तच्छ्रुत्वा विष्णुकथितं सर्वलोकेश्वरोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing what Viṣṇu had spoken, the Lord of all worlds said:
स्वर्गद्वारेऽत्र वै तीर्थे राममेवानुचिन्तयन्
At this holy place, which is the gateway to heaven, one should meditate solely on Rāma.
सर्वे संतानिकंनाम ब्रह्मलोकादनन्तरम्
All those called Saṃtānika, after departing from the world of Brahmā,
यस्या विनिःसृता ये वै सुरासुरतनूद्भवाः
From whom have arisen those gods and demons born of various bodies,
ऋषयो नागयक्षाश्च प्रयास्यन्ति स्वकारणम् 2.8.6.
The sages, nāgas, and yakṣas also will go to their respective abodes.
तज्जलं सरयूं भेजे परिपूर्णं ततो जलम्
They entered the Sarayū, filled with water at that time.
मानुषं देहमुत्सृज्य ते विमानान्यथारुहन्
Abandoning their human bodies, they ascended celestial vehicles.
देहत्यागं च ते तत्र कृत्वा दिव्यवपुर्द्धराः
There, having given up their bodies, they assumed divine forms.
प्राप्य चोत्तमदेहं वै देवलोकमुपागमन् तेऽपि प्रविविशुः सर्वे देहान्निक्षिप्य वै तदा
Having attained the highest form, they reached the world of the gods; all of them entered, leaving their bodies behind at that time.
तदा स्वर्गं गताः सर्वे स्मृत्वा लोकगुरुं विभुम्
Then all of them went to heaven, remembering the mighty Lord, the teacher of the worlds.
अतस्तद्गोप्रताराख्यं तीर्थं विख्यातिमागतम्
Therefore, that holy place became renowned as Gopratāra.
जन्मान्तरशतैर्विप्र योगोऽयं यदि लभ्यते
O brāhmaṇa, if this union is attained even after hundreds of births,
गोप्रतारे न सन्देहो हरिर्भक्त्या सुनिष्ठितः
There is no doubt that at Gopratāra, Hari is firmly established through devotion.
गोप्रतारे नरो विद्वान्योऽपि स्नाति सुनिश्चितः
Even a learned man who bathes at Gopratāra is certainly purified.
कार्तिक्यां च विशेषेण स्नातव्यं विजितेन्द्रियैः स्नातुमायान्त्ययोध्यायां गोप्रतारे विशेषतः ।। 2.8.6.
Especially in the month of Kārtika, those who have mastered their senses should bathe; people come to Ayodhyā especially to bathe at Gopratāra.
गोप्रतारसमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति
There has never been, nor will there be, a holy place equal to Gopratāra.
निष्पापः कलुषं त्यक्त्वा शुक्लांगः सितकंचुकः
One becomes sinless, having abandoned impurity, with a pure body and white garment.
यानि कानि च तीर्थानि भूमौ दिव्यानि सुव्रत
O virtuous one, whatever divine holy places exist on earth,
गोप्रतारे जपो होमः स्नानं दानं च शक्तितः
On the Gopratara day, one should perform recitation, offerings into the fire, bathing, and giving gifts according to one's ability.
कार्तिके प्राप्य तद्यन्ति तीर्थानि सकलान्यपि
In the month of Kartika, by attaining this, all the sacred places are also reached.
गोप्रतारे कृतं स्नानं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्येत नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Bathing performed on the Gopratara day destroys all sins; one is freed from every sin, and there is no need for further deliberation.
विष्णुमुद्दिश्य विप्राणां पूजनं च विशेषतः
Especially, worship of Brahmins should be done with Vishnu as the intended deity.
अन्नं बहुविधं हेम वासांसि विविधानि च
One should give food of many kinds, gold, and various garments.
सूर्यग्रहे कुरुक्षेत्रे नर्मदायां शशिग्रहे 2.8.6.
During a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra, and during a lunar eclipse at the Narmada river.
घृतेन दीपको यस्य तिलतैले न वा पुनः
A lamp made with ghee, or even with sesame oil, is offered.
तेनेष्टं क्रतुभिः सर्वैः कृतं तीर्थावगाहनम्
By this, all sacrifices are accomplished, and bathing at sacred places is fulfilled.
नानाविधानि तीर्थानि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि च
There are various kinds of sacred places, which grant both enjoyment and liberation.
स्वर्णमल्पं च यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे
Whoever gives even a little gold to a Brahmin who is learned in the Vedas—
गोप्रताराभिधे तीर्थे त्रिलोकीविश्रुते द्विज
At the sacred place called Gopratara, renowned throughout the three worlds, O twice-born—
तत्र स्नानं तु यः कुर्याद्विप्रान्संतर्पयेन्नरः
Whoever bathes there and satisfies Brahmins, that person—