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.
अस्ति मे भगवन्कश्चित्तीर्थे यो धर्मसंशयः । तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पृथक्संकीर्तनं त्वया
O revered one, I have a certain doubt regarding dharma at a holy place. I wish to hear it distinctly explained by you.
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, O sage, O possessor of austerity.
वसिष्ठ उवाच-। कथयिष्यामि तदहमृषीणां मत्परायणम् । तदेकाग्रमनास्तात शृणु तीर्थेषु यत्फलम्
Vasiṣṭha said: I shall tell you what is the view of the sages. Listen with focused mind, my son, 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 restrained, whose knowledge, austerity, and fame are established, attains the fruit of pilgrimage.
प्रतिग्रहादुपावृत्तः संतुष्टो नियतः शुचिः । अहंकारनिवृत्तश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He who refrains from accepting gifts, is content, disciplined, pure, and free from pride, attains the fruit of pilgrimage.
अकल्किको निराहारोऽलब्धाहारो जितेंद्रियः । विमुक्तः सर्वदोषैर्यः स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He who is free from deceit, abstains from food, has not obtained food, has conquered his senses, and is liberated from all faults, attains the fruit of pilgrimage.
अक्रोधनश्च राजेंद्र सत्यशीलो दृढव्रतः । आत्मोपमश्च भूतेषु स तीर्थफलमश्नुते
He who is free from anger, O king, truthful in conduct, firm in vow, and regards all beings as himself, attains the fruit of pilgrimage.
ऋषिभिः क्रतवः प्रोक्ता देवेष्वपि यथाक्रमम् । फलं चैव यथातत्त्वं प्रेत्य चेह च सर्वशः
Sacrifices have been declared by the sages, and among the gods in due order, and their fruits, as is proper, both after death and here, in every way.
न ते शक्या दरिद्रेण यज्ञाः प्राप्तुं महीपते । बहूपकरणा यज्ञा नानासंभारविस्तराः
O king, those sacrifices cannot be accomplished by the poor; sacrifices require many implements and a wide variety of materials.
प्राप्यंते पार्थिवैरेते समृद्धैर्वा नरैः क्वचित् । न निर्धनैर्नरगणैरेकात्मभिरसाधनैः
These are attained by kings or sometimes by prosperous men, not by the poor or by groups of men lacking means and unity.