Passage 1
यत्र धर्मस्तपश्चक्रे धर्मतीर्थं तदुत्तमम्। महाधर्मप्रदं भूप गमनात् पापनाशनम्॥१॥
“The excellent Dharmatīrtha is where Dharma performed austerity. Merely going there, O king, destroys sin and bestows great merit.
Passage 2
स्नानदानादिभिश्चैव ज्योतिष्टोमफलप्रदम्। विष्णुलोकप्रदं साक्षात् सप्तविंशतिमुक्तिदम्॥२॥
“Bathing, giving, and the other rites there yield the fruit of a Jyotiṣṭoma, lead directly to Viṣṇu’s world, and grant the twenty-seven forms of liberation.
Passage 3
ततः सौगन्धिकवनं ब्रह्मादिसुरसेवितम्। तपस्विनां मुनीनां च स्थानभूतं सनातनम्॥३॥
“Next comes the fragrant Saugandhika forest, attended by Brahmā and the gods, an eternal dwelling place of ascetics and sages.
Passage 4
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वकिन्नरोरगसेवितम्। तत्र गत्वा स्वपापैर्विमुक्तो भवति क्षणात्॥४॥
“It is frequented by siddhas, cāraṇas, gandharvas, kinnaras, and serpents. On going there, one is freed from one’s sins in an instant.
Passage 5
स्नात्वा प्लक्षसरस्वत्यां पितृदेवार्चने रतः। सर्वपापविशुद्धः सन्नश्वमेधफलं लभेत्॥५॥
“Bathing in the Plakṣa Sarasvatī and worshipping the ancestors and gods, one is cleansed of every sin and gains the fruit of an Aśvamedha.
Passage 6
दाम्यानिपातषट्के च स्नात्वा नृपतिसत्तम। सहस्रकपिलादानफलमाप्नोति मानवः॥६॥
“Bathing at the six places called Dāmyānipāta, O best of kings, a person gains the fruit of giving a thousand tawny cows.
Passage 7
सुगन्धां शतकुम्भां च पञ्चयज्ञं च भूपते। गत्वा स्नात्वाप्युषित्वा च सप्ततन्तुं लभते नरः॥७॥
“Going to Sugandhā, Śatakumbhā, and Pañcayajña, then bathing and residing there, a person gains the fruit of the sevenfold sacrificial rite, O king.
Passage 8
त्रिशूलखाततीर्थे च शाकम्भर्यां महीपते। सुवर्णाक्षीमहास्थाने धूमावर्तं तथोत्तमे॥८॥
“There are Triśūlakhāta ford at Śākambharī, O lord of the earth, the great precinct of Suvarṇākṣī, and the excellent Dhūmāvarta.
Passage 9
रथावर्तं च निवसेत् त्रिरात्रं नियतः शुचिः। स्नात्वा प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य कोटितीर्थफलं लभेत्॥९॥
“One should remain at Rathāvarta for three nights, restrained and pure. Bathing and circumambulating it, one gains the fruit of ten million sacred fords.
Passage 10
धारानदीजलैः स्नात्वा किमर्थं यमकिङ्करैः। भयमाप्नोति राजेन्द्र सर्वपापविवर्जितः॥१०॥
“After bathing in the waters of the Dhārā river and becoming free of every sin, O king, why should one fear the servants of Yama?
Passage 11
ततो गच्छेन्महातीर्थे गङ्गाद्वारे महागिरौ। तत्र स्नात्वा कोटितीर्थे कोटियज्ञफलं लभेत्॥११॥
“One should next go to the great ford Gaṅgādvāra on the mighty mountain. Bathing at Koṭitīrtha there, one gains the fruit of ten million sacrifices.
Passage 12
उद्धरेत् स्वकुलं चाशु महादानफलं लभेत्। नागतीर्थं लभतिकां गत्वा स्नात्वा च मानवः॥१२॥
“One swiftly uplifts one’s lineage and gains the fruit of a great gift. A person should then go and bathe at Nāgatīrtha and Labhatikā.
Passage 13
सहस्रकपिलादानफलमाप्नोति तत्क्षणात्। लभेच्च स्वर्गवासाय पुण्यमक्षय्यमद्भुतम्॥१३॥
“In that very moment one gains the fruit of giving a thousand tawny cows and wonderful, inexhaustible merit leading to residence in heaven.
