एवमेतन्महाबाहो पश्यन्ति परमर्षयः। इह स्नात्वा तपोयुक्तांस्त्रील्लोँकान्सचराचरान्
Thus, O mighty-armed one, the great sages perceive in this way. Having bathed here, endowed with austerity, they see all worlds, both moving and unmoving.
सरस्वतीमिमां पुण्यां पुण्यैकशरणावृताम्। यत्र स्नात्वा नरश्रेष्ठ धूतपाप्मा भविष्यसि
This is the sacred Sarasvati, surrounded by holy refuges. Here, O best of men, after bathing, you will become cleansed of sin.
इह सारस्वतैर्यज्ञैरिष्टवन्तः सुरर्षयः। ऋषयश्चैव कौन्तेय तथा राजर्षयोपि च
Here, the divine sages performed sacrifices with Sarasvati, O son of Kunti, and so did the sages and the royal sages.
वेदी प्रजापतेरेषा समन्तात्पञ्चयोजना। कुरोर्वै यज्ञशीलस्य क्षेत्रमेतन्महात्मनः
This is the altar of Prajapati, five yojanas all around. This is the field of Kurus, devoted to sacrifice, belonging to the great-souled one.
इह मर्त्यास्तनूस्त्यक्त्वा स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति भारत। मर्तुकामा नरा राजन्निहायान्ति सहस्रशः
Here, O Bhārata, mortals, after casting off their bodies, go to heaven; and thousands of men who desire death come here, O King.
एवमाशीः प्रयुक्ता हि दक्षेण यजता पुरा। इह ये वै मरिष्यन्ति ते वै स्वर्गजितो नराः
Indeed, such a blessing was uttered in ancient times by a skilled sacrificer; those who die here truly win heaven, O men.
एषा सरस्वती रम्या दिव्या चौघवती नदी। एतद्विनशनं नाम सरस्वत्या विशांपते
This is the beautiful, divine, and abundant river Sarasvatī; this place is called Vinaśana, O lord of the people, on the Sarasvatī.
द्वारं निषादराष्ट्रस्य येषां दोषात्सरस्वती। प्रविष्टा पृथिवीं वीर मा निषादा हि मां विदुः
This is the gateway to the Niṣāda country, because of whose fault, O hero, the Sarasvatī entered the earth; let not the Niṣādas recognize me.
एष वै चमसोद्भेदो यत्र दृश्या सरस्वती। यत्रैनामभ्यवर्तन्त दिव्याः पुण्याः समुद्रगाः
Here is the place called Camasodbheda, where the Sarasvatī is visible; here the divine, meritorious rivers that flow to the ocean converged upon her.
एतत्सिन्धोर्महत्तीर्थं यत्रागस्त्यमरिंदम। लोपामुद्रा समागम्य भर्तारमवृणीत वै
This is the great holy place on the Sindhu where, O subduer of foes, Lopāmudrā, having come together with Agastya, chose him as her husband.
एतत्प्रकाशते तीर्थं प्रभासं भास्करद्युते। इन्द्रस्य दयितं पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्
This sacred place shines forth, called Prabhāsa, radiant with the brilliance of the sun; it is dear to Indra, holy, pure, and destroyer of sin.
एतद्विष्णुपदं नाम दृश्यते तीर्थमुत्तमम्। एषां रम्या विपाशा च नदी परमपावनी
This is the supreme holy place called Viṣṇupada, which is seen here; and this is the beautiful Vipāśā river, supremely purifying.
अत्र वै पुत्रशोकेन वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। बद्ध्वाऽत्मानं निपतितो विपाशः पुनरुत्थितः
Here, afflicted by grief for his son, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha bound himself and fell into the Vipāśā, but rose again.
काश्मीरमण्डलं चैतत्सर्वपुण्यमरिंदम। महर्षिभिश्चाध्युषितं पश्येदं भ्रातृभिः सह
This is the region of Kashmir, O subduer of foes, entirely holy and inhabited by great sages; behold it together with your brothers.
यत्रौत्तराणां सर्वेषामृषीणां नाहुषस्य च। अग्नेश्चैवात्र संवादः काश्यपश्य च भारत
Here took place the conversation of all the northern sages, of Nāhuṣa, of Agni, and of Kāśyapa as well, O Bhārata.
