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.
मया स पुरुषव्याघ्रो जिष्णुः सत्यपराक्रमः। अस्त्रहेतोर्महाबाहुरमितात्मा विवासितः
It was by me that the tiger among men, Jishnu, whose valor is true, whose arms are mighty, and whose spirit is boundless, was sent away for the sake of weapons.
स हि वीरोऽनुरक्तश् समर्थश्च तपोधनः। कृती च भृशमप्यस्त्रे वासुदेव इव प्रभुः
That hero is devoted, capable, and rich in ascetic merit; he is accomplished and, in the use of weapons, is as powerful as Vasudeva himself.
अहं ह्येतावुभौ ब्रह्मन्कृष्णावरिविघातिनौ। अभिजानामि विक्रान्तौ तथा व्यासः परन्तपौ
Indeed, O Brahman, I recognize both these mighty ones—those who thwarted the humiliation of Draupadi—as valiant, just as Vyasa does, scorcher of foes.
त्रियुगौ पुण्डरीकाक्षौ वासुदेवधनंजयौ। नारदोऽपितथा वेद योष्यशंसत्सदा मम
Both Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, lotus-eyed and famed in three ages, are known as such; Narada too always told me so.
तथाऽहमपि जानामि नरनारायणावृषी। शक्तोऽयमित्यतो मत्वा मया स प्रेषितोऽर्जुनः
Thus, I also know them to be the sages Nara and Narayana; thinking thus, I sent Arjuna away, knowing he is capable.
इन्द्रादनवरः शक्रं सुरसूनुः सुराधिपम्। द्रष्टुमस्त्राणि चादातुमिन्द्रादिति विवासितः
He, not inferior to Indra, was sent into exile to see Shakra, the lord of the gods, and to obtain weapons from him.
भीष्मद्रोणावतिरथौ कृपो द्रौणिश्च दुर्जयः। धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रेण सुधृताः सुमहाबलाः
Bhishma and Drona are great chariot-warriors, as are Kripa and Drona's son, who are invincible, all steadfast and of immense strength, aligned with Dhritarashtra's son.
सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वेऽस्त्रकुशलास्तथा। `सर्वे महारथा मुख्याः सर्वे जितपरिश्रमाः'। योद्धुकामाश्च पार्थेन सततं ये महाबलाः
All are learned in the Vedas, all are heroes, all are skilled in weapons; all are foremost among great chariot-warriors, all have conquered fatigue, and all those of great strength are ever eager to fight with Partha.
स च दिव्यास्त्रवित्कर्णः सूतपुत्रो महारथः। योऽस्त्रवेगानिलबलः शरार्चिस्तलनिःस्वनः। रजोधूमोऽस्त्रसंपातो धार्तराष्ट्रानिलोद्धतः
And Karna, the son of the charioteer, is a great chariot-warrior skilled in divine weapons, whose force is like the wind of weapons, whose arrows blaze and thunder, whose dust and showers of missiles are stirred by the wind of the Dhartarashtras.
निसृष्ट इव कालेन युगान्तज्वलनो यथा। मम सैन्यमयं कक्षं प्रधक्ष्यति न संशयः
Like a fire at the end of an age released by Time, he will surely consume my army, which is like a thicket—there is no doubt.