पथि गच्छन् कदाचित् स जीगर्तेर् मध्यमः सुतः शुश्राव रुदतो वाणीं पिशाचस्य मुहुर् मुहुः
Once, as he was walking on the road, the middle son of Jīgarti repeatedly heard the voice of the piśāca weeping.
पुत्रक्रेतुर् ब्रह्महन्तुर् जीगर्तेस् तु पितुस् तदा पापिनः पुत्रविक्रेतुर् ब्रह्महन्तुः पितुश् च ताम्
At that time, the sin of selling a son, of killing a Brahmin, and of Jīgarti the father—indeed, the sin of selling a son, of killing a Brahmin, and of the father—
शुनःशेपस् तदोवाच को भवान् अतिदुःखितः जीगर्तिर् अब्रवीद् दुःखाच् छुनःशेपपिता ह्य् अहम्
Then Śunaḥśepa said, 'Who are you, so greatly afflicted?' Jīgarti replied in his misery, 'I am Śunaḥśepa's father.'
पापीयसीं क्रियां कृत्वा योनिं प्राप्तो ऽस्मि दारुणाम् नरकेष्व् अथ पक्वश् च पुनः प्राप्तो ऽन्तरालकम् ये ये दुष्कृतकर्माणस् तेषां तेषाम् इयं गतिः
Having performed a most sinful act, I have attained a dreadful birth; cooked in hell, I have again reached an intermediate state. Such is the fate of all those who commit evil deeds.
जीगर्तिपुत्रस् तम् उवाच दुःखात् सो ऽहं सुतस् ते मम दोषेण तात विक्रीत्वा मां नरकान् एवम् आप्तस् ततः करिष्ये स्वर्गतं त्वाम् इदानीम्
Jīgarti's son said to him in distress, 'O father, it is by my own fault that, having sold me, you have thus reached hell. Therefore, I will now make you attain heaven.'
एवं प्रतिज्ञाय स गाधिपुत्र पुत्रत्वम् आप्तो ऽथ मुनिप्रवीरः गङ्गाम् अभिध्याय पितुश् च लोकान् अनुत्तमान् ईहमानो जगाम
Having thus resolved, the son of Gādhi, who had obtained sonship and was a foremost sage, desiring to attain the highest worlds for his father, set out, meditating on the Ganges.
अशेषदुःखानलधूपितानां निमज्जतां मोहमहासमुद्रे शरीरिणां नान्यद् अहो त्रिलोक्याम् आलम्बनं विष्णुपदीं विहाय
For embodied beings scorched by the fire of endless suffering, sinking in the great ocean of delusion, there is, alas, no other support in the three worlds except the feet of Viṣṇu.
एवं विनिश्चित्य मुनिर् महात्मा समुद्दिधीर्षुः पितरं स दुर्गतेः शुचिस् ततो गौतमीम् आशु गत्वा तत्र स्नात्वा संस्मरञ् छंभुविष्णू
Thus deciding, the great-souled sage, wishing to rescue his father from misfortune, quickly went to the Gautamī (Godāvarī), bathed there, and remembered Śambhu and Viṣṇu.
ददौ जलं प्रेतरूपाय पित्रे पिशाचरूपाय सुदुःखिताय तद्दानमात्रेण तदैव पूतो जीगर्तिर् आवाप वपुः सुपुण्यम्
He offered water to his father, who was in the form of a preta, a piśāca, and greatly distressed; by that very act of offering, Jīgarti was instantly purified and attained a most auspicious form.
विमानयुक्तः सुरसंघजुष्टं विष्णोः पदं प्राप सुतप्रभावात् गङ्गाप्रभावाच् च हरेश् च शंभोर् विधातुर् अर्कायुततुल्यतेजाः
Endowed with a celestial vehicle, attended by hosts of gods, he attained the abode of Viṣṇu by the power of his son, by the power of the Ganges, and by the grace of Hari, Śambhu, and the Creator, shining with the brilliance of ten thousand suns.
ततः प्रभृत्य् एतद् अतिप्रसिद्धं पैशाचनाशं च महागदं च महान्ति पापानि च नाशम् आशु प्रयान्ति यस्य स्मरणेन पुंसाम्
From that time, this has become very renowned: it destroys piśācas, cures great diseases, and quickly removes even great sins by the mere remembrance of it by people.
तीर्थस्य चेदं गदितं तवाद्य माहात्म्यम् एतत् त्रिशतानि यत्र तीर्थान्य् अथान्यानि भवन्ति भुक्ति मुक्तिप्रदायीनि किम् अन्यद् अत्र
Today I have told you the greatness of this tīrtha, where there are three hundred tīrthas and others as well, bestowing enjoyment and liberation—what more is there to say?
सर्वसिद्धिदम् आख्यातम् इत्याद्य् अत्र शतत्रयम् तीर्थानां मुनिजुष्टानां स्मरणाद् अप्य् अभीष्टदम्
This has been declared as granting all accomplishments; here, the three hundred sacred places cherished by sages bestow desired results even by mere remembrance.
