न यास्यामो परं तीर्थं ज्येष्ठभावेत्विदं सरः। ज्येष्ठपुष्करमित्येव नाम चक्रुर्द्विजातयः
We shall not go to another holy place; this lake is the greatest. The twice-born named it 'Great Puṣkara.'
तत्र कुब्जान्बहून्दृष्ट्वा स्थितांस्तीर्थसमीपतः। बभूवुर्विस्मितास्तत्र जना ये च समागताः
There, seeing many hunchbacks near the holy place, all those who had gathered were astonished.
दत्वा दानं द्विजातिभ्यो भांडानि विविधानि च। श्रुत्वा सरस्वतीं प्राचीं स्नातुकामा द्विजागताः
Having given various gifts and goods to the twice-born, the Brahmins, they heard of the eastern Sarasvati and, desiring to bathe, the Brahmins arrived.
सरस्वतीतीर्थवरा नानाद्विजगणैर्युता। बदरेंगुदकाश्मर्य प्लक्षाश्वत्थविभीतकैः
The foremost holy places on the Sarasvati, crowded with groups of various Brahmins, were adorned with jujube, inguda, kashmarya, plaksha, asvattha, and vibhitaka trees.
पौलोमैश्च पलाशैश्च करीरैः पीलुभिस्तथा। सरस्वतीतीर्थरुहैर्धन्वनैः स्यंदनैस्तथा
Also with pauloma, palasha, karira, pilu trees, and with the groves and forests of Sarasvati's sacred places, as well as with syandana trees.
कपित्थैः करवीरैश्च बिल्वैराम्लातकैस्तथा। अतिमुक्तकपंडैश्च पारिजातैश्च शोभिता
Adorned with kapittha, karavira, bilva, amlataka, atimukta, kanda, and parijata trees.
कदंबवनभूयिष्ठा सर्वसत्वमनोरमा। वाय्वंबुफलपर्णादैर्दंतोलूखलिकैरपि
Abundant with kadamba groves, delightful to all beings, with fruits, leaves, and flowers moved by wind and water, and even with dantolukhalika trees.
तथाश्मकुट्टमुख्यैश्च वरिष्ठैर्मुनिभिर्वृता। स्वाध्यायघोषसंघुष्टा मृगयूथशताकुला
Also surrounded by the foremost sages, especially those who pound with stones, resounding with the chanting of self-study, and filled with hundreds of herds of deer.
अहिंसैर्धर्मपरमैस्तथा चातीव शोभिता। सुप्रभा कांचनाख्या च प्राची नंदा विशालका
It was also adorned by those devoted to non-violence and supreme righteousness; radiant, called Kanchana, the eastern Nanda, and Vishalaka.
स्रोतोभिः पंचभिस्तत्र वर्तते पुष्करे नदी। पितामहस्य सदसि वर्त्तमाने महीतले
There, the river flows in five streams at Pushkara, while the assembly of Brahma was taking place upon the earth.
वितते यज्ञवाटे तु स्वागतेषु द्विजादिषु। पुण्याहघोषैर्विततैर्देवानां नियमैस्तथा
When the sacrificial enclosure was prepared, and the Brahmins and others had arrived, the auspicious day was proclaimed, and the rules of the gods were observed.
देवेषु चैव व्यग्रेषु तस्मिन्यज्ञविधौ तथा। तत्र चैव महाराज दीक्षिते च पितामहे
And as the gods were engaged in that sacrificial rite, O great king, and Brahma himself had been initiated there.
यजतस्तस्य सत्रेण सर्वकामसमृद्धिना। मनसा चिंतिता ह्यर्था धर्मार्थकुशलास्तथा
As he performed the sacrifice, all his desires were fulfilled; the things he contemplated in his mind, skilled in righteousness and wealth, indeed appeared.
उपतिष्ठंति राजेंद्र द्विजातींस्तत्र तत्र ह। जगुश्च देवगंधर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः
O king, the twice-born attended him here and there; the gods and Gandharvas sang, and the groups of Apsaras danced.
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि वादयामासुरंजसा। तस्य यज्ञस्य संपत्या तुतुषुदेर्वता अपि
Divine instruments were played splendidly; by the success of that sacrifice, even the gods were satisfied.
