इमं संपूजय क्षिप्रमेतत्कुण्डस्य सन्निधौ दुग्धेश्वरमिति ख्यातं क्षीरकुण्डे पवित्रकम्
'Quickly worship this, here at the side of the pond; in the milk-pond, the pure one is known as Dugdeshvara.'
पूजयामास तल्लिंगं दुग्धेश्वरमिति स्मृतम्
He worshipped that linga, remembered as Dugdeshvara.
सीतया सत्कृतं यस्मात्तत्कुण्डं क्षीरसंगमम् 2.8.8.
Because that pond, where Sita offered reverence, is the meeting place of milk.
सीताकुण्डे नराः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा दुग्धेश्वरं प्रभुम्
Men, having bathed in Sita's pond and seen the Lord Dugdheshvara,
अत्र स्नानं जपो होमो दानं चाक्षयतां व्रजेत्
Here, bathing, recitation, oblation, and giving all become inexhaustible.
दुग्धेश्वरं च संपूज्य सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
And by duly worshipping Dugdheshvara, one attains all desires.
एवं यो विधिवत्कुर्याद्दयाधर्मविशारदः
Thus, whoever performs in this way, according to rule, being skilled in compassion and righteousness,
तत्र पूर्वदिशाभागे सुग्रीवरचितं महत्
There, in the eastern direction, is the great shrine established by Sugriva,
यत्र स्नात्वा च दत्त्वा च रामं संपूज्य यत्नतः
Where, after bathing and giving, one worships Rama with care,
तत्प्रत्यग्दिशि वै स्थानं हनुमत्कुण्डमित्यपि
In the opposite direction from that is the place called Hanumat-kunda.
तयोः स्नानेन दानेन रामसंपूजनेन च इयं सा परमा मेध्याऽयोध्या धर्मनिधिः स्मृता
By bathing, giving, and worshipping Rama at those two, this Ayodhya is remembered as the supreme pure treasury of righteousness.
इत्युक्तास्तु ततः सर्वे वसिष्ठमुनिमादरात् कथयस्व तपोराशे कथामेतां सुदुर्लभाम्
Thus addressed, all of them then, with respect, said to the sage Vasishtha: 'O treasury of austerity, narrate this most rare story.'
अयोध्यायाः परं विप्र माहात्म्यं कथयंति यत् 2.8.8.
O Brahmin, tell that supreme glory of Ayodhya which is recounted.
यथा यात्रां विधास्यामः क्रमेण च विधानतः
How shall we undertake the pilgrimage, step by step and according to rule?
यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशय
Hearing which, one is freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt.
इदं गुह्यतरं क्षेत्रमयोध्याभिधमुत्तमम्
This most secret field, called Ayodhya, is supreme.
अस्मिन्सिद्धाः सदा देवा वैष्णवं व्रतमास्थिताः
Here, perfected beings and gods, having taken up the Vaishnava vow, always abide.
अभ्यस्यंति परं योगं युक्तप्राणा जितेन्द्रियाः
They practice supreme yoga, their breath controlled, their senses subdued.
कमलोत्पलशोभाढ्ये सरोभिः समलंकृते
Adorned with lakes shining with lotuses and water-lilies,
रोचते हि सदा वासः क्षेत्रे नित्यं हरेरिह
Indeed, dwelling always in this field of Hari is ever delightful.
यथा मोक्षमिहायांति नान्यत्र हि तथा क्वचित् महाक्षेत्रमिदं यस्मादयोध्याभिधमुत्तमम्
Just as liberation is attained here, so it is not attained elsewhere in the same way; for this is the great and supreme holy place known as Ayodhya.
नैमिषे च कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगाद्वारे च पुष्करे
At Naimisha, Kurukshetra, Gangadvara, and Pushkara—
इह संप्राप्यते यद्वत्तत एव विशिष्यते सर्वस्मादपि तीर्थाग्र्यादिदमेव महत्कृतम् ।। 2.8.8.
—even there, what is attained here is surpassed; among all foremost sacred places, this alone is considered the greatest.
अव्यक्तलिंगैर्मुनिभिः सर्वैः सिद्धैर्महर्षिभिः
By all sages with unmanifest marks, by perfected beings and great seers—
तेभ्यः प्रयच्छति हरिर्योगमैश्वर्य्यमुत्तमम्
—to them, Hari grants supreme yogic power and sovereignty.
ब्रह्मा देवर्षिभिः सार्द्धं श्रीश्च वायुर्दिवाकरः
Brahma, along with the divine sages, Shri, Vayu, and the Sun—
उपासते महात्मानः सर्वत्र हरिमादरात् अनन्यमनसो भूत्वा सर्वदोपासते हरिम्
—these great souls worship Hari everywhere with reverence; being single-minded, they always worship Hari.
विषयासक्तचित्तोऽपि त्यक्तधर्मरतिर्नरः
Even a man whose mind is attached to sense objects, who has abandoned delight in righteousness—
ये पुनर्निगमाधीनाः सत्रस्था विजितेंद्रियाः
But those who are devoted to the Vedas, who dwell at sacrificial sessions, whose senses are conquered—
देहभंगं समापद्य धीमंतः संगवर्जिताः
—when these wise ones, free from attachment, encounter bodily death—