निर्विण्णमानसो दैवान्नंदनामेह संगतः । एवं पंचापि पापिष्ठाः स्थानमेकमुपागताः
With minds weary and dejected, they gathered here at Nandana by fate; thus, all five great sinners arrived at the same place.
कः कस्यापि न संपर्कं भोजनाच्छादनादिभिः । न करोति महाभाग विना वार्तां द्विजोत्तम
No one among them, O most fortunate one, engages in any contact—such as eating or sharing shelter—without first conversing, O best of twice-born.
विशंत्येकासने नैव न स्वपंत्येकसंस्तरे । एवं दुःखसमाक्रांता नानातीर्थेषु वै गताः
They do not sit together on the same seat, nor do they sleep on the same bedding; thus, afflicted by suffering, they have wandered to various holy places.
नास्माकं पातकं घोरं प्रयाति मुनिसत्तम । दृष्ट्वा भवंतं दीप्यंतं प्रसन्नानि मनांसि नः
Our terrible sin, O best of sages, does not depart; but seeing you shining before us, our minds become serene.
वदंति दुरितप्रांतं साधोस्ते पुण्यदर्शनात् । उपायं वद नः स्वामिन्यथा पापक्षयो हि नः
It is said that the end of misfortune comes from beholding the virtuous; O master, tell us a means by which our sins may be destroyed.
ज्ञायते करुणोऽस्माभिर्विप्र वेदार्थवित्प्रभो । आर्तानां मार्गमाणानां पश्चात्तापमुपेयुषाम्
We recognize your compassion, O learned knower of the Vedas; for those who are suffering, seeking a way, and filled with remorse.
मोहादवाप्तपापानां त्वमुद्धर्तासि निश्चितम् । नारद उवाच- तेषामिति वचः श्रुत्वा मुनिशर्मा मुनिस्ततः
You are certainly the deliverer of those who have incurred sin out of delusion; Narada said—Hearing these words, the sage Munisharma then replied.
इदमाह विचार्येति करुणावरुणालयः । मुनिशर्मोवाच- यूयमज्ञानतः प्राप्तपातकाः सत्यभाषिणः
He, the abode of compassion and mercy, after considering, spoke these words: Munisharma said—You have incurred sin out of ignorance, though you speak the truth.
अनुतापयुतास्तस्मादनुग्राह्या मयाधुना । शृणुध्वं मे वचः सत्यमूर्ध्वबाहुर्वदाम्यहम्
Because you are filled with repentance, you are now worthy of my grace; listen to my true words, which I declare with uplifted hand.
यन्मयांगिरसः पूर्वं श्रुतं मुनिसमागमे । दृष्टं वेदेषु शास्त्रेषु श्रुतं गुरुमुखात्तथा
What I once heard from Angiras in an assembly of sages, what is seen in the Vedas and scriptures, and what I have learned from my teacher’s lips—
विष्णुनाराधितेनादौ स्वयमुक्तं च तत्त्वतः । न तृप्तिरशनादन्या न गुरुर्जनकादपि
—and what was first spoken truly by Vishnu, worshipped at the beginning: there is no satisfaction apart from food, no teacher greater than one’s father.
न पात्रमन्यद्विप्रेभ्यो न देवः केशवात्परः । न गंगया समं तीर्थं न दानं सुरभीसमम्
There is no recipient greater than the Brahmins, no god higher than Keshava; no holy place equal to the Ganga, no gift equal to the cow.
न गायत्र्या समं जाप्यं न द्वादश्यासमं व्रतम् । न भार्यया समं मित्रं न धर्मो दयया समः
There is no recitation equal to Gayatri, no vow equal to Dvadashi; no friend like a wife, no righteousness equal to compassion.
न स्वातंत्र्यसमं सौख्यं गार्हस्थ्यान्नाश्रमो वरः । न सत्यात्परआचारो न संतोषात्परं सुखम्
There is no happiness like independence, no stage of life superior to the householder’s; no conduct higher than truth, no happiness greater than contentment.
न माधवसमो मासो महापापहरः परः । विधिनानुष्ठितो भक्त्या मधुसूदनवल्लभः
There is no month like Madhava for destroying great sins; when observed properly with devotion, it is dear to Madhusudana.