Passage 14
गङ्गायाश्च सरस्वत्याः संगमे रघुसत्तम। भद्रकर्णह्रदे चैव तथा कुञ्जाञ्जके नृप॥१४॥
“There are the confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarasvatī, O best of Raghus, Bhadrakarṇa pool, and likewise Kuñjāñjaka, O king.
Passage 15
अरुन्धतीवटे चैव स्नात्वा दद्याद् यथाविधि। गोसहस्रफलं लब्ध्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत्॥१५॥
“Bathing at Arundhatī’s banyan and giving according to rule, one gains the fruit of a thousand cows and then the fruit of a horse sacrifice.
Passage 16
ब्रह्मावर्तं महापुण्यं यमुनाप्रभवं तथा। द्वीपीसंक्रमणं तीर्थं सिन्धोश्च प्रभवं नृप॥१६॥
“There are greatly sacred Brahmāvarta, the source of Yamunā, Dvīpīsaṃkramaṇa ford, and the source of the Sindhu, O king.
Passage 17
वेदीं च ऋषिकुल्यां च वासिष्ठं तुङ्गमेव च। चोरप्रमोक्षणं सन्ध्यां विद्यातीर्थं च भूपते॥१७॥
“There are Vedī, Ṛṣikulyā, Vāsiṣṭha, Tuṅga, Corapramokṣaṇa, Sandhyā, and Vidyātīrtha, O lord of the earth.
Passage 18
गत्वा वेतसिकां चैव तीर्थं सुन्दरिकाभिधम्। ततो ब्रह्मणिकां चैव स्नायात् सुकृतकोटये॥१८॥
“One should visit Vetasikā, the ford named Sundarikā, and then Brahmaṇikā, bathing there to gain ten million measures of merit.
Passage 19
काश्मीरमण्डले पुण्या नद्यः पुरुषसत्तम। यासु स्नानेन दानेन सर्वैः पापैर्विमुच्यते॥१९॥
“In the region of Kāśmīra are holy rivers, O best of men. By bathing and giving at them, one becomes free from every sin.
Passage 20
सर्वेषां योगिनां यत्र पुण्या आश्रममण्डलाः। प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते यत्र भगवान् पार्वतीपतिः॥२०॥
“There are sacred hermitage communities belonging to all the yogins, and there Lord Śiva, husband of Pārvatī, is directly seen.
Passage 21
मानसस्याथ सरसो द्वारं पुण्यतमं मतम्। ततश्चोज्जानको रम्यो यवक्रीतस्य यत्स्थलम्॥२१॥
“The gateway to Lake Mānasa is held supremely holy. Beyond it lies delightful Ujjānaka, the place of Yavakrīta.
Passage 22
अरुन्धतीवसिष्ठौ च यत्रासाते तपोरतौ। कुशवांश्च ह्रदः पुण्यो दिव्यपद्मविराजितः॥२२॥
“There Arundhatī and Vasiṣṭha dwell absorbed in austerity, and the sacred pool Kuśavān shines with divine lotuses.
Passage 23
भृगुतुङ्गो महाशैलो देवगन्धर्वसेवितः। तत्र गत्वा च स्नात्वा च पापलेशो न विद्यते॥२३॥
“Bhṛgutuṅga is a great mountain attended by gods and gandharvas. After going and bathing there, not even a trace of sin remains.
Passage 24
चिरस्था पुण्यसलिला पापराशिविनाशिनी। यस्याः कूले महर्षीणां पुण्या आश्रममण्डलाः॥२४॥
“The long-established river Cirasthā has sacred waters that destroy masses of sin; holy communities of great seers’ hermitages stand upon its bank.
Passage 25
जला चोपजला चैव यमुना यमुना सरित्। तासु मज्जनमात्रेण नरः पापाद्विमुच्यते॥२५॥
“There are Jalā, Upajalā, and the river Yamunā. Merely by immersing in them, a person becomes free from sin.
Passage 26
स गङ्गायां महानद्यां संस्नातः पुण्यकर्मकृत्। पञ्चरात्रं तटे स्थित्वा पुण्यदेहो भवेन्नरः॥२६॥
“A performer of holy acts who bathes in the great river Gaṅgā and remains on her bank for five nights acquires a sanctified body.
