तत्र द्विजान्पूजयित्वान्नपान रात्रौ तत्त्वं श्रावयामास देवी । एवं यात्रां ये प्रकुर्वन्ति नित्यं तेषां यात्रां सफलां प्राहुरार्याः ॥ ३,२३.
There, after honoring Brahmins with food and drink, at night the lady made them hear the truth. Those who always undertake pilgrimage in this way, the wise declare their journey fruitful.
विना दयां तीर्थयात्रा खगेन्द्रव्यर्थेत्येवं वीन्द्र चाहुर्महान्तः । दिवा रात्रौ ये न शृण्वन्ति दिव्यां हरेः कथां तीर्थमार्गे खगेन्द्र ॥ ३,२३.
Without compassion, pilgrimage is fruitless, O king of birds; so declare the great ones, O Indra among birds. Those who do not listen to the divine stories of Hari by day or night on the pilgrimage path, O king of birds—
व्यर्थंव्यर्थं तस्य चाहुर्गतं वै अश्वादीनां वाहनानां च विद्धि । अश्वादीनामपराधं वदस्व गङ्गादीनां दर्शनात्पापनाशः ॥ ३,२३.
For them, their journey is declared utterly fruitless; know this also for those who use horses and other vehicles. Speak of the fault of horses and others; by seeing the Ganga and other holy rivers, sin is destroyed.
क्षेत्रस्थविष्णोर्दर्शनात्पापनाशो मार्जारस्याप्यपराधं वदस्व । क्षेत्रस्थविष्णोः पूजनात्पापनाशः पूजावतामपराधं वदस्व ॥ ३,२३.
By seeing Vishnu in the holy place, sin is destroyed; speak also of the fault of cats. By worshipping Vishnu in the holy place, sin is destroyed; speak also of the fault of those who perform worship.
जपादीनां कुर्वतां पापनाशो विष्णोर्ध्यानात्सद्य एवाघनाशः । अनुसंधानाद्रहितं सर्वमेव कृतं व्यर्थमेवेति चाहुः ॥ ३,२३.
For those who perform japa and other practices, sin is destroyed; by meditating on Vishnu, sin is instantly removed. All acts done without proper contemplation are declared fruitless.
अतो हरेः पापविनाशिनीं कथां श्रुत्वा विष्णोर्भक्तिमान्स्यात्खगेन्द्र । दृष्ट्वादृष्ट्वा हरिपादाङ्कितं च स्मृत्वास्मृत्वा भक्तिमान्स्यात्खगेन्द्र ॥ ३,२३.
Therefore, hearing the sin-destroying stories of Hari, one becomes devoted to Vishnu, O king of birds. Seeing or not seeing the marks of Hari's feet, remembering or not remembering, one becomes devoted, O king of birds.
पित्रा साकं कन्यका सापि वीन्द्र शेषाचलस्थं श्रीनिवासं च द्रष्टुम् । जगाम सा मार्गमध्ये हरिं च सा चिन्तयामास रमापतिं च ॥ ३,२३.
Together with her father, the maiden, O Indra among birds, went to see Srinivasa dwelling on Shesha mountain. On the way, she contemplated Hari and the Lord of Lakshmi.
कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य वक्षः श्रीवत्सरत्नैर्भूषितं विस्तृतं च । कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य तुन्दं वलित्रयेणाङ्कितं सुंदरं च ॥ ३,२३.
'When shall I see the broad chest of Srinivasa adorned with the Srivatsa and jewels? When shall I see the beautiful belly of Srinivasa marked with three folds?'
कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य कण्ठं महर्लोकस्याश्रयं कंबुतुल्यम् । कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य नाभिं सदान्तरिक्षस्याश्रयं वै सुपूर्णम् ॥ ३,२३.
When will I behold the neck of Śrīnivāsa, the refuge of the world of Maharloka, dark as a cloud? When will I behold the navel of Śrīnivāsa, ever the refuge of the realm of the sky, perfectly full?
कदा द्रक्ष्ये वदनं वै मुरारेर्जनलोकस्याश्रयं सर्वदैव ॥ ३,२३.
When will I behold the face of Mura's enemy, always the refuge of Janaloka?