एतद्द्वारं महाराज मानसस्य प्रकाशते। वर्षमस्य गिरेर्मध्ये रामेण श्रीमता कृतम्
This, O great king, is the gateway to Lake Mānas, which shines forth; the rainy season here in the midst of the mountains was established by the illustrious Rāma.
एष वातिकषण्डो वै प्रख्यातः सत्यविक्रमः। नात्यवर्तत यद्द्वारं विदेहादुत्तरं च यः
This is the renowned Vātika grove, famed for true valor; the one who did not cross this gateway was he who came from Videha and beyond.
इदमाश्चर्यमपरं देशेऽस्मिन्पुरुषर्षभ। क्षीणे युगे तु कौन्तेय शर्वस्य सह पार्षदैः। सहोमया च भवति दर्शनं कामरूपिणः
Here is another wonder in this land, O best of men: in the declining age, O son of Kuntī, there is a vision of Śarva with his attendants and with Umā, appearing in any form at will.
अस्मिन्सरसि सत्रैर्वै चैत्रे मासि पिनाकिनम्। यजन्ते याजकाः सम्यक् परिवारं शुभार्थिनः
In this lake, during the month of Caitra, sacrificers duly worship Pinākin with rituals, together with their retinues, desiring auspiciousness.
अत्रोपस्पृश्य सरसि श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः। क्षीणपापः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुते नात्र संशयः
Here, after bathing in the lake, one who is faithful and self-controlled, with sins diminished, attains auspicious worlds—of this there is no doubt.
एष उज्जानको नाम पावकिर्यत्र शान्तवान्। अरुन्धतीसहायश्च वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
This is the place called Ujjānaka, where the fire-god became peaceful; and the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, together with Arundhatī, was present.
ह्रदश्च कुशवानेष यत्र पद्मं कुशेशयम्। आश्रमश्चैव रुक्मिण्या यत्राशाम्यदकोपना
This is the lake of Kuśavān, where the lotus grows on a bed of kuśa grass; and here is the hermitage of Rukmiṇī, where the wrathful one found peace.
समाधीनां समासस्तु पाण्डवेय श्रुतस्त्वया। तं द्रक्ष्यसि महाराज भृगुतुन्दं महागिरिम्
O son of Pandu, you have heard the summary of the meditations; you will see that great mountain Bhṛgutunda, O king.
वितस्तां पश्य राजेन्द्र सर्वपापप्रमोचनीम्। महर्षिभिश्चाध्युषितां शीततोयां सुनिर्मलाम्
Behold the river Vitastā, O king of kings, which frees from all sins, whose waters are cold and pure, and which is inhabited by great sages.
जलां चोपजलां चैव यमुनामभितो नदीम्। उशीनरो वै यत्रेष्ट्वा वासवादत्यरिच्यत
See also, near the Yamunā, the river with both water and dry banks, where Ushīnara, having performed a sacrifice, surpassed even Indra.
तां देवसमितिं तस्य वासवश्च विशांपते। अभ्यागच्छन्नृपवरं ज्ञातुमग्निश्च भारत
To that assembly of the gods, O lord of the people, Indra and Agni came, wishing to know the noble king.
जिज्ञासमानौ वरदौ महात्मानमुशीनरम्। इन्द्रः श्येनः कपोतोऽग्निर्भूत्वा यज्ञेऽभिजग्मतुः
Desiring to test him, Indra and Agni, taking the forms of a hawk and a dove, approached the great-souled Ushīnara at the sacrifice.
उरुं राज्ञः समासाद्य कपोतः श्येनजाद्भयात्। शरणार्थी तदा राजन्निलिल्ये भयपीडितः
The dove, terrified by the hawk, sought refuge with the king, and, afflicted by fear, hid himself there, seeking protection.
धर्मात्मानं त्वाहुरेकं सर्वे राजन्महीक्षितः। स वै धर्मविरुद्धं त्वं कस्मात्कर्म चिकीर्षसि
All the kings, O ruler, call you alone righteous; why then do you wish to perform an act opposed to righteousness?
विहितं भक्षणं राजन्पीड्यमानस्य मे क्षुधा। माहिंसीर्धर्मलोभेन धर्ममुत्सृज्य मा नशः
O king, eating is ordained for one tormented by hunger; do not abandon righteousness for the sake of righteousness, nor perish.