Passage 27
तीर्थं विवसनं नाम मैनाके पर्वतोत्तमे। अस्याधिरोहमात्रेण पुण्यकर्मा भवेन्नरः॥२७॥
“On excellent Mount Maināka is the ford named Vivasana. Merely ascending it, a person becomes a performer of meritorious deeds.
Passage 28
ऋषिसेव्याः पुण्यतमा नगाः कनखलादयः। तत्र पुण्यवहा गङ्गा सप्तर्षिगणसेविता॥२८॥
“The supremely holy mountains beginning with Kanakhala are frequented by seers. There the merit-bearing Gaṅgā is attended by the company of seven seers.
Passage 29
यत्र सिद्धिं परिप्राप्तो ब्रह्मणो मानसः सुतः। सनत्कुमारो भगवान् पर्वत्रिदशपूजितः॥२९॥
“There Lord Sanatkumāra, Brahmā’s mind-born son, attained perfection and is worshipped upon the mountain by the thirty gods.
Passage 30
भृगुतुङ्गे महाराज गमनादेव पूयते। उष्णतोयवहा गङ्गा शीततोयवहा क्वचित्॥३०॥
“Merely going to Bhṛgutuṅga purifies one, O great king. There Gaṅgā carries warm water in one place and cold water in another.
Passage 31
तामुपस्पृश्य सकृदप्यघं विधुनुते नरः। मुनिः स्थूलशिरा नाम तस्य चाश्रम उत्तमः॥३१॥
“Touching her even once, a person shakes off sin. There also stands the excellent hermitage of the sage named Sthūlaśiras.
Passage 32
रैभ्यस्य चाश्रमो रम्यः पुण्यतोयह्रदान्वितः। उषित्वैतेषु पुण्येषु पुण्यगात्रत्वमाप्नुयात्॥३२॥
“Raibhya’s lovely hermitage contains pools of sacred water. By residing at these holy places, one acquires a sanctified body.
Passage 33
उशीरबीजं मैनाकं गिरिं श्वेतं च भूपते। कालशैलमतिक्रम्य ततः स्थानममानुषम्॥३३॥
“Beyond Uśīrabīja, Maināka, Mount Śveta, and Kālaśaila, O king, lies a realm not belonging to ordinary human beings.
Passage 34
यत्र सप्तविधा गङ्गा देवदृश्या महानदी। स्थानं विरजसं पुण्यं यत्राग्निर्भगवान् स्वयम्॥३४॥
“There the great Gaṅgā appears in seven forms and is visible to the gods. It is a stainless sacred realm where Lord Agni himself resides.
Passage 35
मन्दराद्रिश्चन्द्रसितः कल्पद्रुममनोहरः। यक्षाणां वसतिर्यत्र कुबेरस्य महात्मनः॥३५॥
“Mount Mandara, white as the moon and delightful with wish-fulfilling trees, is the dwelling of the yakṣas and of great Kubera.
Passage 36
अनेकशतसाहस्रसंख्या गन्धर्वपुङ्गवाः। यक्षेशस्य मनोमोदं कुर्वन्ति सुखमासते॥३६॥
“Many hundreds of thousands of foremost gandharvas delight the lord of the yakṣas and dwell there happily.
Passage 37
अनेकरूपरुचिरा नानाबलपराक्रमाः। मणिभद्रमुपासीना यक्षराजं महाबलम्॥३७॥
“Beautiful in many forms and possessing varied strength and valour, they attend Maṇibhadra, the immensely powerful king of the yakṣas.
Passage 38
दुर्गमाः पर्वतास्तत्र कुबेरसचिवालयाः। षड्योजनसमुच्छ्रायः कैलाशश्चापि पर्वतः॥३८॥
“There are inaccessible mountains that house Kubera’s ministers. Beyond them rises Mount Kailāsa, six yojanas high.
Passage 39
देवगन्धर्वसिद्धौघदर्शनोत्कण्ठ्यवर्धनः। विशाला यत्र नगरी देवगन्धर्वसेविता॥३९॥
“It increases the longing to behold the hosts of gods, gandharvas, and siddhas. There stands the vast city Viśālā, attended by gods and gandharvas.
Passage 40
यक्षैः किंपुरुषैश्चापि सुपर्णैर्नागसत्तमैः। अनेकनियुतैः सेव्या कुबेरसदनोन्मुखैः॥४०॥
“Millions of yakṣas, kimpuruṣas, garuḍas, and foremost nāgas attend it, facing toward Kubera’s palace.
