जनेश्वरे नरः स्नात्वा पिंडं दत्वा यथाविधि । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्
At Janeśvara, after bathing and offering the prescribed oblation, a man's ancestors are satisfied until the dissolution of creation.
पर्वतस्य समंतात्तु रुद्रकोटिः प्रतिष्ठिता । स्नानं यः कुरुते तत्र गंधमाल्यानुलेपनम्
On the slopes of the mountain, the Rudrakoṭi is established; whoever bathes there, applies fragrance, garlands, and ointments—
प्रीता तस्य भवेत्सर्वा रुद्रकोटिर्न संशयः । पर्वते पश्चिमस्यांते स्वयं देवो महेश्वरः
All the Rudrakoṭi deities are pleased with him, without doubt; at the western end of the mountain, the god Maheśvara himself resides.
तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा ब्रह्मचारी जितेंद्रियः । पितृकार्यं तु कुर्वीत विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
There, after bathing, becoming pure, observing celibacy, and controlling the senses, one should perform ancestral rites according to prescribed procedure.
तिलोदकेन तत्रैव तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः । आसप्तमं कुलं तस्य स्वर्गे तिष्ठति पांडव
There, with sesame water, one should satisfy the ancestors and the deities; up to the seventh generation of his lineage, O Pāṇḍava, dwells in heaven.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णो दिव्यस्त्रीपरिवारितः
For sixty thousand years he is honored in the heavenly world, surrounded by hosts of apsarās and attended by celestial women.
दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तश्च दिव्यालंकारभूषितः । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जायते विपुले कुले
Anointed with divine fragrances and adorned with celestial ornaments, after falling from heaven, he is born in a noble family.
धनवान्दानशीलश्च धार्मिकश्चैव जायते । पुनः स्मरति तत्तीर्थं गमनं तत्र कुर्वते
He is born wealthy, generous, and righteous; he remembers again his pilgrimage to that sacred place and performs it there.
तारयित्वा कुलशतं रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति । योजनानां शतं साग्रं श्रूयते सरिदुत्तमा
Having liberated a hundred families, he attains the world of Rudra; the supreme river is said to extend a little over a hundred yojanas.
विस्तारेण तु राजेन्द्र योजनद्वयमंतरम् । षष्टितीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथैव च
In breadth, O king, it spans two yojanas; there are sixty thousand sacred fords and likewise sixty crores.
पर्वतस्य समंतात्तु तिष्ठंत्यमरकंटके । ब्रह्मचारी शुचिर्भूत्वा जितक्रोधो जितेंद्रियः
Around the mountain Amarakāṇṭaka, they stand; being a celibate, pure, with anger subdued and senses controlled,
सर्वहिंसानिवृत्तश्च सर्वभूतहिते रतः । एवं सर्वसमाचारः क्षेत्रपालान्परिव्रजेत्
Having renounced all violence and devoted to the welfare of all beings, thus conducting himself in every way, he should approach the guardians of the sacred place.
तस्य पुण्यफलं राजन्शृणुष्वावहितो हि मे । शतं वर्षसहस्राणां स्वर्गे मोदेत पांडव
Hear from me, O king, with attention, the fruit of his merit: for a hundred thousand years, O Pāṇḍava, he rejoices in heaven.
अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णे दिव्यस्त्रीपरिचारिते । दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तश्च दिव्यालंकारभूषितः
Surrounded by hosts of apsarās and attended by celestial women, anointed with divine fragrances and adorned with celestial ornaments,
क्रीडते देवलोके तु दैवतैः सह मोदते । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो राजा भवति वीर्यवान्
He sports in the world of the gods and delights with the deities; then, after falling from heaven, he becomes a king endowed with valor.
नारद उवाच- नर्मदा तु नदीश्रेष्ठा पुण्या पुण्यतमा त्रिषु । मुनिभिस्तु महाभागैर्विभक्ता धर्मकांक्षिभिः
Nārada said: The Narmadā is the best of rivers, most holy among the three; it has been divided by the great and blessed sages, desirous of righteousness.
