भवतीषु च कः कोपो ये यदर्थे हि निर्मिताः १.
What anger could there be among you, for you were created for that very purpose.
शतं सहस्रं विश्वं च सर्वमक्षय वाचकम् १.
A hundred, a thousand, the whole universe—all are called imperishable.
यदा च वो ग्राहभूता गृह्णतीः पुरुषाञ्जले १.
And when you become objects of worship, men will take you with folded hands.
तदा यूयं पुनः सर्वाः स्वं रूपं प्रतिपत्स्यथ कल्याणस्य सुपृक्तस्य शुद्धिस्तद्वद्वरा हि वः॥ १.
Then all of you will regain your own form; purity, auspiciousness, and excellence will be yours.
ततोभिवाद्य तं विप्रं कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम्॥ १.
Then, having saluted that Brahmin and circumambulated him,
अचिंतयामापसृत्य तस्माद्देशात्सुदुःखिताः १.
They departed from that place, deeply distressed.
समागच्छेम यो नः स्वं रूपमापादयेत्पुनः १.
Let us approach the one who can restore our own form.
दृष्टवत्यो महाभागं देवर्षिमथ नारदम् १.
They saw the illustrious sage Narada.
अभिवाद्य च तं पार्थ स्थिताः स्मो व्यथिताननाः १.
Having saluted him, O Partha, we stood with troubled faces.
श्रुत्वा तच्च यथातत्त्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् १.
Hearing this, he spoke these words as they truly are.
पुण्यानि रमणीयानि तानि गच्छत मा चिरम् १.
Go to those holy and delightful places; do not delay.
मोक्षयिष्यति शुद्धात्मा दुःखा दस्मान्न संशयः १.
The pure-hearted one will liberate you from suffering; there is no doubt.
त्वमिदं सत्यवचनं कर्तुमर्हसि पांडव १.
You ought to fulfill this truthful promise, O Pandava.
श्रुत्वेति वचनं तस्याः सस्नौ तीर्थेष्वनुक्रमात् १.
Having heard her words, he bathed in the sacred places in order.
ततः प्रणम्य ता वीरं प्रोच्यमाना जयाशिषः १.
Then, after bowing to the hero, they spoke words of blessing for victory.
एष मे हृदि संदेहः सुदृढः परिवर्तते १.
This firm doubt in my heart is turning over.
सर्वः कोऽप्यतिहीनोऽपि स्वपूज्यस्यार्थसाधकः १.
Even someone who is inferior can accomplish the purpose of his own worship.
तथैव नवदुर्गासु सतीष्वतिबलासु च १.
So also among the nine Durgas and the powerful Satis.
एकैक एषां शक्तो हि अपि देवान्निवारितुम् १.
Each one of them is indeed capable, even of restraining the gods.
इति चिंतयते मह्यं भृशं दोलायते मनः १.
Thus I reflect; my mind wavers greatly.
योग्यं पृच्छसि कौन्तेय पुनः पश्योत्तरां दिशम्॥ १.
You ask fittingly, son of Kunti; now look again to the northern direction.
ततो द्विजौः परिवृतं नारदं देवपूजितम् २.
Then the twice-born, surrounding Nārada, honored by the gods—
ततस्तं नारदः प्राह जयारातिधनंजय २.
Then Nārada spoke to him, to Dhananjaya, conqueror of foes:
कच्चिदेतां महायात्रां वीर द्वादशवारषिकीम् २.
Hero, have you by chance undertaken this great journey of twelve years?
मुनीनामपि चेतांसि तीर्थयात्रासु पांडव २.
Even the minds of sages, O son of Pandu, are disturbed during pilgrimages.
कच्चिन्नैतेन दोषेण समाश्लिष्टोऽसि पांडव २.
Pandava, have you perhaps been affected by this very fault?
यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंयतम् २.
He whose hands and feet, and indeed his mind, are well restrained—
तदिदं हृदि धार्यं ते किं वा त्वं तात मन्यसे २.
This should be held in your heart; or what do you think, dear one?
पुनरेतत्समुचितं यद्विप्रैः शिक्षणं नृणाम् २.
Again, this is proper: that men should learn from the brahmins.
विष्णुना चात्र श्रृणुमो गीतां गाथां द्विजान्प्रति॥ २.
Here too we hear a song recited by Viṣṇu for the brahmins.