सिद्धमेव महाभागा भुंजते तद्धि नित्यदा । ततः परं महाशैलो दृश्यते लोकसंस्थितिः
The blessed ones always partake of it, already prepared; thereafter, the great mountain is seen, the foundation of the worlds.
चतुरस्रो महाप्राज्ञः सर्वतः परिमंडलः । तत्र तिष्ठंति विप्रेंद्राश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः
It is four-sided, O wise one, perfectly round on all sides; there, four chief Brahmins, esteemed by the world, reside.
दिग्गजा हि मुनिश्रेष्ठा वामनैरावतां जनाः । सुप्रतीकस्तथा विप्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः
O best of sages, the people of Airavata are the elephants of the directions; likewise, O Brahmins, Supratika and those with broken tusks and jaws.
तस्याहं परिमाणं न संख्यातुमिहमुत्सहे । असंख्यातः सुनित्यं हि तिर्यगूर्द्ध्वमधस्तथा
I am not able to enumerate its measure here; it is countless, always, extending sideways, upwards, and below.
तत्र वै वायवो वांति दिग्भ्यः सर्वाभ्य एव च । असंबंधा मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तान्निगृह्णंति ते द्विजाः
There, indeed, winds blow from all directions, O best of sages; those winds, unrelated, are restrained by the Brahmins.
पुष्करैः पद्मसंकाशैर्विकर्षंति महाप्रभैः । शतधा पुनरेवाशु ते तान्मुंचंति नित्यशः
With lotuses resembling lotus flowers, they draw in the mighty winds; then, again, a hundredfold, they swiftly release them, always.
श्वसद्भिर्मुखनासाभ्यां दिग्गजैरिव मारुताः । आगच्छंति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वै प्रजाः
The winds, like those of the elephants of the directions, come through their mouths and nostrils; O foremost of Brahmins, there the people remain.
यथोद्दिष्टं मया प्रोक्तं सनिर्माणमिदं जगत् । श्रुत्वेदं पृथिवीमानं पुण्यदं च मनोनुगम्
As I have described, this world is thus constructed; hear this, O wise one, the earth, which gives merit and follows the mind.
श्रीमांस्तरति विप्रेंद्राः सिद्धार्थः साधुसंमतः । आयुर्बलं च कीर्त्तिश्च तस्य तेजश्च वर्द्धते
The illustrious chief of Brahmins, accomplished and esteemed by the virtuous, crosses over; his lifespan, strength, fame, and brilliance increase.
यः शृणोति समाख्यातुं पर्वणीदं धृतव्रतः । प्रीयंते पितरस्तस्य तथैव च पितामहाः
He who listens to this narration at the festival, steadfast in his vow, his ancestors and grandfathers are pleased.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। पृथिव्या हि परीमाणं संस्थानं सरितस्तथा । त्वत्तः श्रुत्वा महाभाग अमृतं पीतमेव च
The sages said: The measure and form of the earth, and its rivers, we have heard from you, O greatly fortunate one, and have indeed tasted immortality.
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, purifying; tell us all of them, and how they yield their fruits, O wise one, with details, for we wish to hear from you.
सूत उवाच-। धन्यं पुण्यं महाख्यानं पृष्टमेव तपोधनाः । यथामति प्रवक्ष्यामि यथायोगं यथाश्रुतम्
Sūta said: You ascetics have asked about the blessed, virtuous, and great narrative; I will speak according to my ability, as appropriate, and as I have heard.
पुरातनं प्रवक्ष्यामि देवर्षेर्नारदस्य हि । युधिष्ठिरेण संवादं शृणु तद्द्विजसत्तमाः
I will relate the ancient dialogue between the divine sage Nārada and Yudhiṣṭhira; listen to that, O best of Brahmins.
हृतराज्याः पांडुपुत्रा वने तस्मिन्महारथाः । न्यवसंति महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह पांडवाः
The sons of Pandu, those mighty warriors deprived of their kingdom, dwelled in that forest, blessed ones, together with Draupadi.
अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम् । दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम्
Then they beheld the great-souled divine sage Narada there, radiant with Brahmanic splendor, his brilliance equal to blazing fire.
स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुनंदनः । दिवि भाति हि दीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious descendant of Kuru shone in the sky with blazing energy, like Indra among the gods.
यथा च देवान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन् । न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
Just as Savitri did not abandon the gods, so Yajnaseni did not forsake her husbands, the sons of Pritha, as the sun’s light does not leave Meru.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः । आश्वासयद्धर्म्मपुत्रं युक्तरूपप्रियेण च
Then the venerable sage Narada, having received their worship, comforted the righteous Yudhishthira with words appropriate and dear.
उवाच च महात्मानं धर्म्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । ब्रूहि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ किं प्रार्थ्यं हि ददामि ते
And he spoke to the great-souled king Yudhishthira: 'Speak, best of the upholders of dharma, what do you desire? I shall 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 these words to Narada, equal to the gods.
त्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते । कृतमित्येव मन्ये हि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत
'O most fortunate, honored by all the worlds, when you are pleased, I consider all is accomplished by your grace, O steadfast one.'
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ । संदेहं मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ हृत्स्थं त्वं छेत्तुमर्हसि
'If I am worthy of your favor, together with my brothers, O sinless one, you, best of sages, should dispel the doubt that is in my heart.'
प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः । किं फलं तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्ब्रह्मन्वक्तुमर्हसि
'What is the complete fruit for one who, intent on holy places, circumambulates the earth? O Brahman, you should tell me that.'
नारद उवाच-। शृणु राजन्नवहितो दिलीपेन यथा पुरा । वसिष्ठस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्
Narada said: 'Hear attentively, O king, as formerly all this was heard by Dilipa from Vasistha.'
पुरा भागीरथीतीरे दिलीपो राजसत्तमः । धर्म्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिवत्तदा
Long ago, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, the excellent king Dilipa, having undertaken a righteous vow, dwelled there like a sage.
शुभेदेशे महाराजपुण्ये देवर्षिपूजिते । गंगाद्वारे महातेजा देवगंधर्वसेविते
In a holy place, O great king, blessed and honored by divine sages, at the gateway of the Ganga, radiant and attended by gods and Gandharvas.
स पितॄंस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः । ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
That supremely radiant one offered oblations to the ancestors and to the gods, and satisfied the sages with rites prescribed by tradition.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य जपन्नेव महामनाः । ददर्श भूतसंकाशं वसिष्ठमृषिमुत्तमम्
Then, after some time, while reciting mantras with concentrated mind, he beheld the eminent sage Vasistha, resembling a being of all creatures.
पुरोहितं स तं दृष्ट्वा दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे विस्मयं परमं ययौ
Seeing his family priest shining with splendor, he felt incomparable joy and was filled with utmost wonder.