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.
संत्रस्तरूपस्त्राणार्थी त्वत्तो भीतो महाद्विज। मत्सकाशमनुप्रप्तः प्राणगृध्नुरयं द्विजः
This great bird, frightened and seeking protection from you, has come to me, desiring life, O twice-born one.
एवमभ्यागतस्येह कपोतस्याभयार्थिनः। अप्रदाने परो धर्मः किं त्वं श्येनेह पश्यसि
When a dove comes here seeking safety, if you do not grant it, what greater righteousness do you see in the hawk?
प्रस्पन्दमानः संभ्रान्तः कपोतः श्येन लक्ष्यते। मत्सकाशं जीवितार्थी तस्य त्यागो विगर्हितः
The dove, trembling and agitated, is marked by the hawk; he has come to me for the sake of his life, and abandoning him is censured.
[यो हि कश्चिद्द्विजान्हन्याद्गां वा लोकस्य मातरम्। शरणागतं च त्यजते तुल्यं तेषां हि पातकम्]
[Whoever kills a twice-born, or a cow, the mother of the world, or abandons one who has sought refuge—these are equal sins.]
आहारत्सर्वभूतानि संभवन्ति महीपते। आहारेण विवर्धन्ते तेन जीवन्ति जन्तवः
All beings, O king, arise from food; by food they grow, and by food creatures live.
शक्यते दुस्त्यजेऽप्यर्थे चिररात्राय जीवितुम्। न तु भोजनमुत्सृज्य शक्यं वर्तयितुं चिरम्
One may live for a long time even in distress, but without food, it is not possible to survive for long.
भक्ष्याद्विलोपितस्याद्य मम प्राणा विशांपते। विसृज्यकायमेष्यन्ति पन्थानमपुनर्भवम्
If I am deprived of my food today, O lord of the people, my life will depart, and I will go to the path of no return, abandoning my body.
प्रमृते मयि धर्मात्मन्पुत्रदारादि नङ्क्ष्यति। रक्षमाणः कपोतं त्वं बहून्प्राणान्न रक्षसि
If I perish, O righteous one, my children, wife, and others will be destroyed; by protecting the dove, you do not protect many lives.
बहून्यो बाधते धर्मो न स धर्मः कुवर्त्म तत्। अविरोधी तु यो धर्मः स धर्मः सत्यविक्रम
That righteousness which harms many is not righteousness; that is a wrong path. True righteousness, O steadfast one, is that which does not cause harm.
विरोधिषु महीपाल निश्चित्य गुरुलाघवम्। न बाधा विद्यते यत्र तं धर्मं समुपाचरेत्
O protector of the earth, having considered the greater and lesser among conflicting duties, one should follow that righteousness where there is no harm.