यज्ञोपवीतमात्राणि प्रविभक्तानि पांडव । तेषु स्नात्वा तु राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
The divisions are as many as the sacred threads, O Pāṇḍava; by bathing in them, O king, one is freed from all sins.
जलेश्वरं च यत्तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तस्योत्पत्तिं कथयतः शृणु पांडवनंदन
And the holy place called Jaleśvara, renowned in the three worlds—hear, O delight of the Pāṇḍavas, the account of its origin as I relate it.
पुरा मुनिगणाः सर्वे सेन्द्राश्चैव मरुद्गणाः । स्तुवंति ते महात्मानं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
Once, all the hosts of sages, along with Indra and the Maruts, praised that great-souled Lord of gods, Maheśvara.
स्तुवमानास्तु संप्राप्ता यत्र देवो महेश्वरः । विज्ञापयंति देवेशं सेंद्राश्चैव मरुद्गणाः । भयोद्विग्नान्विरूपाक्ष परित्रायस्व नः प्रभो
While praising, they arrived where the god Maheśvara was; Indra and the Maruts made their supplication to the Lord of gods: 'O three-eyed one, we are troubled by fear—protect us, O Lord.'
ईश्वर उवाच-। स्वागतं तु मुनिश्रेष्ठाः किमर्थमिह चागताः । किं दुःखं कोऽनुसंतापः कुतो वा भयमागतम्
The Lord said: 'Welcome, O best of sages! For what purpose have you come here? What sorrow, what distress, or from where has fear arisen?
कथयध्वं महाभागा एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् । एवमुक्तास्तु रुद्रेणाकथयन्नमितव्रताः
Tell me, O blessed ones, I wish to know this.' Thus addressed by Rudra, those of firm vows spoke.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। अपि घोरो महावीर्यो दानवो बलदर्पितः । बाणो नामेति विख्यातो यस्य वै त्रिपुरं पुरम्
The sages said: Is it true that the fierce and mighty demon, renowned as Bāṇa, whose strength is excessive, is the one for whom Tripura is the city?
गगने तु वसद्दिव्यं भ्रमते तस्य तेजसा । तस्माद्भीता विरूपाक्ष त्वामेव शरणं गताः
His radiance moves through the sky, dwelling divinely; because of this, O Virūpākṣa, we are afraid and have come to you for refuge.
त्रायस्व महतो दुःखाद्देवत्वं हि परा गतिः । एवं प्रसादं देवेश सर्वेषां कर्तुमर्हसि
Rescue us from this great suffering, for divinity is the highest path; O Lord of the gods, you ought to grant such favor to all.
येन देवाः सुप्रसन्नाः सुखमेधंति शंकर । परां निर्वृतिमायांति तत्प्रभो कर्तुमर्हसि
By whom the gods are well-pleased and enjoy happiness, O Śaṃkara, they attain supreme bliss; O master, you ought to accomplish that.
देव उवाच-। एतत्सर्वं करिष्यामि मा विषादं करिष्यथ । अचिरेणैव कालेन कुर्यां युष्मत्सुखावहम्
The god said: I will do all this; do not be distressed. In a short time, I shall bring you happiness.
आश्वासयित्वा तान्सर्वान्नर्मदातटमास्थितः । चिंतयामास सर्वेशस्तद्वधं प्रति पांडव
Having reassured them all, he took his place on the bank of the Narmadā; the Lord of all pondered the killing, O Pāṇḍava.
कथं केन प्रकारेण हंतव्यस्त्रिपुरो मया । एवं संचिंत्य भगवान्नारदं स्मरते तदा । स्मरणादेव संप्राप्तो नारदः समुपस्थितः
How, by what means, and in what manner should I slay Tripura? Thus reflecting, the blessed one remembered Nārada; by remembrance alone, Nārada arrived and stood before him.
नारद उवाच-। आज्ञापय महादेव किमर्थं संस्मृतो ह्यहम् । किं कार्यं तु मया देव कर्तव्यं कथयस्व मे
Nārada said: Command me, O great god; for what purpose have I been remembered? What task should I perform, O god? Tell me.