Passage 41
यत्र गङ्गा च यमुना दिव्यस्रोतोविराजिता। पुण्यगन्धवहश्चापि यत्र वाति समीरणः॥४१॥
“There Gaṅgā and Yamunā shine as divine streams, and a breeze bearing sacred fragrance blows.
Passage 42
गन्धमादननामा च गिरीणामुत्तमो गिरिः। दिव्यधातुद्रवोद्गारि शोभमानदरीमुखः॥४२॥
“Gandhamādana is the finest of mountains, pouring forth streams of divine minerals and beautiful with the mouths of its caves.
Passage 43
मक्षिकादंशमशकसिंहव्याघ्रविवर्जितः। नरनारायणौ यत्र तेपाते परमं तपः॥४३॥
“It is free of biting flies, mosquitoes, lions, and tigers. There Nara and Nārāyaṇa perform supreme austerity.
Passage 44
पुण्या बदरिका यत्र विशालां नगरीमनु। कुबेरयक्षराजस्य रम्या पुष्करिणी च सा॥४४॥
“Sacred Badarikā lies beside the city Viśālā, together with the delightful lotus pool belonging to Kubera, king of the yakṣas.
Passage 45
बदरीप्रभवा यत्र महाशुभजला नदी। बालखिल्या महात्मानो यत्र नित्यं तपोरताः॥४५॥
“There flows a river arising from Badarī with greatly auspicious waters, and there the great Vālakhilya sages are forever absorbed in austerity.
Passage 46
मरीचेः पुलहस्याथ भृगोरङ्गिरसस्तथा। सामगानेन मुखरा यत्र नित्यं शुभा दिशः॥४६॥
“There are the places of Marīci, Pulaha, Bhṛgu, and Aṅgiras, and the auspicious directions forever resound with the chanting of the Sāman hymns.
Passage 47
दैत्यस्य नरकाख्यस्य यत्रास्थीनि समन्ततः। हिमपाण्डुरवर्णानि विकीर्णान्यभितो दिशम्॥४७॥
“The snowy-white bones of the demon named Naraka lie scattered there in every direction.
Passage 48
पर्वतप्रतिमं श्वेतमस्थिकूटं सुरद्विषः। नरकस्यातुलोच्छ्रायं संततं यत्र शोभते॥४८॥
“There the incomparable white heap of bones of Naraka, enemy of the gods, continually shines like a mountain.
Passage 49
निपातितोऽसौ देवानां देवेन सुमहीयसा। विष्णुना समरे जित्वा तपोवीर्यदुरासदः॥४९॥
“That demon, unassailable through the power of his austerity, was conquered in battle and struck down by Viṣṇu, the supremely exalted God of the gods.
Passage 50
दशवर्षसहस्राणि येन तप्तं महत्तपः। प्रवीरेण पदं दिव्यमैन्द्रं संप्राप्तुमिच्छता॥५०॥
“That mighty one had performed severe austerity for ten thousand years, desiring to obtain Indra’s divine station.
Passage 51
यत्र तेनैव देवेन केशवेन महात्मना। जले मग्ना मही भूप उद्धृतैकेन पाणिना॥५१॥
“There the great god Keśava raised the earth, which had sunk beneath the water, with a single hand, O king.
Passage 52
महाशृङ्गे समारोप्य युद्धमुग्रं ततः कृतम्। वराहवपुषा दैत्यं हिरण्याक्षाभिधं घ्नता॥५२॥
“Lifting her upon his great tusk, he fought a fierce battle in his boar form and slew the demon named Hiraṇyākṣa.
Passage 53
तद्दिव्यं परमं रम्यं कामवर्षद्रुमावृतम्। नरनारायणस्थानं गङ्गावीचिसुशीतलम्॥५३॥
“That divine and supremely delightful abode of Nara and Nārāyaṇa is covered with desire-granting trees and cooled by Gaṅgā’s waves.
Passage 54
अनेकदेवसदनं गन्धर्वगणसेवितम्। अप्सरोनृत्यतालादिस्वरमुखेन याञ्चितम्॥५४॥
“It contains many divine dwellings, is attended by hosts of gandharvas, and is filled with the rhythms, melodies, and voices of apsarases dancing.
