चत्वारः कृष्णहंसाश्च तेषां नामानि मे शृणु । प्रयागः पुष्करश्चैव अर्घतीर्थमनुत्तमम्
There are four black swans; hear their names from me: Prayāga, Puṣkara, and the unsurpassed Arghatīrtha.
वाराणसी चतुर्थी च चत्वारः पापनाशनाः । ब्रह्महत्याभिभूतानि चत्वारि परिबभ्रमुः
Vārāṇasī is the fourth; these four destroy sin. Overcome by the sin of killing a Brahmin, the four wandered.
तीर्थान्येतानि दुःखेन तीर्थेषु च महामते । न गतं पातकं घोरं तेषां तु भ्रमतां सुत
These holy places, O wise one, with difficulty, while wandering among the holy places, the terrible sin did not depart from them, O son.
कुब्जायाः संगमे शुद्धा विमुक्ताः किल्बिषात्किल । तीर्थानामेव सर्वेषां पुण्यानामिह संमतः
At the confluence of Kubjā, they became pure, freed from sin indeed; among all the holy places, this one is considered the most meritorious.
राजा प्रयागः संजात इंद्रस्य पुरतः किल । तावद्गर्जंतु तीर्थानि यावद्रेवा न दृश्यते
King Prayāga was created before Indra, it is said; let the holy places roar until the Revā is seen.
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानां विनाशाय प्रतिष्ठिता । कपिलासंगमे पुण्ये रेवायाः संगमे तथा
Established for the destruction of sins such as Brahmin-killing, at the auspicious confluence of Kapilā and also at the confluence of the Revā.
मेघनादसमायोगे तथा चैवोरुसंगमे । महापुण्या महाधन्या रेवा सर्वत्रदुर्लभा
At the confluence with Meghanada, and likewise at the great union, the Reva is supremely holy, greatly blessed, and rare to be found everywhere.
सा च ॐकारे भृगुक्षेत्रे नर्मदाकुब्जसंगमे । दुःप्राप्या मानवै रेवा माहिष्मत्यां सुरोत्तमैः
There, at Omkara, in the land of Bhrigu, at the meeting of Narmada and Kubja, the Reva is difficult for mortals to attain, even for the best of gods at Mahishmati.
विटंकासंगमे पुण्या श्रीकंठे मंगलेश्वरे । सर्वत्र दुर्लभा रेवा सुरपुण्यसमाकुला
At the confluence with Vitanka, at Shrikantha, at Mangaleshvara, the Reva is holy and everywhere rare, filled with the merit of the gods.
तीर्थमाता महादेवी अघराशिविनाशिनी । उभयोः कूलयोर्मध्ये यत्र तत्र सुखी नरः
The mother of sacred fords, the great goddess, destroyer of sin and evil, between both her banks, wherever one may be, a person is happy.
अश्वमेधफलं भुंक्ते स्नानेनैकेन मानवः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्त्वया परिपृच्छितम्
By a single bath, a person enjoys the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice; all this has been told to you, as you have asked.
सर्वपापापहं पुण्यं गतिदं चापिशृण्वताम् । एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञ तृतीयं पुत्रमब्रवीत्
Hearing this, all sins are destroyed, merit is gained, and liberation is attained; thus having spoken, O wise one, he addressed his third son.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थे च्यवनचरित्रे द्विनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-second chapter, the story of Cyavana at the holy ford, in the narrative of Vena, in the section on the earth, in the glorious Padma Purana.
कुंजल उवाच- किं विज्वल त्वया दृष्टमपूर्वं भ्रमता महीम् । आश्चर्येण समायुक्तं तन्मे कथय सुव्रत
Kunjala said: Vijvala, what unprecedented wonder have you seen while wandering the earth? Tell me, O steadfast one, what marvelous thing you have encountered.
इतः प्रयासि कं देशमाहारार्थं तु सोद्यमी । यद्य दृष्टं त्वया चित्रं समाख्याहि सुतोत्तम
To which land are you now journeying with effort in search of food? If you have seen anything remarkable, tell me, dearest son.
