गच्छंतु त्वरिता लोका राज्ञा सह महागिरिम् । दृश्यतां पापसंहारी पुरुषोत्तमनामधृक्
Let the people go quickly with the king to the great mountain; let them behold the destroyer of sins, the bearer of the name Puruṣottama.
क्रियतां सर्वसंसारसागरो गोष्पदं पुनः । भूष्यतां शंखचक्रादिचिह्नैः स्वस्व तनुर्नरैः
Let the ocean of worldly existence be made as small as a cow’s hoofprint again; let each person adorn their body with the marks of the conch, discus, and others.
इत्यादिघोषयामास राज्ञादिष्टं यदद्भुतम् । सचिवो रघुनाथांघ्रि ध्याननिर्वारितश्रमः
Thus, the minister, his fatigue dispelled by meditation on the feet of Raghunātha, loudly announced the king’s wondrous command.
तच्छ्रुत्वा ताः प्रजाः सर्वा आनंदरससंप्लुताः । मनो दधुः स्वनिस्तारे पुरुषोत्तमदर्शनात्
Hearing this, all the people, filled with the nectar of joy, fixed their minds on their own liberation through the sight of Puruṣottama.
निर्ययुर्ब्राह्मणास्तत्र शिष्यैः सह सुवेषिणः । आशिषं वरदानाढ्यां ददतो भूमिपं प्रति
There, the Brāhmaṇas set out, well-attired with their disciples, bestowing abundant blessings upon the king.
क्षत्त्रिया धन्विनो वीरा वैश्या वस्तुक्रयाञ्चिताः । शूद्राः संसारनिस्तारहर्षित स्वीयविग्रहाः
The Kṣatriyas, armed and valiant; the Vaiśyas, intent on trade; and the Śūdras, delighted at deliverance from worldly existence, each with their own families.
रजकाश्चर्मकाः क्षौद्राः किराता भित्तिकारकाः । सूचीवृत्त्या च जीवंतस्तांबूलक्रयकारकाः
Washermen, leather-workers, honey-gatherers, hunters, builders, those living by sewing, and sellers of betel leaves—all these as well.
तालवाद्यधरा ये च ये च रंगोपजीविनः । तैलविक्रयिणश्चैव वस्त्रविक्रयिणस्तथा
Those who played percussion instruments, those who made their living from the stage, sellers of oil, and sellers of cloth likewise.
सूता वदंतः पौराणीं वार्तां हर्षसमन्विताः । मागधा बंदिनस्तत्र निर्गता भूमिपाज्ञया
Bards reciting ancient tales, filled with joy, and the Māgadhas, singers of praise, also went forth by the king’s command.
भिषग्वृत्त्या च जीवंतस्तथा पाशककोविदाः । पाकस्वादुरसाभिज्ञा हास्यवाक्यानुरंजकाः
Those living by the physician’s art, experts in dice, connoisseurs of delicious food, and those who delighted others with witty speech.
ऐंद्रजालिकविद्याध्रास्तथा वार्तासुकोविदाः । प्रशंसंतो महाराजं निर्ययुः पुरमध्यतः
Magicians, masters of illusion, and those skilled in news and stories, praising the great king, departed from the city.
राजापि तत्र निर्वर्त्य प्रातःसंध्यादिकाः क्रियाः । ब्राह्मणं तापसश्रेष्ठमानिनाय सुनिर्मलम्
There, the king, having performed the morning rites, brought the foremost and purest ascetic Brāhmaṇa with him.
तदाज्ञया महाराजो निर्जगाम पुराद्बहिः । लोकैरनुगतो राजा बभौ चंद्र इवोडुभिः
By his command, the great king left the city, followed by the people, shining like the moon among the stars.
क्रोशमात्रं स गत्वाथ क्षौरं कृत्वा विधानतः । दंडं कमंडलुं बिभ्रन्मृगचर्म तथा शुभम्
Having gone a krośa’s distance, he performed the prescribed tonsure, and bore a staff, water-pot, and a fine deer skin.
शुभवेषेण संयुक्तो हरिध्यानपरायणः । कामक्रोधादिरहितं मनो बिभ्रन्महायशाः
Endowed with auspicious attire, devoted to meditation on Hari, the illustrious one maintained a mind free from desire, anger, and the like.
