अगस्त्यतीर्थं सौभद्रं पौलोमं च सुपावनम्। कारन्धमं प्रसन्नं च महमेधफलं च तत्
He saw the Agastya ford, the Saubhadra, the supremely pure Pauloma, the serene Kārandhama, and the one yielding great sacrificial merit.
भारद्वाजस्य तीर्थं तु पापप्रशमनं महत्। एतानि पञ्च तीर्थानि ददर्श कुरुसत्तमः
He also saw the great Bhāradvāja ford, which removes sin; these five fords did the best of the Kurus behold.
विविक्तान्युपलक्ष्याथ तानि तीर्थानि पाण्डवः। दृष्ट्वा च वर्ज्यमानानि मुनिभिर्धर्मबुद्धिभिः
Observing that these fords were deserted, Pāṇḍava saw that they were being avoided by the sages who were wise in dharma.
तपस्विनस्ततोऽपृच्छत्प्राञ्जलिः कुरुनन्दनः। तीर्थानीमानि वर्ज्यन्ते किमर्थं ब्रह्मवादिभिः
Then, with joined palms, the son of the Kurus respectfully asked the ascetics, ‘Why are these fords avoided by the brahma-vādins?’
ग्राहाः पञ्च वसन्त्येषु हरन्ति च तपोधनान्। तत एतानि वर्ज्यन्ते तीर्थानि कुरुनन्दन
‘There are five crocodiles dwelling in them, who seize ascetics rich in austerity; therefore, O joy of the Kurus, these fords are avoided.’
तेषां श्रुत्वा महाबाहुर्वार्यमाणस्तपोधनैः। जगाम तानि तीर्थानि द्रष्टुं पुरुषसत्तमः
Hearing this, the mighty-armed one, though restrained by the ascetics, went to see those fords, O best of men.
ततः सौभद्रमासाद्य महर्षेस्तीर्थमुत्तमम्। विगाह्य सहसा शूरः स्नानं चक्रे परन्तपः
Then, reaching the excellent Saubhadra ford of the great sage, the valiant one plunged in and performed his bath at once, scorcher of foes.
अथ तं पुरुषव्याघ्रमन्तर्जलचरो महान्। जग्राह चरणे ग्राहः कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्
Then, a great crocodile dwelling in the water seized the foot of Dhanañjaya, son of Kunti, that tiger among men.
स तमादाय कौन्तेयो विस्फुरन्तं जलेचरम्। उदतिष्ठन्महाबाहुर्बलेन बलिनां वरः
Seizing that water-dweller, which thrashed about, the son of Kunti, mighty-armed and foremost among the strong, rose up by his strength.
उत्कृष्ट एव ग्राहस्तु सोऽर्जुनेन यशस्विना। बभूव नारी कल्याणी सर्वाभरणभूषइता
As soon as Arjuna, renowned and illustrious, dragged it forth, that crocodile became a beautiful woman adorned with all ornaments.
दीप्यमाना श्रिया राजन्दिव्यरूपा मनोरमा। तदद्भुतं महद्दृष्ट्वा कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः
Radiant with splendor, O King, possessing a divine and enchanting form, Kunti’s son Dhananjaya beheld that wondrous sight.
तां स्त्रियं परमप्रीत इदं वचनमब्रवीत्। का वै त्वमसि कल्याणिकुतो वाऽसि जलेचरी
Filled with utmost delight, he spoke these words to the woman: 'Who are you, O blessed one? From where do you come, O dweller in the waters?'
अप्सराऽस्मि महाबाहो देवारण्यविहारिणी
'I am an Apsaras, O mighty-armed one, roaming in the forests of the gods.'
इष्टा धनपतेर्नित्यं वर्गा नाम महाबल। मम सख्यश्चतस्रोऽन्याः सर्वाः कामगमाः शुभाः
'The Varga, renowned and powerful, are always favored by Dhanapati; four others are my companions, all beautiful and able to move at will.'
ताभिः सार्धं प्रयाताऽस्मि लोकपालनिवेशनम्। ततः पश्यामहे सर्वा ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम्
'Together with them, I went to the abode of the guardians of the worlds; there, we all saw a Brahmin devoted to strict vows.'
