तत्रैव भरतो राजा चक्रवर्ती महायशाः। विंशतीं सप्त चाष्टौ च हयमेधानुपाहरत्
There, too, the illustrious king Bharata, the universal emperor, performed twenty, seven, and eight horse sacrifices.
कामकृद्यो द्विजातीनां श्रुतस्तात यथा पुरा। अत्यन्तमाश्रमः पुण्यः शरभङ्गस्य विश्रुतः
The most excellent hermitage of Sharabhanga, famed as it was of old, is renowned as the wish-fulfilling place for the twice-born, O dear one.
सरस्वती नदी सद्भिः सततं पार्थ पूजिता। वालखिल्यैर्महाराज यत्रेष्टमृषिभिः पुरा
The Sarasvati river is always honored by the virtuous, O Partha; there, in ancient times, the Valakhilya sages performed sacrifices.
दृषद्वती महापुण्या यत्र रख्याता युधिष्ठिर। न्यग्रोधाख्यस्तु पाञ्चाल्यः पाञ्चाल्योद्विपदांवर। दाल्भ्यघोषश्च दाल्भ्याश् धरणीस्थो महात्मनः
The Drishadvati, most holy, is renowned there, O Yudhishthira; and the Nyagrodha, called Panchalya, O best of men; and the Dalbhya Ghosha, belonging to the Dalbhyas, of the great-souled one who dwelt on the earth.
कौन्तेयानन्तयशसः सुव्रतस्यामितौजसः। आश्रमः ख्यायते पुण्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः
O son of Kunti, the hermitage of the one of endless fame, of noble vows and immeasurable energy, is renowned as holy and celebrated in the three worlds.
एतावर्णाववर्णौ च विश्रुतौ मनुजाधिप। ईजाते क्रतुभिर्मुख्यैः पुण्यैर्भरतसत्तम
O ruler of men, these two castes, the colored and the uncolored, became famous, O best of the Bharatas, having performed foremost and virtuous sacrifices.
समेत्य बहुशो देवाः सेन्द्राः सवरुणाः पुरा। विशाखयूपेऽतप्यन् तेन पुण्यतमश्च सः
Long ago, the gods, many times, together with Indra and Varuna, assembled and performed austerities at the Viśākhayūpa, making it most sacred.
ऋषिर्महान्महाभागो जमदग्निर्महायशाः। पलाशकेषु पुण्येषु रम्येष्वयजत प्रभुः
The great and illustrious sage Jamadagni, blessed with great fortune, performed sacrifices in the beautiful and holy groves of palāśa trees.
यत्रसर्वाः सरिच्छ्रेष्टाः साक्षात्तमृषिसत्तमम्। स्वं स्वं तोयमुपादाय परिवार्योपतस्थिरे
There, all the foremost rivers, bringing their own waters, surrounded and approached that eminent sage directly.
अपि चात्र महाराज स्वयं विश्वावसुर्जगौ। इमं श्लोकं तदा वीर प्रेक्ष्य दीक्षां महात्मनः
And there, O great king, Viśvāvasu himself sang this verse, beholding the consecration of the great-souled one.
यजमानस्य वै देवाञ्जमदग्नेर्महात्मनः। आगम्य सरितो विप्रान्मधुना समतर्पयन्
The gods, having come to the sacrifice of the noble Jamadagni, satisfied the Brahmins with honey brought by the rivers.
गन्धर्वयक्षरक्षोबिरप्सरोभिश्च सेवितम्। किरातकिन्नरावासं शैलं शिखरिणांवरम्
That mountain, supreme among peaks, is frequented by Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, and Apsaras, and is inhabited by Kiratas and Kinnaras.
बिभेद तरसा गङ्गा गङ्गाद्वारं युधिष्ठिर। पुण्यं तत्ख्यायते राजन्ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेवितम्
With force, O Yudhishthira, Ganga broke through the Ganga gate; that holy place, O king, is renowned and frequented by groups of Brahmarshis.
सनत्कुमारः कौरव्य पुण्यं कनखलं तथा। पर्वतश्च पुरुर्नाम यत्रयातः पुरूरवाः
O descendant of Kuru, Sanatkumara and the holy Kanakhala are there, and the mountain named Purur, where Pururavas once went.