विज्वल उवाच- अस्ति मेरुगिरेः पृष्ठे आनंदं नाम काननम् । दिव्यवृक्षैः समाकीर्णंफ लपुष्पमयैः सदा
Vijvala said: On the slope of Mount Meru, there is a forest called Ananda, always filled with celestial trees bearing fruit and flowers.
देववृंदैः समाकीर्णं मुनिसिद्धसमन्वितम् । अप्सरोभिः सुरूपाभिर्गंधर्वैः किन्नरोरगैः
It is crowded with hosts of gods, accompanied by sages and perfected beings, graced by beautiful apsarases, gandharvas, kinnaras, and serpents.
वापीकूपतडागैश्च नदीप्रस्रवणैस्तथा । आनंदकाननं पुण्यं दिव्यभावैः प्रभासते
With ponds, wells, and lakes, and likewise with river springs, the sacred Ananda forest shines with divine qualities.
विमानैः कोटिसंख्याभिर्हंसकुंदेंदुसन्निभैः । गीतकोलाहलैः रम्यैर्मेघध्वनिनिनादितम्
With millions of palaces, white as swans, jasmine, and the moon, resounding with delightful songs and the roar of clouds.
षट्पदानां निनादेन सर्वत्र मधुरायते । चंदनैश्चूतवृक्षैश्च चंपकैः पुष्पितैर्वृतम्
Everywhere is sweet with the humming of bees, adorned with sandalwood, mango trees, and blossoming champaka.
नानावृक्षैः प्रभात्येवमानंदवनमुत्तमम् । नानापक्षिनिनादेन बहुकोलाहलान्वितम्
Thus the supreme Ananda forest shines with various trees, filled with the sounds of many birds and much commotion.
एवमानंदनं दृष्टं मया तत्र सुशोभनम् । विमलं च सरस्तात शोभते सागरोपमम्
Thus I saw that beautiful Ananda forest there, and a pure lake, O father, shining like the ocean.
संपूर्णं पुण्यतोयेन पद्मसौगंधिकैः शुभैः । जलजैस्तु समाकीर्णं हंसकारंडवान्वितम्
Filled with holy water, with auspicious lotuses and fragrant lilies, crowded with aquatic creatures, and graced by swans and cranes.
एवमासीत्सरस्तस्य सुमध्ये काननस्य हि । देवगंधर्वसंबाधैर्मुनिवृंदैरलंकृतम्
So was that lake in the midst of the forest, adorned by hosts of gods, gandharvas, and groups of sages.
किंनरोरगगंधर्वैश्चारणैश्च सुशोभते । तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं वक्तुं तात न शक्यते
It shines with Kinnaras, Nagas, Gandharvas, and Charanas; what I saw there was wondrous, father, and cannot be spoken.
विमानेनापि दिव्येन कलशैरुपशोभते । छत्रदंडपताकाभीराजमानेन सत्तम
Even with a celestial vimana, it is adorned with pitchers; O noble one, it is resplendent with parasols, staffs, and banners.
सर्वभोगाविलेनापि गीयमानेथ किन्नरैः । गंधर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च शोभमानोथ सुव्रत
Enjoyments of every kind are mingled there, and Kinnaras sing; Gandharvas and Apsaras also add to its beauty, O virtuous one.
स्तूयमानो महासिद्धऋषिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः । रूपेणाप्रतिमो लोके न दृष्टस्तादृशः क्वचित्
Praised by great Siddhas and sages who know the truth, its form is unmatched in the world; nowhere has such a one been seen.
सर्वाभरणशोभांगो दिव्यमालाविशोभितः । महारत्नकृतामाला यस्योरसि विराजते
His body shines with all ornaments, adorned with divine garlands; a garland made of great jewels radiates upon his chest.
तत्समीपे स्थिता चैका नारी दृष्टा वरानना । हेमहारैश्च मुक्तानां वलयैः कंकणैर्युता
Near him stood a woman, beautiful-faced, seen there; she was adorned with golden and pearl bracelets and bangles.