भीष्म उवाच। किं कृतं ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मन्प्रेष्य वाराणसीपुरीम्। जनार्दनेन किं कर्म शंकरेण च यन्मुने
Bhīṣma said: What did Brahmā do, O Brāhmaṇa, after sending him to the city of Vārāṇasī? What actions did Janārdana and Śaṅkara perform, O sage?
कथं यज्ञः कृतस्तेन कस्मिंस्तीर्थे वदस्व मे। के सदस्या ऋत्विजश्च सर्वांस्तान्प्रब्रवीहि मे
Tell me, at which sacred place did he perform the sacrifice? Who were the members and officiating priests? Please describe them all to me.
के देवास्तर्पितास्तेन एतन्मे कौतुकं महत्। पुलस्त्य उवाच। श्रीनिधानं पुरं मेरोः शिखरे रत्नचित्रितम्
Which gods were satisfied by him? This is my great curiosity. Pulastya said: On the summit of Mount Meru was the city called Śrīnidhāna, adorned with jewels.
अनेकाश्चर्यनिलयंबहुपादपसंकुलम्। विचित्रधातुभिश्चित्रं स्वच्छस्फटिकनिर्मलम्
It was a dwelling of many wonders, thick with many trees, resplendent with various minerals, and clear as pure crystal.
लतावितानशोभाढ्यं शिखिशब्दविनादितम्। मृगेन्द्ररववित्रस्त गजयूथसमाकुलम्
Rich with the beauty of vine canopies, filled with the cries of peacocks, and crowded with herds of elephants startled by the roar of lions.
निर्झरांबुप्रपातोत्थ शीकरासारशीतलम्। वाताहततरुव्रात प्रसन्नापानचित्रितम्
Cooled by the fine spray from waterfalls and streams, its groves swayed by the wind, and adorned with delightful drinking places.
मृगनाभिवरामोद वासिताशेषकाननम्। लतागृहरतिश्रान्त सुप्तविद्याधराध्वगम्
The entire forest was perfumed with musk, and Vidyādharas, weary from love-play in vine bowers, lay asleep along the paths.
प्रगीतकिन्नरव्रात मधुरध्वनिनादितम्। तस्मिन्ननेकविन्यास शोभिताशेषभूमिकम्
The place resounded with the sweet music sung by groups of Kinnaras, and all the grounds were splendid with various arrangements.
वैराजं नाम भवनं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। तत्र दिव्यांगनोद्गीत मधुरध्वनि नादिता
There stood the palace called Vairāja, belonging to Brahmā the Supreme Lord, filled with the sweet sounds of celestial women singing.
पारिजाततरूत्पन्न मंजरीदाममालिनी। रत्नरश्मिसमूहोत्थ बहुवर्णविचित्रिता
Garlands of blossoms from Pārijāta trees adorned it, and it was decorated with a multitude of radiant, multicolored jewels.
विन्यस्तस्तंभकोटिस्तु निर्मलादर्शशोभिता। अप्सरोनृत्यविन्यास विलासोल्लासलासिता
Its many pillars were set in place, shining like spotless mirrors, and it was enlivened by the graceful dances of the Apsarases.
बह्वातोद्यसमुत्पन्नसमूहस्वननादिता। लयतालयुतानेक गीतवादित्र शोभिता
It echoed with the sounds of many musical ensembles, and was adorned with various songs and instruments, both rhythmic and melodic.
सभा कांतिमती नाम देवानां शर्मदायिका। ऋषिसंघसमायुक्ता मुनिवृंदनिषेविता
There was a splendid assembly hall called Kāntimatī, bestower of happiness to the gods, attended by groups of seers and served by assemblies of sages.
द्विजातिसामशब्देन नादिताऽऽनंददायिनी। तस्यां निविष्टो देवेशस्संध्यासक्तः पितामहः
It resounded with the joyful chanting of twice-born sages, and in that hall, the Lord of the gods, Brahmā, absorbed in meditation, was seated.
ध्यायति स्म परं देवं येनेदं निर्मितं जगत्। ध्यायतो बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना कथं यज्ञं करोम्यहम्
He meditated upon the Supreme God, by whom this world was created; as he meditated, a thought arose: 'How shall I perform the sacrifice?'