तदा दुंदुभयो भेर्य आनकाः पणवास्तथा । शंखवीणादिकाश्चैवाध्मातास्तद्वादकैर्मुहुः
Then kettledrums, drums, cymbals, and likewise small drums, as well as conches, lutes, and other instruments, were repeatedly sounded by the musicians.
जय देवेश दुःखघ्न पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञित । दर्शयस्व तनुं मह्यं वदंतो निर्ययुर्जनाः
People went forth, proclaiming, 'Victory to the Lord of gods, destroyer of sorrow, known as the Supreme Person! Reveal your form to me.'
सुमतिरुवाच। अथ प्रयाते भूपाले सर्वलोकसमन्विते । महाभागैर्वैष्णवैश्च गायकैः कृष्णकीर्तनम्
Sumati said: Then, as the king departed, accompanied by all the people and the greatly fortunate Vaiṣṇavas, the singers performed praises of Kṛṣṇa.
शुश्रावासौ महाराजो मार्गे गोविंदकीर्तनम् । जय माधव भक्तानां शरण्य पुरुषोत्तम
On the way, the great king heard the praises of Govinda: 'Victory to Mādhava, refuge of devotees, Supreme Person!'
मार्गे तीर्थान्यनेकानि कुर्वन्पश्यन्महोदयम् । तापसब्राह्मणात्तेषां महिमानमथा शृणोत्
On the way, seeing many holy places and performing great acts, he heard of the greatness of the ascetics and brāhmaṇas there.
विचित्रविष्णुवार्ताभिर्विनोदितमना नृपः । मार्गेमार्गे महाविष्णुं गापयामास गायकान्
The king, his mind delighted by wondrous tales of Viṣṇu, had the singers recite hymns to the great Viṣṇu at every stage of the journey.
दीनांधकृपणानां च पंगूनां वासनोचितम् । दानं ददौ महाराजो बुद्धिमान्विजितेंद्रियः
The wise king, master of his senses, gave appropriate gifts to the poor, the blind, the wretched, and the lame.
अनेकतीर्थविरजमात्मानं भव्यतां गतम् । कुर्वन्ययौ स्वीयलोकैर्हरिध्यानपरायणः
Having purified himself at many holy places and attained blessedness, he continued on with his people, devoted to meditation on Hari.
नृपो गच्छन्ददर्शाग्रे नदीं पापप्रणाशिनीम् । चक्रांकितग्रावयुतां मुनिमानस निर्मलाम्
As the king went, he saw ahead a river that destroys sin, adorned with stones marked by the discus, pure as the mind of a sage.
अनेकमुनिवृंदानां बहुश्रेणिविराजिताम् । सारसादिपतत्रीणां कूजितैरुपशोभिताम्
It was graced by many groups of sages, shining with numerous assemblies, and beautified by the calls of cranes, swans, and other waterfowl.
दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ विप्राग्र्यं तापसं धर्मकोविदम् । अनेकतीर्थमाहात्म्य विशेषज्ञानजृंभितम्
Seeing this, he questioned the foremost brāhmaṇa, an ascetic learned in dharma, who was well-versed in the special glories of the many holy places.
स्वामिन्केयं नदी पुण्या मुनिवृन्दनिषेविता । करोति मम चित्तस्य प्रमोदभरनिर्भरम्
'Master, what is this sacred river, frequented by groups of sages? It fills my heart with abundant joy.'
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य राजराजस्य धीमतः । वक्तुं प्रचक्रमे विद्वांस्तीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Hearing the words of that wise king of kings, the learned one began to speak of the supreme glory of the holy place.
ब्राह्मण उवाच। गंडकीयं नदी राजन्सुरासुरनिषेविता । पुण्योदकपरीवाह हतपातकसंचया
The brāhmaṇa said: 'O King, this Gaṇḍakī river is frequented by gods and demons. Its sacred waters flow pure, destroying accumulated sins.'
दर्शनान्मानसं पापं स्पर्शनात्कर्मजं दहेत् । वाचिकं स्वीय तोयस्य पानतः पापसंचयम्
'By seeing it, mental sin is burned; by touching it, sin from actions is destroyed; by drinking its own water, the accumulation of verbal sin is removed.'