निम्नभेदम् इति ख्यातं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् गङ्गाया उत्तरे पारे तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
Known as Nimnabheda, it destroys all sins; this holy site, famed throughout the three worlds, lies on the northern bank of the Ganges.
यस्य संस्मरणेनापि सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् वेदद्वीपश् च तत्रैव दर्शनाद् वेदविद् भवेत्
By merely remembering it, all sins are destroyed; and seeing Vedadvīpa there, one becomes learned in the Vedas.
उर्वशीं चकमे राजा ऐलः परमधार्मिकः को न मोहम् उपायाति विलोक्य मदिरेक्षणाम्
King Aila, supremely righteous, desired Urvaśī; who would not become deluded upon seeing her intoxicating eyes?
सा प्रायाद् यत्र राजासौ घृतं स्तोकं समश्नुते आनग्नदर्शनात् कृत्वा तस्याः कालावधिं नृपः
She departed to the place where the king consumed a small portion of clarified butter, having set a time limit for her appearance after the ritual of fire-viewing.
तां स्वीचकार ललनां यूनां रम्यां नवां नवाम् सुप्तायां शयने तस्यां समुत्तस्थौ पुरूरवाः
He made her his own, a delightful and ever-youthful maiden; while she slept upon the bed, Purūravas arose from her side.
विलोक्य तं विवसनं तदैवासौ विनिर्गता विद्युच्चञ्चलचित्तानां क्व स्थैर्यं ननु योषिताम्
Seeing him unclothed, she immediately departed; where is steadfastness in women whose minds flicker like lightning?
ईक्षां चक्रे स शर्वर्यां विवस्त्रो विस्मितो महान् एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे राजा युद्धायागाद् रिपून् प्रति
He gazed upon her that night, astonished and unclothed; meanwhile, the king went forth to battle against his enemies.
ताञ् जित्वा पुनर् अप्य् आगाद् देवलोकं सुपूजितम् स चागत्य महाराजो वसिष्ठाच् च पुरोधसः
Having conquered them, he returned again to the highly honored realm of the gods; and upon his return, the great king received guidance from Vasiṣṭha, the chief priest.
उर्वश्या गमनं श्रुत्वा ततो दुःखसमन्वितः न जुहोति न चाश्नाति न शृणोति न पश्यति
Hearing of Urvaśī's departure, he was overcome with sorrow; he neither offered sacrifices, nor ate, nor listened, nor saw.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे तत्र मृतावस्थं नृपोत्तमम् बोधयाम् आस वाक्यैश् च हेतुभूतैः पुरोहितः
Meanwhile, the chief priest awakened the noble king, who was as if dead, with words bearing reasons.
सा मृताद्य महाराज मा व्यथस्व महामते एवं स्थितं तु मा त्वां वै अशिवाः स्पृश्युर् आशुगाः
She is dead now, O great-minded king; do not grieve. In such a state, let not inauspicious swift forces touch you.
न वै स्त्रैणानि जानीषे हृदयानि महामते शालावृकाणां यादॄंशि तस्मात् त्वं भूप मा शुचः
You do not know the hearts of women, O wise king; they are like those of jackals. Therefore, O ruler, do not sorrow.
को नाम लोके राजेन्द्र कामिनीभिर् न वञ्चितः वञ्चकत्वं नृशंसत्वं चञ्चलत्वं कुशीलता
Who in this world, O king of kings, has not been deceived by women? Deceitfulness, cruelty, fickleness, and cunning are their nature.
इति स्वाभाविकं यासां ताः कथं सुखहेतवः कालेन को न निहतः को ऽर्थी गौरवम् आगतः
Such is their inherent nature; how can they be sources of happiness? Who has not been ruined by time? Who, seeking honor, has attained it?
श्रिया न भ्रामितः को वा योषिद्भिः को न खण्डितः स्वप्नमायोपमा राजन् मदविप्लुतचेतसः
Who has not been led astray by fortune, or harmed by women? For those whose minds are intoxicated, reality is like a dream or illusion, O king.
सुखाय योषितः कस्य ज्ञात्वैतद् विज्वरो भव विहाय शंकरं विष्णुं गौतमीं वा महामते दुःखिनां शरणं नान्यद् विद्यते भुवनत्रये
For whom are women a source of happiness? Knowing this, be free from fever, O wise king. Apart from Śaṃkara, Viṣṇu, or the Ganges, there is no other refuge for the sorrowful in the three worlds.
एतच् छ्रुत्वा ततो राजा दुःखं संहृत्य यत्नतः गौतम्या मध्यसंस्थो ऽसाव् ऐलः परमधार्मिकः
Hearing this, the king diligently overcame his sorrow; Aila, supremely righteous, remained in the midst of the Ganges.