एषणारहितौ कस्माच्चक्रतुः प्रधनं महत् । प्रह्लादोऽपि च धर्मात्मा ज्ञात्वा देवौ सनातनौ
Being free from desire, why did they undertake such a great conflict? And Prahlāda, too, righteous in soul, knowing them to be the eternal gods—
कृतवान्स कथं युद्धं नरनारायणौ मुनी । एतद्विस्तरतो ब्रह्मञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि कारणम्
How did he wage battle with the sage Nara-Nārāyaṇa? O Brahman, I wish to hear in detail the reason for this.
प्रह्लादतीर्थयात्रावर्णनम् सूत उवाच इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्रो राज्ञा पारीक्षितेन वै । उवाच विस्तरात्सर्वं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
Sūta said: Thus questioned by King Parīkṣit, the sage Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, narrated everything in detail.
जनमेजयोऽपि धर्मात्मा निर्वेदं परमं गतः । चित्तं दुश्चरितं मत्वा वैराटीतनयस्य वै
Janamejaya, righteous in soul, became deeply disillusioned, reflecting on the evil conduct of the son of the king of Virāṭa.
तस्यैवोद्धरणार्थाय चकार सततं मनः । विप्रावमानपापेन यमलोकं गतस्य वै
For the sake of rescuing him, whose mind was constantly intent, who had gone to Yama's realm due to the sin of disrespecting a Brahmin—
पुन्नामनरकाद्यस्मात्त्रायते पितरं स्वकम् । पुत्रेति नाम सार्थं स्यात्तेन तस्य मुनीश्वराः
Because he saves his own father from hells such as Put, the name 'son' is thus rightly given, O best of sages.
सर्पदष्टं नृपं श्रुत्वा हर्म्योपरि मृतं तथा । विप्रशापादौत्तरेयं स्नानदानविवर्जितम्
Hearing that the king had died from a snake bite atop his palace, due to a Brahmin's curse, without bath or charity—
पितुर्गतिं निशम्यासौ निर्वेदं गतवान्नृपः । पारीक्षितो महाभागः सन्तप्तो भयविह्वलः
Upon learning of his father's fate, the blessed Parīkṣit, overwhelmed by grief and fear, became deeply disillusioned.
पप्रच्छाथ मुनिं व्यासं गृहागतमनिन्दितः । नरनारायणस्येमां कथां परमविस्मृताम्
Then, the blameless king questioned the sage Vyāsa, who had come to his house, about this most wondrous tale of Nara-Nārāyaṇa.
व्यास उवाच स यदा निहतो रौद्रो हिरण्यकशिपुर्नृप । अभिषिक्तस्तदा राज्ये प्रह्लादो नाम तत्सुतः
Vyāsa said: When the fierce Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain, his son Prahlāda was then installed as king.
तस्मिञ्छासति दैत्येन्द्रे देवब्राह्मणपूजके । मखैर्भूमौ नृपतयो यजन्तः श्रद्धयान्विताः
While that lord of the Daityas ruled, honoring gods and Brahmins, kings performed sacrifices on earth with faith.
ब्राह्मणाश्च तपोधर्मतीर्थयात्राश्च कुर्वते । वैश्याश्च स्वस्ववृत्तिस्थाः शूद्राः शुश्रूषणे रताः
Brahmins practiced austerity, righteousness, and pilgrimage; Vaiśyas remained in their own occupations, and Śūdras were devoted to service.
नृसिंहेन च पाताले स्थापितः सोऽथ दैत्यराट् । राज्यं चकार तत्रैव प्रजापालनतत्परः
Then, having been established in the netherworld by Narasimha, that king of the demons ruled there, devoted to the protection of his subjects.
कदाचिद् भृगुपुत्रोऽथ च्यवनाख्यो महातपाः । जगाम नर्मदां स्नातुं तीर्थं वै व्याहृतीश्वरम्
Once, the son of Bhrigu, the great ascetic named Cyavana, went to bathe at the holy site called Vyāhṛtīśvara on the Narmada river.
रेवां महानदीं दृष्ट्वा ततस्तस्यामवातरत् । उत्तरन्तं प्रजग्राह नागो विषभयङ्करः
Seeing the great river Reva, he descended into it; then, at its northern bank, a serpent, terrifying with poison, seized him.
