्मणं शीघ्रं प्रीत्योवाच क्षुधाऽकुलः

Coming swiftly to Lakṣmaṇa, he (Durvāsā), though distressed by hunger, spoke with outward cordiality.

Verse 54

दुर्वासा उवाच । सौमित्रे गच्छ शीघ्रं त्वं रामाग्रे मां निवेदय । कार्यार्थिनमिदं वाक्यं नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि

Durvāsā said: “O son of Sumitrā, go quickly and announce me before Rāma. I have come for a purpose; you must not act otherwise regarding this request.”

Verse 55

अगस्त्य उवाच । शापाद्भीतः स सौमित्रिर्द्रुतं गत्वा तयोः पुरः । मुनिं निवेदयामास रामाग्रे दर्शनार्थिनम् । दुर्वाससं तपोराशिमत्रिनन्दनमागतम्

Agastya said: Terrified of the curse, Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) hurried to the front of the two (Rāma and Kāla). He informed Rāma that the sage Durvāsā—Atri’s son, a great treasury of austerity—had arrived, seeking an audience.

Verse 56

रामोऽपि कालमामंत्र्य प्रस्थाप्य च बहिर्ययौ । दृष्ट्वा मुनिं तं प्रणतः संभोज्य प्रभुरादरात्

Rāma too, having asked leave of Kāla and sent him on, went outside. Seeing the sage, the Lord bowed down and, with reverence, honored him with hospitality.

Verse 57

दुर्वाससं मुनिवरं प्रस्थाप्य स्वयमादरात् । सत्यभंगभयाद्वीरो लक्ष्मणं त्यक्तवांस्तदा

After respectfully seeing off the great sage Durvāsā with his own hands, the heroic Rāma—fearing a breach of truth—then abandoned Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 58

लक्ष्मणोऽपि तदा वीरः कुर्वन्नवितथं वचः । भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य सुमतिः सरयूतीरमाययौ

Then Lakṣmaṇa too—the hero, noble-minded—making his elder brother’s word unfailing, went to the bank of the Sarayū.

Verse 59

तत्र गत्वाथ च स्नात्वा ध्यानमास्थाय सत्वरम् । चिदात्मनि मनः शान्तं संगम्यावस्थितस्तदा

Having gone there, he bathed and quickly entered meditation. With mind calmed and united with the Conscious Self, he remained established there.

Verse 60

ततः प्रादुरभूत्तत्र सहस्रफणमण्डितः । शेषश्चक्षुःश्रवाः श्रेष्ठः क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रधा । सुरलोकात्सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समागादमरैः सह

Then there appeared Śeṣa—adorned with a circle of a thousand hoods, the excellent one famed as “eyes and ears” (all-seeing, all-hearing)—bursting forth by splitting the earth in a thousand ways. From the world of the gods, Indra too arrived along with the immortals.

Verse 61

ततः शेषात्मतां यातं लक्ष्मणं सत्यसंगरम् । उवाच मधुरं शक्रः सुराणां तत्र पश्यताम्

Then, seeing Lakṣmaṇa—who had attained the state of Śeṣa, steadfast in truth—Śakra (Indra) spoke sweetly, while the gods looked on.

Verse 62

इन्द्र उवाच । लक्ष्मणोत्तिष्ठ शीघ्रं त्वमारोह स्वपदं स्वकम् । देवकार्यं कृतं वीर त्वया रिपुनिषूदन

Indra said: “Lakṣmaṇa, rise quickly and ascend to your own rightful station. O hero, slayer of foes—by you the work of the gods has been accomplished.”

Verse 63

वैष्णवं परमं स्थानं प्राप्नुहि त्वं सनातनम् । भवन्मूर्तिः समायातः शेषोऽपि विलसत्फणः

“Attain the eternal supreme Vaiṣṇava abode. Your very form has come forth—Śeṣa himself, with radiant, spreading hoods.”

Verse 64

सहस्रधा क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रफणमण्डलैः । क्षितेः सहस्रच्छिद्रेषु यस्माद्भित्त्वा समुद्गताः

Splitting the earth a thousandfold with his circles of a thousand hoods, he rose up—having burst forth through the earth’s thousand openings.

Verse 65

फणसाहस्रमणिभिर्दग्धाः शेषस्य सुव्रत । तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सरयूतीरगं शुभम् । ख्यातं सहस्रधारेति भविष्यति न संशयः

O you of excellent vows, here the jewel-gems upon Śeṣa’s thousand hoods were scorched; therefore this auspicious great tīrtha on the bank of the Sarayū will indeed become renowned as “Sahasradhārā”—“of a thousand streams”—without doubt.

Verse 66

एतत्क्षेत्रप्रमाणं तु धनुषां पञ्चविंशतिः । अत्र स्नानेन दानेन श्राद्धेन श्रद्धयान्वितः । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं व्रजेन्नरः

The measure of this sacred kṣetra is twenty-five dhanuṣ-lengths. Whoever, with faith, bathes here, gives charity, and offers śrāddha is purified of all sins and goes to Viṣṇu’s world.

Verse 67

अत्र स्नातो नरो धीमाञ्छेषं संपूज्य चाव्ययम् । तीर्थं संपूज्य विधिवद्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्

A wise man, having bathed here, should worship imperishable Śeṣa; and, worshipping this tīrtha itself according to proper rite, he attains Viṣṇu’s world.

Verse 68

तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानं विधिपुरःसरम् । शेषरूपाहिवद्ध्येयाः पूज्या विप्रा विशेषतः

Therefore bathing here should certainly be done, preceded by proper observance. One should meditate upon the sacred serpent in the form of Śeṣa, and—especially—honour the brāhmaṇas with worship.