भृगुर्यत्रतपस्तेपे महर्षिगणसेविते। राजन्स आश्रमः ख्यातो भृगुतुङ्गो महागिरिः
Where Bhṛgu performed austerities, attended by groups of great sages; O king, that hermitage is famed as Bhṛgutuṅga, the great mountain.
यः स भूतं भविष्यच्च भवच् भरतर्षभ। नारायणः प्रभुर्विष्णुः शाश्वतः पुरुषोत्तमः
He who is past, future, and present, O best of the Bharatas, Narayana, the lord, Vishnu, eternal, the supreme person.
तस्यातियशसः पुण्यां विशालां बदरीमनु। आश्रमः ख्यायते पुण्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः
His hermitage, Badari, vast and holy, famed for his surpassing glory, is celebrated as sacred and renowned in the three worlds.
उष्णतोयवहा गङ्गा शीततोयवहा पुरा। सुवर्णसिकता राजन्विशालां बदरीमनु
The Ganga once carried warm waters, and formerly carried cold waters; O king, Badari, vast and golden-sanded.
ऋषयो यत्रदेवाश्च महाभागा महौजसः। प्राप्य नित्यं नमस्यन्ति देवं नारायणं प्रभुम्
There, sages and gods of great fortune and mighty energy, having arrived, eternally worship the lord Narayana.
यत्रनाराजणो देवः परमात्मा सनातनः। तत्र कृत्स्नं जगत्सर्वं तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Where the god Narayana, the supreme soul, eternal, resides, there all the worlds, all holy places, and all shrines exist.
तत्पुण्यं परमं ब्रह्म तत्तीर्थं त्तपोवनम्। तत्परं परमं देवं भूतानां परमेश्वरम्
That holy place is the supreme Brahman, that sacred ford, that ascetic grove; that highest, supreme god, the supreme lord of beings.
शाश्वतं परमं चैव धातारं परमं पदम्। यं विदित्वान शोचन्ति विद्वांसः शास्त्रदृष्टयः
He is eternal, the supreme, the sustainer, the highest abode; knowing him, the wise, who see through scripture, do not grieve.
तत्र देवर्षयः सिद्धाः सर्वे चैव तपोधनाः। आदिदेवो महायोगी यत्रास्ते मधुसूदनः
There, the divine sages, the perfected beings, and all the ascetics rich in austerity reside, where the primeval god, the great yogi Madhusudana, abides.
पुण्यानामपि तत्पुण्यमत्र ते संशयेस्तु मा। एतानि राजन्पुण्यानि पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते। कीर्तितानि नरश्रेष्ठ तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Even among holy places, that is the holiest—let there be no doubt for you in this, O king of the earth; these, O best of men, are the sacred sites and shrines on earth that have been described.
एतानि वसुभिः साध्यैरादित्यैर्मरुदश्विभिः। ऋषिभिर्देवकल्पैश्च सेवितानि महात्मभिः
These have been frequented by the Vasus, Sadhyas, Adityas, Maruts, Ashvins, and by sages equal to the gods, all of great soul.
चरन्नेतानि कौन्तेय सहितो ब्राह्मणर्षभैः। भ्रातृभिश्च महाभागैरुत्कण्ठां विजयिष्यसि
By journeying to these places, O son of Kunti, together with the foremost of Brahmanas and your illustrious brothers, you will overcome your longing.
एवं संभाषमाणे तु धौम्ये कौरवनन्दन। लोमशः स महातेजा ऋषिस्तत्राजगाम ह
While Dhaumya was speaking thus, O joy of the Kurus, the radiant sage Lomasha arrived there.
तं पाण्डवाग्रजो राजा सगणो ब्राह्मणाश्च ते। उपातिष्ठन्महाभागं दिवि शक्रमिवामराः
The eldest Pandava, the king, along with his companions and the Brahmanas, attended upon the illustrious one as the immortals do upon Indra in heaven.
समभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। पप्रच्छागमने हेतुमटने च प्रयोजनम्
Having worshipped him properly, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, asked him the reason for his coming and the purpose of his journey.
स पृष्टः पाण्डुपुत्रेण प्रीयमाणो महामनाः। उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा हर्षयन्निव पाण्डवान्
Questioned by the son of Pandu, the great-minded one, pleased, spoke with gentle words, as if gladdening the Pandavas.