ततो देवेन ते शप्ता यूयं वेदविवर्जिताः। ऊर्ध्वजटाः क्रतुभ्रष्टाः परदारोपसेविनः
Then, by the god, they were cursed: 'You shall be deprived of the Vedas, with matted hair, fallen from sacrifices, and indulging with others' wives.'
वेश्यायान्तु रता द्यूते पितृमातृविवर्जिताः। न पुत्रः पैतृकं वित्तं विद्यां वापि गमिष्यति
'Devoted to prostitutes and gambling, bereft of father and mother, neither son nor ancestral wealth nor knowledge will remain with you.'
सर्वे च मोहिताः सन्तु सर्वेंद्रियविवर्जिताः। रौद्रीं भिक्षां समश्नंतु परपिण्डोपजीविनः
'All shall be deluded, deprived of all senses, subsisting on fierce alms, living off the food of others.'
आत्मानं वर्तयन्तश्च निर्ममा धर्मवर्जिताः। कृपार्पिता तु यैर्विप्रैरुन्मत्ते मयि सांप्रतम्
'Sustaining themselves, without possessiveness, devoid of righteousness; but those brāhmaṇas who showed compassion to me, now appearing as a madman—'
तेषां धनं च पुत्राश्च दासीदासमजाविकम्। कुलोत्पन्नाश्च वै नार्यो मयि तुष्टे भवन्विह
'Their wealth, sons, servants, maidservants, means of livelihood, and women born in their lineage shall remain, if I am pleased.'
एवं शापं वरं चैव दत्वान्तर्द्धानमीश्वरः। गतो द्विजागते देवे मत्वा तं शंकरं प्रभुम्
Thus, having given both curse and boon, the Lord vanished; when the god departed, the brāhmaṇas considered him to be Śaṃkara, the master.
अन्विष्यन्तोपि यत्नेन न चापश्यंत ते यदा। तदा नियमसंपन्नाः पुष्करारण्यमागताः
Though they searched with effort, they could not see him; then, observing their vows, they went to the Puṣkara forest.
स्नात्वा ज्येष्ठसरो विप्रा जेपुस्ते शतरुद्रियम्। जाप्यावसाने देवस्तानशीररगिराऽब्रवीत्
Having bathed in the chief lake, the brāhmaṇas recited the Śatarudriya; at the conclusion of the recitation, the god spoke to them with a voice from the sky.
अनृतं न मया प्रोक्तं स्वैरेष्वपि कुतःपुनः। आगते निग्रहे क्षेमं भूयोपि करवाण्यहम्
"I have not spoken falsehood, not even among the free; when discipline is restored, I will again grant well-being."
शान्ता दांता द्विजा ये तु भक्तिमन्तो मयि स्थिराः। न तेषां छिद्यते वेदो न धनं नापि सन्ततिः
"Those brāhmaṇas who are peaceful, self-controlled, and steadfastly devoted to me—their Veda, wealth, and lineage will not be cut off."
अग्निहोत्ररता ये च भक्तिमन्तो जनार्दने। पूजयन्ति च ब्रह्माणंतेजोराशिं दिवाकरम्
"Those who are devoted to Agnihotra, and steadfast in devotion to Janārdana, who worship Brahmā and the radiant sun—"
नाशुभं विद्यते तेषां येषां साम्ये स्थिता मतिः। एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं तूष्णीं भूतस्तु सोऽभवत्
"No misfortune befalls those whose minds are established in equality; having spoken thus, he became silent."
लब्ध्वा वरं सप्रसादं देवदेवान्महेश्वरात्। आजग्मुः सहितास्सर्वे यत्र देवःपितामहः
Having received the boon with favor from the great lord of gods, all of them together went to where the divine grandfather was.
विरिञ्चिं संहिताजाप्यैस्तोषयंतोऽग्रतःस्थिताः। तुष्टस्तानब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा मत्तोपि व्रियतां वरः
Standing before Virinchi, they pleased him with united chants and prayers; Brahma, satisfied, said to them: 'Let a boon be chosen from me.'
ब्रह्मणस्तेनवाक्येन हृष्टाः सर्वे द्विजोत्तमाः। को वरो याच्यतां विप्राः परितुष्टे पितामहे
By Brahma's words, all the foremost twice-born were delighted; 'What boon should be requested, O Brahmins, when the grandfather is pleased?'