Verse 69

स्वर्णं चान्नं च वासांसि देयानि श्रद्धयान्वितैः । स्नानं दानं हरेः पूजा सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत्

Those endowed with faith should give gold, food, and garments. Bathing, charity, and worship of Hari—all of it becomes inexhaustible in merit.

Verse 70

तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । क्षितौ भविष्यति सदा नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Therefore this great tīrtha, bestowing the fruits of all desired aims, will ever remain upon the earth; no doubt or deliberation is needed here.

Verse 71

श्रावणे शुद्धपक्षस्य या तिथिः पञ्चमी भवेत् । तस्यामत्र प्रकर्तव्यो नागानुद्दिश्य यत्नतः

On the fifth lunar day (pañcamī) of the bright fortnight in Śrāvaṇa, one should here, with careful effort, perform the rite dedicated to the Nāgas.

Verse 72

उत्सवो विपुलः सद्भिः शेषपूजापुरःसरम् । उत्सवे तु कृते तत्र तीर्थे महति मानवैः

The virtuous should hold a grand festival, with the worship of Śeṣa set foremost. And when that festival is performed there by people at the great tīrtha…

Verse 73

सन्तोष्य च द्विजान्भक्त्या नागपूजापुरस्सरम् । सन्तुष्टाः फणिनः सर्वे पीडयन्ति न मानुषान्

And, pleasing the twice-born (brāhmaṇas) with devotion, together with Nāga worship—when all the hooded serpents are satisfied, they do not afflict human beings.

Verse 74

वैशाखमासे ये स्नानं कुर्वंत्यत्र समाहिताः । न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

Those who, with collected mind, bathe here in the month of Vaiśākha do not undergo return (rebirth) even across hundreds of crores of kalpas.

Verse 75

तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं माधवे यत्नतो नरैः । स्नानं दानं हरिः पूज्यो ब्राह्मणाश्च विशेषतः । तीर्थे कृतेऽत्र मनुजैः सर्वकामफलप्रदः

Therefore, in the month of Mādhava (Vaiśākha), people should earnestly perform here: sacred bathing and charitable giving; Hari should be worshipped, and Brāhmaṇas especially should be honored. When these acts are performed at this tīrtha, it grants the fruit of all desired aims to human beings.

Verse 76

विष्णुमुद्दिश्य यो दद्यात्सालंकारां पयस्विनीम् । सवत्सामत्र सत्तीर्थे सत्पात्राय द्विजन्मने

Whoever, dedicating the gift to Viṣṇu, donates here at this most excellent tīrtha a milk-giving cow adorned with ornaments, together with her calf, to a worthy Brāhmaṇa recipient—

Verse 77

तस्य वासो भवेन्नित्य विष्णुलोके सनातने । अक्षयं स्वर्गमाप्नोति तीर्थ स्नानेन मानवः

For him there will be an eternal dwelling in the everlasting realm of Viṣṇu. By bathing at the tīrtha, a person attains an imperishable heaven.

Verse 78

अत्र पूज्यौ विशेषेण नरैः श्रद्धासमन्वितः । वैशाखे मास्यलंकारैर्वस्त्रैश्च द्विजदंपती

Here, with faith, people should especially honor a Brāhmaṇa couple in the month of Vaiśākha, with ornaments and garments.

Verse 79

लक्ष्मीनारायणप्रीत्यै लक्ष्मीप्रात्यै विशेषतः । वैशाखे मासि तीर्थानि पृथिवीसंस्थितानि वै

For the pleasure of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa—and especially for the sake of Lakṣmī—during the month of Vaiśākha, all the tīrthas situated on the earth manifest their sacred potency.

Verse 80

सर्वाण्यपि च संगत्य स्थास्यंत्यत्र न संशयः । तस्मादत्र विशेषेण वैशाखे स्नानतो नृणाम् । सर्वतीर्थावगाहस्य भविष्यति फलं महत्

All tīrthas, having gathered together, will abide here—of this there is no doubt. Therefore, especially by bathing here in Vaiśākha, people obtain the great fruit of bathing in all tīrthas.

Verse 81

अगस्त्य उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा मुनिराजेंद्रो लक्ष्मणं सुरसं गतम् । शेषं संस्थाप्य तत्तीर्थे भूभारहरणक्षमम् । लक्ष्मणं यानमारोप्य प्रतस्थे दिवमादरात्

Agastya said: Having spoken thus, the foremost lord among sages installed Śeṣa at that tīrtha—Śeṣa who could remove the burden of the earth. Then, placing Lakṣmaṇa upon a celestial conveyance, he reverently departed for heaven.

Verse 82

तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं विख्यातिं परमां ययौ । वैशाखे मासि तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं परमं स्मृतम्

From that time onward, that tīrtha attained supreme renown. In the month of Vaiśākha, the tīrtha’s greatness is remembered as exceptional.

Verse 83

पञ्चम्यामपि शुक्लायां श्रावणस्य विशेषतः । अन्यदा पर्वणि श्रेष्ठं विशेषं स्नानमाचरेत् । सहस्रधारातीर्थे च नरः स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्

Especially on the bright fifth day of Śrāvaṇa, and likewise on other excellent festival-days (parvans), one should perform special bathing. And at the Sahasradhārā Tīrtha, a person may attain heaven.

Verse 84

विधिवदिह हि धीमान्स्नानदानानि तीर्थे नरवर इह शक्त्या यः करोत्यादरेण । स इह विपुलभोगान्निर्मलात्मा च भक्त्या भजति भुजगशायिश्रीपतेरात्मनैक्यम्

Indeed, the wise and excellent person who, according to proper rule, performs bathing and charity at the tīrtha here—according to his capacity and with reverence—enjoys abundant prosperity in this life; and, becoming pure in soul, through devotion he attains union with Śrīpati, the Lord who reclines upon the serpent.