पुष्करारण्यमासाद्य ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमे स्थितः। अभ्यासेन तु वेदानां वसति म्रियतेपि वा
Having reached the Puṣkara forest and established in the stage of celibacy, by practice of the Vedas he dwells there, or even dies.
मृतोऽसौ याति दिव्येन विमानेन स्वतेजसा। पूर्णचंद्रप्रकाशेन शशिवत्प्रियदर्शनः
When he dies, he goes in a divine chariot, radiant with his own splendor, shining like the full moon, delightful to behold like the moon.
रुद्रलोकं समासाद्य गुह्यकैः सह मोदते। ऐश्वर्यं महदाप्नोति सर्वस्य जगतः प्रभुः
Reaching the realm of Rudra, he delights together with the secret beings; he attains great sovereignty, becoming lord over all the worlds.
भुक्त्वा युगसहस्राणि रुद्रलोके महीयते। प्रच्युतस्तु पुनस्तस्माद्रुद्रलोकात्क्रमेण तु
Having enjoyed honor in Rudra's realm for thousands of ages, when he eventually departs from there, he proceeds onward in due course.
नित्यं प्रमुदितस्तत्र भुक्त्वा सुखमनामयम्। द्विजानां सदने दिव्ये कुले महति जायते
Always joyful there, having enjoyed flawless happiness, he is born in a great and divine family of twice-borns.
मानुषेषु स धर्म्मात्मा सुरूपो वाक्पतिर्भवेत्। स्पृहणीयवपुः स्त्रीणाम्महाभोगपतिर्बली
Among humans, he is righteous, handsome, eloquent; possessing a form desirable to women, he is a lord of great pleasures and strong.
वानप्रस्थसमाचारी ग्राम्यौषधिविवर्जितः। सर्वलोकेषु चाप्यस्य गतिर्न प्रतिहन्यते
Practicing the ways of a forest-dweller, avoiding village medicines, his progress is never hindered in any world.
शीर्णपर्णफलाहारः पुष्पमूलांबुभोजनः। कापोतेनाश्मकुट्टेन दंतोलूखलिकेन च
He subsists on dried leaves and fruits, eats flowers, roots, and water; using the pigeon’s stone, the grinding stone, and the tooth-pestle.
वृत्युपायेन जीवेत चीरवल्कलवाससा। जटीत्रिषवणस्नायी त्यक्तदोषस्तु दंडवान्
He lives by whatever means, wearing bark and rough cloth; matted-haired, thrice-bathed, free from faults, carrying a staff.
कृच्छ्रव्रतपरो यस्तु श्वपचो यदि वा परः। जलशायी पंचतपा वर्षास्वभ्रावगाहकः
Whoever is devoted to difficult vows, even if he is an outcaste or the highest, sleeping on water, practicing the five fires, entering caves during rains.
कीटकंटकपाषाणभूम्यां तु शयनं तथा। स्थानवीरासनरतः संविभागी दृढव्रतः
He lies on ground with insects, thorns, and stones; devoted to standing, heroic postures, sharing, and steadfast vows.
अरण्यौषधिभोक्ता च सर्वभूताभयप्रदः। नित्यं धर्मार्जनरतो जितक्रोधो जितेंद्रियः
He eats forest herbs, grants fearlessness to all beings; always intent on acquiring righteousness, he has conquered anger and his senses.
ब्रह्मभक्तः क्षेत्रवासी पुष्करे वसते मुनिः। सर्वसंगपरित्यागी स्वारामो विगतस्पृहः
Devoted to Brahman, dwelling in sacred places, the sage lives at Puṣkara; renouncing all attachments, self-contented, free from longing.
यश्चात्र वसते भीष्म शृणु तस्यापि या गतिः। तरुणार्कप्रकाशेन वेदिकास्तंभशोभिना
And whoever dwells here, Bhīṣma, listen to his destiny: with altars adorned by pillars shining like the young sun.
ब्रह्मभक्तो विमानेन याति कामप्रचारिणाम्। विराजमानो नभसि द्वितीय इव चंद्रमाः
Devoted to Brahman, he travels in a celestial vehicle among those who move at will; shining in the sky like a second moon.