शिरः कदा श्रीनिवासस्य द्रक्ष्ये सत्यस्य लोकस्याश्रयं सर्वदैव । कटिं कदा श्रीनिवासस्य द्रक्ष्ये भूर्लोकस्याश्रयं सर्वदैव ॥ ३,२३.
When will I behold the head of Śrīnivāsa, always the refuge of the world of Satya? When will I behold the waist of Śrīnivāsa, always the refuge of the world of Bhū?
कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य चोरु तलातलस्याश्रयं सर्वदैव । कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य जानु सुकोमलं सुतलस्याश्रयं च ॥ ३,२३.
When will I behold the thighs of Śrīnivāsa, always the refuge of Talātala? When will I behold the tender knees of Śrīnivāsa, the refuge of Sutala?
कदा द्रक्ष्ये श्रीनिवासस्य जङ्घे रसातलस्याश्रयेः सर्वदैव । कदा द्रक्ष्ये पादतलं हरेश्च पाताललोकस्याश्रयं सर्वदैव ॥ ३,२३.
When will I behold the shanks of Śrīnivāsa, always the refuge of Rasātala? When will I behold the soles of Hari's feet, always the refuge of Pātālaloka?
इत्थं मार्गे चिन्तयन्ती च देवी शेषाचले शेषदेवं ददर्श । फणैः सहस्रैः सुविराजमानं नानाद्रुमैर्वानरैर्वानरीभिः ॥ ३,२३.
Thus, as she pondered along the path, the goddess saw the Lord of Śeṣa on Śeṣācala, splendid with a thousand hoods, surrounded by various trees, monkeys, and she-monkeys.
अनन्त जन्मार्जितपुण्यसंचयान्मयाद्य दृष्टः परमाचलो हि । तद्दर्शनाद्वाष्पकलाकुलेक्षणा सद्यः समुत्थाय ननाम मूर्ध्ना ॥ ३,२३.
Today, by the accumulation of merit earned through countless births, I have seen the supreme mountain. At that sight, her eyes filled with tears, and she immediately rose and bowed her head.
मुखं च दृष्ट्वा नमनं च कार्यं पृष्ठादिभागे नमनं न कार्यम् । सापि द्विषट्कं नमनं च चक्रे शालग्रामं स्थापयित्वा पुरोऽस्य ॥ ३,२३.
Having seen the face, one should bow; bowing to the back and other parts is not proper. She performed the twelve-fold prostration, placing the Śālagrāma stone before him.
इत्थं कार्यं वैष्णवैः पर्वतस्य त्वं वैष्णवैर्विपरीतं च कार्यम् । मध्वान्तःस्थः पर्वताग्रेस्ति नित्यं रमाब्रह्माद्यैः पूजितः श्रीनिवासः ॥ ३,२३.
Thus should the Vaiṣṇavas act on the mountain; you must not act contrary to the Vaiṣṇavas. Śrīnivāsa dwells eternally within the mountain's summit, worshipped by Ramā, Brahmā, and others.
सुसत्तमं परमं श्रीनिवासं द्रक्ष्येऽथाहं ह्यारुरुक्षेऽचलञ्च । इत्येवमुक्त्वा कपिलाख्यतीर्थे स्थानं चक्रे सा स्वपित्रा सहैव ॥ ३,२३.
I shall behold Śrīnivāsa, the supremely pure and highest, and now I will ascend the mountain. Having spoken thus, at the Kapila-named sacred place, she established her abode together with her father.
अत्रैवास्ते श्रीनिवासो हरिस्तु द्रव्येण रूपेण न चान्यथेति । आदौ स्नात्वा मुण्डनं तत्र कृत्वा तीर्थश्राद्धं कारयित्वा सुतीर्थे ॥ ३,२३.
Here Śrīnivāsa, Hari, abides in substance and form, not otherwise. First bathing and shaving her head there, she performed the ancestral rites at the holy place.
गोभूहिरण्यादिसमस्तदानं दत्त्वा शैलं चारुरोहाथ साध्वी । शालग्रामं स्थापयित्वा स चाग्रे पुनः प्रणामं सापि चक्रे सुभक्त्या ॥ ३,२३.
Giving all gifts—cows, land, gold, and others—she then ascended the mountain. Placing the Śālagrāma stone ahead, she again made reverent prostration with great devotion.
