महीरुहां श्चानुतटे पातयन्ति नदीरयाः
River currents also topple trees along their banks.
तत्राश्रीर्वृद्धता नित्यं मुर्खत्वं चापि जायते
There, prosperity always increases, and ignorance also arises.
नामसाम्यादहो चित्रं धत्तूरो ऽपिमदप्रदः
How strange, due to similarity of names, even the datura gives intoxication.
यथा सखाग्नेः पवनः पन्नगस्य यथा विषम्
Just as wind is friend to fire, and poison to the serpent.
यदि पश्यत्यामहितं स पश्यति न संशयः
If he sees what is harmful, he surely sees it—there is no doubt.
स वह्निः सागरान्सर्वान्भस्मसादकरोत्क्षणात्
That fire instantly reduced all the oceans to ashes.
अकालप्रलयं मत्वा चुक्रुशुः शोकलालसाः
Thinking that the end of the world had come prematurely, they cried out, overwhelmed by grief.
सागरं विविशुः शीघ्रं सतां कोपो हि दुःसहः
They quickly entered the ocean, for the wrath of the virtuous is truly unbearable.
देवदूत उवाचेदं सर्वं वृत्तं हि यक्षते
The divine messenger said this: 'All that has happened, the Yakṣas know.'
दैवेन शिक्षिता दुष्टा इत्युवाचाति हर्षितः
He said with great delight, 'The wicked have been disciplined by fate.'
अधर्मं कुरुते यस्तु स एव रिपुरिष्यते
He who acts unrighteously is himself regarded as an enemy.
तं रिपुं परमं विद्याच्छास्त्राणामेष निर्णयः
One should know such a person as the highest enemy; this is the conclusion of the scriptures.
दुर्वृत्तनिधनं यस्मात्सतामुत्साह कारणम्
Because the death of the wicked becomes a cause for the enthusiasm of the virtuous.
पौत्रं तमंशुमन्तं हि पुत्रत्वे कतवान्प्रभुः
The Lord made his grandson Aṃśumant his son.
युयोज सारविद्भूयो ह्यश्चानयनकर्मणि
He again appointed the wise Sāra as the one responsible for bringing him.
कपिलं तेजसांराशिं साष्टाङ्गंप्रणनामहा
They bowed with full prostration to Kapila, the mass of brilliance.
उवाच शान्तमनसं देवदेवं सनातनम्
He spoke to the eternal Lord of gods, whose mind was tranquil.
परोपकारनिरताः क्षमासारा हि साधवः
The virtuous are devoted to helping others and are rooted in forgiveness.
नहि संहरतेज्योत्स्नां चन्द्रश्चाण्डालवेश्मनः
Just as the moon does not withdraw its light from the house of a chandala.
ददाति परमां तुष्टिं भक्ष्यमाणो ऽमरैः शशी
The moon, even as it is consumed by the gods, bestows supreme satisfaction.
सौरभं कुरुते सर्वं तथैव सुजनोजनः
In the same way, a good person brings fragrance to all.
संजातं शासितुं लोकांस्त्वां विदुः पुरुषोत्तम
They know you, O Supreme Person, to have been born to rule the worlds.
नमो ब्रह्मण्यशीलाय ब्रह्मध्यानपराय च
Salutations to you, whose nature is devoted to Brahman, and who is intent on meditation upon Brahman.
वरं वरय चेत्याह प्रसन्नो ऽस्मि तवानघ
He said, 'Choose a boon,' for I am pleased with you, O sinless one.
प्रापयास्मत्पितॄन्ब्राह्मं लोकमित्यभ्यभाषत
He said, 'Lead our ancestors to the world of Brahman.'
गङ्गामानीय पौत्रस्ते नयिष्यति पितॄन्दिवम्
By bringing the Ganga, your grandson will guide the ancestors to heaven.
कृत्वैतान्धूतपापान्वै नयिष्यति परं पदम्
After purifying these ancestors from their sins, he will lead them to the supreme state.
पितामहान्तिकं प्राप्य साश्वं वृत्तं न्यवेदयत्
Having reached his grandfather, he reported all that had happened.
विधाय तपसा विष्णुमाराध्यापपदंहरेः
By performing austerities and worshipping Vishnu, he attained the sinless state of Hari.
तस्माद्भगीरथो जातो यो गङ्गामानयद्दिवः
From him was born Bhagiratha, who brought the Ganga down from heaven.