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.
यो दरिद्रैरपि विधिः शक्यः प्राप्तुं जनेश्वर । तुल्यो यज्ञफलैः पुण्यैस्तं निबोध महीपते
O lord of men, know that which even the poor can attain, which is equal to the fruits and merits of sacrifices.
ऋषीणां परमं गुह्यमिदं धर्म्मभृतां वर । तीर्थाभिगमनं पुण्यं यज्ञैरपि विशिष्यते
O best of those who uphold dharma, this is the supreme secret of the seers: the merit of pilgrimage to holy places surpasses even that of sacrifices.
अनुपोष्य त्रिरात्राणि तीर्थाभिगमनेन च । अदत्वा कांचनं गाश्च दरिद्रो नाम जायते
One who does not fast for three nights, nor visits holy places, nor gives gold or cows, is called poor.
अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा विपुलदक्षिणैः । न तत्फलमवाप्नोति तीर्थाभिगमनेन यत्
Even by performing sacrifices like Agniṣṭoma with abundant gifts, one does not obtain the fruit that comes from pilgrimage to holy places.
नृलोके देवलोकस्य तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । पुष्करं तीर्थमासाद्य देवदेवसमो भवेत्
In the world of men, the holy place of Puṣkara, renowned throughout the three worlds, is such that by reaching it, one becomes equal to the Lord of gods.
दशकोटिसहस्राणि तीर्थानां वै महीपते । सान्निध्यं पुष्करे येषां त्रिसंध्यं सूर्यवंशज
O descendant of the solar dynasty, in Puṣkara there is the presence of ten billion thousand holy places at the three junctions of the day.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा साध्याश्च समरुद्गणाः । गंधर्वाप्सरसश्चैव तत्र सन्निहिताः प्रभो
O lord, there are present there the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sādhyas with their hosts, as well as Gandharvas and Apsarases.
यत्र देवास्तपस्तप्त्वा दैत्या ब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा । दिव्ययोगा महाराज पुण्येन महता द्विजाः
O great king, there the gods, demons, and Brahmarṣis performed austerities, and the twice-born attained divine union through great merit.
मनसाप्यभिकामस्य पुष्कराणि मनीषिणः । पूयंते सर्वपापानि नाकपृष्ठे च पूज्यते
For the wise who even mentally desire Puṣkara, all sins are purified, and they are honored in the highest heaven.
अस्मिंस्तीर्थे महाभाग नित्यमेव पितामहः । उवास परमप्रीतो देवदानवसंमतः
O greatly fortunate one, at this holy place, the Grandfather (Brahmā), ever delighted and honored by gods and demons, always resided.