अग्निहोत्राणि वेदाश्च शास्त्राणि विविधानि च। सान्तानिकाश्च ये लोका वरदानाद्भवंतु नः
May the fire rituals, the Vedas, the various scriptures, and the worlds of progeny—may all these arise for us through the granting of boons.
एवं प्रजल्पतां तत्र विप्राणां कोपमाविशत्। के यूयं केत्र प्रवरा वयं श्रेष्ठास्तथापरे
As the Brahmins spoke thus, anger arose among them there: 'Who are you, who are the best? We are the foremost, and so are others.'
नेतिनेति तथा विप्रा द्विजांस्तांस्तत्र संस्थितान्। ब्रह्मोवाचाभिसंप्रेक्ष्य ब्राह्मणान्क्रोधपूरितान्
Thus, the Brahmins, saying 'Not so, not so,' to those twice-born assembled there, Brahma, seeing the Brahmins filled with anger, spoke.
यस्माद्यूयं त्रिभिर्भागैः सभायां बाह्यतः स्थिताः। तस्मादामूलिको गुल्मो ह्येको भवतु वोद्विजाः
Because you stood outside the assembly in three groups, therefore, O twice-born, let there be one rootless bush among you.
उदासीनाः स्थिता ये तु उदासीना भवंतु ते। सायुधाबद्धनिस्त्रिंशा योद्धुकामा व्यवस्थिताः
Those who stood indifferent shall remain indifferent; those armed, girded with swords, who stood ready to fight.
कौशिकीति गणो नाम तृतीयो भवतु द्विजाः। त्रिधाबद्धमिदं स्थानं सर्वं युष्मद्भविष्यति
Let the third group of Brahmins be called the Kauśiki; this entire place, divided in three ways, shall belong to you all.
बाह्यतो लोकशब्देन प्रोच्यमानाः प्रजास्त्विह। अविज्ञेयमिदं स्थानं विष्णुः पालयिता ध्रुवम्
Those who are called 'people' from outside by the word 'world'—this place is not to be known; Vishnu will surely protect it.
मया दत्तं चिरस्थायि अभंगं चभविष्यति। एवमुक्त्वा तदा ब्रह्मा समाप्तिंतामवैक्षत
What I have given will be lasting and unbroken; having spoken thus, Brahma then looked upon the completion.
ब्राह्मणाः सहितास्ते तु क्रोधामर्षसमन्विताः। अतिथिं भोजयानाश्च वेदाभ्यासरतास्तु ते
Those Brahmins, united, filled with anger and resentment, continued to honor guests and were devoted to the study of the Vedas.
एतच्च परमं क्षेत्रं पुष्करं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्। तत्रस्था ये द्विजाः शांता वसंति क्षेत्रवासिनः
And this supreme field, called Puṣkara, is named after Brahma; those peaceful twice-born who dwell there are residents of the field.
न तेषां दुर्लभं किंचिद्ब्रह्मलोके भविष्यति। कोकामुखे कुरुक्षेत्रे नैमिषे ऋषिसंगमे
For them, nothing is difficult to obtain in the world of Brahma; whether at Kokāmukha, Kurukṣetra, or at the meeting of sages in Naimisha.
वाराणस्यां प्रभासे च तथा बदरिकाश्रमे। गंगाद्वारे प्रयागे च गंगासागरसंगमे
At Vārāṇasī, Prabhāsa, and likewise at Badarikāśrama, at the gateway of the Ganges, at Prayāga, and at the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean.
रुद्रकोट्यां विरूपाक्षे मित्रस्यापि तथा वने। तीर्थेष्वेतेषु सर्वेषु सिद्धिर्या द्वादशाब्दिका
At Rudrakoṭi, at Virūpākṣa, and also in the forest of Mitra; in all these sacred places, the accomplishment that takes twelve years.
प्राप्यते मानवैर्लोके षण्मासाद्राजसत्तम। पुष्करे तु न संदेहो ब्रह्मचर्यमना यदि
Is attained by men in six months, O best of kings; but at Puṣkara, there is no doubt, if one's mind is set on celibacy.
तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं क्षेत्राणामपि चोत्तमम्। सदा तु पूजितं पूज्यैर्भक्तियुक्तैः पितामहे
Of all sacred places, it is the supreme; of all fields, it is the highest; always worshipped by the worthy, with devotion, by the grandfather.