रैभ्यो बृहस्पतिश्चैव च्यवनः कश्यपो भृगुः। दुर्वासा जमदग्निश्च मार्कण्डेयोथ गालवः
Raibhya, Brihaspati, Cyavana, Kashyapa, Bhrigu, Durvasa, Jamadagni, Markandeya, and Galava,
उशनाथ भरद्वाजो यवक्रीतस्तथा मुनिः। स्थूलाक्षः सकलाक्षश्च कण्वो मेधातिथिः कृतः
Ushanas, Bharadvaja, Yavakrita the sage, Sthulaksha, Sakalaksha, Kanva, Medhatithi, and Krita,
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव स्वगंधी च्यवनो द्विजः। तृणाम्बु शबलो धौम्यः शतानंदो कृतव्रणः
Narada, Parvata, Svagandhi, Cyavana the twice-born, Trinambu, Shabala, Dhaumya, Shatananda, and Kritavrana,
जमदग्निस्तथा रामो ह्यष्टकश्चैवमादयः। कृष्णद्वैपायनश्चैव पुत्रशिष्यैः समन्वितः
Jamadagni, Rama, Ashtaka and others, and Krishna Dvaipayana together with his sons and disciples.
एते तु पुष्करं प्राप्य सप्तर्षीणामथाश्रमे। वेष्टिता नियमैश्चापि दयायुक्तास्तपस्विनः
These, upon reaching Pushkara, established the hermitage of the seven sages, surrounded by observances and endowed with compassion and austerity.
आनृशंस्यं जयो धैर्यं तपः सत्यं क्षमार्जवम्। दया दानं जपश्चैव सर्वेषां तत्प्रतिष्ठितं
Compassion, victory, courage, austerity, truth, patience, simplicity, kindness, charity, and recitation—these are established among them all.
इह यत्क्रियते कर्म तत्परत्रोपभुज्यते। ज्ञात्वा तदित्त्थं मुनयः परमार्थपरायणाः
Whatever action is performed here is enjoyed in the world beyond; knowing this, the sages are devoted to the highest truth.
न तत्र नास्तिका यांति न स्तेना नाजितेंद्रियाः। न नृशंसा न पिशुना न कृतघ्ना न मानिनः
There, atheists do not go, nor thieves, nor those lacking self-control; nor the cruel, nor slanderers, nor the ungrateful, nor the arrogant.
सत्य तेजस्विनः शूरा दयावंतः क्षमापराः। यज्वानो यज्ञशीलाश्च निरीहा निरुपद्रवाः
Truthful, radiant, courageous, compassionate, foremost in forgiveness, devoted to sacrifice and the practice of sacrifice, free from desire and harmless—
निर्ममा निरहंकारास्तत्र गच्छंति पुष्करे। न रोगो न जरामृत्युर्भवितात्र महात्मनां
Those who are without possessiveness and without pride go there to Puṣkara; for such great souls, there will be no disease, no old age, and no death.
न तत्र मूढा विशंति पुरुषा विषयात्मकाः। कामलोभमदद्रोह क्रोधमोहैरुपद्रुताः
There, deluded men, those who are attached to sense-objects, afflicted by desire, greed, intoxication, malice, anger, and delusion, do not enter.
तुल्य मानापमानाश्च निर्द्वंद्वास्संयतेंद्रियाः। ध्यानयोगपराश्चैव ते तु गच्छंति पुष्करं
Those who are equal in honor and dishonor, free from dualities, with controlled senses, and devoted to meditation and yoga—these indeed go to Puṣkara.
आश्रमेषु यथोक्तेषु यथोक्तं वै द्विजातयः। ये वर्तंते यमं त्रातुं तेषां लोका महोदयाः
In the prescribed hermitages, as prescribed, the twice-born who abide by discipline—great worlds of prosperity belong to them.
ये न हिंसंति भूतानि कर्मणा मनसा गिरा। अनृशंसतराः संतः सर्वदा च प्रियंवदाः
Those who do not harm living beings by deed, thought, or word, who are exceedingly compassionate and always speak kindly—
अग्निहोत्ररता नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकाः। नित्यं स्वाध्यायवंतश्च नित्यं स्नानपरायणाः
Ever devoted to the Agnihotra, ever honoring guests, ever engaged in self-study, and ever dedicated to bathing—
मातृवत्स्वसृवच्चैव तथा दुहितृवच्च ह। परदारान्प्रपश्यंति सततं विगतस्पृहाः
They always regard the wives of others as mothers, sisters, or daughters, and are free from desire.
