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.'
प्रथमं चेन्मनः शुद्धं जातं पापविवर्जितम् । तदा तीर्थानि सर्वाणि पावनानि भवन्ति वै
If first the mind becomes pure, free from sin, then indeed all the sacred places become purifying.
गङ्गातीरे हि सर्वत्र वसन्ति नगराणि च । व्रजाश्चैवाकरा ग्रामाः सर्वे खेटास्तथापरे
On the banks of the Ganges, everywhere, there are cities, settlements, villages, and other hamlets.
निषादानां निवासाश्च कैवर्तानां तथापरे । हूणबङ्गखसानां च म्लेच्छानां दैत्यसत्तम
There are also dwellings of the Niṣādas, Kaivartas, Hūṇas, Baṅgas, Khasas, Mlecchas, and others, O best of Daityas.
पिबन्ति सर्वदा गाङ्गं जलं ब्रह्मोपमं सदा । स्नानं कुर्वन्ति दैत्येन्द्र त्रिकालं स्वेच्छया जनाः
They always drink the water of the Ganges, which is ever like Brahman; people bathe there at their will, three times a day, O lord of Daityas.
तत्रैकोऽपि विशुद्धात्मा न भवत्येव मारिष । किं फलं तर्हि तीर्थस्य विषयोपहतात्मसु
Yet not even one person there becomes pure in soul, O Māriṣa; what then is the fruit of the sacred place for those whose minds are overcome by sense-objects?
कारणं मन एवात्र नान्यद्राजन्विचिन्तय । मनःशुद्धिं प्रकर्तव्या सततं शुद्धिमिच्छता
Here, the mind alone is the cause—nothing else, O King, consider this; one who desires purity must always purify the mind.
तीर्थवासी महापापी भवेत्तत्रात्मवञ्चनात् । तत्रैवाचरितं पापमानन्त्याय प्रकल्पते
A great sinner dwelling at a sacred place, through self-deception, becomes so; the sin committed there leads to endless suffering.
यथेन्द्रवारुणं पक्वं मिष्टं नैवोपजायते । भावदुष्टस्तथा तीर्थे कोटिस्तातो न शुध्यति
Just as a ripe, sweet fruit does not arise from a tree watered with brine, so too, one with a corrupt disposition is not purified at a sacred place, even after a crore of visits, dear one.
प्रथमं मनसः शुद्धिः कर्तव्या शुभमिच्छता । शुद्धे मनसि द्रव्यस्य शुद्धिर्भवति नान्यथा
First, one who desires auspiciousness must purify the mind; when the mind is pure, the substance becomes pure—never otherwise.
तथैवाचारशुद्धिः स्यात्ततस्तीर्थं प्रसिध्यति । अन्यथा तु कृतं सर्वं व्यर्थं भवति तत्क्षणात्
Likewise, purity of conduct should be maintained; then the sacred place becomes effective. Otherwise, whatever is done becomes fruitless in that very moment.