दीयमानं च पश्यंति तेपि पूता भवंति हि। दर्शनादेव ते मुक्ता भवंन्त्येव न संशयः
Those who witness the giving also become purified; by merely seeing, they are liberated, without doubt.
या भीमद्वादशी प्रोक्ता स्वर्णं तोयं मृगाजिनं। एतानि कृत्वा पश्यन्तु दृष्टैरेतैः क्रियाफलं
That terrible Dvadashi is prescribed, with gold, water, and deer skin; having performed these, let them see the fruit of the rite with their own eyes.
अयत्नादेव लभ्येत कर्तुश्चैव सलोकता। सदा गावः प्रणम्याश्च मंत्रेणानेन पार्थिव
It is easily obtained, and the doer attains the same world; cows should always be saluted with this mantra, O king.
नमो गोभ्यः श्रीमतीभ्यः सौरभेयीभ्य एव च। नमो ब्रह्मसुताभ्यश्च पवित्राभ्यो नमोनमः
Salutations to the cows, to the splendid ones, and to those of the Saurabhi line; salutations again and again to the daughters of Brahma, the pure ones.
मंत्रस्य चास्य स्मरणाद्गोदानफलमाप्नुयात्। तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र पुष्करे तीर्थ उत्तमे
By remembering this mantra, one attains the fruit of gifting a cow; therefore, O king, you too at the supreme holy place of Pushkara—
कार्तिक्यां तु विशेषेण गोदानफलमाप्स्यसि। यत्किंचिद्विद्यते पापं स्त्रियो वा पुरुषस्य वा
—especially in Kartika, will obtain the fruit of gifting a cow; whatever sin exists, whether of women or men—
पुष्करे स्नानमात्रेण तदशेषं प्रणश्यति। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि आसमुद्रात्तु भारत
—is completely destroyed by merely bathing at Pushkara; all the holy places on earth, O Bharata, up to the ocean—
पुष्करे तान्युपायांति कार्तिक्यां तु विशेषतः
—come together at Pushkara, especially in Kartika.
भीष्म उवाच। उक्तं भगवता सर्वं पुराणाश्रयसंयुतं। तथा श्वेतेन ब्रह्मांडं गुरवे प्रतिपादितं
Bhishma said: All this has been spoken by the Blessed One, accompanied by the authority of the Puranas; thus the golden egg was given to the teacher by Shveta.
श्रुत्वैतत्कौतुकं जातं यथा तेनास्थिलेहनं। कृतं क्षुधापनोदार्थे अन्नदानाद्विना द्विज
Hearing this, I became curious: how did he perform the licking of bones to remove hunger, without giving food, O twice-born?
तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पृथिव्यां ये च पार्थिवाः। अन्नदानाद्दिवं प्राप्ताः क्रतवश्चान्नमूलकाः
Therefore I wish to hear about those kings on earth who, by giving food, attained heaven, and about the sacrifices based on food.
कथं तस्य मतिर्नष्टा श्वेतस्य च महात्मनः। न दत्तं तेनान्नदानमृषिभिर्वा न दर्शितम्
How was the mind of that great-souled Shveta lost? Why did he not give food, nor was it shown by the sages?
अहो माहात्म्यमन्नस्य इह दत्तस्य यत्फलम्। परत्र भुज्यते पुंभिः स्वर्गश्चाक्षयतां व्रजेत्
Oh, the greatness of food given here! The fruit of such an offering is enjoyed by people in the next world, and heaven attains imperishability.
अन्नदानं परं विप्राः कीर्तयंति सदोत्थिताः। अन्नदानात्सुरेद्रेण त्रैलोक्यमिह भुज्यते
Food donation is supreme, O Brahmins, as those who are always diligent proclaim; by giving food, Indra enjoys the three worlds here.
शतक्रतुरिति प्रोक्तः सर्वैरेव द्विजोत्तमैः। तेनावस्थां तत्सदृशीं प्राप्तवांस्त्रिदशेश्वरः
Śatakratu is thus named by all eminent twice-born ones; by that, the lord of the gods attained a state equal to it.
