अत्र वेदाञ्जगौ पूर्वं भगवाँल्लोकभावनः । अत्रैवोक्ता सवित्रासीत्सावित्री ब्रह्मवादिषु
Here, the venerable creator of the worlds first sang the Vedas; here, the Savitri hymn was spoken by Savitri herself among those learned in Brahman.
अत्र दत्तानि सूर्येण यजूंषि द्विजसत्तम । अत्र लब्धवरः सोमः सुरैः क्रतुषु पीयते
Here, O best of twice-born, the Yajus mantras were given by the Sun; here, Soma, having obtained his boon from the gods, is drunk in the sacrifices.
अत्र तृप्ता हुतवहाः स्वां योनिमुपभुञ्जते । अत्र पातालमाश्रित्य वरुणः श्रियमाप च
Here, the satisfied fires enjoy their own source; here, Varuna, taking refuge in the netherworld, attained prosperity.
अत्र पूर्वं वसिष्ठस्य पौराणस्य द्विजर्षभ । सूतिश्चैव प्रतिष्ठा च निधनं च प्रकाशते
Here, O best of Brahmins, the birth, establishment, and end of the ancient Vasistha are revealed.
ओङ्कारस्यात्र जायन्ते सृतयो दशतीर्दश । पिबन्ति मुनयो यत्र हविर्धूमं स्म धूमपाः
Here, from Om arise ten streams in ten directions; here, the sages who feed on smoke drink the sacrificial smoke.
प्रोक्षिता यत्र बहवो वराहाद्या मृगा वने। शक्रेण यज्ञभागार्थे दैवतेषु प्रकल्पिताः
Here, many animals such as boars and others in the forest were consecrated by Indra for the sake of the gods' share in sacrifice.
अत्राहिताः कृतघ्नाश्च मानुषाश्चासुराश्च ये। उदयंस्तान्हि सर्वान्वै क्रोधाद्धन्ति विभावसुः
Here, those who are ungrateful—whether human or Asura—are set on fire; indeed, the blazing fire destroys them all in anger.
एतद्द्वारं त्रिलोकस्य स्वर्गस्य च सुखस्य च। एष पूर्वो दिशां भागो विशावोऽत्र यदीच्छसि
This is the gateway to the three worlds, to heaven, and to happiness; this is the eastern quarter, O Visava, if you so desire.
प्रियं कार्यं हि मे तस्य यस्यास्मि वचने स्थितः। ब्रूहि गालव यास्यामि शृणु चाप्यपरां दिशम्
For I must do what is dear to him whose command I follow; speak, Galava, I will go—now listen also about the next direction.
इयं विवस्वदा पूर्वं श्रौतेन विधिना किल। गुरवे दक्षिणा दत्ता दक्षिणेत्युच्यते च दिक्
This southern quarter was formerly given by Vivasvat as a sacrificial fee according to Vedic rite to the teacher, and is thus called the 'Dakshina' (South).
अत्र लोकत्रयस्यास्य पितृपक्षः प्रतिष्ठितः। अत्रोष्मपाणां देवानां निवासः श्रूयते द्विज
Here, in this quarter, the ancestors' side of the three worlds is established; here, it is said, is the abode of the gods who drink heat, O Brahmin.
अत्र विश्वे सदा देवाः पितृभिः सार्धमासते। इज्यमानाः स्म लोकेषु संप्राप्तास्तुल्यभागताम्
Here, all the universal gods always dwell together with the ancestors; being worshipped in the worlds, they have attained equal shares.
एतद्द्वितीयं देवस्य द्वारमाचक्षते द्विज। त्रुटिशो लवशश्चापि गण्यते कालनिश्चयः
This, O Brahmin, is called the second gate of the deity; here, the reckoning of time is made in moments and instants.
अत्र देवर्षयो नित्यं पितृलोकर्षयस्तथा। तथा राजर्षयः सर्वे निवसन्ति गतव्यथाः
Here, the divine sages, the ancestral sages, and all the royal sages dwell eternally, free from suffering.
अत्र धर्मश्च सत्यं च कर्म चात्र निगद्यते। गतिरेषा द्विजश्रेष्ठ कर्मणामवसायिनाम्
Here, righteousness, truth, and action are spoken of; this, O best of Brahmins, is the path for those whose actions have come to an end.
