यश्चेदं शृणुयान्नित्यं तीर्थपुण्यं नरः शुचिः। जातीः स स्मरते बह्वीर्नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते
Whoever, pure in mind, hears this merit of the sacred places daily, remembers many births and rejoices in the heavenly realm.
गम्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि कीर्तितान्यगमानि च। मनसा तानि गच्छेत सर्वतीर्थसमीक्षया
Even those sacred places which are difficult to reach or only spoken of, one may go to them in mind, considering all the holy places.
एतानि वसुभिः साध्यैरादित्यैर्मरुदश्विभिः। ऋषिभिर्देवकल्पैश्च स्नातानि सुकृतैषिभिः
These have been bathed in by Vasus, Adityas, Maruts, Ashvins, sages, and those who are like gods, by the virtuous seekers of merit.
एवं त्वमपि कौरव्य विधिनाऽनेन सुव्रत। व्रत तीर्थानि नियतः पुण्यं पुण्येन वर्धयन्
Thus, O Kaurava, you too, steadfast in vows, by this method, visiting sacred places with discipline, increase merit with merit.
भाषितैः करणैः पूर्वमास्तिक्याच्छ्रुतिदर्शनात्। प्राप्यन्ते तानि तीर्तानि सद्भिः शास्त्रार्थदर्शिभिः। सद्भिः शास्त्रार्थतत्वज्ञैर्ब्राह्मणैः सह गम्यताम्
By words, actions, faith, and hearing, those sacred places are attained by the good who understand the meaning of the scriptures; let them be visited with good Brahmanas who know the essence of the scriptures.
नाव्रती नाकृतात्मा च नाशुचिर्न च तस्करः। स्नाति तीर्थेषु कौरव्य न च वक्रमतिर्नरः
One who is without vows, who has not mastered oneself, who is impure, who is a thief, who is crooked-minded, O Kaurava, does not bathe in the sacred places.
त्वया तु सम्यग्वृत्तेन नित्यं धर्मार्थदर्शिना। `पितरस्तात सर्वे च तारिताः प्रपितामहाः
But by you, who act rightly, always seeing the meaning of dharma and artha, O dear one, all your ancestors and forefathers are rescued.
पिता पितामहस्चैव सर्वे च प्रपितामहाः। पितामहपुरोगाश्च देवाः सर्षिगणा नृप। तव धर्मेण धर्मज्ञ नित्यमेवाभितोषितः
Father, grandfather, and all forefathers, the gods led by the grandsires, together with the sages, O king, are always gratified by your righteousness, O knower of dharma.
अवाप्स्यसि त्वं लोकान्वै वसूनां वासवोपम। कीर्तिं च महातीं भीष्म प्राप्स्यसे भुविशाश्वतीं
You will indeed attain worlds equal to those of the Vasus, like Indra, and, O Bhishma, you will gain great and everlasting fame on earth.
एवमुक्त्वाऽभ्यनुज्ञाय पुलस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। प्रीतः प्रीतेन मनसा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having spoken thus and granted permission, the venerable sage Pulastya, pleased in mind, vanished there itself.
भीष्मश्च कुरुशार्दूल शास्त्रतत्त्वार्थदर्शिवान्। पुलस्त्यवचनाच्चैव पृथिवीं परिचक्रमे
And Bhishma, O tiger among the Kurus, learned in the true meaning of the scriptures, traveled the earth as instructed by Pulastya's words.
एवमेषा महाभागा प्रतिष्ठाने प्रतिष्ठिता। तीर्थयात्रा महापुण्या सर्वपापप्रमोचनी
Thus, this most blessed and meritorious pilgrimage, established at Pratishthana, is supremely holy and absolves all sins.
अनेन विधिना यस्तु पृथिवीं संचरिष्यति। अश्वमेधशतं साग्रं फलं प्रेत्य स भोक्ष्यति
Whoever travels the earth in this manner will enjoy, after death, the fruit of a hundred and more Ashvamedha sacrifices.
ततश्चाष्टगुणं पार्थ प्राप्स्यसे धर्ममुत्तमम्। भीष्मः कुरूणां प्रवरो यथा पूर्वमवाप्तवान्
Then, O Partha, you will obtain eightfold supreme merit, just as Bhishma, foremost of the Kurus, acquired before.
