श्रीकुंजं च सरस्वत्यां तीर्थं भरतसत्तम । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
O best of the Bharatas, there is the sacred grove of Śrī on the Sarasvatī, a holy place; bathing there, O king, a man obtains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
ततो नैमिषिकुंजं च समासाद्य सुदुर्लभम् । ऋषयः किल राजेंद्र नैमिषेयास्तपोधनाः
Then, reaching the Naimiṣa grove, which is exceedingly rare, O king, it is said that the ascetic sages of Naimiṣa, rich in austerity, once gathered there.
तीर्थयात्रां पुरस्कृत्य कुरुक्षेत्रे गताः पुरा । ततः कुंजः सरस्वत्यां कृतो भरतसत्तम
Having set out on a pilgrimage, those sages of old went to Kurukṣetra; thus, O best of the Bharatas, the grove was established on the Sarasvatī.
ऋषीणामवकाशः स्याद्यथा तुष्टिकरो महान् । तस्मिन्कुंजे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
That grove became a great place of satisfaction for the sages, as a spacious and pleasing retreat; whoever bathes in that grove attains the merit of gifting a thousand cows.
नारद उवाच-। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ कन्यातीर्थमनुत्तमम् । कन्यातीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
Nārada said: Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to the excellent Kanyā-tīrtha; by bathing at Kanyā-tīrtha, a man obtains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
ततो गच्छेन्नरव्याघ्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानमुत्तमम् । तत्र वर्णावरः स्नात्वा ब्राह्मण्यं लभते नरः
Then, O tiger among men, one should go to the supreme abode of Brahmā; there, by bathing, a man of any caste attains the state of a brāhmaṇa.
ब्राह्मणस्तु विशुद्धात्मा गच्छेत परमां गतिम् । ततो गच्छेन्नरव्याघ्र सोमतीर्थमनुत्तमम्
A brāhmaṇa of pure soul attains the highest state; then, O tiger among men, one should go to the excellent Soma-tīrtha.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्सोमलोकमवाप्नुयात् । सप्तसारस्वतं तीर्थं ततो गच्छेन्नराधिप
There, O king, by bathing, a man attains the world of Soma; then, O lord of men, one should go to the Saptasārasvata tīrtha.
यत्र मंकणकः सिद्धो ब्रह्मर्षिर्लोकविश्रुतः । पुरा मंकणको राजन्कुशाग्रेणेति विश्रुतम्
There, the accomplished sage Maṅkaṇaka, renowned among the worlds as a brahmarṣi, once, it is said, wounded himself with a blade of kuśa grass.
क्षतः किल करे राजन्तस्य शाकरसोऽस्रवत् । स वै शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टो महातपाः
O king, from his hand blood of a vegetable nature flowed; seeing that vegetable sap, the great ascetic was filled with joy.
ननर्त किल विप्रर्षिर्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः । ततस्तस्मिन्प्रनृत्ते वै स्थावरं जंगमं च यत्
It is said that the brāhmaṇa sage, his eyes wide with astonishment, began to dance;
प्रनृत्तमुभयं वीर तेजसा तस्य मोहितम् । ब्रह्मादिभिस्ततो देवैर्ऋषिभिश्च तपोधनैः
Then, as he danced, O hero, all that was stationary and moving was enchanted by his energy and began to dance as well.
विज्ञप्तो वै ऋषेरर्थे महादेवो नराधिप । नायं नृत्येद्यथा देव तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि
Then, O lord of men, Brahmā and the other gods, along with the sages rich in austerity, petitioned the great god on behalf of the sage:
ततो देवो मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टेन चेतसा । नृत्यंतमब्रवीच्चैनं स्थिराणां हितकाम्यया
Therefore, O king, the god, seeing the sage overcome with joy, addressed him as he danced, desiring the welfare of the stable beings:
अहो महर्षे धर्मज्ञ किमर्थं नृत्यते भवान् । हर्षस्थानं किमर्थं वा तवाद्य मुनिपुंगव
"O great sage, knower of dharma, why are you dancing? O foremost of sages, what is the cause of your joy today?"
