तस्य जिष्णोर्बृसीं दृष्ट्वा सून्यत्रेव निवेशने। हृदयं मे महाराज न शाम्यात्रकदाचन
O great king, seeing the bow of Jishnu lying abandoned in the dwelling, my heart can never find peace here.
विनादस्माद्विवासं तु रोचयेऽहमरिंदम। न हि नस्तमृते वीरं रमणीयमिदं वनम्
O subduer of foes, except for this exile, I do not find this forest delightful without that hero among us.
धनञ्जयोत्सुकास्ते तु वने तस्मिन्महारथाः। न्यवसन्त महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह कृष्णया
Longing for Dhananjaya, those great chariot-warriors, blessed ones, dwelled in that forest together with Krishna, Draupadi.
धनं जयोत्सुकानां तु भ्रातॄणां कृष्णया सह। श्रुत्वा वाक्यानि विमना धर्मराजोप्यजायत
Hearing the words of his brothers, who were longing for Dhananjaya along with Krishna, King Yudhishthira became dispirited.
अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम्। दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम्
Then the great-souled king saw the divine sage Narada there, shining with Brahmic splendor, his brilliance equal to blazing fire.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातृभिः सह धर्मराट्। प्रत्युत्थाय यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रे महात्मने
Beholding him arrive, King Yudhishthira, together with his brothers, rose up according to custom and offered worship to the great-souled one.
स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुसत्तमः। विबभावतिदीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious best of the Kurus shone with exceeding radiance, like Indra among the gods.
यथा च वेदान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन्। न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
Just as Savitri never abandoned the Vedas, so Yajnaseni never abandoned her husbands in righteousness, like the sun's brilliance never leaving Meru.
अर्ध्यं पाद्यमथानीय त्वभ्यवायदच्युतः। नारदस्तु महातेजाः स्वस्त्यस्त्वित्यभ्यभाषत
Then, having brought arghya and water for washing the feet, Achyuta offered food; but the mighty Narada spoke, 'May there be welfare.'
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा दृष्ट्वा देवर्षिसत्तमम्। यथार्हं पूजयामास विधिवत्कुरुनन्दनः
Then King Yudhishthira, seeing the foremost of divine sages, honored him as was fitting, according to the proper rites, O joy of the Kurus.
प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः। आश्वासयद्धर्मसुतं युक्तरूपमिवानघ
And having accepted that worship, the blessed sage Narada comforted the son of Dharma in a manner appropriate to the occasion, O sinless one.
उवाच च महात्मानं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। ब्रूहि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ केनार्थः किं ददानि ते
And he spoke to the great-souled King Yudhishthira: 'Speak, O best of the upholders of Dharma, for what purpose have I come? What shall I give you?'
अथ धर्मसुतो राजा प्रणम्य भ्रातृभिः सह। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा नारदं देवसंमितम्
Then King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, together with his brothers, bowed down and, with joined palms, addressed Narada, who is esteemed among the gods.
न्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते। कृतमित्येव मन्येऽहं प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत
O greatly fortunate one, honored by all the worlds, if you are pleased, I consider my purpose accomplished solely by your grace, O steadfast one.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ। संदेहं मे सुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्वतश्छेत्तुमर्हसि
If I, together with my brothers, am worthy of your favor, O sinless one, then you, best of the virtuous, ought to dispel my doubt in its entirety.
प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः। किं फलं तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
What is the complete fruit for one who, intent on holy places, circumambulates the earth? You should declare this, O blessed one.
शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा भीष्मेण धीमता। पुलस्त्यस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्
Listen attentively, O king, to what was once heard by the wise Bhishma from Pulastya, as it was related in full.
पुरा भागीरथीतीरे भीष्मो धर्मभृतांवरः। पित्र्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिभिः सह
Long ago, on the banks of the Bhagirathi, Bhishma, foremost among the righteous, undertook ancestral vows and dwelt there with sages.
शुभे देशे तथा राजन्पुण्ये देवर्षिसेविते। गङ्गाद्वारे महाभाग देवगन्धर्वसेविते
In that auspicious and sacred place, O king, frequented by divine sages, at the gateway of the Ganga, honored by gods and gandharvas,
स पितॄंस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः। ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
That illustrious one offered oblations to the ancestors and to the gods, and also satisfied the sages with rites prescribed by tradition.
कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य जपन्नेव महायशाः। ददर्शाद्भुतसंकाशं पुलस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्
Then, at some point in time, as he was reciting prayers, the renowned Bhishma beheld the wondrous and eminent sage Pulastya.
स तं दृष्ट्वोग्रतपसं दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे विस्मयं परमं ययौ
Seeing that sage, blazing with ascetic power and radiant with splendor, Bhishma felt incomparable joy and was filled with great wonder.
उपस्थितं महाभागं पूजयामास भारत। भीष्मो धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
Bhishma, best among the righteous, performed the prescribed honors for that illustrious sage who had arrived, O descendant of Bharata.
शिरसा चाघमादाय शुचिः प्रयतमानसः। नाम संकीर्तयामास तस्मिन्ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमे
With pure heart and mind restrained, Bhishma bowed his head and recited the name of that foremost of brahmarshis.
भीष्मोऽहमस्मि भद्रं ते दासोऽस्मि तव सुव्रत। तव संदर्शनादेव मुक्तोऽहं सर्वकिल्वपैः
"I am Bhishma, may good come to you; I am your servant, O steadfast one. By merely seeing you, I am freed from all sins."
रएवमुक्त्वा महाराज भीष्मो धर्मभृतांवरः। वाग्यतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वातूष्णीमासीद्युधिष्ठिर
Having spoken thus, O great king, Bhishma, foremost among the righteous, restrained his speech, joined his palms, and sat in silence, O Yudhishthira.
तं दृष्ट्वा नियमेनाथ स्वाध्यायाम्नायकर्शितम्। भीष्मं कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठं मुनिः प्रीतमनाऽभवत्
Seeing Bhishma, the best of the Kurus, emaciated by discipline and devoted to study, the sage became pleased in heart.
ततः स मधुरेणाथ स्वरेण सुमहातपाः। उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञः पुलस्त्यः प्रीतमानसः
Then that great ascetic Pulastya, his mind filled with joy, spoke these words in a sweet voice, O knower of dharma.
अथ सन्ध्यां समासाद्य संवेद्ये तीर्थ उत्तमे। उपस्पृश्य नरो विद्यां लभते नात्र संशयः
Then, approaching the twilight and touching the supreme holy waters, a person surely attains knowledge—of this there is no doubt.
रामस्य च प्रसादेन तीर्थं राजन्कृतं पुरा। तल्लौहित्यं समासाद्य विन्द्याद्बहु सुवर्णकम्
By the grace of Rama, O king, that place became a holy site in ancient times; reaching that Lauhitya, one obtains much gold.