नेता च त्वमृषीन्यस्मात्तेन तेऽष्टगुणं फलम्। रक्षोगणबिकीर्णानि तीर्थान्येतानि भारत। अगम्यानि मनुष्येन्द्रैस्त्वामृते कुरुनन्दन
And you alone, O joy of the Kurus, will be the leader of the sages; for this, your reward will be eightfold, for these holy places, scattered with hosts of Rakshasas, are inaccessible to men except you, O prince.
इदं देवर्षिचरितं सर्वतीर्ताभिसंवृतम्। यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वाऽपिसर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Whoever recites or hears this account of the gods and sages, filled with all the sacred places, is freed from all sins.
ऋषिमुख्याः सदा यत्रवाल्मीकिस्त्वथ कश्यपः। आत्रेयः कुण्डजठरो विश्वामित्रोऽथ गौतमः
Where always are the foremost sages—Valmiki, Kasyapa, Atreya, Kundajathara, Vishvamitra, and Gautama—
असितो देवलश्चैव मार्कण्डेयोऽथ गालवः। भरद्वाजो वसिष्ठश्च मुनिरुद्दालकस्तथा
Asita, Devala, Markandeya, Galava, Bharadvaja, Vasistha, and also the sage Uddalaka—
शौनकः सह पुत्रेण व्यासश्च तपतांवरः। दुर्वासाश्च मुनिश्रेष्ठो जाबालिश्च महातपाः
Shaunaka with his son, Vyasa, foremost of ascetics, Durvasa, the best of sages, and Jabali, great in austerity—
एते ऋषिवराः सर्वे त्वत्प्रतीक्षास्तपोधनाः। एभिः सह महाराज तीर्थान्येतान्यनुव्रज
All these eminent sages, rich in penance, are awaiting you; together with them, O great king, visit these holy places.
एष ते लोमशो नाम महर्षिरमितद्युतिः। समेष्यति महाराज तेन सार्धमनुव्रज
This is the great sage Lomasha, of immeasurable radiance; he will meet you, O king—go with him.
मयाऽपिसह धर्मज्ञ तीर्थान्येतान्यनुक्रमात्। प्राप्स्यसे महतीं कीर्तिं यथा राजा महाभिषक्
Even with me, O knower of dharma, you will visit these holy places in order, and you will attain great fame, like the king of great physicians.
यथा ययातिर्धर्मात्मा यथा राजा पुरूरवाः। तथा त्वं कुरुशार्दूल स्वेन धर्मेण शोभसे
As the righteous king Yayati and as king Pururavas, so too, O tiger among the Kurus, do you shine by your own dharma.
यथा भगीरथो राजा यथा रामश्च विश्रुतः। तथा त्वं सर्वराजभ्यो भ्राजसे रश्मिवानिव
As king Bhagiratha and the renowned Rama, so do you outshine all other kings, like the radiant sun.
यथा मनुर्यथेक्ष्वाकुर्यथा पूरुर्महायशाः। यथा वैन्यो महाराज तथा त्वमपि विश्रुतः
As Manu, as Ikshvaku, as the greatly famed Puru, as Vainya, O great king, so too are you renowned.
यथा च वृत्रहा सर्वान्सपत्नान्निर्दहन्पुरा। त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास देवराड्विगतज्वरः
And just as the slayer of Vritra, burning away all his rivals in former times, protected the three worlds, the king of the gods, free from distress—
तथा शत्रुक्षयं कृत्वा त्वं प्रजाः पालयिष्यसि। स्वधर्मविजितामुर्वीं प्राप्य राजीवलोचन। ख्यातिं यास्यसि धर्मेण कार्तवीर्यार्जुनो यथा
In this way, after destroying your enemies, you will protect your people; having gained the earth through your own righteous duty, O lotus-eyed one, you will attain fame through righteousness, just as Kartavirya Arjuna did.
एवमाश्वास्य राजानं नारदो भगवानृषिः। अनुज्ञाप्य महाराज तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having thus encouraged the king, the divine sage Narada, after taking leave of the great king, vanished right there.
युधिष्ठिरोषि धर्मात्मा तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्। तीर्थयात्राश्रितं पुण्यमृषीणां प्रत्यवेदयत्
Yudhishthira, whose soul is devoted to righteousness, reflecting on that very matter, informed the sages about the holy pilgrimage undertaken by the seers.
भ्रातॄणां मतमाज्ञाय नारदस्य च धीमतः। पितामहसमं धौम्यं प्राह राजा युधिष्ठिरः
Having learned the opinion of his brothers and the wise Narada, King Yudhishthira addressed Dhaumya, who was like a grandfather to them.