वल्लभो नरनारीणां पौर्णमास्यां यथा शशी आदित्य इव दुष्प्रेक्ष्यः शत्रुसंघभयंकरः
Beloved by men and women, like the moon on the full-moon night; like the sun, difficult to behold, and a source of terror to hosts of enemies.
वैष्णवः सत्त्वसंपन्नो जितक्रोधो जितेन्द्रियः अध्येता योगसांख्यानां मुमुक्षुर् धर्मतत्परः
A Vaishnava, endowed with virtue, master of anger and senses, a student of yoga and Sankhya, desiring liberation, devoted to righteousness.
एवं स पालयन् पृथ्वीं राजा सर्वगुणाकरः तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना हरेर् आराधनं प्रति
Thus, while ruling the earth, that king, a repository of all virtues, developed the intention to worship Hari.
कथम् आराधयिष्यामि देवदेवं जनार्दनम् कस्मिन् क्षेत्रे ऽथवा तीर्थे नदीतीरे तथाश्रमे
How shall I worship the god of gods, Janardana? In which field, or holy place, on the riverbank, or in an ashram?
एवं चिन्तापरः सो ऽथ निरीक्ष्य मनसा महीम् आलोक्य सर्वतीर्थानि क्षेत्राण्य् अथ पुराण्य् अपि
Absorbed in such thoughts, he surveyed the land with his mind, observing all holy places, fields, and ancient sites.
तानि सर्वाणि संत्यज्य जगामायतनं पुनः विख्यातं परमं क्षेत्रं मुक्तिदं पुरुषोत्तमम्
Renouncing all those places, he went again to the abode, the renowned supreme field, bestowing liberation, Purushottama.
स गत्वा तत् क्षेत्रवरं समृद्धबलवाहनः अयजच् चाश्वमेधेन विधिवद् भूरिदक्षिणः
Arriving at that excellent field, with abundant strength and resources, he performed an Ashvamedha sacrifice according to the rules, giving generous gifts.
कारयित्वा महोत्सेधं प्रासादं चैव विश्रुतम् तत्र संकर्षणं कृष्णं सुभद्रां स्थाप्य वीर्यवान्
Having constructed a grand and famous temple, he installed Sankarshana, Krishna, and Subhadra there, being mighty.
पञ्चतीर्थं च विधिवत् कृत्वा तत्र महीपतिः स्नानं दानं तपो होमं देवताप्रेक्षणं तथा
The king properly established the five holy bathing places there, performing bathing, charity, austerity, fire offerings, and worship of the gods.
भक्त्या चाराध्य विधिवत् प्रत्यहं पुरुषोत्तमम् प्रसादाद् देवदेवस्य ततो मोक्षम् अवाप्तवान्
With devotion, he worshipped Purushottama daily according to the rules, and by the grace of the god of gods, he attained liberation.
मार्कण्डेयं च कृष्णं च दृष्ट्वा रामं च भो द्विजाः सागरे चेन्द्रद्युम्नाख्ये स्नात्वा मोक्षं लभेद् ध्रुवम्
O twice-born, one who sees Markandeya, Krishna, and Rama, and bathes at the Indradyumna-named ocean, surely attains liberation.
कस्मात् स नृपतिः पूर्वम् इन्द्रद्युम्नो जगत्पतिः जगाम परमं क्षेत्रं मुक्तिदं पुरुषोत्तमम्
Why did that king, Indradyumna, lord of the world, formerly go to the supreme field, bestowing liberation, Purushottama?
गत्वा तत्र सुरश्रेष्ठ कथं स नृपसत्तमः वाजिमेधेन विधिवद् इष्टवान् पुरुषोत्तमम्
Having gone there, O best of gods, how did that foremost king properly worship the Supreme Person with a horse sacrifice?
कथं स सर्वफलदे क्षेत्रे परमदुर्लभे प्रासादं कारयाम् आस चेष्टं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
How did he construct, in that field which grants all fruits and is exceedingly rare, a temple renowned throughout the three worlds?
