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.
तं दृष्ट्वा नियमेनाथ स्वाध्यायेन च कर्षितम् । दिलीपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठं मुनिः प्रीतमनाभवत्
Seeing Dilīpa, the best of kings, disciplined by observance and study, the sage became pleased in his heart.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- अनेन तव धर्मज्ञ प्रश्रयेण दमेन च । सत्येन च महाभाग तुष्टोस्मि तव सर्वशः
Vasiṣṭha said: By your humility, self-restraint, and truthfulness, O knower of dharma, I am entirely pleased with you, O most fortunate one.
यस्येदृशस्ते धर्मोयं पितरस्तारितास्त्वया । तेन पश्यसि मां पुत्र याज्यश्चासि ममानघ
Because you possess such dharma, your ancestors have been delivered by you; by that, you see me, my son, and are worthy of my sacrifice, O sinless one.
प्रीतिर्मे वर्द्धते तेऽद्य ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते । यद्वक्ष्यसि नरश्रेष्ठ तस्य दातास्मि तेनघ
My affection for you grows today—tell me, what shall I do for you? Whatever you say, O best of men, I shall grant it, O sinless one.
दिलीप उवाच-। वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञ सर्वलोकाभिपूजित । कृतमित्येव मन्ये हि यदहं दृष्टवान्प्रभुम्
Dilīpa said: Knower of the essence of the Vedas and their branches, honored by all the worlds, I consider it already accomplished that I have seen you, O lord.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यस्तव धर्म्मभृतां वर । प्रक्ष्यामि हृत्स्थं संदेहं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Yet, if I am worthy of your favor, O best of the righteous, I will ask a doubt that dwells in my heart; you ought to tell me of it.
अस्ति मे भगवन्कश्चित्तीर्थे यो धर्मसंशयः । तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पृथक्संकीर्तनं त्वया
O revered one, I have a certain doubt about dharma at a holy place; I wish to hear it from you, explained distinctly.
प्रदक्षिणां यः पृथिवीं करोति द्विजसत्तम । किं फलं तस्य विप्रर्षे तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन
O best of twice-born, what is the fruit for one who circumambulates the earth? Tell me that, O sage rich in austerity.
वसिष्ठ उवाच-। कथयिष्यामि तदहमृषीणां मत्परायणम् । तदेकाग्रमनास्तात शृणु तीर्थेषु यत्फलम्
Vasiṣṭha said: I shall tell you what is held supreme by the sages; therefore, with one-pointed mind, listen to the fruit gained at holy places.
यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंयतम् । विद्या तपश्च कीर्तिश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He whose hands, feet, and mind are well-controlled, whose knowledge, austerity, and fame are established—he attains the fruit of pilgrimage.
प्रतिग्रहादुपावृत्तः संतुष्टो नियतः शुचिः । अहंकारनिवृत्तश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He who has turned away from accepting gifts, is content, disciplined, pure, and free from pride—he attains the fruit of visiting a sacred place.
अकल्किको निराहारोऽलब्धाहारो जितेंद्रियः । विमुक्तः सर्वदोषैर्यः स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He who is without deceit, who fasts or has not obtained food, who has mastered his senses, and is free from all faults—he attains the fruit of visiting a sacred place.
अक्रोधनश्च राजेंद्र सत्यशीलो दृढव्रतः । आत्मोपमश्च भूतेषु स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He who is free from anger, O King, who is truthful in conduct, firm in his vows, and regards all beings as himself—he attains the fruit of visiting a sacred place.
ऋषिभिः क्रतवः प्रोक्ता देवेष्वपि यथाक्रमम् । फलं चैव यथातत्त्वं प्रेत्य चेह च सर्वशः
The sages have prescribed sacrifices for the gods in due order, and the results, both in truth and in their entirety, are obtained after death and here as well.
न ते शक्या दरिद्रेण यज्ञाः प्राप्तुं महीपते । बहूपकरणा यज्ञा नानासंभारविस्तराः
O King, such sacrifices cannot be performed by the poor; sacrifices require many implements and a great variety of materials.
प्राप्यंते पार्थिवैरेते समृद्धैर्वा नरैः क्वचित् । न निर्धनैर्नरगणैरेकात्मभिरसाधनैः
These are attained by kings or sometimes by wealthy men, but not by the poor or by those who are alone and without means.
यो दरिद्रैरपि विधिः शक्यः प्राप्तुं जनेश्वर । तुल्यो यज्ञफलैः पुण्यैस्तं निबोध महीपते
O lord of men, listen: there is a rite that even the poor can accomplish, which yields merit equal to the fruit of sacrifices.
ऋषीणां परमं गुह्यमिदं धर्म्मभृतां वर । तीर्थाभिगमनं पुण्यं यज्ञैरपि विशिष्यते
This is the supreme secret of the sages, O best of the righteous: the meritorious act of visiting sacred places surpasses even sacrifices.
अनुपोष्य त्रिरात्राणि तीर्थाभिगमनेन च । अदत्वा कांचनं गाश्च दरिद्रो नाम जायते
Without fasting for three nights or giving gold and cows, a poor man is still called such by visiting a sacred place.
अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा विपुलदक्षिणैः । न तत्फलमवाप्नोति तीर्थाभिगमनेन यत्
Even by performing sacrifices like Agniṣṭoma with abundant gifts, one does not obtain the result that comes from visiting a sacred place.