एतत्सर्वं मुने ब्रूहि श्रोतुमस्ति ममादरः । त्वत्तोऽन्य कथितुं कोऽपि न शक्नोति जगत्त्रये
O sage, tell me all this; I have great eagerness to hear. In all the three worlds, no one but you is able to explain it.
व्यास उवाच- साधुसाधु द्विजश्रेष्ठ मनस्ते विमलं ध्रुवम् । यतो गुह्यकथामेतां श्रोतुं श्रद्धा च कौतुकम्
Vyasa said: Excellent, excellent, O best of twice-born! Surely your mind is pure, for you have faith and curiosity to hear this secret teaching.
भागीरथ्या गुणं सम्यक्कथितुं न हि शक्यते । तस्मात्समासतो वक्ष्ये श्रूयतामेकचेतसा
The virtues of Bhagirathi cannot truly be described in full; therefore, I will speak of them briefly—listen with one-pointed mind.
गङ्गेत्यक्षरयुग्मं च जपत्यत्यन्तकोमलम् । मन्ये व्रजेत्तथाप्येनो महाभूतरसायनम्
One who softly recites the two syllables 'Ganga'—I consider that even so, he goes, freed from sin, to the great elixir of the elements.
सर्वत्र सुलभा गङ्गा त्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा । गङ्गाद्वारे प्रयागे च गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे
The Ganga is easily accessible everywhere, but difficult to reach in three places: at Gangadvara, at Prayaga, and at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean.
सवासवाः सुराः सर्वे गङ्गाद्वारं मनोरमम् । समागत्य प्रकुर्वन्ति स्नानदानादिकं मुने
All the gods, along with Indra, gather at the delightful Gangadvara, O sage, and perform bathing, giving, and other rites.
दैवयोगान्मुने तत्र ये त्यजंति कलेवरम् । मनुष्य पशु कीटाद्या लभंते परमं पदम्
By divine arrangement, O sage, those who give up their bodies there—whether human, animal, or insect—attain the supreme state.
अत्रेतिहासं विप्रर्षे कथ्यमानं मया शुणु । सम्यक्छ्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Now, O sage among Brahmins, listen to this ancient tale I am about to tell; by merely hearing it properly, one is freed from all sins.
मनोभद्रो नाम राजा सोमवंश समुद्भवः । पूर्वमासीज्जगत्यस्मिन्बलवान्सर्वधर्म्मवित्
There was a king named Manobhadra, born of the lunar dynasty, who formerly lived in this world, powerful and versed in all duties.
तस्य हेमप्रभा नाम महिषी प्रियवादिनी । पतिव्रता महाभागा सर्वलक्षणसंयुता
His queen was named Hemaprabha, sweet-spoken, devoted to her husband, greatly fortunate, and endowed with all auspicious marks.
स राजा समरे हत्वा सकलानेव शात्रवान् । शशास पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां साब्धिद्वीपां महाबलः
That mighty king, having slain all his enemies in battle, ruled the entire earth, with its islands and oceans.
स एकदा महीपालः समाहूय स्वमंत्रिणः । उवाचेदं वचः प्रीत्या सभामध्ये महायशाः
Once, that protector of the earth, summoning his ministers, spoke these words with affection in the midst of the assembly, renowned as he was.
मनोभद्र उवाच-। अमात्याः पृथिवी सर्वा मयेयं परिपालिता । निहता रिपवः सर्वे सपुत्रबलवाहनाः
Manobhadra said: O ministers, this whole earth has been protected by me; all enemies, along with their sons, forces, and vehicles, have been slain.
पालितानि स्वगोत्राणि दानैर्विप्राश्च तोषिताः । शिष्टाश्च त्रिदशाः सर्वे सपुत्रबलवाहनाः
My own clans have been protected, Brahmins have been satisfied with gifts, and all the gods, with their sons, forces, and vehicles, have been honored.
पालितानि स्वगोत्राणि यज्ञैः सर्वैः सदक्षिणैः । एतद्धि जरया सर्वं महत्या मे बलं हृतम्
I have protected my lineage through all sacrifices, each with proper gifts; yet this great old age has taken away all my strength.
