तं दृष्ट्वा सर्वतीर्थानि दृष्टानि स्युर्न संशयः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो यत्र रुद्र सः गच्छति
Having seen him, all the tirthas are as if seen—of this there is no doubt; freed from all sins, one goes to where Rudra is.
नर्मदासंगमं यावद्यावच्चामरकंटकम् । तत्रांतरे महाराजन्तीर्थकोट्योदकस्थिताः
From the confluence of the Narmadā up to Amarakaṇṭaka, O great king, within that stretch are crores of tirthas established in the waters.
तीर्थात्तीर्थाटनं चर्या ऋषिकोटिनिषेविता । अग्निहोत्रैश्च दिव्यांशैः सर्वैर्ज्ञानपरायणैः
The practice of visiting tirthas from tirtha to tirtha has been followed by crores of sages, by those devoted to sacred fires, by all who are intent on knowledge, and by the divine ones.
सेवितास्तेन राजेंद्र ईप्सितार्थप्रदायिकाः । यश्चेदं वै पठेन्नित्यं शृणुयाद्वापि भक्तितः
These tirthas, O King, grant the desired fruits to those who serve them; and whoever recites or listens to this always with devotion—
तं तु तीर्थानि सर्वाणि अभिषिंचंति पांडव । नर्मदा च सदा प्रीता भवेद्वै नात्र संशयः
—all the tirthas bathe that person, O Pāṇḍava, and Narmadā herself is always pleased with him—of this there is no doubt.
प्रीतस्तस्य भवेद्रुद्रो मार्कंडेयो महामुनिः । वंध्या च लभते पुत्रान्दुर्भगा सुभगाभवेत्
Rudra becomes pleased with him, as does the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya; a barren woman obtains sons, and the unfortunate becomes fortunate.
कुमारीं लभते भर्त्ता यच्च यो वाञ्छते फलम् । तदेव लभते सर्वं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
A maiden obtains a husband, and whatever fruit one desires, that alone is obtained in full—there need be no further deliberation.
ब्राह्मणो वेदमाप्नोति क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् । वैश्यस्तु लभते धान्यं शूद्रः प्राप्नोति सद्गतिम्
A brāhmaṇa attains the Veda, a kṣatriya becomes victorious, a vaiśya obtains wealth, and a śūdra attains a good state.
मूर्खस्तु लभते विद्यां त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेन्नरः । नरकं च न पश्येत वियोनिं च न गच्छति
A fool gains knowledge; whoever recites this at the three junctions of the day does not see hell nor is born in a lower womb.
नारद उवाच- एवं ते कथितं राजन्नर्मदातीर्थमुत्तमम् । पुरा गंधर्वकन्यानां शापजं भयमुल्बणम्
Nārada said: Thus, O King, I have described to you the supreme tirtha of Narmadā, and the terrible fear born of the curse upon the Gandharva maidens in ancient times.
नाशितं तन्महाराज रेवाजलकणाग्निना । रेवाजलकणस्पर्शान्मुक्तो भवति मानवः
That was destroyed, O great king, by the fire of the drops of Revā's water; by the touch of Revā's water-drops, a person is freed.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- भगवन्बहुकन्याभिः शापो लंभि कथं कुतः । कस्यापत्यानि तास्तासां नाम किं कीदृशं वयः
Yudhiṣṭhira said: O Lord, by whom and how did the curse befall so many maidens? Whose children were they, what were their names, and what was their age?
कथं रेवाजलस्पर्शाद्विपाकाच्छापसंभवात् । विमुक्ताः कुत्र ताः सस्नुः सर्वं मे कथय प्रभो
How, by the touch of Revā's water, and by the fruition of the curse, were they freed? Where did they bathe? Tell me everything, O Lord.
नर्मदातीर्थमाहात्म्यं चमत्कारकरं भवेत् । श्रवणादपि पापानां मलनाशनमुच्यते
The glory of the Narmadā tirtha is truly wondrous; even by hearing it, it is said, the stains of sins are destroyed.
नर्मदानर्मदाशब्दो येन केनचिदुच्यते । तस्य स्याच्छाश्वती मुक्तिर्यावदाचंद्र तारकम्
Whoever utters the word 'Narmada' or even just the name 'Narmada' in any way, attains eternal liberation, lasting as long as the moon and stars endure.
