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.
उपस्थितं महाराज पूजयामास भारत । स हि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
O Bharata, the king honored him who had arrived, the best among the upholders of dharma, with rites prescribed by tradition.
शिरसा चार्घ्यमादाय शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । नामसंकीर्त्तयामास तस्मिन्ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमे
With pure mind, he took water for offering on his head and began to recite names in praise of that foremost of Brahman sages.
दिलीपोऽहं तु भद्रं ते दासोस्मि तव सुव्रत । तव संदर्शनादेव मुक्तोहं सर्वकिल्बिषैः
I am Dilīpa; blessings to you, O virtuous one. I am your servant. By merely seeing you, I am freed from all sins.
एवमुक्त्वा महाराज दिलीपो द्विपदां वरः । वाग्यतः प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा तूष्णीमासीद्युधिष्ठिर
Having spoken thus, O Yudhiṣṭhira, Dilīpa, foremost among men, restrained his speech, joined his palms, and sat silently.
तं दृष्ट्वा नियमेनाथ स्वाध्यायेन च कर्षितम् । दिलीपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठं मुनिः प्रीतमनाभवत्
Seeing Dilīpa, the excellent king, disciplined by observance and study, the sage became pleased in mind.
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.
यस्येदृशस्ते धर्मोयं पितरस्तारितास्त्वया । तेन पश्यसि मां पुत्र याज्यश्चासि ममानघ
Such is your dharma; your ancestors have been uplifted by you. By this, you see me, my son, and you are fit to perform sacrifice for me, O sinless one.
प्रीतिर्मे वर्द्धते तेऽद्य ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते । यद्वक्ष्यसि नरश्रेष्ठ तस्य दातास्मि तेनघ
My affection for you increases 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 limbs, honored by all worlds, I consider it accomplished that I have seen the master.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यस्तव धर्म्मभृतां वर । प्रक्ष्यामि हृत्स्थं संदेहं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
If I am worthy of your favor, O best among upholders of dharma, I will ask the doubt that dwells in my heart; you should tell me that.