तत्र वै वायवो वांति दिग्भ्यः सर्वाभ्य एव च । असंबंधा मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तान्निगृह्णंति ते द्विजाः
There, indeed, winds blow from all directions, O best of sages; those Brahmins restrain them, though they are unconnected.
पुष्करैः पद्मसंकाशैर्विकर्षंति महाप्रभैः । शतधा पुनरेवाशु ते तान्मुंचंति नित्यशः
With lotuses resembling lotuses, of great brilliance, they draw them in; yet, again and again, they swiftly release them a hundredfold, constantly.
श्वसद्भिर्मुखनासाभ्यां दिग्गजैरिव मारुताः । आगच्छंति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वै प्रजाः
Like the winds from the mouths and noses of the directional elephants, O best of Brahmins, they come; there, indeed, the people remain.
यथोद्दिष्टं मया प्रोक्तं सनिर्माणमिदं जगत् । श्रुत्वेदं पृथिवीमानं पुण्यदं च मनोनुगम्
Thus, as described by me, this world with its forms has been spoken; having heard this, the earth and its measure, which brings merit and pleases the mind.
श्रीमांस्तरति विप्रेंद्राः सिद्धार्थः साधुसंमतः । आयुर्बलं च कीर्त्तिश्च तस्य तेजश्च वर्द्धते
O illustrious ones, the blessed person prospers, esteemed by the virtuous; his lifespan, strength, fame, and brilliance all increase.
यः शृणोति समाख्यातुं पर्वणीदं धृतव्रतः । प्रीयंते पितरस्तस्य तथैव च पितामहाः
He who listens to this account with steadfast vows on the festival day, his ancestors and forefathers are pleased with him.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। पृथिव्या हि परीमाणं संस्थानं सरितस्तथा । त्वत्तः श्रुत्वा महाभाग अमृतं पीतमेव च
The sages said: O most fortunate one, from you we have heard about the extent and form of the earth, the rivers, and also the drinking of the nectar.
तत्र भूमौ च तीर्थानि पावनानीति नः श्रुतम् । आचक्ष्व तानि सर्वाणि यथाफलकराणि च । सविशेषं महाप्राज्ञ श्रोतुमिच्छामहे तव
We have heard that there are holy places on the earth that purify; please describe them all to us, along with their specific fruits. O wise one, we wish to hear from you in detail.
सूत उवाच-। धन्यं पुण्यं महाख्यानं पृष्टमेव तपोधनाः । यथामति प्रवक्ष्यामि यथायोगं यथाश्रुतम्
Sūta said: You ascetics have asked about a blessed and virtuous great narrative; I will speak according to my understanding, as appropriate and as I have heard.
पुरातनं प्रवक्ष्यामि देवर्षेर्नारदस्य हि । युधिष्ठिरेण संवादं शृणु तद्द्विजसत्तमाः
I will recount the ancient dialogue between the divine sage Nārada and Yudhiṣṭhira; listen to it, O best of twice-born.
हृतराज्याः पांडुपुत्रा वने तस्मिन्महारथाः । न्यवसंति महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह पांडवाः
The sons of Pāṇḍu, deprived of their kingdom, dwelled in that forest, those mighty warriors, together with Draupadī.
अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम् । दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम्
Then they saw the great-souled divine sage Nārada there, radiant with Brahmā's splendor, equal in brilliance to blazing fire.
स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुनंदनः । दिवि भाति हि दीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Surrounded by his brothers, the glorious descendant of Kuru shone in the heavens with blazing energy, like Indra among the gods.
यथा च देवान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन् । न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
Just as Sāvitrī did not abandon the gods, so Yājñasenī did not forsake her husbands in righteousness, like the sun's rays on Mount Meru.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः । आश्वासयद्धर्म्मपुत्रं युक्तरूपप्रियेण च
After receiving worship, the venerable sage Nārada comforted the son of Dharma with words suited to the occasion and pleasing.
उवाच च महात्मानं धर्म्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । ब्रूहि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ किं प्रार्थ्यं हि ददामि ते
He spoke to the great-souled king Yudhiṣṭhira, 'Speak, O best among those who uphold dharma; what do you desire? I will grant it to you.'
अथ धर्मसुतो राजा प्रणम्य भ्रातृभिः सह । उवाच प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं नारदं देवसंमितम्
Then the king, son of Dharma, together with his brothers, bowed and, with joined palms, addressed Nārada, who was equal to the gods.
त्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते । कृतमित्येव मन्ये हि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत
O most fortunate one, honored by all worlds, when you are pleased, I consider it as accomplished, O steadfast one, by your grace.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ । संदेहं मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ हृत्स्थं त्वं छेत्तुमर्हसि
If I am worthy of your favor, together with my brothers, O faultless one, you should dispel the doubt that resides in my heart, O best of sages.
प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः । किं फलं तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्ब्रह्मन्वक्तुमर्हसि
What is the complete fruit for one who circumambulates the earth, devoted to holy places? O Brahman, you ought to declare this.
नारद उवाच-। शृणु राजन्नवहितो दिलीपेन यथा पुरा । वसिष्ठस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्
Nārada said: Listen, O king, attentively, as formerly by Dilīpa, all this was heard from Vasiṣṭha.
पुरा भागीरथीतीरे दिलीपो राजसत्तमः । धर्म्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिवत्तदा
Long ago, on the bank of the Bhāgīrathi, the illustrious king Dilīpa, having undertaken a righteous vow, dwelled there like a sage.
शुभेदेशे महाराजपुण्ये देवर्षिपूजिते । गंगाद्वारे महातेजा देवगंधर्वसेविते
In a sacred place, O great king, virtuous and revered by gods and sages, at the gateway of the Ganges, radiant and attended by gods and gandharvas—
स पितॄंस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः । ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
There, that supremely resplendent one offered oblations to the ancestors and to the gods, and he also satisfied the sages with acts prescribed by tradition.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य जपन्नेव महामनाः । ददर्श भूतसंकाशं वसिष्ठमृषिमुत्तमम्
Then, at a certain time, while reciting prayers with a concentrated mind, he beheld the illustrious sage Vasiṣṭha, who appeared like a celestial being.
पुरोहितं स तं दृष्ट्वा दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे विस्मयं परमं ययौ
Seeing him, his family priest, shining with splendor, he felt incomparable joy and was filled with the highest wonder.
उपस्थितं महाराज पूजयामास भारत । स हि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
O king, when that best of the righteous approached, he honored him, for he was foremost among upholders of dharma, performing the rites as prescribed.
शिरसा चार्घ्यमादाय शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । नामसंकीर्त्तयामास तस्मिन्ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमे
With pure intent and mind focused, he took the arghya with bowed head and began to recite the name of that eminent brahmarṣi.
दिलीपोऽहं तु भद्रं ते दासोस्मि तव सुव्रत । तव संदर्शनादेव मुक्तोहं सर्वकिल्बिषैः
"I am Dilīpa—blessings to you! I am your servant, O steadfast one. By your very sight, I am freed from all sins."
एवमुक्त्वा महाराज दिलीपो द्विपदां वरः । वाग्यतः प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा तूष्णीमासीद्युधिष्ठिर
Having spoken thus, O king, Dilīpa, best of men, restrained his speech, joined his palms, and sat in silence, O Yudhiṣṭhira.