Passage 55
विशालां बदरीं प्राप्य गङ्गास्रोतसि पावने। मज्जनेनात्मना शुद्धो दिव्यदृष्टिर्भवेन्नरः॥५५॥
“Reaching Viśālā and Badarī and immersing in Gaṅgā’s purifying stream, a person becomes inwardly pure and gains divine sight.
Passage 56
अमानुषे तु स्थानेऽस्मिन् मानुषो नैव गच्छति। मधुश्रवफला यत्र पुण्यवृक्षा मनोरमाः॥५६॥
“Ordinary human beings cannot reach this superhuman realm, where delightful sacred trees bear fruit that flows with honey.
Passage 57
शीतलच्छायया युक्ता मरुल्लुलितपल्लवाः। विकचाम्भोजपुष्पौघाः सौरभावृतदिक्टटाः॥५७॥
“They offer cooling shade and leaves stirred by the breeze; masses of fully opened lotuses fill every shore and direction with fragrance.
Passage 58
मुनीनां दीर्घतपसां तेजसा चातिदुर्गमः। देशोऽसौ पावितस्तुङ्गगङ्गावीचिकदम्बकैः॥५८॥
“That region is exceedingly difficult to reach because of the splendour of sages engaged in prolonged austerity, and it is purified by Gaṅgā’s towering clusters of waves.
Passage 59
तपसा श्रद्धया चैव वीर्येण सुगमो गिरिः। गन्धमादननामात्र नरनारायणस्थितिः॥५९॥
“The mountain is accessible through austerity, faith, and spiritual strength. It is named Gandhamādana, the dwelling place of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
Passage 60
तयोर्दर्शनमात्रेण नरनारायणेशयोः। प्राग्जन्मदुष्कृतं चापि विधुनोति नरः सकृत्॥६०॥
“By beholding the two lords Nara and Nārāyaṇa even once, a person shakes off wrongdoing committed in previous births.
Passage 61
गङ्गायाः प्रभवं चापि यमुनाप्रभवं तथा। नरो दृष्ट्वा विमुच्येत महापातकराशितः॥६१॥
“Seeing the source of Gaṅgā and likewise the source of Yamunā, a person is freed from a mass of the gravest sins.
Passage 62
नानेन सदृशी यात्रा नानेन सदृशं तपः। नानेन सदृशं तीर्थं नानेन सदृशं सुखम्॥६२॥
“No pilgrimage equals this one, no austerity equals it, no sacred ford equals it, and no happiness equals its joy.
Passage 63
पुण्यो हिमगिरिः साक्षात् पार्वत्या जनकः स्वयम्। सर्वतो हिमसंव्याप्तो विष्णुपद्याभिपावितः॥६३॥
“The holy Himalaya is himself the father of Pārvatī, covered everywhere in snow and thoroughly sanctified by Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā.
Passage 64
तादृशस्तस्य पुत्रोऽपि सेनाको भूभृतां वरः। तयोर्दर्शनमात्रेण पापपुञ्जं पलायते॥६४॥
“His son Senāka is likewise foremost among mountains. Merely beholding those two causes a mass of sin to flee.
Passage 65
मन्दरे सुन्दरे शैले कैलाशे हरसंश्रिते। गन्धमादनशैले च जनैर्गन्तुं न शक्यते॥६५॥
“Ordinary people cannot reach beautiful Mount Mandara, Kailāsa where Hara dwells, or Mount Gandhamādana,
Passage 66
विना तपोबलं राजन् विना विद्याबलं तथा। विना शौर्यबलं चैव विना शौचबलं तथा॥६६॥
“without the power of austerity, knowledge, courage, and purity, O king.
Passage 67
बदर्याश्रमयात्राया नान्ययात्रा प्रशस्यते। सर्वतीर्थमयी चैव सर्वदेवमयी तथा॥६७॥
“No pilgrimage is praised above the journey to Badaryāśrama. It embodies every sacred ford and likewise every deity.
Passage 68
यात्रेयं राजराजेन्द्र राजते सर्वतोऽधिका। तपोवनानि रम्याणि मुनीनामाश्रमाः शुभाः॥६८॥
“This pilgrimage shines above all others, O king of kings, with delightful groves of austerity and auspicious hermitages of sages.
Passage 69
अनेकतीर्थगमनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्। अनेकदेवसंदर्शोऽनेककुण्डावगाहनम्॥६९॥
“It brings visits to many sacred fords, visions of many wonders and deities, and immersion in many holy pools.