कर्माणि कानिचित्कर्त्तुं न हि शक्नोमि दुर्बलः । सामर्थ्यहीने पुरुषे राजश्रीर्न हि शोभते
Being weak, I am unable to perform even a few actions; royal splendor does not shine in a man who lacks ability.
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्ता वृद्धाङ्गा इव कामिनी । तावद्विभ्यति सर्वेऽपि शत्रवः पृथिवीतले
A woman adorned with every ornament, but with aged limbs, is like this; so long as it is so, all enemies on earth are afraid.
यावद्धि गतसामर्थ्यं नेच्छन्ति चारुचक्षुषा । समस्तगुणसम्पन्नामपि तद्गतमानसम्
Once ability is gone, even those with beautiful eyes do not desire her, though she possesses every virtue and their minds once belonged to her.
पृथ्वी त्यजेन्नृपं वृद्धं स्वैरिणीपालिता यथा । भक्तिलभ्यागुणाः सर्वे गुणलभ्यं महद्यशः
The earth abandons an aged king, just as a free woman leaves her guardian; all virtues are gained through devotion, and great fame is attained through virtue.
निःश्रेयसं दानलभ्यं बललभ्या तु मेदिनी । सामर्थ्यहीनः कृपणो निश्चितो रिपुशासने
Supreme good is attained through giving, and the earth is gained through strength; one who lacks ability, though pitiable, is surely ruled by enemies.
मूर्खमात्रवचो ग्राही स नृपः शत्रुनंदनः । ततोऽहं सकलं राज्यं विभज्य वरमंत्रिणः
That king, O delight of enemies, accepts only the words of fools; therefore, I wish to divide the whole kingdom among the best ministers.
दातुमिच्छामि पुत्राभ्यां युष्माभिर्यदि मन्यते । मन्त्रिण ऊचुः - यदेतद्वचनं प्रोक्तं त्वया नीतिविदा नृप
I wish to give it to my two sons, if you all agree; the ministers said— O king, what you have spoken, learned in statecraft,
तदेव मतमस्माकं संदेहो नात्र विद्यते । अथायातौ नृपादेशात्संसदं प्रति सत्तमौ
That is our opinion as well; there is no doubt in this matter. Then, by the king's command, the two excellent ones came to the assembly.
वीरभद्र यशोभद्र नामानौ तनयावुभौ । तौ च सर्वगुणोपेतौ कुमारौ प्रियवादिनौ
Both sons, named Vīrabhadra and Yaśobhadra, endowed with all virtues, were princes who spoke kindly.
पितृभक्तौ सदा शांतौ बलिनौ धर्मतत्परौ । ततः स भूपः सहसा राजनीति विदांवरः
Always devoted to their father, peaceful, strong, and intent on righteousness; then that king, suddenly, the foremost in statecraft,
विभज्य सकलं राज्यं ददौ ताभ्यां कुतूहलात् । अत्रांतरे गृध्र एकः स्वकीयस्त्री समन्वितः
Divided the entire kingdom and gave it to them out of curiosity. Meanwhile, a vulture, accompanied by his own mate,
आगत्य तत्सभामध्ये उपविष्टो द्विजोत्तमाः । तावागतौ समालोक्य पक्षिणावतिहर्षितौ
Arrived and sat in the midst of that assembly, O best of twice-born; seeing them arrive, the birds were filled with joy.
राजाह युवयोः कस्माच्छुभागमनमुच्यताम् । गृध्र उवाच- गृध्रोऽहं पृथिवीपाल ममेयं स्त्री परंतपः
The king said, 'Tell me, for what auspicious reason have you two come?' The vulture spoke— 'I am a vulture, O protector of the earth, and this is my mate, O scorcher of foes.'
आगतोऽस्मि मुदा द्रष्टुं संपदं पुत्रयोस्तव । एतयोर्महती दृष्टा विपत्तिः पूर्वजन्मनि
I have come joyfully to see the prosperity of your sons; in their previous birth, a great calamity was seen.
इह जन्मनि संपत्तिं द्रष्टुमावां समागतौ । तस्यैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गृध्रस्य परमाद्भुतम् । राजोवाच पुनर्विप्र विस्मयाविष्टमानसः
In this birth, we have come to witness their prosperity; hearing this most wondrous speech of the vulture, the king, his mind seized by amazement, spoke again to the sage.