विरूपाय सुरूपाय त्रिगुणाय त्रिमूर्तये स्थित्युत्पत्तिविनाशानां हेतवे प्रभविष्णवे
To the formless and the beautiful, to the one of three qualities, to the triple-formed, to the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction, to the mighty Lord—salutations.
ततः प्रसन्नः सूर्यो ऽभूद् वरयस्वेत्य् अभाषत
Then the Sun, pleased, spoke: 'Ask for a boon.'
राजानं देहि देवेश भार्यां च प्रियवादिनीम् आत्मनश् च शुभान् पुत्रान् राज्ञश् चैव शुभान् वरान्
O Lord of gods, grant me the king, a wife who speaks kindly, virtuous sons for myself, and auspicious boons for the king as well.
ततः प्रादाज् जगन्नाथः शर्यातिं रत्नभूषितम् तां च भार्यां वरान् अन्यान् सर्वं क्षेममयं तथा
Then the Lord of the universe gave Śaryāti, adorned with jewels, that wife, other boons, and all prosperity likewise.
ततो यातः प्रियाविष्टः प्रीतेन च पुरोधसा ययौ सुखी स्वकं देशं तत् तु तीर्थं शुभं स्मृतम्
Then, filled with affection for his beloved, he departed with the priest, happily went to his own land; that place is remembered as a holy site.
तत्र त्रीणि सहस्राणि तीर्थानि गुणवन्ति च ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं भानुतीर्थम् उदाहृतम्
There are three thousand holy places endowed with virtues; from then onward, that holy site has been called Bhānu-tīrtha.
मृतसंजीवनं चैव शार्यातं चेति विश्रुतम् माधुच्छन्दसमाख्यातं स्मरणात् पापनुन् मुने
It is renowned as Mṛtasaṃjīvana and Śāryāta, and also as Mādhucchandasamākhyāta; by remembering it, O sage, sins are dispelled.
तेषु स्नानं च दानं च सर्वक्रतुफलप्रदम् मृतसंजीवनं तत् स्याद् आयुरारोग्यवर्धनम्
Bathing and giving gifts there grant the fruits of all sacrifices; Mṛtasaṃjīvana increases lifespan and health.
खड्गतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं गौतम्या उत्तरे तटे तत्र स्नानेन दानेन मुक्तिभागी भवेन् नरः
It is known as Khaḍga-tīrtha, on the northern bank of the Gautamī; by bathing and giving gifts there, a person attains liberation.
तत्र वृत्तं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु नारद यत्नतः पैलूष इति विख्यातः कवषस्य सुतो द्विजः
There I will relate the story; listen carefully, O Nārada. Pailūṣa, so named, was the son of Kavaṣa, a twice-born.
कुटुम्बभारात् परितो ह्य् अर्थार्थी परिधावति न किमप्य् आससादासौ ततो वैराग्यम् आस्थितः
Burdened by family responsibilities, seeking wealth, he ran about everywhere, but attained nothing; then he embraced detachment.
अत्यन्तविमुखे दैवे व्यर्थीभूते तु पौरुषे न वैराग्याद् अन्यद् अस्ति पण्डितस्यावलम्बनम्
When fate is utterly adverse and effort proves futile, for the wise there is no other refuge but detachment.
इति संचिन्तयाम् आस तदासौ निःश्वसन् मुहुः क्रमागतं धनं नास्ति पोष्याश् च बहवो मम
Thus he pondered, sighing repeatedly: 'There is no wealth coming in, and I have many dependents.'
मानी चात्मा न कष्टार्हो हा धिग् दुर्दैवचेष्टितम् स कदाचिद् वृत्तियुतो वृत्तिभिः परिवर्तयन्
His self was proud, not fit for hardship—alas, cursed be the workings of ill fate! Sometimes, possessing livelihood, he managed by means of various occupations.
न लेभे तद् धनं वृत्तेर् विरागम् अगमत् तदा सेवा निषिद्धा या काचिद् गहना दुष्करं तपः
He did not obtain that wealth, nor did he gain detachment at that time; any service he attempted was forbidden, and severe austerities were difficult to perform.
बलाद् आकर्षतीयं मां तृष्णा सर्वत्र दुष्कृते त्वयापकृतम् अज्ञानात् तस्मात् तृष्णे नमो ऽस्तु ते
This thirst forcibly draws me everywhere into wrongdoing; you have caused harm out of ignorance—therefore, O craving, I bow to you.
