धर्मं सृजति धर्मात्मा त्रिविधेनैव कर्मणा । तस्य धर्मः प्रसन्नात्मा पुण्यमेवं तु प्रापयेत्
The righteous person produces virtue through three kinds of actions; his virtue, with a clear mind, leads him to merit in this way.
यं यं चिंतयते प्राज्ञस्तं तं प्राप्नोति दुर्लभम् । सोमशर्मोवाच- कीदृङ्मूर्तिस्तु धर्मस्य कान्यंगानि च भामिनि
Whatever the wise person thinks of, he attains, even if it is difficult. Somaśarma said: What is the form of virtue, and what are its limbs, O beautiful one?
प्रीत्या कथय मे कांते श्रोतुं श्रद्धा प्रवर्तते । सुमनोवाच- लोके धर्मस्य वै मूर्तिः कैर्दृष्टा न द्विजोत्तम
Tell me with affection, beloved, for hearing with faith is inspired. Sumanā said: In the world, the form of virtue has not been seen by anyone, O best of twice-born.
अदृश्यवर्त्मा सत्यात्मा न दृष्टो देवदानवैः । अत्रिवंशे समुत्पन्नो अनसूयात्मजो द्विजः
Its path is unseen, its essence is truth; it is not seen by gods or demons. In the lineage of Atri, the son of Anasūyā, a twice-born sage, was born.
तेन दृष्टो महाधर्मो दत्तात्रेयेण वै सदा । द्वावेतौ तु महात्मानौ कुर्वाणौ तप उत्तमम्
By him, the great virtue was seen—by Dattātreya always; these two great souls performed supreme austerity.
धर्मेण वर्तमानौ तौ तपसा च बलेन च । इंद्राधिकेन रूपेण प्रशस्तेन भविष्यतः
They lived by virtue, by austerity, and by strength; with a form more splendid than Indra, they became renowned.
दशवर्षसहस्रं तौ यावत्तु वनसंस्थितौ । वायुभक्षौ निराहारौ संजातौ शुभदर्शनौ
For ten thousand years, they dwelled in the forest; subsisting on air, without food, they became radiant in appearance.
दशवर्षसहस्रं तु तावत्कालं तपोर्जितम् । सुसाध्यमानयोश्चैव तत्र धर्मः प्रदृश्यते
For ten thousand years, during that time, they achieved austerity; as they accomplished it with ease, there virtue was made manifest.
पंचाग्निः साध्यते द्वाभ्यां तावत्कालं द्विजोत्तम । त्रिकालं साधितं तावन्निराहारं कृतं तथा
The five-fire rite was accomplished by the two for that length of time, O best of twice-born; thrice daily they practiced, and likewise remained without food.
जलमध्ये स्थितौ तावद्दत्तात्रेयो यतिस्तथा । दुर्वासास्तु मुनिश्रेष्ठस्तपसा चैव कर्षितः
Standing in water, the two, along with Dattātreya the ascetic, and Durvāsas, the foremost sage, worn out by austerity.
धर्मं प्रति स धर्मात्मा चुक्रोध मुनिपुंगवः । क्रुद्धे सति महाभाग तस्मिन्मुनिवरे तदा
That righteous soul, the eminent sage, became angry toward virtue; when that great one, the best of sages, was enraged.
अथ धर्मः समायातः स्वरूपेण च वै तदा । ब्रह्मचर्यादिभिर्युक्तस्तपोभिश्च स बुद्धिमान्
Then virtue arrived in its own form at that time, endowed with celibacy and other qualities, and with austerity, wise.
सत्यं ब्राह्मणरूपेण ब्रह्मचर्यं तथैव च । तपस्तु द्विजवर्योस्ति दमः प्राज्ञो द्विजोत्तमः
Truth in the form of a Brahmin, likewise celibacy; austerity is among the foremost twice-born, and self-restraint is the mark of the wise, O best of the twice-born.
नियमस्तु महाप्राज्ञो दानमेव तथैव च । अग्निहोत्रिस्वरूपेण ह्यात्रेयं हि समागताः
Discipline is embodied as the greatly wise, and likewise charity; in the form of one who performs the Agnihotra, all these have assembled here, O descendant of Atri.
क्षमा शांतिस्तथा लज्जा चाहिंसा च ह्यकल्पना । एताः सर्वाः समायाताः स्त्रीरूपास्तु द्विजोत्तम
Patience, tranquility, modesty, nonviolence, and absence of deceit—all these have come together, taking the form of women, O best of the twice-born.
