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.
बह्वाश्चर्यसमोपेतैः क्रीडाविज्ञानशालिभिः। सुप्रभैर्गुणसंपन्नैर्मयूरवरवाहिभिः
Endowed with many wondrous marvels, with those skilled in play and knowledge, shining brightly, possessed of virtues, and drawn by excellent peacocks.
ब्रह्मलोके नरा धीरा रमंते नाशके मृताः। तत्रोषित्वा चिरं कालं भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथेप्सितान्
In the world of Brahma, the steadfast men who die in Pushkara rejoice; having dwelled there for a long time, they enjoy pleasures as they desire.
धनी विप्नकुले भोगी जायते मर्त्यमागतः। कारीषीं साधयेद्यस्तु पुष्करे तु वने नरः
When returning to the mortal world, they are born in wealthy and prosperous families, enjoying pleasures; but the man who accomplishes the Kārīṣī rite in the forest of Pushkara—
सर्वलोकान्परित्यज्य ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति। ब्रह्मलोके वसेत्तावद्यावत्कल्पक्षयो भवेत्
Abandoning all other worlds, he goes to the world of Brahma; he dwells in Brahma's world until the end of the aeon.
नैव पश्यति मर्त्यं हि क्लिश्यमानं स्वकर्मभिः। गतिस्तस्याऽप्रतिहता तिर्यगूर्ध्वमधस्तथा
He does not see mortals tormented by their own actions; his path is unobstructed—whether across, above, or below.
स पूज्यः सर्वलोकेषु यशो विस्तारयन्वशी। सदाचारविधिप्रज्ञः सर्वेन्द्रिय मनोहरः
He is honored in all worlds, spreading his fame, self-controlled, wise in the rules of good conduct, and captivating to all the senses.
नृत्यवादित्रगीतज्ञः सुभगः प्रियदर्शनः। नित्यमम्लानकुसुमो दिव्याभरणभूषितः
Skilled in dance, music, and song, charming and pleasant to behold, always adorned with unwithered flowers and divine ornaments.
नीलोत्पलदलश्यामो नीलकुंचितमूर्द्धजः। अजघन्याः सुमध्याश्च सर्वसौभाग्यपूरिताः
With a complexion dark as the petal of the blue lotus, with curly dark hair; his companions are of unsurpassed beauty, slender-waisted, and filled with all auspiciousness.
सर्वैश्वर्यगुणोपेता यौवनेनातिगर्विताः। स्त्रियः सेवंति तत्रस्थाः शयने रमयंति च
Women endowed with all qualities of prosperity, exceedingly proud of their youth, serve those who dwell there and delight them upon the couch.
वीणावेणुनिनादैश्च सुप्तः संप्रतिबुध्यते। महोत्सवसुखं भुंक्ते दुःप्राप्यमकृतात्मभिः२५० 1.15.
He, awakened from sleep by the sounds of the lute and flute, enjoys the happiness of a great festival—happiness difficult to obtain for those who have not mastered themselves.