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः किमु मानुषयोनयः। वर्तमाने तथा यज्ञे पुष्करस्थे पितामहे
They were filled with the utmost wonder—what then of human beings? While the sacrifice continued at Pushkara with Brahma present.
अब्रुवन्नृषयो भीष्म तदा तुष्टास्सरस्वतीम्। सुप्रभां नाम राजेंद्र नाम्ना चैव सरस्वतीम्
Then, O Bhishma, the sages, being pleased, addressed Sarasvati as Suprabha by name, and also as Sarasvati.
ते दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे वेगयुक्तां सरस्वतीम्। पितामहं भासयंतीं क्रतुं ते बहु मेनिरे
Seeing Sarasvati, swift-flowing and shining upon Brahma's sacrifice, all the sages regarded her as exceedingly great.
एवमेषा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा पुष्करेषु सरस्वती। पितामहार्थं सम्भूता तुष्ट्यर्थं च मनीषिणाम्
Thus, this best of rivers, Sarasvati, at Pushkara, arose for the sake of Brahma and for the satisfaction of the wise.
पुण्यस्य पुण्यताकारि पंचस्रोतास्सरस्वती। सुप्रभा नाम राजेंन्द्र नाम्ना चैव सरस्वती
Sarasvati, with five streams, made the holy even holier; O king, she is called Suprabha by name, and also Sarasvati.
यत्र ते मुनयश्शान्ता नानास्वाध्यायवादिनः। ते समागत्य ऋषयस्सस्मरुर्वै सरस्वतीम्
There, the peaceful sages, each expounding different teachings, gathered together and remembered Sarasvatī.
साभिध्याता महाभागा ऋषिभिः सत्रयाजिभिः। समास्थिता दिशं पूर्वां भक्तिप्रीता महानदी
Invoked by those great, sacrificial seers, the blessed river Sarasvatī, filled with devotion and love, appeared in the eastern direction.
प्राची पूर्वावहा नाम्ना मुनिवंद्या सरस्वती। इदमन्यन्महाराज शृण्वाश्चर्यवरं भुवि
The Sarasvatī, honored by sages, is called the Eastern-flowing One; now, O King, hear another wondrous tale on earth.
क्षतो मंकणको विप्रः कुशाग्रेणेति नः श्रुतम्। क्षतात्किल करे तस्य राजन्शाकरसोस्रवत्
We have heard that the brāhmaṇa Maṅkaṇaka was wounded by a blade of kuśa grass; from the wound on his hand, O King, sugarcane juice flowed.
स वै शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टः प्रनृत्तवान्। ततस्तस्मिन्प्रनृत्ते तु स्थावरं जंगमं च यत्
Seeing the sugarcane juice, he was overcome with joy and began to dance; then, as he danced, all that was movable and immovable there—
प्रानृत्यत जगत्सर्वं तेजसा तस्य मोहितम्। शक्रादिभिस्सुरै राजन्नृषिभिश्च तपोधनैः
—the entire world—danced as well, bewildered by his radiance; O King, the gods led by Indra and the ascetic sages were astonished.
विज्ञप्तस्तत्र वै ब्रह्मा नायं नृत्येत्तथा कुरु। आदिष्टो ब्रह्मणा रुद्र ऋषेरर्थे नराधिप
There, Brahmā was informed: 'He should not dance in this way.' At Brahmā’s command, Rudra was sent for the sake of the sage, O King.
नायं नृत्येद्यथा भीम तथा त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि। गत्वा रुद्रो मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टमतीव हि
'He must not dance so fiercely; you should tell him this.' Rudra went and, seeing the sage overwhelmed with joy—
भो भो विप्रर्षभ त्वं हि नृत्यसे केन हेतुना। नृत्यमानेन भवता जगत्सर्वं च नृत्यति
—said, 'O best of brāhmaṇas, for what reason are you dancing? As you dance, the whole world dances with you.'
तेनायं वारितः प्राह नृत्यन्वै मुनिसत्तमः। मुनिरुवाच। किं न पश्यसि मे देव कराच्छाकरसोस्रवत्
Thus restrained, the excellent sage continued dancing and replied: 'Do you not see, O god, that sugarcane juice flows from my hand?'