Passage 70
तप्तकुण्डेषु दिव्येषु शीतकुण्डेषु च प्रभो। अवगाह्य जनः सद्यो धौतपापचयो भवेत्॥७०॥
“Immersing in the divine hot and cold pools, O lord, a person immediately has the entire accumulation of sin washed away.
Passage 71
स्थले स्थले च गङ्गायाः स्रोतांसि हिमपर्वते। विचित्राणि मनोज्ञानि तेषु स्नानेन पूयते॥७१॥
“At place after place on the Himalayan mountain flow Gaṅgā’s varied and delightful streams; bathing in them purifies one.
Passage 72
एकधा च द्विधा चैव त्रिधा चैव चतुर्विधा। पञ्चधा चैव षड्धा च सप्तधा चाष्टधा तथा॥७२॥
“She divides into one stream, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight.
Passage 73
नवधा दशधा चैव शतधा च सहस्रधा। विश्वस्य पावनी गङ्गा प्रसूता दिव्यवाहिनी॥७३॥
“She also flows in nine, ten, a hundred, and a thousand courses. Thus the divine river Gaṅgā arises as purifier of the universe.
Passage 74
तस्याः प्रवाहेषु मनोरमेषु पुण्याश्रमस्थानतटोदितेषु। अनेकवाटीबहुवृक्षशोभानितान्तकान्तेषु सुखावहेषु॥७४॥
“Her enchanting currents rise beside sacred hermitage grounds; exquisitely lovely with many gardens and abundant trees, they carry happiness.
Passage 75
कूजद्विहङ्गोत्तमनादितेषु देवाङ्गनाकौतुककारकेषु। पुण्याप्सरःस्नानसुखावहेषु सुच्छायदेवद्रुमशीतलेषु॥७५॥
“They resound with the calls of fine birds, delight celestial women, provide joyful bathing for holy apsarases, and lie cool beneath well-shading divine trees.
Passage 76
क्वचिद्धरीभेदनवेगवत्सु क्वचिन्महावृक्षलतानगेषु। क्वचित् स्फुटद्गण्डशिलाच्युतेषु क्वचिन्महानिर्झरशोभितेषु॥७६॥
“In places the currents rush forcefully enough to cleave the earth; elsewhere they cross great trees, vines, and hills, fall from split boulders, or shine as mighty cascades.
Passage 77
क्वचिद्विकीर्णेषु गिरिप्रसङ्गात् क्वचिद्वनेषु प्रसभोदितेषु। नानाविधानेकहपुष्पराजीसौरभ्यसंभारविभावितेषु॥७७॥
“Here they scatter among mountain ranges and there burst forth through forests, made radiant by masses of fragrance from rows of many kinds of tree blossoms.
Passage 78
सहस्रधारासुषमाञ्चितेषु नृत्यत्तरङ्गावलिशोभितेषु। सौन्दर्यसंचारसमुद्गतेषु मन्दप्रसारेषु समुन्नतेषु॥७८॥
“Adorned by the beauty of a thousand streams and rows of dancing waves, they overflow with moving beauty, now spreading gently and now rising high.
Passage 79
उच्चावचेषु स्फुरच्छैलधातुप्रसङ्गतोऽनेकवर्णाञ्चितेषु। लताप्रतानान्तरसंगतेषु छायावहेष्वातपभावितेषु॥७९॥
“High and low, they take on many colours from gleaming mountain minerals, pass between spreading vines, carry shade, and sparkle in sunlight.
Passage 80
महाहिमानीद्युतिसंगतेषु सुशीतलेष्वद्भुतनादवत्सु। स्थले स्थले हिमशैले निमज्य पुनर्न जन्मी भवतीह लोके॥८०॥
“They mingle with the lustre of immense glaciers, are intensely cold, and make wondrous sounds. Immersing at place after place on the snowy mountain, one is not born again in this world.
Passage 81
इत्येव ते महाशौचकारिणां नृप भूयसाम्। तीर्थानां वै स्वरूपाणि कथितानि मनीषिणे॥८१॥
“Thus, O wise king, I have described the forms of the many sacred fords that produce profound purification.
Passage 82
यस्मिन्देशे यानि तीर्थानि राजन् तद्देशजैर्मनुजैः कीर्तितानि। तानि प्रकर्तव्यतमानि भूयो विना विचारं देहपावित्र्यकामैः॥८२॥
“Whichever fords in a region are praised by people born there, O king, should be visited without hesitation by those who desire bodily purification.
