इत्यादिबहुशोभाढ्यं सर्वदिक्षु मनोहरम् यत्प्रभावादभूत्तीर्थं पावनं तत्सदा महत्
Thus, adorned with such manifold beauty, enchanting in every direction, by whose power that place became a sacred and ever-purifying tīrtha.
तत्पूर्वं गौतमस्यर्षेराश्रमं पावनं महत् प्रथमं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ पितुः किल तपोनिधेः
Formerly, the great and holy hermitage of the sage Gautama, O best of sages, was first established there by your father, the treasure of austerity.
नानाविधानि तीर्थानि चाश्रमाश्चैव सर्वशः
There are various tīrthas and hermitages of every kind.
तमसानाम सा ज्ञेया वर्तते तटिनी शुभा
That auspicious river is known by the name Tamasā.
तत्र स्नानेन दानेन श्राद्धेन च विशेषतः
There, especially by bathing, giving gifts, and performing ancestral rites,
मार्गशीर्षे शुक्लपक्षे पञ्चदश्यां विशेषतः
Especially on the fifteenth day of the bright half of Mārgaśīrṣa,
तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानं निर्मलमानसैः
Therefore, here, those with pure minds should perform bathing.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तमसापरमं शुभम्
Now I shall tell you further of another supremely auspicious place beyond the Tamasā.
भाद्रे शुक्लचतुर्थ्यां तु तस्य यात्रा शुभावहा तस्य स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम् ।। 2.8.9.
In the month of Bhādra, on the bright fourth day, its pilgrimage brings auspiciousness; even by merely remembering it, all obstacles are destroyed.
तस्माद्दक्षिणदिग्भागे भैरवो नाम नामतः
Therefore, in the southern direction, there is one called Bhairava by name.
रक्षितो वासुदेवेन क्षेत्ररक्षार्थमादरात् मनोभीष्टफलप्राप्तिर्भैरवस्य सदाऽऽदरात्
Protected by Vāsudeva for the safeguarding of the area, by devotion to Bhairava, one's cherished desires are always fulfilled.
मार्गशीर्षस्य कृष्णायामष्टम्यां तस्य निर्मिता
It was established on the eighth day of the dark half of Mārgaśīrṣa.
पशूपहारसंभूति कर्तव्यं पूजनं जनैः
Offerings of animals and other gifts should be made by people as part of the worship.
निर्विघ्नं तीर्थवसतिर्भैरवस्य प्रसादतः
By the grace of Bhairava, residence at the sacred place is free from obstacles.
एतस्मिन्नुत्तरे भागे रम्यं भरतकुण्डकम्
In this northern part lies the delightful Bharata-kunda.
तत्र स्नानं तथा दानं सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत्
Bathing and giving gifts there all become inexhaustible in merit.
यत्नतो देवताः पूज्या वस्त्रादिभिरलंकृतैः
The deities should be worshipped with care, adorned with garments and other ornaments.
रामचन्द्रं हृदि ध्यायन्निर्मलात्मा जितेन्द्रियः
One who meditates on Rama Chandra in his heart, with a pure mind and controlled senses,
तत्र चक्रे महत्कुण्डं भरतो नाम भूपतिः 2.8.9.
There, the great king named Bharata constructed a great reservoir.
तत्कुंडे सुमहत्पुण्यं नानापुण्यसमन्वितम्
That reservoir is endowed with immense merit, filled with various kinds of virtue.
हंससारसचक्राह्व विहंगमविराजितम्
It is graced by swans, cranes, chakravaka ducks, and other splendid birds.
तत्र स्नानं महापुण्यं प्रमोदानन्दनिर्मलम् पितरस्तस्य तुष्यंति तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः
Bathing there brings great merit, pure joy, and delight; ancestors are satisfied and all the deities become pleased.
स्वर्णं चान्नं विधानेन दातव्यं च द्विजन्मने
Gold and food should be given properly to a twice-born person.
तत्पश्चिमदिशाभागे जटाकुण्डमनुत्तमम्
In the western direction from there is the excellent Jatakunda.
जटाकुण्डमिति ख्यातं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्
Jatakunda is renowned as the foremost among all sacred reservoirs.
पूर्वकुण्डेषु संपूज्यो भरतः श्रीसमन्वितः चैत्रकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां यात्रा सांवत्सरी भवेत्
In the earlier reservoirs, Bharata endowed with fortune should be worshipped; on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Chaitra, an annual pilgrimage is observed.
इति परमविधानैः पूजयेद्रामसीते तदनु भरतकुण्डे लक्ष्मणं च प्रपूज्य
Thus, according to the highest ordinances, one should worship Rama and Sita, and then Lakshmana at Bharata-kunda.
अजितं पूजयेद्विप्र तस्य सिद्धिः करे स्थिता
O Brahmin, one should worship Ajita; success is assured for him.
महोत्सवस्तु कर्तव्यो गीतवादित्रसंयुतः
A great festival should be held, accompanied by singing and instrumental music.
एतस्मादुत्तरे विद्वन्वीरस्य शुभसूचकम्
To the north of this, O wise one, is an auspicious sign of the hero.