कथं स कृष्णं रामं च सुभद्रां च प्रजापते निर्ममे राजशार्दूलः क्षेत्रं रक्षितवान् कथम्
How did that tiger among kings, O Lord of creatures, establish Krishna, Rama, and Subhadra, and protect the field?
कथं तत्र महीपालः प्रासादे भुवनोत्तमे स्थापयाम् आस मतिमान् कृष्णादींस् त्रिदशार्चितान्
How did that wise ruler place Krishna and others, worshipped by the gods, in that excellent temple?
एतत् सर्वं सुरश्रेष्ठ विस्तरेण यथातथम् वक्तुम् अर्हस्य् अशेषेण चरितं तस्य धीमतः
O best of gods, you ought to recount all this in detail and exactly, the deeds of that wise one, without omission.
न तृप्तिम् अधिगच्छामस् तव वाक्यामृतेन वै श्रोतुम् इच्छामहे ब्रह्मन् परं कौतूहलं हि नः
We do not attain satisfaction from the nectar of your words; O Brahman, we wish to hear more, for our curiosity is indeed great.
साधु साधु द्विजश्रेष्ठा यत् पृच्छध्वं पुरातनम् सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं शुभम्
Excellent, excellent, O best of twice-born, that you ask about the ancient matter, which removes all sin, is auspicious, and grants enjoyment and liberation.
वक्ष्यामि तस्य चरितं यथावृत्तं कृते युगे शृणुध्वं मुनिशार्दूलाः प्रयताः संयतेन्द्रियाः
I will tell you his deeds as they happened in the Krita age; listen, O foremost sages, with effort and controlled senses.
अवन्ती नाम नगरी मालवे भुवि विश्रुता बभूव तस्य नृपतेः पृथिवी ककुदोपमा
There was a city named Avanti, famed in the land of Malava, whose king was as eminent as the summit of the earth.
हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा दृढप्राकारतोरणा दृढयन्त्रार्गलद्वारा परिखाभिर् अलंकृता
Filled with joyful and prosperous people, with strong ramparts and gateways, sturdy locks and doors, adorned with moats.
नानावणिक्समाकीर्णा नानाभाण्डसुविक्रिया रथ्यापणवती रम्या सुविभक्तचतुष्पथा
Crowded with merchants of many kinds, offering various fine wares, delightful with streets and shops, and well-divided crossroads.
गृहगोपुरसंबाधा वीथीभिः समलंकृता राजहंसनिभैः शुभ्रैश् चित्रग्रीवैर् मनोहरैः
Adorned with houses and towers, its avenues beautified, with royal swans—white, splendid, and charming with variegated necks.
अनेकशतसाहस्रैः प्रासादैः समलंकृता यज्ञोत्सवप्रमुदिता गीतवादित्रनिस्वना
Adorned with hundreds of thousands of mansions, joyful with sacrificial festivals, resounding with songs and musical instruments.
नानावर्णपताकाभिर् ध्वजैश् च समलंकृता हस्त्यश्वरथसंकीर्णा पदातिगणसंकुला
Decorated with flags of many colors and banners, crowded with elephants, horses, chariots, and throngs of foot soldiers.
नानायोधसमाकीर्णा नानाजनपदैर् युता ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर् वैश्यैः शूद्रैश् चैव द्विजातिभिः
Filled with warriors of all kinds, joined by people from various regions, with Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and twice-born.
समृद्धा सा मुनिश्रेष्ठा विद्वद्भिः समलंकृता न तत्र मलिनाः सन्ति न मूर्खा नापि निर्धनाः
That city, O best of sages, was prosperous and adorned with learned people; there were no dirty, ignorant, or poor persons there.
न रोगिणो न हीनाङ्गा न द्यूतव्यसनान्विताः सदा हृष्टाः सुमनसो दृश्यन्ते पुरुषाः स्त्रियः
There were no sick, no disabled, none addicted to gambling; always joyful and good-natured men and women were seen.
क्रीडन्ति स्म दिवा रात्रौ हृष्टास् तत्र पृथक् पृथक् सुवेषाः पुरुषास् तत्र दृश्यन्ते मृष्टकुण्डलाः
They played day and night, joyful in various ways; well-dressed men with polished earrings were seen there.