यस् बाहुबले तुल्यः प्रभावे च पुरंदरः। जवे वायुर्मुखे सोमः क्रोधे मृत्युः सनातनः
He whose arm-strength equals Indra, whose brilliance matches Purandara, whose speed is like the wind, whose speech is like Soma, and whose wrath is like eternal Death—
ते वयं तं नरव्याघ्रं सर्वेवीर दिदृक्षवः। प्रवेक्ष्यामो महाबाहो पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्
We all, O mighty-armed one, eager to see that tiger among men, will enter the Gandhamadana mountain.
विशाला बदरी यत्रनरनारायणाश्रमः। तं सदाऽध्युषितं यक्षैर्द्रक्ष्यामो गिरिसुत्तमम्
There is the vast Badari, where the hermitage of Nara and Narayana stands; always inhabited by Yakshas, we shall behold that supreme mountain.
कुबेरनलिनीं रम्यां राक्षसैरभिसेविताम्। पद्भिरेव गमिष्यामस्तप्यभाना महत्तपः
We shall go on foot to Kubera’s delightful Nalini, attended by Rakshasas, to behold the great ascetic who shines like the sun.
नातप्ततपसा शक्यो गन्तुं देशो वृकोदर। न नृशंसेन लुब्धेन नाप्रशान्तेन भारत
O Bhārata, this place, O Vṛkodara, cannot be reached by one who has not practiced austerity, nor by one who is cruel, greedy, or unrestrained.
तत्र सर्वेगमिष्यामो भीमार्जुपदैषिणः। सायुधा बद्धनिस्त्रिंशाः सार्धं विप्रैर्महाव्रतैः
There, all of us who follow Bhīma and Arjuna will go, armed and girded with swords, together with the great-vowed Brahmins.
मक्षिकादंशमशकान्सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्सरीसृपान्। प्राप्नोत्यनियतः पार्थ नियतस्तान्न पश्यति
O Pārtha, the undisciplined one encounters biting insects, flies, lions, tigers, and serpents; but the disciplined one does not see them.
ते वयं नियतात्मानः पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्। प्रवेक्ष्यामो मिताहारा धनंजयदिदृक्षवः
We, with controlled minds and moderate in food, desiring to see Dhanañjaya, will enter the Gandhamādana mountain.
द्रष्टारः पर्वताः सर्वे नद्यः सपुरकाननाः। तीर्थानि चैव श्रीमन्ति स्पृष्टं च सलिलं करैः
All the mountains, rivers with cities and forests, and the splendid holy fords, will be seen, and the waters touched with our hands.
पर्वतं मन्दरं दिव्यमेष पन्थाः प्रयास्यति। समाहीता निरुद्विग्नाः सर्वे भवत पाण्डवाः
This path will lead to the divine Mandara mountain; let all the Pāṇḍavas proceed, composed and free from anxiety.
अयं देवनिवासो वै गन्तव्यो वो भविष्यति। ऋषीणां चैव दिव्यानां निवासः पुण्यकर्मणां
This will be your destination, the abode of the gods, and also the dwelling of the divine sages who perform holy deeds.
एषा शिवजला पुण्या याति सौम्य महानदी। बदरीप्रभवा राजन्देवर्षिगणसेविता
This great and auspicious river, O gentle one, with pure waters, originates at Badarī and is frequented by hosts of divine sages.
एषा वैहायसैर्नित्यं वालखिल्यैर्महात्मभिः। अर्चिता चोपयाता च गन्धर्वैश्च महात्मभिः
This river is always worshipped and approached by the great-souled Vālakhilyas moving through the sky, and also by the noble Gandharvas.
अत्रसाम स्म गायन्ति सामगाः पुण्यनिःस्वनाः। मरीचिः पुलहश्चैव भृगुश्चैवाङ्गिरास्तथा
Here, the singers of Sāma chant Sāman hymns with auspicious sounds; Marīci, Pulaha, Bhṛgu, and also Aṅgirā are present here.