गंगादिषु च तीर्थेषु विशेषेण सुदुर्लभः । प्रायश्चित्तानि सर्वाणि द्वादशाब्दमुखानि च
Even among holy places like the Ganga and others, it is especially rare; all acts of atonement, even those lasting twelve years—
तावद्गर्जंति पापानि यावन्नायाति माधवः । वैशाखमखिलं मासं यः स्नाति हरितत्परः
—sins continue to roar until Madhava arrives; whoever bathes with devotion for the entire month of Vaishakha—
हरिपादसमुद्भूते सलिले विमलाशयः । स एव सर्वपापानां हंता दृष्टस्तु पापिभिः
—in water that has touched the feet of Hari, with pure intent, he alone is seen by sinners as the destroyer of all sins.
निजपापौघनिष्कृत्यै वक्तव्यं तस्य किन्नरैः
For the removal of his accumulated sins, it should be spoken by the Kinnaras.
मासे तु वै माधवसंज्ञकेऽस्मिन्यः स्नाति पापैः स विमुच्यते हि । मेषस्थिते संप्रति नर्मदायाः शर्मप्रदे वारिणि वारिताघे
In this month called Mādhava, whoever bathes is indeed freed from sins; when the Sun is in Aries, in the waters of Narmadā that grant happiness, the sinful are cleansed.
दुर्लभा हि महानद्यो माधवे मासि सर्वशः । ततोऽपि दुर्लभा गंगा रेवा च यमुना तथा
The great rivers are indeed difficult to access in the Mādhava month everywhere; even more difficult are Gaṅgā, Revā, and likewise Yamunā.
एतासु तिसृषु प्रायः प्राप्यैकामपि सादरम् । यः स्नाति माधवे मासि विपापः स हरिं व्रजेत्
Among these three, if one attains even a single river with reverence and bathes in the Mādhava month, he becomes free from sin and goes to Hari.
तस्मादहो सह मया सुकृतैकसारे वैशाखमासि च भवंत उपेत्य रेवाम् । मज्जंतु पातककृतो मुनिवृंदजुष्टे रेवाजले निखिलपापभयापहत्यै
Therefore, O friends, together with me, in the essence of virtue, come in the month of Vaiśākha to Revā; let those who have committed sins immerse themselves in the waters of Revā, cherished by sages, to dispel all fear of sin.
एवमुक्तास्ततः सर्वे मुदिता मुनिना सह । जग्मुस्ते पापिनो रेवां शंसंतोऽद्भुतकारिणीम्
Thus addressed, all the sinners, joyful together with the sage, went to Revā, praising her wondrous deeds.
मुनिशर्मा ततो गच्छंस्तैस्तथानुगतो नरैः । ददर्श पथिसंत्रस्तान्पिशाचानष्ट भीषणान्
Muniśarmā, proceeding along with them as they followed, saw terrifying, lost piśācas wandering the path.
कुर्वंतो विविधाञ्छब्दान्भ्रमंतोऽपि ततस्ततः । ऊर्द्ध्वकेशोर्द्ध्वरक्तांश्च कृष्णदंतकृशोदरान्
Making various sounds, wandering here and there, with hair standing upright, blood rising, black teeth, and emaciated bellies.
अरण्ये कंटकाक्रांते वृक्षपानीयवर्जिते । सम्मुखं धावतो दृष्ट्वा भयसंविग्नमानसः
In a forest overrun with thorns, devoid of water from trees, seeing them rushing headlong, his mind was seized with fear.
नमोनारायणायेति रक्षरक्षेति चाब्रवीत्
He spoke: 'Salutations to Nārāyaṇa! Protect, protect!'
नारायणायेति नमोभिधानमाकर्ण्य धर्मैकनिधानमुच्चैः । भवांतरे ते मनसा पिशाचा ययुर्निजादृष्टवशेन लब्धाः
Hearing the utterance 'Salutations to Nārāyaṇa,' loudly addressed to the sole repository of Dharma, in another existence, those piśācas departed by the force of their own vision.
विनयान्वितमनसो मुनिशर्मा विलोक्य तान् । उवाच मधुराभाषी के यूयं विकृता नराः
Seeing them, Muniśarmā, whose mind was filled with humility, spoke sweetly: 'Who are you, distorted men?'