दानदेवगतः स्वर्गं त्वत्तः सर्वं श्रुतं मया। अपरं च पुरावृत्तं निवृत्तं यदि कर्हिचित्
Having reached heaven through the deity of charity, I have heard everything from you; and if there is anything else from ancient times that has ceased, tell me whenever.
भूयोपि श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वद महामते। पुलस्त्य उवाच। एतदाख्यानकं पूर्वमगस्त्येन महात्मना
I wish to hear more, O wise one; tell me that. Pulastya said: This story was formerly narrated by the great-souled Agastya.
रामाय कथितं राजंस्तत्ते वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम्। भीष्म उवाच। कस्मिन्वंशे समुत्पन्नो रामोऽसौ नृपसत्तमः
It was told to Rāma, O king; I will now relate it to you. Bhīṣma said: In which lineage was that Rāma, best among kings, born?
यस्यागस्त्येन कथितश्चेतिहासः पुरातनः। पुलस्त्य उवाच। रघुवंशे समुत्पन्नो रामो नाम महाबलः
About whom Agastya narrated the ancient history? Pulastya said: Rāma, of great strength, was born in the Raghu lineage.
देवकार्यं कृतं तेन लंकायां रावणो हतः। पृथिवीं राज्यसंस्थस्य ऋषयोऽभ्यागता गृहे
He accomplished the task of the gods; Rāvaṇa was slain in Laṅkā. When he was established as ruler of the earth, the sages came to his house.
प्राप्तास्ते तु महात्मानो राघवस्य निवेशनम्। प्रतीहारस्ततो राममगस्त्यवचनाद्द्रुतम्
Those great souls arrived at the residence of Rāghava. Then, at Agastya's command, the doorkeeper quickly informed Rāma.
आवेदयामास ऋषीन्प्राप्तास्तांश्च त्वरान्वितः। दृष्ट्वा रामं द्वारपालः पूर्णचंद्रमिवोदितम्
He announced the arrival of the sages, hastening to do so. Seeing Rāma, the doorkeeper beheld him like the full moon risen.
कौसल्यासुत भद्रं ते सुप्रभाताद्य शर्वरी। द्रष्टुमभ्युदयं तेद्य सम्प्राप्तो रघुनंदन
Son of Kausalyā, may auspiciousness be yours; today is a bright morning. The Raghunandana has come to see your rising.
अगस्त्यो मुनिभिः सार्धं द्वारि तिष्ठति ते नृप। श्रुत्वा प्राप्तान्मुनीन्रामस्तान्भास्करसमद्युतीन्
Agastya, together with the sages, stands at your door, O king. Hearing of the arrival of the sages, Rāma, radiant like the sun, received them.
प्राह वाक्यं तदा द्वास्थं प्रवेशय त्वरान्वितः। किमर्थं तु त्वया द्वारि निरुद्धा मुनिसत्तमाः
Then he spoke to the doorkeeper: Admit them quickly. Why have you kept the eminent sages waiting at the door?
रामवाक्यान्मुनींस्तांस्तु प्रावेशयद्यथासुखम्। दृष्ट्वा तु तान्मुनींन्प्राप्तान्प्रत्युवाच कृतांजलि
At Rāma's command, the doorkeeper admitted those sages comfortably. Seeing the sages arrived, he addressed them with joined palms.
रामोऽभिवाद्य प्रणत आसनेषु न्यवेशयत्। ते तु कांचनचित्रेषु स्वास्तीर्णेषु सुखेषु च
Rāma, having bowed respectfully, seated them on chairs. They sat on golden, beautifully spread, comfortable seats.
कुशोत्तरेषु चासीनाः समंतान्मुनिपुंगवाः। पाद्यमाचमनीयं च ददौ चार्घ्यं पुरोहितः
The foremost sages sat on seats covered with kusha grass all around. The priest gave them water for washing feet, for sipping, and the arghya offering.
रामेण कुशलं पृष्टा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते। महर्षयो वेदविद इदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Rāma inquired about their well-being, and all those sages, great seers and knowers of the Vedas, spoke these words.
कुशलं ते महाबाहो सर्वत्र रघुनंदन। त्वां तु दिष्ट्या कुशलिनं पश्यामो हतविद्विषम्
All is well with you, mighty-armed Raghunandana. By good fortune, we see you safe, having vanquished your enemies.