कस्मिन्स्थाने मया यज्ञः कार्यः कुत्र धरातले। काशीप्रयागस्तुंगा च नैमिषं शृंखलं तथा
'In which place should I perform the sacrifice, and where upon the earth? Is it at Kāśī, Prayāga, Tuṅgā, Naimiṣa, or Śṛṅkhala?'
कांची भद्रा देविका च कुरुक्षेत्रं सरस्वती। प्रभासादीनि तीर्थानि पृथिव्यामिह मध्यतः
'Is it at Kāñcī, Bhadrā, Devikā, Kurukṣetra, Sarasvatī, or at the holy places like Prabhāsa and others, which are in the midst of the earth?'
क्षेत्राणि पुण्यतीर्थानि संति यानीह सर्वशः। मदादेशाच्च रुद्रेण कृतान्यन्यानि भूतले
'There are sacred fields and holy places everywhere here; and, by my command, Rudra has made other places upon the earth.'
यथाहं सर्वदेवेषु आदिदेवो व्यवस्थितः। तथा चैकं परं तीर्थमादिभूतं करोम्यहम्
'Just as I am established as the primeval god among all the gods, so too will I make one supreme, original holy place.'
अहं यत्र समुत्पन्नः पद्मं तद्विष्णुनाभिजम्। पुष्करं प्रोच्यते तीर्थमृषिभिर्वेदपाठकैः
'Where I was born, the lotus sprung from Viṣṇu's navel—that holy place is called Puṣkara by the sages who recite the Vedas.'
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य ब्रह्मणस्तु प्रजापतेः। मतिरेषा समुत्पन्ना व्रजाम्येष धरातले
As Brahmā, the Lord of Creatures, was thus reflecting, this thought arose in his mind: 'I shall go to the earth.'
प्राक्स्थानं स समासाद्य प्रविष्टस्तद्वनोत्तमम्। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं नानापुष्पोपशोभितम्
Having reached the eastern path, he entered that excellent forest, adorned with various trees and creepers, and beautified by many kinds of flowers.
नानापक्षिरवाकीर्णं नानामृगगणाकुलम्। द्रुमपुष्पभरामोदैर्वासयद्यत्सुरासुरान्
Filled with the sounds of many birds and crowded with various groups of animals, its fragrance from the abundance of blossoming trees delighted gods and demons alike.
बुद्धिपूर्वमिव न्यस्तैः पुष्पैर्भूषितभूतलम्। नानागंधरसैः पक्वापक्वैश्च षडृतूद्भवैः
The ground was adorned as if thoughtfully arranged, with flowers of many kinds, with ripe and unripe fruits of the six seasons, each with its own fragrance and taste.
फलैः सुवर्णरूपाढ्यैर्घ्राणदृष्टिमनोहरैः। जीर्णं पत्रं तृणं यत्र शुष्ककाष्ठफलानि च
There were fruits, golden in form, delightful to smell and see; there, fallen leaves, grass, dry wood, and fruits lay scattered.
बहिः क्षिपति जातानि मारुतोनुग्रहादिव। नानापुष्पसमूहानां गंधमादाय मारुतः
The wind, as if by its favor, cast away what had fallen outside; carrying the fragrance of clusters of various flowers, the breeze moved about.
शीतलो वाति खं भूमिं दिशो यत्राभिवासयन्। हरितस्निग्ध निश्छिद्रैरकीटकवनोत्कटैः
A cool wind blew, refreshing sky, earth, and directions, among lush, green, unblemished, and insect-free groves.
वृक्षैरनेकसंज्ञैर्यद्भूषितं शिखरान्वितैः। अरोगैर्दर्शनीयैश्च सुवृत्तैः कैश्चिदुज्ज्वलैः
It was adorned with many kinds of trees, each with its own name, crowned with lofty branches, healthy, pleasing to behold, well-shaped, and some shining brightly.
कुटुंबमिव विप्राणामृत्विग्भिर्भाति सर्वतः। शोभंते धातुसंकाशैरंकुरैः प्रावृता द्रुमाः
It shone everywhere like the household of brahmins filled with priests; the trees were covered with shoots resembling minerals, enhancing their beauty.
कुलीनैरिव निश्छिद्रैः स्वगुणैः प्रावृता नराः। पवनाविद्धशिखरैः स्पृशंतीव परस्परम्
Men, noble and flawless, adorned with their own virtues, were like the trees, whose tops, swayed by the wind, seemed to touch one another.