ऋषिरुवाच-। तपस्विनो धर्म्मपथस्थितस्य द्विजसत्तम । किं न पश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन्क्षताच्छाकरसं सृतम्
The sage said: "O best of twice-born, O Brahmā, do you not see the vegetable sap flowing from my wound, as I stand firm in the path of dharma and austerity?"
यं दृष्ट्वा संप्रनृत्तोऽहं हर्षेण महता वृतः । तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद्देव ऋषिं रागेण मोहितम्
"Seeing that, I began to dance, filled with great joy." Smiling, the god addressed the sage, who was enchanted by delight:
अहं तु विस्मयं विप्र न गच्छामीह पश्य माम् । एवमुक्त्वा नरश्रेष्ठ महादेवेन वै तदा
"But I, O brāhmaṇa, do not feel any wonder at this—look at me." Having spoken thus, O best of men, by the great god at that time—
अंगुल्यग्रेण राजेंद्र स्वांगुष्ठस्ताडितोऽनघ । तस्य भस्मक्षताद्राजन्निःसृतं हिमसंनिभम्
O king, with the tip of his finger, the sinless one struck his own thumb. From it, ashes emerged, resembling snow.
यं दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो राजन्स मुनिः पादयोर्गतः । नान्यं देवादहं मन्ये रुद्रात्परतरं महत्
Seeing this, O king, the sage became embarrassed and fell at his feet. I do not consider any deity greater than Rudra.
सुरासुरस्य जगतो गतिस्त्वमसि शूलधृक् । त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
You are the refuge of gods, demons, and the world, O bearer of the trident. By you, this universe, the three worlds with all that moves and is still, was created.
त्वामेव भगवन्सर्वे प्रविशंति युगक्षये । देवैरपि न शक्यस्त्वं परिज्ञातुं कुतो मया
At the end of each age, O Lord, all beings enter into you alone. Even the gods cannot fully comprehend you—how could I?
त्वयि सर्वेश दृश्यंते सुराः शक्रादयोऽनघ । सर्वस्त्वमसि लोकानां कर्ता कारयितान्वहम्
In you, O Lord of all, the gods such as Indra are seen, O sinless one. You are the creator and sustainer of all worlds at all times.
त्वत्प्रसादात्सुराः सर्वे मोदंतीहाकुतोभयाः । एवं स्तुत्वा महादेवं स ऋषिः प्रणतोऽब्रवीत्
By your grace, all the gods rejoice here, free from fear. Thus praising Mahadeva, the sage, bowing, spoke.
त्वत्प्रसादान्महादेव तपो मे न क्षरेत वै । ततो देवः प्रहृष्टात्मा ब्रह्मर्षिमिदमब्रवीत्
By your grace, O Mahadeva, may my austerity never be lost. Then the delighted Lord spoke to the Brahmin sage.
तपस्ते वर्द्धतां विप्र मत्प्रसादात्सहस्रधा । आश्रमे चेह वत्स्यामि त्वया सार्द्धं महामुने
May your austerity increase a thousandfold by my grace, O sage. I will remain here in your hermitage together with you, O great sage.
सप्तसारस्वते स्नात्वा अर्चयिष्यंति ये तु माम् । न तेषां दुर्लभं किंचिदिह लोके परत्र वा
Those who bathe in the seven Sarasvati waters and worship me, nothing is unattainable for them in this world or the next.
गच्छेत्सारस्वतं चापि लोकं नास्त्यत्र संशयः । एवमुक्त्वा महादेवस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत
They will attain the Sarasvati world—there is no doubt about this. Having spoken thus, Mahadeva vanished there.
ततस्त्वौशनसं गच्छेत्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
Then one should go to the renowned Aushanasa, known in the three worlds, where Brahma and other gods, and sages rich in austerity, reside.
कार्तिकेयश्च भगवांस्त्रिसंध्यां किल भारत । सान्निध्यमकरोत्तत्र भार्गवप्रियकाम्यया
And Kartikeya, O Bharata, at the three junctions of the day, indeed made his presence there, out of affection for the Bhargava.