बुद्धिः प्रज्ञा दया श्रद्धा मेधा सत्कृति शांतयः । पंचयज्ञास्तथा पुण्याः सांगा वेदास्तु ते तदा
Intellect, discernment, compassion, faith, intelligence, good conduct, tranquility, the five sacred rites, and the meritorious Vedas with their limbs—these are present here.
स्वस्वरूपधराश्चैव ते सर्वे सिद्धिमागताः । अग्न्याधानादयः पुण्या अश्वमेधादयस्तथा
All these, bearing their own forms, have attained perfection; the meritorious rites beginning with the establishment of the sacred fire, and also the great sacrifices like the Ashvamedha.
रूपलावण्यसंयुक्ताः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः । दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरा दिव्यगंधानुलेपनाः
Endowed with beauty and charm, adorned with all ornaments, wearing divine garlands and garments, and anointed with heavenly fragrances.
किरीटकुंडलोपेता दिव्याभरणभूषिताः । दीप्तिमंतः सुरूपास्ते तेजोज्वालाभिरावृताः
Crowned and wearing earrings, adorned with divine ornaments, radiant and beautiful, they are surrounded by blazing splendor.
एवं धर्मः समायातः परिवारसमन्वितः । यत्र तिष्ठति दुर्वासाः क्रोधनः कालवत्तथा
Thus, Dharma has arrived, accompanied by his retinue, to the place where Durvasa, wrathful and like Time itself, resides.
धर्म उवाच- कस्मात्कोपः कृतो विप्र भवांस्तपस्समन्वितः । क्रोधो हि नाशयेच्छ्रेयस्तप एव न संशयः
Dharma said: Why have you become angry, O sage endowed with austerity? For indeed, anger destroys merit, and so does austerity—there is no doubt.
सर्वनाशकरस्तस्मात्क्रोधं तत्र विवर्जयेत् । स्वस्थो भव द्विजश्रेष्ठ उत्कृष्टं तपसः फलम्
Since anger brings about total destruction, it should be abandoned there; remain composed, O best of the twice-born, for the highest fruit of austerity.
दुर्वासा उवाच- भवान्को हि समायात एतैर्द्विजवरैः सह । सप्त नार्यः प्रतिष्ठंति सुरूपाः समलंकृताः
Durvasa said: Who are you, who has arrived here with these foremost twice-born? Seven women, beautiful and adorned, stand here.
कथयस्व ममाग्रे त्वं विस्तरेण महामते । धर्म उवाच- अयं ब्राह्मणरूपेण सर्वतेजः समन्वितः
Tell me in detail before me, O greatly wise one. Dharma said: This one, in the form of a Brahmin, is endowed with all splendor.
दंडहस्तः सुप्रसन्नः कमंडलुधरस्तथा । तवाग्रे ब्रह्मचर्योयं सोयं पश्य समागतः
Holding a staff, serene, and carrying a water-pot, before you stands Brahmacharya—see, he has arrived.
अन्यं पश्यस्व वै त्वं च दीप्तिमंतं द्विजोत्तम । कपिलं पिंगलाक्षं च सत्यमेनं द्विजोत्तम
Behold another, O best of the twice-born, radiant, Kapila, with tawny eyes—this is Truth, O best of the twice-born.
तादृशं पश्य धर्मात्मन्वैश्वदेवसमप्रभम् । यत्तपो हि त्वया विप्र सर्वदेवसमाश्रितम्
See such a one, devoted to Dharma, shining like the Vaisvadeva rite; the austerity you have performed, O sage, is supported by all the gods.
एतं पश्य महाभाग तव पार्श्वसमागतम् । प्रसन्नवाग्दीप्तियुक्तः सर्वजीवदयापरः
Behold this one, O highly fortunate, who has come to your side; endowed with gracious speech and radiance, devoted to compassion for all beings.
दम एव तथायं ते यः पोषयति सर्वदा । जटिलः कर्कशः पिंगो ह्यतितीव्रो महाप्रभुः
This is self-restraint, who always sustains you; matted-haired, rough, tawny, exceedingly intense, and greatly powerful.
नाशको हि स पापानां खड्गहस्तो द्विजोत्तम । अभिशांतो महापुण्यो नित्यक्रियासमन्वितः
He is the destroyer of sins, holding a sword, O best of the twice-born; exceedingly tranquil, highly meritorious, and ever engaged in sacred acts.