गीतवादित्रनृत्यज्ञैर्गंधर्वाप्सरसांगणैः। अप्सरोभिः समायुक्तो वर्षकोटिशतान्यसौ
Accompanied by Gandharvas and Apsaras skilled in song, music, and dance, together with Apsaras, he enjoys for hundreds of millions of years.
यस्य कस्यापि देवस्य लोकं यात्यनिवारितः। ब्रह्मणोऽनुग्रहेणैव तत्रतत्र विराजते
He goes, unobstructed, to the realm of any deity whatsoever; by the grace of Brahman, he shines forth here and there.
ब्रह्मलोकाच्च्युतश्चापि विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति। विष्णुलोकात्परिभ्रष्टो रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति
Even if he falls from Brahma's world, he goes to Vishnu's realm; if he falls from Vishnu's realm, he goes to Rudra's realm.
तस्मादपि च्युतः स्थानाद्द्वीपेषु स हि जायते। स्वर्गेषु च तथान्येषु भोगान्भुक्त्वा यथेप्सितान्
If he falls from that place as well, he is born on the islands; and likewise in other heavens, enjoying pleasures as he desires.
भुक्त्वैश्वर्यं ततस्तेषु पुनर्मर्त्येषु जायते। राजा वा राजपुत्रो वा जायते धनवान्सुखी
Having enjoyed sovereignty in those places, he is again born among mortals; he becomes either a king or a prince, wealthy and happy.
सुरूपः सुभगः कांतः कीर्तिमान्भक्तिभावितः। ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा वा क्षेत्रवासिनः
Whether Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, or Shudras, or those who dwell in the fields—if they are handsome, fortunate, beloved, renowned, and filled with devotion—
स्वधर्मनिरता राजन्सुवृत्ताश्चिरजीविनः। सर्वात्मना ब्रह्मभक्ता भूतानुग्रहकारिणः
O King, those who are devoted to their own duties, of good conduct, long-lived, wholly devoted to Brahman, and compassionate to all beings—
पुष्करे तु महाक्षेत्रे ये वसंति मुमुक्षवः। मृतास्ते ब्रह्मभवनं विमानैर्यांति शोभनैः
Those seekers of liberation who dwell in the great sacred place of Pushkara, when they die, ascend to the abode of Brahma in splendid aerial chariots.
अप्सरोगणसंघुष्टैः कामगैः कामरूपिभिः। अथवा सर्वदीप्ताग्नौ स्वशरीरं जुहोति यः
Accompanied by hosts of Apsaras, by wish-fulfilling and form-changing beings—or if one offers his own body into the ever-blazing fire—
ब्रह्मध्यायी महासत्वस्स ब्रह्मभवनं व्रजेत्। ब्रह्मलोकोऽक्षयस्तस्य शाश्वतो विभवैः सह
A great-souled one who meditates on Brahman goes to the abode of Brahma; for him, the world of Brahma is undecaying and eternal, together with its enjoyments.
सर्वलोकोत्तमो रम्यो भवतीष्टार्थसाधकः। पुष्करे तु महापुण्ये प्राणान्ये सलिले त्यजन्
That highest and most delightful world, fulfilling all desired aims—if one gives up his life in the sacred waters of Pushkara—
तेषामप्यक्षयो भीष्म ब्रह्मलोको महात्मनाम्। साक्षात्पश्यंति ते देवं सर्वदुःखविनाशनम्
For them too, O Bhishma, the world of Brahma is undecaying—the abode of the great-souled; there they directly behold the god who destroys all suffering.
सर्वामरयुतं देवं रुद्रविष्णुगणैर्युतम्। अनाशके मृताश्शूद्राः पुष्करे तु वने नराः
They see the god surrounded by countless immortals, with hosts of Rudras and Vishnus; and those men who die in the forest of Pushkara, even if Shudras, are not destroyed.
हंसयुक्तैस्ततो यांति विमानैरर्कसप्रभैः। नानारत्नसुवर्णाढ्यैर्दृढैर्गंधाधिवासितैः
Then they ascend in aerial chariots yoked with swans, radiant as the sun, adorned with various jewels and gold, strong and fragrant with perfumes.
अनौपम्यगुणैरन्यैरप्सरोगीतनादितैः। पताकाध्वजविन्यस्तैर्नानाघण्टानिनादितैः
With incomparable virtues and other excellences, resounding with the songs of Apsaras, adorned with banners and flags, and filled with the sounds of many bells.