तत्रोपवासं कृत्वा ये पश्यंति विमलेश्वरम् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा रुद्रलोकं व्रजंति ते
Those who fast there and behold Vimaleśvara, their souls purified from all sins, go to the world of Rudra.
ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र केशिनीतीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नुपवासपरायणः
Then, O king, one should go to the excellent Keśinī sanctuary; there, a man who bathes, devoted to fasting—
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां नियतो नियताशनः । तत्र तीर्थप्रभावेण मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
Having observed a single night in fasting, with self-control and regulated food, by the power of that sacred place, is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकं च यः पश्येत्सागरेश्वरम् । योजनाभ्यंतरे तिष्ठेदावर्ते संस्थितः शिवः
Whoever witnesses the bathing of all the sacred places at Sāgareśvara, where Śiva stands within two yojanas in the whirlpool—
तं दृष्ट्वा सर्वतीर्थानि दृष्टानि स्युर्न संशयः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो यत्र रुद्र सः गच्छति
Having seen him, all the sacred places are considered seen, without doubt; freed from all sins, one goes to Rudra there.
नर्मदासंगमं यावद्यावच्चामरकंटकम् । तत्रांतरे महाराजन्तीर्थकोट्योदकस्थिताः
From the confluence of the Narmadā up to Amarakaṇṭaka, O great king, within that stretch are crores of sacred waters.
तीर्थात्तीर्थाटनं चर्या ऋषिकोटिनिषेविता । अग्निहोत्रैश्च दिव्यांशैः सर्वैर्ज्ञानपरायणैः
Pilgrimage to holy places, the practice of wandering among them, as observed by hosts of sages, and all the divine rites of Agnihotra performed by those devoted to knowledge—
सेवितास्तेन राजेंद्र ईप्सितार्थप्रदायिकाः । यश्चेदं वै पठेन्नित्यं शृणुयाद्वापि भक्तितः
—these have been undertaken, O King, by those who grant the desired fruits; and whoever recites this daily, or listens to it with devotion—
तं तु तीर्थानि सर्वाणि अभिषिंचंति पांडव । नर्मदा च सदा प्रीता भवेद्वै नात्र संशयः
—all the sacred places anoint that person, O son of Pandu, and Narmada 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 Markandeya; 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 gains a husband, and whatever fruit one desires, that indeed is obtained in full; there should be no doubt about this.
ब्राह्मणो वेदमाप्नोति क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् । वैश्यस्तु लभते धान्यं शूद्रः प्राप्नोति सद्गतिम्
A Brahmin attains the Veda, a Kshatriya becomes victorious, a Vaishya gains wealth, and a Shudra attains a good state.
मूर्खस्तु लभते विद्यां त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेन्नरः । नरकं च न पश्येत वियोनिं च न गच्छति
A fool acquires knowledge, whoever recites this at the three junctions of the day; he does not see hell, nor is he born in a lower womb.
नारद उवाच- एवं ते कथितं राजन्नर्मदातीर्थमुत्तमम् । पुरा गंधर्वकन्यानां शापजं भयमुल्बणम्
Narada said: Thus, O King, I have told you of the supreme holy place of Narmada, and of the terrible fear born from the curse of 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 Reva's water; by the touch of Reva's water-drops, a person is freed.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- भगवन्बहुकन्याभिः शापो लंभि कथं कुतः । कस्यापत्यानि तास्तासां नाम किं कीदृशं वयः
Yudhishthira said: O Lord, how and why did the curse fall upon so many maidens? Whose daughters were they, what were their names, what was their age?
कथं रेवाजलस्पर्शाद्विपाकाच्छापसंभवात् । विमुक्ताः कुत्र ताः सस्नुः सर्वं मे कथय प्रभो
How were they freed from the curse by the touch of Reva's water, and where did they bathe? Tell me everything, O Lord.
नर्मदातीर्थमाहात्म्यं चमत्कारकरं भवेत् । श्रवणादपि पापानां मलनाशनमुच्यते
The glory of Narmada's holy place is truly wondrous; even by hearing it, the stains of sins are said to be destroyed.
नर्मदानर्मदाशब्दो येन केनचिदुच्यते । तस्य स्याच्छाश्वती मुक्तिर्यावदाचंद्र तारकम्
Whoever utters the name 'Narmada' or 'Narmada river' in any way, for him there is eternal liberation, as long as the moon and stars endure.
व्याहृतं भवता पूर्वं रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । तथापि चरितं साधो यदेतत्तन्निगद्यताम्
You have previously described to me the supreme glory of Reva; yet, O holy one, tell again the story, as it is.
अथ चोत्तमवार्ताया सेवितव्या मनीषिभिः । अतः पृच्छामि विप्रेंद्र रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । इतिहासं वद विभो कन्यानां चरितोज्ज्वलम्
And moreover, the highest account is to be sought by the wise; therefore I ask you, O best of Brahmins, tell the supreme glory of Reva, the illustrious story 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 in wood, so too is dharma, as Brahma's seed.
गंधर्वः शुकसंगीतिस्तस्य कन्या प्रमोहिनी । सुशीलस्य सुशीला च सुस्वरा स्वरवेदिनः
The Gandharva named Shuka-sangita had a daughter, Pramohini, and the virtuous Sushila, daughter of Sushila, who was skilled in melody and the knowledge of notes.
सुतारा चंद्रकांतस्य चंद्रिका सुप्रभस्य च । इमानि वरनामानि तासामप्सरसां नृप
Sutara was the daughter of Chandrakanta, Chandrika 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 five maidens, radiant in their youth, always spoke together as sisters.
चंद्रादिव विनिष्क्रांताश्चंद्रिका इव सोज्ज्वलाः । चंद्राननाः सुकेश्यश्च चंद्रकांताइवोज्ज्वलाः
They shone like moonlight emerging from the moon, their faces luminous as the moon, their hair beautiful, their brilliance like moonbeams.
देवेष्वेता विलासिन्यः कौमुद्यः कैरवेष्विव । लावण्यपिंडसंभूता दिव्यरूपा मनोहराः
Among the gods, these playful maidens were like moonlight among lotuses, formed from the essence of beauty, possessing divine and enchanting forms.
उद्भिन्नकुचपद्मिन्यः केतक्य इव माधवे । उत्पन्नयौवनैः कांता वल्लीव नवपल्लवैः
With blossoming breasts like lotuses, as ketaki flowers in spring, their youthful charm newly arisen, lovely as vines with fresh shoots.
हेमगौराश्च हेमाभा हेमाभरणभूषिताः । हेमचंपकमालिन्यो हेमच्छविसुवाससः
Golden in hue, shining like gold, adorned with golden ornaments, garlanded with golden champaka flowers, clothed in garments of golden brilliance.
स्वरग्रामावलीहासु विविधा मूर्च्छनासु च । तालवाद्यविनोदेषु वेणुवीणाप्रवादने
In the melodies of musical scales, in various modulations, in the enjoyment of rhythm instruments, in playing flute and lute.