तेषाम् अप्य् अतिपापानि नाशं यान्ति ममाज्ञया तत्र स्नानादि यः कृत्वा किंचिद् दत्त्वा यतात्मवान्
Even their gravest sins are destroyed by my command; whoever, self-controlled, bathes there, performs rites, and gives even a little—
पितॄणां पिण्डदानादि कृत्वा नत्वा सुरान् इमान् धनं धान्यं यशो वीर्यम् आयुर् आरोग्यसंपदः
Having offered oblations for the ancestors and bowed to these gods, one obtains wealth, grain, fame, strength, long life, and abundance of health.
पुत्रान् पौत्रान् प्रियां भार्यां लब्ध्वा चान्यन् मनीषितम् अवियुक्तः प्रीतमना बन्धुभिश् चातिमानितः
He gains sons, grandsons, a beloved wife, and whatever else he desires; he remains united with his dear ones, honored greatly by his kin, his heart content.
नरकस्थान् अपि पितॄंस् तारयित्वा कुलानि च पावयित्वा प्रियैर् युक्तो ह्य् अन्ते विष्णुं शिवं स्मरेत् ततो मुक्तिपदं गच्छेद् देवानां वचनं यथा
After rescuing even ancestors dwelling in hell and purifying his lineage, joined with his loved ones, at the end he remembers Viṣṇu or Śiva, and thus attains liberation, just as the gods have declared.
यक्षिणीसंगमं नाम तीर्थं सर्वफलप्रदम् तत्र स्नानेन दानेन सर्वान् कामान् अवाप्नुयात्
There is a sacred place called Yakṣiṇīsaṃgama, bestowing all rewards; by bathing and giving charity there, one attains every desire.
यत्र यक्षेश्वरो देवो दर्शनाद् भुक्तिमुक्तिदः तत्र च स्नानमात्रेण सत्त्रयागफलं लभेत्
Where the lord of the Yakṣas, the god, grants enjoyment and liberation by his very sight; there, by merely bathing, one obtains the fruit of a great sacrificial rite.
विश्वावसोः स्वसा नाम्ना पिप्पला गुरुहासिनी ऋषीणां सत्त्रम् अगमद् गौतमीतीरवर्तिनाम्
The sister of Viśvāvasu, named Pippalā, who lived with her teacher, went to the assembly of sages dwelling on the banks of the Gautamī.
दृष्ट्वा तत्र ऋषीन् क्षामान् सा जहासातिगर्विता या गत्वाश्रावय वौषड् अस्तु श्रौषड् इति स्थिरम्
Seeing those sages emaciated, she laughed arrogantly; going there, she loudly proclaimed, 'Let it be heard! Let it be heard! Let it be firm!'
विस्वरेण ब्रुवती तां ते शेपुः स्राविणी भव ततो नद्य् अभवत् तत्र यक्षिणीति सुविश्रुता
Speaking in a discordant voice, they cursed her: 'Become one who causes flow!' Thus, she became a river there, renowned as Yakṣiṇī.
ततो विश्वावसुः पूज्य ऋषीन् देवं त्रिलोचनम् संगम्य चैव गौतम्या तां विशापाम् अथाकरोत्
Then Viśvāvasu, honoring the sages and the three-eyed god, joined with Gautamī, made her into a sacred river.
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं यक्षिणीसंगमं स्मृतम् तत्र स्नानादिदानेन सर्वान् कामान् अवाप्नुयात्
From that time, that sacred place has been known as Yakṣiṇīsaṃgama; by bathing and giving charity there, one attains all desires.
विश्वावसोः प्रसन्नो ऽभूद् यत्र शंभुः शिवान्वितः शैवं तत् परमं तीर्थं दुर्गातीर्थं च विश्रुतम्
Where Śaṃbhu, accompanied by Śivā, was pleased with Viśvāvasu, that supreme Śaiva sacred place is also famed as Durgātīrtha.
सर्वपापौघहरणं सर्वदुर्गतिनाशनम् सर्वेषां तीर्थमुख्यानां तद् धि सारं महामुने तीर्थं मुनिवरैः ख्यातं सर्वसिद्धिप्रदं नृणाम्
It removes all heaps of sin and destroys all misfortune; among all the foremost sacred places, that is truly the essence, O great sage, a holy place renowned among sages, granting all accomplishments to men.
शुक्लतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं सर्वसिद्धिकरं नृणाम् यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वकामान् अवाप्नुयात्
It is known as Śuklatīrtha, the sacred place that grants all attainments to men; by merely remembering it, one obtains every desire.
भरद्वाज इति ख्यातो मुनिः परमधार्मिकः तस्य पैठीनसी नाम भार्या सुकलभूषणा
There was a sage named Bharadvāja, renowned for supreme righteousness; his wife was named Paiṭhīnasī, adorned with excellent virtues.
