तत्तीर्थमब्धेरपतद्भागे दक्षिणपश्चिमे
That sacred place lies in the southern and western part of the ocean's shore.
निर्वाणं परमं प्राप्ताः पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्
There, they attained the highest liberation, free from return.
देव्या च सकलैर्देवैर्नित्यं वसति शङ्करः
There, Śaṅkara always resides with the goddess and all the gods.
नृणामाशु प्रणश्यन्ति प्रवाते शुष्कपर्णवत्
For men, sins quickly perish there, like dry leaves in a gust of wind.
समीपे वसमानोनामपि पुंसां दुरात्मनाम्
Even those of wicked mind, merely by dwelling nearby,
नृणां संजायते राजन्नान्यथा तु कथञ्चन
O king, for men, it certainly comes to pass; it cannot be otherwise.
म्रियन्ते नृप सद्यस्ते स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यन्ति शाश्वतम्
Those men die instantly, O king, and attain eternal heaven.
क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं क्षेत्रं सर्वतीर्थनिकेतनम्
Of all sacred fields, this is the foremost, the abode of all holy waters.
सिद्धिकामा वसंति स्म मुनयस्तत्र केचन
Desiring perfection, certain sages once dwelled there.
निवसंत्यचिरेणैव तत्सिद्धिंप्राप्नुवन्ति हि
Dwelling there even for a short time, they indeed attain that perfection.
वसंति तस्मिन्ये ते हि सिद्धिं प्राप्स्यन्त्यभीप्सिताम्
Those who dwell there indeed attain the success they desire.
अन्यस्मात्कोटिगुणितं भवेत्तस्मिन्फलं नृप
O King, in that place the fruit is a crore times greater than elsewhere.
महता तपसा युक्ता मुनयस्तन्निवासिनः
Great sages endowed with intense austerity reside there.
वसंतस्तत्र ते सर्वे संप्रधार्य परस्परम्
All of them live there, deliberating together with one another.
अगस्त्यपीततोये ऽब्धौ परितो राजनन्दनैः
Around the ocean drunk dry by Agastya, with the sons of kings,
भूभागेषु तथान्येषु पुरग्रमाकरादिषु
and likewise in other regions—cities, villages, and mines—
किमकार्षुर्मुनिश्रेष्ठ जनास्तन्निलयास्ततः
O best of sages, what did the people dwelling there do then?
केन वापि प्रकारेण ब्रह्मन्नेतद्वदस्व मे
By what means, O Brahman, or in what manner? Tell me this.
अनूपेषु प्रदेशेषु नाशितेषु दुरात्मभिः
In marshy regions and places destroyed by wicked men,
तत्रैव चावसन्कृच्छ्रात्केचित्क्षेत्रनिवासिनः
even there, some field-dwellers remained, enduring hardship.
बभूव भुविधर्मात्मा दिलीप इति विश्रुतः
On earth there was a righteous soul known as Dilīpa.
वनं जगाम मेधावी तपसे धृतमानसः
That wise one went to the forest, his mind set on austerity.
पालयामास धर्मेण विजित्य सकलानरीन्
He ruled with righteousness, having conquered all his enemies.
सर्वधर्मार्थकुशलः श्रीमानमितविक्रमः
Skilled in all duties and wealth, glorious, and of measured valor,
स चापि पालयन्नुर्वीं सम्यग्विहतकण्टकाम्
He too ruled the earth well, having removed all thorns.
स शुश्रावात्मनः पूर्वं पूर्वजानां महीपतिः
That king heard of his ancestors of old, formerly,
ब्रह्मदण्डहतान्सर्वान्पितञ्छ्रुत्वातिदुःखितः
Hearing that all had been slain by Brahmā’s curse, he was deeply grieved.
स मन्त्रिप्रवरे राज्यं विन्यस्य तपसे वनम्
Entrusting the kingdom to his chief minister, he went to the forest for austerity.
तपसा महाता पूर्वमायुषे कमलोद्भवम्
By great austerity in former times, he obtained longevity for the one born from the lotus.
ततो गङ्गां महाराज समाराध्य प्रसाद्य च
Then, O great king, he worshipped and propitiated the Ganga.