Passage 83
भूयांसि भूमौ तीर्थानि दिक्षु चैव विदिक्षु च। क्षेत्राणि सरहस्यानि वनानि विविधानि च॥८३॥
“Many sacred fords lie across the earth in the cardinal and intermediate directions, along with holy regions rich in mysteries and forests of many kinds.
Passage 84
न तेषां महिमा राजन् कल्पकोटिशतैरपि। शक्यते कथितुं भूयो सर्वथान्येन वा क्वचित्॥८४॥
“Their greatness, O king, could not be fully recounted even in hundreds of millions of cosmic ages, whether by me or by anyone else.
Passage 85
सर्वेषामेव तीर्थानामेक एव समुच्चयः। श्रीमद्विष्णुपदी नाम कोटिपापापहारिणी॥८५॥
“The single gathering of all sacred fords is glorious Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā, who removes ten million sins.
Passage 86
न गङ्गया समं तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते। यस्याः संदर्शनादेव नरकं नैव पश्यति॥८६॥
“No sacred ford equal to Gaṅgā exists in the three worlds. Merely beholding her, one never sees hell.
Passage 87
किं पुनः स्पर्शनात् स्नानात्तथैवाचमनादपि। अनेकधास्य दुरितं विनिहन्ति हि जाह्नवी॥८७॥
“How much more through touching, bathing, or sipping her water! Jāhnavī destroys a person’s wrongdoing in countless ways.
Passage 88
ॐ नमो विष्णुपद्यै ते गङ्गायै सततं नमः। इति ब्रुवाणोऽपि जनः सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति॥८८॥
“‘Oṃ, homage to you, Viṣṇupadī; perpetual homage to Gaṅgā.’ A person who merely says this casts off every sin.
Passage 89
गङ्गाया अधिकं पुण्यं यमुनाया अवगाहतः। सप्तब्रह्माण्डभेत्त्री सा कालिन्दी कृष्णरूपिणी॥८९॥
“Immersion in Yamunā gives merit greater than Gaṅgā’s. Kālindī, Kṛṣṇa’s own form, pierces the seven cosmic spheres.
Passage 90
कलिन्दगिरिसंभूता कोटिपापविनाशिनी। यमुना सेविता येन यमलोकं न स व्रजेत्॥९०॥
“Born from Mount Kalinda, Yamunā destroys ten million sins. One who serves her does not go to Yama’s realm.
Passage 91
स्मरणादेव कालिन्द्या धूतपापो विमुच्यते। किं पुनर्दर्शनात् स्पर्शात् स्नानादाचमनादपि॥९१॥
“Merely remembering Kālindī washes away sin and grants freedom—how much more seeing, touching, bathing, or sipping her water!
Passage 92
इयं पुराणतमिका गङ्गातोऽपि गरीयसी। यमुना यमभीतिघ्नी सेविता सज्जनैः सदा॥९२॥
“This most ancient Yamunā is greater even than Gaṅgā. Destroyer of fear of Yama, she is constantly served by the virtuous.
Passage 93
एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि एकतः पुण्यकोटयः। एकतः सकला यात्रा यमुना चैकतः स्थिता॥९३॥
“Place all sacred fords, ten million merits, and every pilgrimage on one side; Yamunā alone stands on the other.
Passage 94
कृष्णपत्नी कृष्णसमा कलिकल्मषनाशिनी। करुणामूर्तिरतुला कल्याणगुणकारिणी॥९४॥
“Kṛṣṇa’s beloved, equal to Kṛṣṇa, she destroys the impurities of Kali. She is an incomparable embodiment of compassion who produces auspicious qualities.
Passage 95
ब्रह्मानन्दमयी साक्षाद् गङ्गागुणगणोत्करा। प्रेमानन्दमयी पूर्णा यमुना तु स्वयं परा॥९५॥
“She directly embodies the bliss of Brahman and surpasses Gaṅgā’s host of qualities. Full of the bliss of divine love, Yamunā is herself supreme.
Passage 96
कृष्णस्य यमुनायाश्च न भेदस्तत्त्वतो मतः। शृङ्गाररसरूपेयं कृष्णसायुज्यदायिनी॥९६॥
“In truth no difference is held to exist between Kṛṣṇa and Yamunā. She embodies the rasa of divine love and grants union with Kṛṣṇa.