व्याहृतं भवता पूर्वं रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । तथापि चरितं साधो यदेतत्तन्निगद्यताम्
You have previously spoken, O noble one, of the supreme glory of the Reva; yet, O virtuous one, please recount again this story in detail.
अथ चोत्तमवार्ताया सेवितव्या मनीषिभिः । अतः पृच्छामि विप्रेंद्र रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । इतिहासं वद विभो कन्यानां चरितोज्ज्वलम्
Now, since the highest tale is to be sought by the wise, therefore I ask you, O foremost of Brahmins, to tell the supreme glory of Reva, the illustrious history of the maidens.
नारद उवाच- श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल धर्मगर्भापरा कथा । यथारणिर्वह्निगर्भा धर्म्मस्तु ब्रह्मसूरिव
Narada said: Listen, O tiger among kings, to this tale filled with righteousness, just as fire is hidden within wood, so too is dharma born from Brahma.
गंधर्वः शुकसंगीतिस्तस्य कन्या प्रमोहिनी । सुशीलस्य सुशीला च सुस्वरा स्वरवेदिनः
There was a Gandharva named Shuka, famed for his music, whose daughter Pramohini was of virtuous conduct; Suśīla, daughter of Suśīla, was skilled in melody and versed in musical notes.
सुतारा चंद्रकांतस्य चंद्रिका सुप्रभस्य च । इमानि वरनामानि तासामप्सरसां नृप
Sutara, daughter of Chandrakanta, Chandrika, daughter of Suprabha—these are the excellent names of those Apsaras, O king.
कुमार्यः पंच सर्वास्ता वयसा सुभगाः पुनः । भाषंते च मिथस्तास्तु भगिन्य इव सर्वदा
All these five maidens were youthful and charming; they always conversed together as if they were sisters.
चंद्रादिव विनिष्क्रांताश्चंद्रिका इव सोज्ज्वलाः । चंद्राननाः सुकेश्यश्च चंद्रकांताइवोज्ज्वलाः
Radiant as moonlight, shining like beams from the moon, their faces were moon-like, their hair beautiful, and they sparkled like Chandrakanta gems.
देवेष्वेता विलासिन्यः कौमुद्यः कैरवेष्विव । लावण्यपिंडसंभूता दिव्यरूपा मनोहराः
Among the gods, these playful maidens were like moonlight among lotuses, born from the essence of beauty, divine in form, and captivating to behold.
उद्भिन्नकुचपद्मिन्यः केतक्य इव माधवे । उत्पन्नयौवनैः कांता वल्लीव नवपल्लवैः
With blossoming breasts like lotuses in spring, endowed with fresh youth and beauty, they were alluring like vines with new shoots.
हेमगौराश्च हेमाभा हेमाभरणभूषिताः । हेमचंपकमालिन्यो हेमच्छविसुवाससः
Golden in complexion, shining like gold, adorned with golden ornaments, garlanded with golden champaka flowers, and clothed in garments of golden hue.
स्वरग्रामावलीहासु विविधा मूर्च्छनासु च । तालवाद्यविनोदेषु वेणुवीणाप्रवादने
They were skilled in the arrangement of musical notes and various modes, in the enjoyment of rhythmic instruments, and in playing the flute and vina.
मृदंगनादसंभिन्नलास्यमध्यलयेषु च । चित्रादिषु विनोदेषु कलासु च विशारदाः
Expert in the art of dance accompanied by the sound of the drum, in the subtle rhythms of the dance, in amusements like painting, and accomplished in the arts.
एवंभूताश्च ताः कन्या मुमुहुः क्रीडनैर्वरैः । पितृभिर्लालिताः सर्वाश्चेरुश्च धनदालये
Such were these maidens, who delighted in various games; cherished by their fathers, they all dwelled in the abode of Kubera.
कौतुकादेकदा पंच मिलित्वा मासि माधवे । कन्या मंदारपुष्पाणि विचिन्वंत्यो वनाद्वनम्
Once, out of curiosity, the five maidens gathered together in the month of spring, wandering from grove to grove, searching for mandara flowers.
गौरीं समाराधयितुं स्वरांगनाः कदाचिदच्छोदसरोवरं ययुः । हेमांबुजानि प्रवराणि ताः पुनस्तस्मादुपादाय वरोत्पलैः सह
Desiring to worship Gauri, those maidens skilled in music once went to the clear lake; there, taking the finest golden lotuses and excellent blue lotuses, they gathered them.