येधिक्षिप्ता न कुप्यंति न हिंसंति च हिंसिताः। समदुःखसुखाः संतो महात्मानो जितेंद्रियाः
Those who, when insulted, do not become angry, nor harm even when harmed, who are equal in sorrow and happiness, great-souled, and with senses subdued—
ते हि सर्वे प्रपश्यंति पुरा चेरुर्महीमिमां। समाधिना चिंतयंतो ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनं
All these indeed, having once roamed this earth, through meditation and contemplation, perceive the eternal world of Brahma.
अथाभवदनावृष्टिः कदाचिन्महती तदा। कृच्छ्रप्रायो ह्यभूत्तत्र सर्वलोकः क्षुधार्दितः
Then, at one time, there occurred a great drought; all people there, afflicted by hunger, were in distress.
ततो निरन्ने लोकेस्मिंश्चात्मानं ते परीप्सवः। मृतं कुमारमादाय कृच्छ्रप्रायास्तदापचन्
Then, in that world without food, desiring to preserve themselves, they took a dead boy and, being in dire straits, cooked him.
अथ पर्यचरत्तत्र क्लिश्यमानान्हि तानृषीन्। दृष्ट्वा राजा विषादार्त्तः प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा
Then, seeing those sages suffering, the king, overcome with sorrow, approached and spoke these words:
राजोवाच। प्रतिग्रहो ब्राह्मणानां दृष्टा वृत्तिरनिंदिता। तस्मात्प्रतिग्रहान्मत्तो गृह्णीध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः
The king said: 'For Brāhmaṇas, receiving gifts is an approved and blameless practice; therefore, O best of sages, accept gifts from me.'
वरान्ग्रामान्व्रीहियवान्रसान्रत्नानि कांचनं। गाश्च धेनूश्च तत्सर्वं मा मांसं पचत द्विजाः
‘Villages, rice, barley, food, jewels, gold, cows, and milch cows—all this I offer; do not cook flesh, O twice-born.’
ऋषय ऊचुः। राजन्प्रतिग्रहो घोरो मध्वास्वादो विषोपमः। तज्जानतां नः कस्मात्त्वं कुरुषे सम्प्रलोभनं
The sages said: 'O king, receiving gifts is dreadful; the taste of honey is like poison. Why do you tempt us, knowing this?'
दशसूना समश्चक्री दशचक्रिसमो ध्वजी। दशध्वजिसमा वेश्या दशवेश्यासमो नृपः
One who kills ten is equal to a charioteer; one who kills ten charioteers is equal to a banner-bearer; ten banner-bearers are equal to a courtesan; and ten courtesans are equal to a king.
दशसूना सहस्राणि यो वाहयति शौंडिकः। तेन तुल्यस्ततो राजा घोरस्तस्य प्रतिग्रहः
A butcher who slaughters a thousand animals is equal to a king; therefore, receiving gifts from him is dreadful.
यो राज्ञः प्रतिगृह्णाति ब्राह्मणो लोभमोहितः। तामिस्रादिषु घोरेषु नरकेषु स पच्यते
A Brahmin who, overcome by greed, accepts gifts from the king is tormented in the dreadful hells such as Tāmisra.
तद्गच्छ कुशलं तेस्तु सह दानेन पार्थिव। अन्येषां दीयतामेतदित्युक्त्वा ते वनं ययुः
Go now, O fortunate one, together with your charity, O king; let this be given to others—having said this, they departed for the forest.
अथ राज्ञःसमादेशात्तत्र गत्वाथ मंत्रिणः। उदुंबराणि व्यकिरन्हेमगर्भाणि भूतले
Then, by the king’s command, the ministers went there and scattered udumbara fruits filled with gold upon the ground.
ततो ह्यन्नं विचिन्वंतो गृह्णंश्चोदुंबराण्यपि। गुरूणि हि विदित्वा तु न ग्राह्याण्यत्रिरब्रवीत्
Searching for food, they also took the udumbara fruits; but knowing that they were heavy, Atri said they should not be taken.