सोपानानां शतपर्यन्तमेवमारुह्य सा ह्युपविष्टा तु तत्र । शुश्राव सा भागवतं पुराणं शुश्राव वै वेङ्कटाद्रेः प्रशंसाम् ॥ ३,२३.
Ascending thus, up to a hundred steps, she sat there. She listened to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and heard the praise of Veṅkaṭādri.
जैगीषव्याद्गुरुपादात्सुभक्त्या सुश्राव तत्त्वं वेङ्कटाद्रेश्च सर्वम् ॥ ३,२३.
With deep devotion, she heard the truth of Veṅkaṭādri in its entirety from the feet of her guru, Jaigīṣavya.
श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २४ जैगीषव्य उवाच । कन्ये शृणु त्वं वेङ्कटाख्याचलस्य स्मेराननां पुण्यमांरोहणेऽस्य । श्रीगीतायाः पठनं चैव कुर्वन्नारोहणं कुरुते सर्वलोकः ॥ ३,२४.
Jaigīṣavya said: O maiden, listen to the merit of ascending the mountain called Veṅkaṭa with a smiling face. Reciting the holy Gītā while ascending, one attains all worlds.
पदेपदे श्रीनिवासश्च देवस्त्वलं ह्यलं प्रीयते भक्तवर्गः । तं प्रीणयन्मोक्षमायान्ति सर्वे हरौ तुष्टे किमलभ्यं च कन्ये ॥ ३,२४.
At every step, the god Śrīnivāsa is greatly pleased with the devotees. Pleasing him, all attain liberation; when Hari is satisfied, what is unattainable, O maiden?
सोपानदेशे यः पुराणं शृणोति तदा कृता सर्वतीर्थादियात्रा । तदा दिवा प्रस्तुवन्तीह मार्गे सदा हरिं श्रीनिवासं गुरुं च ॥ ३,२४.
Whoever listens to the Purāṇa at the place of the steps, has thereby completed the pilgrimage to all holy places. During the day, praising Hari, Śrīnivāsa, and the guru along the path.
सोपानानां महिमानं च श्रुत्वा शालग्रामं स्थापयित्वा च तत्र । नमस्कृत्वा पुनरेवापि सा तु सोपानानि त्वारुरोहाथ साध्वी ॥ ३,२४.
Having heard the glory of the steps and placed the Śālagrāma stone there, bowing again, she, the virtuous one, ascended the steps.
सोपानानां वीन्द्र चारोहणेन त्ववैष्णवानां हरितोषो न चैव । तेनैव तेषां साधनं भूय एव तमस्यन्धे पातयितुं खगेन्द्र ॥ ३,२४.
O king of birds, ascending the steps of the Vaiṣṇava shrines does not please Hari. By this very act, their merit increases, but again, it casts them into deep darkness.
स्थलेस्थले एवमेवापि कार्यं जैगीषव्यं पुनरेवाह देवी । कन्योवाच । जैगीषव्यः श्रीनिवासो हरिस्तु ब्रह्मादीनां दृश्यते श्रीनिवासः ॥ ३,२४.
In each place, likewise, the Jaigīṣavya rite must be performed, the goddess again spoke. The maiden said: Jaigīṣavya, Śrīnivāsa Hari is visible to Brahmā and the others; Śrīnivāsa is manifest.
जैगीषव्य कृपया त्वं वदस्व जैगीषव्यो ह्येवमुक्तो हरिं तु । उवाच कन्यां सोमपुत्रीं सतीं च ब्रह्मादीनां दृश्यते श्रीनिवासः ॥ ३,२४.
Jaigīṣavya, kindly speak; thus addressed, Jaigīṣavya spoke to Hari. The maiden, daughter of Soma, and Satī, he said: Śrīnivāsa is visible to Brahmā and the others.
अनन्तरूपोधिककान्तकान्तिमान्रूद्रादीनां दृश्यते वेङ्कटेशः । ससूर्यलक्षाधिककान्तकान्तितो रुद्रादीनां दृश्यते श्रीनिवासः ॥ ३,२४.
Veṅkaṭeśa, whose beauty surpasses countless forms, is seen by Rudra and the others. Śrīnivāsa, whose radiance exceeds that of a hundred thousand suns, is seen by Rudra and the others.