Passage 97
कृष्णरूपा रसमयी वनमालाविभूषिता। भक्तोद्धारकरा दिव्यदोलाकेलिविधायिनी॥९७॥
“She is Kṛṣṇa’s form, filled with rasa and adorned with a forest garland. She uplifts devotees and arranges divine swing pastimes.
Passage 98
नानया सदृशं तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते। न यात्रान्तरमेतस्या यात्रया सदृशी भवेत्॥९८॥
“No sacred ford equal to her exists in the three worlds, and no other pilgrimage equals a pilgrimage to her.
Passage 99
सर्वत्र यमुना पुण्या स्नानादाचमनादपि। मथुरातलगा त्वेषा स्वयं कृष्णस्वरूपिणी॥९९॥
“Yamunā is holy everywhere through bathing or sipping her water, but where she flows through Mathurā’s ground she is Kṛṣṇa’s own form.
Passage 100
तीर्थानि खलु सन्त्येव पृथिव्यां सुबहून्यपि। मथुरास्नानसदृशं न पुण्यं कुत्रचिन्मतम्॥१००॥
“Very many sacred fords exist upon the earth, yet nowhere is merit held equal to that of bathing at Mathurā.
Passage 101
यमुनाजलकल्लोलरमणीयमहातटा। मथुरादर्शनादेव मथ्नाति खलु पातकम्॥१०१॥
“Mathurā’s great banks are beautiful with the rolling waters of Yamunā. Merely seeing Mathurā thoroughly crushes sin.
Passage 102
वसन्ति यस्य प्रति रोमकूपमण्डानि सप्तावरणान्वितानि। ध्यायन्ति यद्रूपमनन्यनिष्ठास्तपःसमाधिप्रयता मुनीन्द्राः॥१०२॥
“In each of his hair pores dwell cosmic spheres enclosed by seven coverings. Foremost sages, single-minded and intent on austerity and samādhi, meditate on his form.
Passage 103
स वै पुरुषधौरेयो यदाज्ञायां प्रवर्तते। स्वयं विहरते सोऽत्र भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः॥१०३॥
“That foremost Person, by whose command all proceeds, Lord Puruṣottama himself, freely sports here.
Passage 104
सेयं मधुपुरी धन्या पुरीणामुत्तमोत्तमा। प्रणवाकारतां नित्यं बिभ्रती शुभगाकृतिः॥१०४॥
“Blessed Madhupurī is the highest of all cities, eternally bearing the shape of the sacred syllable Oṃ and possessing an auspicious form.
Passage 105
अकारात्मोत्तरा कोटिरुकारात्मा स्वयं पुरी। मकारो दक्षिणा कोटिर्नादबिन्दुकला सरित्॥१०५॥
“Its northern limit embodies the letter A, the city itself embodies U, and its southern limit is M; the river is the subtle measure of sound and bindu.
Passage 106
वृत्ता द्वादशसङ्ख्याकैर्वनैरुपवनैरपि। विंशयोजनविस्तीर्णमण्डलेनाभिमण्डिता॥१०६॥
“Surrounded by twelve forests and subsidiary groves, Mathurā is adorned by a domain extending twenty yojanas.
Passage 107
सेव्या मधुपुरी नित्यं सिद्धैः कृष्णपरायणैः। अस्यां न कलिदोषाणां संभवोऽद्यापि दृश्यते॥१०७॥
“Madhupurī is eternally served by perfected souls devoted to Kṛṣṇa. Even now, no arising of Kali’s faults is seen within her.
Passage 108
कृष्णलीलानिजस्थानं नरनारीगणावृता। नित्योत्सवनित्यसुखैर्नित्यप्रेमविभूषितैः॥१०८॥
“She is Kṛṣṇa’s own place of divine play, thronged by men and women adorned with perpetual festivals, perpetual happiness, and perpetual love.
Passage 109
साक्षाच्चतुर्भुजाकारैर्गोकीटपशुपक्षिभिः। सेविता सुखदा नित्यं धन्या सा मथुरापुरी॥१०९॥
“Even her cows, insects, animals, and birds directly possess four-armed forms. Ever attended by them and ever bestowing happiness, blessed Mathurā shines.” *Thus ends Chapter 104 of the Pūrva-khaṇḍa of the Ādi-Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa, during the king’s pilgrimage.*