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.
ततस्तां शिरसा धर्त्तु तपसाऽराधयच्छिवम्
After that, he bore her upon his head and, through austerity, worshipped Shiva.
मेरोर्मूर्ध्नस्ततो गङ्गां पतं ती शिरसात्मनः
Then, from the summit of Meru, Ganga descended, falling upon the head of the self-controlled one.
सा तच्छिरः समासाद्य महावेगप्रवाहिनी
She, flowing with great speed, reached that head.
चुलकोदकवच्छंभोर्विलीनां शिरसि प्रभोः
Like a drop of water, she was absorbed into the head of Shambhu, the Lord.
स तां शर्वप्रसादेन लब्ध्वा तु भुवमागताम्
By the grace of Sharva, he obtained her as she came to earth.
सऽनुव्रजन्ती राजानं राजर्षेर्यजतः पथि
She followed the king along the path where the royal sage was performing sacrifice.
स तु राजऋषिः क्रुद्धो यज्ञवाटे ऽखिले तया
But that royal sage, angered, was in the sacrificial enclosure, along with her.
अतन्द्रितो वर्षशतं शुश्रूषितवा स तं पुनः
For a hundred years, he served him tirelessly once again.
उषित्वा सुचिरं तस्यनिसृता जठराद्यतः
Having dwelt there for a long time, she emerged from his abdomen.
भगीरथानुगा भूत्वा तत्पितॄणामशेषतः
Becoming the follower of Bhagiratha, she completely satisfied his ancestors.