एषा दिक्सा द्विजश्रेष्ठ यां सर्वः प्रतिपद्यते। वृता त्वनवबोधेन सुखं तेन न गम्यते
This is the southern direction, O best of Brahmins, which everyone attains; but, enveloped in ignorance, happiness is not reached thereby.
नैर्ऋतानां सहस्रामि बहून्यत्र द्विजर्षभ । सृष्टानि प्रतिकूलानि द्रष्टव्यान्यकृतात्मभिः
Here, O best of Brahmins, are thousands of hostile beings of the Nairrita class, created to be seen by those of impure mind.
अत्र मन्दरकुञ्जेषु विप्रर्षिसदनेषु च। गायन्ति गाथा गन्धर्वाश्चित्तबुद्धिहरा द्विज
Here, in the groves of Mandara and in the abodes of the Brahmin sages, the Gandharvas sing songs that captivate the mind and intellect, O Brahmin.
अत्र सामानि गाथाभिः श्रुत्वा गीतानि रैवतः । गतदारो गतामात्यो गतराज्यो वनं गतः
Here, having listened to songs and verses, Raivata—his wife gone, his ministers gone, his kingdom lost—departed to the forest.
अत्र सावर्मिना चैव यवक्रीतात्मजेन च। मर्यादा स्थापिता ब्रह्मन्यां सूर्यो नातिवर्तते
Here, Sāvarni and the son of Yavakrīta established a boundary in the realm of Brahman, which even the sun does not cross.
अत्र राक्षसराजेन पौलस्त्येन महात्मना । रावणेन तपः कृत्वा सुरेभ्योऽमरता वृता
Here, the king of the Rākṣasas, the great-souled son of Pulastya, Rāvaṇa, performed austerities and obtained immortality from the gods.
अत्र वृत्तेन वृत्रोऽपि शक्रशत्रुत्वमेयिवान् । अत्र सर्वासवः प्राप्ताः पुनर्गच्छन्ति पञ्चधा
Here, by his conduct, even Vṛtra became the enemy of Indra; here, all the vital energies are attained and then return in fivefold ways.
अत्र दुष्कृतकर्माणो नराः पच्यन्ति गालव । अत्र वैतरणी नाम नदी वैतरणैर्वृता
Here, O Gālava, men who have committed evil deeds are tormented; here flows the river called Vaitaraṇī, surrounded by Vaitaraṇas.
अत्र गत्वा सुखस्यान्तं दुःखस्यान्तं प्रपद्यते। अत्रावृत्तो दिनकरः सुरसं क्षरते पयः
Here, having arrived, one reaches the end of pleasure and attains the end of suffering; here, the sun, having turned back, pours forth the nectar for the gods.
काष्ठां चासाद्य वासिष्ठीं हिममुत्सृजते पुनः। अत्राहं गालव पुरा क्षुधाऽऽर्तः परिचिन्तयन्
Having reached the Vasiṣṭhī boundary, he again releases the frost; here, O Gālava, I once, tormented by hunger, reflected deeply.
लब्धवान्युध्यमानौ द्वौ बृहन्तौ गजकच्छपौ । अत्र चक्रधनुर्नाम सूर्याञ्जातो महानृषिः
I obtained, while striving, two great beings—an elephant and a tortoise; here, the great sage named Cakradhanvan was born from the sun.
विदुर्यं कपिलं देवं येनार्ताः सगरात्मजाः । अत्र सिद्धाः शिवा नाम ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
Here, the afflicted sons of Sagara recognized the god Kapila, the son of Vidura; here, the accomplished and auspicious Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, dwell.
अधीत्य सकलान्वेदाँल्लेभिरे मोक्षमक्षयम्। अत्र भोगवती नाम पुरी वासुकिपालिता
Having studied all the Vedas, they attained imperishable liberation; here is the city called Bhogavatī, ruled by Vāsuki.
तक्षकेण च नागेन तथैवैरावतेन च। अत्र निर्याणकालेऽपि तमः संप्राप्यते महत्
Here, the serpent Takṣaka and also Airāvata reside; even at the time of departure, a great darkness is encountered here.
अभेद्यं भास्करेणापि स्वयं वा कृष्णवर्त्मना । एष तस्यापि ते मार्गः परिचारस्य गालव । ब्रूहि मे यदि गन्तव्यं प्रतीचीं शृणु चापराम्
This path cannot be pierced even by the sun, nor by Kṛṣṇa's own course; this, O Gālava, is the way of your journey as well. Tell me if you wish to go, and hear also of the western direction.