अत्राह्निकं सुरश्रेष्ठो जपते समरुद्गणः। साध्याश्चैवाश्विनौ चैव परिधावन्ति तं तदा
Here, the best of gods, together with the Maruts, recite their daily prayers; the Sādhyas and the Aśvins also move about there at that time.
चन्द्रमाः सह सूर्येण ज्योतीषि च ग्रहैः सह। अहोरात्रविभागेन नदीमेनामनुव्रजन्
The moon along with the sun, and the stars with the planets, follow this river according to the division of day and night.
एतस्याः सलिलं मूर्ध्नि वृषाङ्कः पर्यधारयत्। गङ्गाद्वारे महाभाग येन लोकस्थितिर्भवेत्
At the gateway of the Gaṅgā, the blessed bull-bannered one poured this river's water on his head, by which the world's stability was secured.
एतां भगवतीं देवीं भवन्तः सर्व एव हि। प्रयतेनात्मना तात प्रतिगम्याभिवादत
O dear ones, you all should approach and salute this blessed goddess with purified minds.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा लोमशस्य महात्मनः। आकाशगङ्गां प्रयताः पाण्डवास्तेऽभ्यवादयन्
Hearing these words of the great-souled Lomaśa, the Pāṇḍavas, purified, saluted the celestial Gaṅgā.
अभिवाद्य च ते सर्वे पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। पुनः प्रयाताः संहृष्टाः सर्वैर्ऋषिगणैः सह
Having saluted her, all the Pāṇḍavas, followers of dharma, set out again, delighted, together with all the groups of sages.
ततो दूरात्प्रकाशन्तं पाण्डुरं मेरुसंनिभम्। ददृशुस्ते नरश्रेष्ठा विकीर्णं सर्वतोदिशम्
Then those best of men saw from afar something shining, pale as Mount Meru, spread out in all directions.
तान्प्रष्टुकामान्विज्ञाय पाण्डवान्स तु लोमशः। उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः शृणुध्वं पाण्डुनन्दनाः
Perceiving that the Pāṇḍavas wished to ask, Lomaśa, skilled in speech, addressed them, saying, 'Listen, O sons of Pāṇḍu.'
एतद्विकीर्णं सुश्रीमत्कैलासशिखरोपमम्। यत्पश्यसि नरश्रेष्ठ पर्वतप्रतिमं स्थितम्
This, scattered here and splendid, resembling the peak of Mount Kailāsa, which you see, O best of men, stands like a mountain.
एतान्यस्थीनि दैत्यस्य नरकस्य महात्मनः। पर्वतप्रतिमं भाति पर्वतप्रस्तराश्रितम्
These are the bones of the mighty demon Naraka; they shine like a mountain, resting upon a mass of rocky cliffs.
पुरातनेन देवेन विष्णुना परमात्मना। रदैत्यो विनिहतस्तेन सुरराजहितैषिणा
In ancient times, that Daitya was slain by Viṣṇu, the Supreme Soul, who desired the welfare of the king of the gods.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्यन्महामनाः। ऐनद्रं प्रार्थयते स्थानं तपःस्वाध्यायविक्रमात्
With great resolve, he performed austerities for ten thousand years, seeking the position of Indra through the power of penance, study, and valor.
तपोबलेन महता बाहुवेगबलेन च। नित्यमेव दुराधर्षो धर्षयन्स दितेः सुतः
By the great power of his austerity and the strength of his arms, the son of Diti became always unassailable, continually challenging others.
स तु तस्य बलं ज्ञात्वा धर्मे च चरितव्रतम्। भयाभिभूतः संविग्नः शक्र आसीत्तदाऽनघ
But when Indra learned of his strength and his steadfast practice of virtue, he became fearful and deeply disturbed, O sinless one.
तेन संचिन्तितो देवो मनसा विष्णुरव्ययः। सर्वत्रगः प्रभुः श्रीमानागतश्च स्थितो बभौ
Then the imperishable god Viṣṇu, the glorious, all-pervading Lord, was contemplated in mind by him and appeared, shining forth.
ऋषयश्चापि तं सर्वे तुष्टुवुश्च दिवौकसः
And all the sages and the dwellers of heaven praised him.