गृहीतो भयभीतस्तु पाताले मुनिसत्तमः । सस्मार मनसा विष्णुं देवदेवं जनार्दनम्
Taken and frightened, the eminent sage in the netherworld remembered in his mind Vishnu, the god of gods, Janardana.
संस्मृते पुण्डरीकाक्षे निर्विषोऽभून्महोरगः । न प्राप च्यवनो दुःखं नीयमानो रसातलम्
Upon remembering the lotus-eyed one, the great serpent became devoid of poison; Cyavana suffered no distress as he was carried to the realm below.
द्विजिह्वेन मुनिस्त्यक्तो निर्विण्णेनातिशङ्किना । मां शपेत मुनिः कुद्धस्तापसोऽयं महानिति
The sage was released by the two-tongued serpent, who, anxious and fearful, thought, 'If this great ascetic, angered, curses me...'
चचार नागकन्याभिः पूजितो मुनिसत्तमः । विवेशाप्यथ नागानां दानवानां महत्पुरम्
Honored by the serpent maidens, the eminent sage wandered; and then entered the great city of the serpents and demons.
कदाचिद्भृगुपुत्रं तं विचरन्तं पुरोत्तमे । ददर्श दैत्यराजोऽसौ प्रह्लादो धर्मवत्सलः
Once, as the son of Bhrigu wandered in that splendid city, the righteous king of the demons, Prahlada, saw him.
दृष्ट्वा तं पूजयामास मुनिं दैत्यपतिस्तदा । पप्रच्छ कारणं किं ते पातालागमने वद
Seeing him, the lord of the demons honored the sage, and then asked, 'Tell me, what is the reason for your coming to the netherworld?'
प्रेषितोऽसि किमिन्द्रेण सत्यं ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम । दैत्यविद्वेषयुक्तेन मम राज्यदिदृक्षया
'Have you been sent by Indra, O best of twice-born? Speak the truth. Is it with the intent to harm the demons and seize my kingdom?'
च्यवन उवाच किं मे मघवता राजन् यदहं प्रेषितः पुनः । दूतकार्यं प्रकुर्वाणः प्राप्तवान्नगरे तव
Cyavana said: 'What concern have I with Maghavan, O king, that I should be sent again? Having come to fulfill a messenger's task, I have arrived in your city.'
विद्धि मां भृगुपुत्रं तं स्वनेत्रं धर्मतत्परम् । मा शङ्कां कुरु दैत्येन्द्र वासवप्रेषितस्य वै
'Know me as Cyavana, son of Bhrigu, steadfast in righteousness. Do not suspect, O lord of demons, that I have been sent by Vasava.'
स्नानार्थं नर्मदां प्राप्तः पुण्यतीर्थे नृपोत्तम । नद्यामेवावतीर्णोऽहं गृहीतश्च महाहिना
'For the purpose of bathing, I came to the holy Narmada, O best of kings. I descended into the river and was seized by a great serpent.'
जातोऽसौ निर्विषः सर्पो विष्णोः संस्मरणादिव । मुक्तोऽहं तेन नागेन प्रभावात्स्मरणस्य वै
'That serpent became devoid of poison, as if by the remembrance of Vishnu. I was released by that serpent, through the power of remembrance.'
अत्रागतेन राजेन्द्र मयाप्तं तव दर्शनम् । विष्णुभक्तोऽसि दैत्येन्द्र तद्भक्तं मां विचिन्तय
'Having arrived here, O king, I have obtained your audience. You are a devotee of Vishnu, O lord of demons; consider me also as his devotee.'
व्यास उवाच तन्निशम्य वचः श्लक्ष्णं हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः । पप्रच्छ परया प्रीत्या तीर्थानि विविधानि च
Vyasa said: Hearing those gentle words, the son of Hiranyakashipu asked, with great affection, about the various holy places.
प्रह्लाद उवाच पृथिव्यां कानि तीर्थानि पुण्यानि मुनिसत्तम । पाताले च तथाकाशे तानि नो वद विस्तरात्
Prahlada said: 'Which are the holy places on earth, O eminent sage? And likewise in the netherworld and in the sky? Tell us of them in detail.'
च्यवन उवाच मनोवाक्कायशुद्धानां राजंस्तीर्थं पदे पदे । तथा मलिनचित्तानां गङ्गापि कीकटाधिका
Cyavana said: 'For those pure in mind, speech, and body, every step is a holy place, O king; but for those of impure mind, even the Ganga is inferior to the region of Kikata.'