गौतमीतीरम् अध्यास्ते पतिव्रतपरायणा अग्नीषोमीयम् ऐन्द्राग्नं पुरोडाशम् अकल्पयत्
She dwelt on the bank of the Gautamī, devoted to fidelity to her husband, and prepared sacrificial cakes for Agni and Soma, and for Indra and Agni.
पुरोडाशे श्रप्यमाणे धूमात् कश्चिद् अजायत पुरोडाशं भक्षयित्वा लोकत्रितयभीषणः
As the sacrificial cake was being cooked, someone arose from the smoke, terrifying to the three worlds, having eaten the cake.
यज्ञं मे ह्य् अत्र को हंसि कोपात् त्वम् इति तं मुनिः प्रोवाच सत्वरं क्रुद्धो भरद्वाजो द्विजोत्तमः तद् ऋषेर् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसः प्रत्युवाच तम्
"Who are you, who out of anger destroys my sacrifice here?"—thus, the great sage Bharadvāja, best of twice-born, swiftly and angrily spoke to him. Hearing the sage's words, the demon replied to him.
हव्यघ्न इति विख्यातं भरद्वाज निबोध माम् संध्यासुतो ऽहं ज्येष्ठश् च सुतः प्राचीनबर्हिषः
"Know me, Bharadvāja, as Havyaghna, so renowned. I was born at twilight, the eldest son of Pracīnabarhis."
ब्रह्मणा मे वरो दत्तो यज्ञान् खाद यथासुखम् ममानुजः कलिश् चापि बलवान् अतिभीषणः
"Brahmā granted me a boon: 'Devour sacrifices as you please.' My younger brother is Kali, powerful and exceedingly fearsome."
अहं कृष्णः पिता कृष्णो माता कृष्णा तथानुजः अहं मखं हनिष्यामि यूपं छेद्मि कृतान्तकः
"I am black, my father is black, my mother is black, and so is my younger brother. I will destroy the sacrifice, I will cut down the sacrificial post, I am the ender of rites."
रक्ष्यतां मे त्वया यज्ञः प्रियो धर्मः सनातनः जाने त्वां यज्ञहन्तारं सद्द्विजं रक्ष मे क्रतुम्
"Protect my sacrifice, you for whom dharma, the eternal law, is dear. I know you as a true twice-born, a destroyer of sacrifice—protect my rite."
भरद्वाज निबोधेदं वाक्यं मम समासतः ब्रह्मणाहं पुरा शप्तो देवदानवसंनिधौ
"Hear my words in brief, Bharadvāja: Long ago, in the presence of gods and demons, I was cursed by Brahmā."
ततः प्रसादितो देवो मया लोकपितामहः अमृतैः प्रोक्षयिष्यन्ति यदा त्वां मुनिसत्तमाः
"Then, when I propitiated the god, the Grandfather of the worlds, he said: 'When the best of sages anoint you with nectar...'"
तदा विशापो भविता हव्यघ्न त्वं न चान्यथा एवं करिष्यसि यदा ततः सर्वं भविष्यति
"Then, Havyaghna, the curse will end for you, and not otherwise. When you do thus, all will come to pass."
भरद्वाजः पुनः प्राह सखा मे ऽसि महामते मखसंरक्षणं येन स्यान् मे वद करोमि तत्
Bharadvāja spoke again: "You are my friend, O wise one. Tell me by what means I may protect the sacrifice; I will do that."
संभूय देवा दैतेया ममन्थुः क्षीरसागरम् अलभन्तामृतं कष्टात् तद् अस्मत्सुलभं कथम्
"The gods and the Daityas together churned the ocean of milk. With great difficulty they did not obtain the nectar—how then can it be easy for us?"
प्रीत्या यदि प्रसन्नो ऽसि सुलभं यद् वदस्व तत् तद् ऋषेर् वचनं श्रुत्वा रक्षः प्राह तदा मुदा
"If you are pleased with me in friendship, tell me what is easy to obtain." Hearing the sage's words, the demon then joyfully replied.
अमृतं गौतमीवारि अमृतं स्वर्णम् उच्यते अमृतं गोभवं चाज्यम् अमृतं सोम एव च
"Nectar is water from the Gautamī (Godāvarī), nectar is called gold, nectar is clarified butter produced from cows, and nectar is also Soma."
एतैर् माम् अभिषिञ्चस्व अथवैतैस् तथा त्रिभिः गङ्गाया वारिणाज्येन हिरण्येन तथैव च सर्वेभ्यो ऽप्य् अधिकं दिव्यम् अमृतं गौतमीजलम्
"Anoint me with these, or with these three: water from the Gaṅgā, clarified butter, and gold. Of all, the divine water from the Gautamī is the highest nectar."