रूपवन्तमधीयानमेकमेकान्तचारिणम्। तस्यैव तपसा राजंस्तद्वयं तेजसा वृतम्
'Handsome, learned, and wandering alone, O King, by his austerity, we were enveloped in his brilliance.'
आदित्य इव तं देशं इत्वं सर्व व्यकाशयत्। तस्य दृष्ट्वा तपस्तादृग्रूपचाद्भुतमुत्तमम्
'Like the sun, he illuminated the entire region; seeing his austerity, his wondrous and supreme form, we were amazed.'
अवतीर्णाः स्म तं देशं तपोविघ्नचिकीर्षया। अहं च सौरभेयी च समीची बुद्बुदा लता
'We descended to that place intending to interrupt his penance; I, Saurabheyi, Samichi, Budbuda, and Lata.'
यौगपद्येन तं विप्रमभ्यगच्छाम भारत। गायन्त्योऽथहसन्त्यश्च लोभयित्वा च तं द्विजं
'All at once, O Bharata, we approached that Brahmin, singing and laughing, seeking to entice him.'
स च नास्मासु कृतवान्मनो वीर कथंचन। नाकम्पत महातेजाः स्थितस्तपसि निर्मले
'But he did not direct his mind toward us in any way, O hero; the great-souled one remained unmoved, steadfast in pure austerity.'
सोऽशपत्कुपितोऽस्मांस्तु ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियर्षभ। ग्राहभूता जले यूयं चरिष्यथ शतं समाः
'Angered, that Brahmin cursed us, O bull among Kshatriyas: "You shall become aquatic beings and dwell in water for a hundred years."'
ततो वयं प्रव्यथिताः सर्वा भारतसत्तम। अयाम शरणं विप्रं तं तपोधनमच्युतम्
Then, greatly distressed, O best of Bharatas, we all sought refuge with that Brahmin, rich in austerity and unwavering.
रूपेण वयसा चैव कन्दर्पेण च दर्पिताः। अयुक्तं कृतवत्यः स्म क्षन्तुमर्हसि नो द्विज
'Proud of our beauty, youth, and charm, we acted improperly; forgive us, O Brahmin.'
एष एव वधोऽस्माकं स्वयं प्राप्तस्तपोधन। यद्वयं संशितात्मानं प्रलोब्धुं त्वामिहागताः
'This punishment has come to us of itself, O ascetic; for we came here to tempt one whose soul is steadfast.'
अवध्यास्तु स्त्रियः सृष्टा मन्यन्ते धर्मचारिणः। तस्माद्धर्मेण वर्ध त्वं नास्मन्हिंसितुमर्हसि
'Righteous men consider women to be inviolable; therefore, grow in virtue and do not harm us.'
सर्वभूतेषु धर्मज्ञ मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते। सत्यो भवतु कल्याण एष वादो मनीषिणाम्
'A Brahmin is called friendly to all beings and knowledgeable of righteousness; let this be the truth, O blessed one, for this is the teaching of the wise.'
शरणं च प्रपन्नानां शिष्टाः कुर्वन्ति पालनम्। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नाः स्म तस्मात्त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि
'The virtuous protect those who seek refuge; we have sought refuge with you, therefore you ought to forgive us.'
एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा ब्राह्मणः शुभकर्मकृत्। प्रसादं कृतवान्वीर रविसोमसमप्रभः
Thus addressed, that righteous Brahmin, performer of auspicious deeds, granted mercy, O hero, shining like the sun and moon.
शतं शतसहस्रं तु सर्वमक्षय्यवाचकम्। परिमाणं शतं त्वेतन्नेदमक्षय्यवाचकम्
A hundred, a hundred thousand, all are called inexhaustible; but the measure here is a hundred, and this is not termed inexhaustible.
यदा च वो ग्राहभूता गृह्णन्तीः पुरुषाञ्जले। उत्कर्षति जलात्तस्मात्स्थलं पुरुषसत्तमः
When you, having become grasping spirits, seize men with your hands, then the best of men lifts them from the water onto land.