एवं विचिन्त्य मेधावी तृष्णाछेदाय किं भवेत् इत्य् आलोच्य स पैलूषः पितरं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Thus reflecting, the wise Pailūṣa, considering how to cut off craving, spoke these words to his father.
ज्ञानासिना क्रोधलोभौ संसृतिं चातिदुस्तराम् छेद्मीमां केन हे तात तम् उपायं वद प्रभो
With the sword of knowledge, by what means, O father, can one cut off anger and greed, and the exceedingly difficult cycle of rebirth? Tell me that method, O master.
ईश्वराज् ज्ञानम् अन्विच्छेद् इत्य् एषा वैदिकी श्रुतिः तस्माद् आराधयेशानं ततो ज्ञानम् अवाप्स्यसि
The Vedic teaching is: 'One should seek knowledge from the Lord.' Therefore, worship the Lord, and then you will obtain knowledge.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा स पैलूषो ज्ञानायेश्वरम् आर्चयत् ततस् तुष्टो महेशानो ज्ञानं प्रादाद् द्विजातये प्राप्तज्ञानो महाबुद्धिर् गाथाः प्रोवाच मुक्तिदाः
Having said 'so be it,' Pailūṣa worshipped the Lord for knowledge. Then, pleased, the great Lord granted knowledge to the twice-born. Having attained knowledge and great wisdom, he spoke verses that bestow liberation.
क्रोधस् तु प्रथमं शत्रुर् निष्फलो देहनाशनः ज्ञानखड्गेन तं छित्त्वा परमं सुखम् आप्नुयात्
Anger is the first enemy, fruitless and destructive to the body; cutting it off with the sword of knowledge, one attains supreme happiness.
तृष्णा बहुविधा माया बन्धनी पापकारिणी छित्त्वैतां ज्ञानखड्गेन सुखं तिष्ठति मानवः
Craving is manifold, an illusion, binding and the cause of sin; cutting it off with the sword of knowledge, a person abides in happiness.
सङ्गस् तु परमो ऽधर्मो देवादीनाम् इति श्रुतिः असङ्गस्यात्मनो ह्य् अस्य सङ्गो ऽयं परमो रिपुः
Attachment is the highest unrighteousness, so says the scripture regarding gods and others; for the unattached self, this attachment is the greatest enemy.
छित्त्वैनं ज्ञानखड्गेन शिवैकत्वम् अवाप्नुयात् संशयः परमो नाशो धर्मार्थानां विनाशकृत्
Cutting this (attachment) with the sword of knowledge, one attains unity with Śiva. Doubt is the greatest destruction, the destroyer of righteousness and prosperity.
छित्त्वैनं संशयं जन्तुः परमेप्सितम् आप्नुयात् पिशाचीव विशत्य् आशा निर्दहत्य् अखिलं सुखम् पूर्णाहन्तासिना छित्त्वा जीवन् मुक्तिम् अवाप्नुयात्
Cutting off this doubt, a being attains the highest goal. Hope enters like a demoness and burns up all happiness; cutting it with the sword of complete selflessness, one attains liberation while living.
ततो ज्ञानम् अवाप्यासौ गङ्गातीरं समाश्रितः ज्ञानखड्गेन निर्मोहस् ततो मुक्तिम् अवाप सः
Having thus obtained knowledge, he took refuge on the bank of the Gaṅgā; with the sword of knowledge, he became free from delusion, and thus attained liberation.
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं खड्गतीर्थम् इति स्मृतम् ज्ञानतीर्थं च कवषं पैलूषं सर्वकामदम्
From then on, that sacred place has been known as Khaḍgatīrtha; and also as Jñānatīrtha, Kavaṣa, and Pailūṣa, the fulfiller of all desires.
इत्यादिषट्सहस्राणि तीर्थान्य् आहुर् महर्षयः अशेषपापतापौघहराणीष्टप्रदानि च
Thus, the sages say there are six thousand such sacred places, which remove all sins and suffering and grant desired blessings.
आत्रेयम् इति विख्यातम् अन्विन्द्रं तीर्थम् उत्तमम् तस्य प्रभावं वक्ष्यामि भ्रष्टराज्यप्रदायकम्
The sacred place called Ātreya, renowned as Anvindra, is supreme; I will describe its power, which restores lost kingdoms.
गौतम्या उत्तरे तीर आत्रेयो भगवान् ऋषिः अन्वारेभे ऽथ सत्त्राणि ऋत्विग्भिर् मुनिभिर् वृतः
On the northern bank of the Gautamī, the venerable sage Ātreya performed sacrifices, surrounded by priests and sages.