तस्यामथैते मुनयश्च विप्राः
Then those sages and brāhmaṇas—
रुद्रं बृहन्तं पुरुषं पुराणम्
Rudra, the great, the ancient Person—
दाविर्बभौ जन्मविनाशहेतु
He appeared as the cause of birth and destruction.
व्योमाभिधाना दिवि राजतीव
Shining in the sky, called 'Vyoma,' as if radiant.
मायामथारुह्य स देवदेवः
Having ascended Māyā, that Lord of gods—
मेतज्ज्ञात्वा ह्यमृतत्वं व्रजन्ति
Knowing this, indeed, they attain immortality.
वनौकसस्ते पुनरेव रुद्रम्
The forest-dwellers again worship Rudra—
देवदारुवने पूर्वं पुराणे यन्मया श्रुतम्
In the ancient Devadāru forest, as I heard before—
श्रावयेद् वा द्विजान् शान्तान् स याति परमां गतिम्
Or if he causes peaceful twice-borns to hear, he attains the supreme state.
नर्मदा लोकविख्याता तीर्थानामुत्तमा नदी
Narmadā, renowned in the world, is the foremost of holy rivers.
युधिष्ठिराय तु शुभं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
To Yudhiṣṭhira, indeed, she is auspicious and destroys all sins.
माहात्म्यं च प्रयागस्य तीर्थानि विविधानि च
And the greatness of Prayāga and its various sacred places—
तस्यास्त्विदानीं माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि सत्तम
Now, O noble one, you should recount her greatness.
तारयेत् सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
She delivers all beings, both immobile and mobile.
इदानीं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमनाः शुभम्
Now I shall declare that, O listen attentively to this auspicious tale.
ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्मदा
Whether in village or in forest, Narmadā is holy everywhere.
सद्यः पुनाति गाङ्गेयं दर्शनादेव नार्मदम्
She instantly purifies the Ganges-born merely by her sight, O Narmada.
पुण्या च त्रिषु लोकेषु रमणीया मनोरमा
She is holy in the three worlds, delightful and charming.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु राजेन्द्र सिद्धिं तु परमां गताः
Having performed austerities, O king, they attained the highest perfection.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्
By fasting for a single night, one delivers a hundred families.
विस्तारेण तु राजेन्द्र योजनद्वयमायता
In extent, O king, she stretches for two yojanas.
पर्वतस्य समन्तात् तु तिष्ठन्त्यमरकण्टके
Around the mountain, they stand at Amarakaṇṭaka.
सर्वहिंसानिवृत्तस्तु सर्वभूतहिते रतः
One who has ceased from all harm and delights in the welfare of all beings,
तस्य पुण्यफलं राजन् शृणुष्वावहितो नृप
Hear attentively, O King, the merit and reward that accrues to such a one.
सप्सरोगणसंकीर्णो दिव्यस्त्रीपरिवारितः
Surrounded by hosts of celestial nymphs, attended by divine women,
क्रीडते देवलोके तु दैवतैः सह मोदते
He sports in the world of the gods and rejoices together with the deities.
गृहं तु लभते ऽसौ वै नानारत्नसमन्वितम्
He obtains a dwelling adorned with various precious gems,
आलेख्यवाहनैः शुभ्रैर्दासीदाससमन्वितम्
Furnished with splendid painted vehicles and attended by male and female servants.
जीवेद् वर्षशतं साग्रं तत्र भोगसमन्वितः
He lives there, enjoying pleasures, for more than a hundred years.
अनिवर्तिका गतिस्तस्य पवनस्याम्बरे यथा
His progress is unreturning, like the wind in the sky.