तदहं दानपुण्यं हि करिष्यामि कथं स्फुटम् २.
Therefore, how shall I clearly perform the merit of giving?
अनर्हते यद्ददाति न ददाति तथार्हते २.
That which is given to one unworthy, and not given to one who is worthy—
देशेकाले च पात्रे च शुद्धेन मनसा तथा २.
In the right place and time, to a worthy recipient, and with a pure mind—
तमोवृतस्तु यो दद्यात्क्रोधात्तथैव च २.
But one who gives while enveloped in darkness, or out of anger—
बालत्वेऽपि च सोऽश्राति यद्दत्तं दम्भकारणात् २.
Even in youth, he does not rejoice if what is given is for the sake of hypocrisy.
वृद्धत्वे हि समश्राति नरो वै नात्र भविष्यति शुभार्जितं प्रयुञ्जीत श्रद्धया शाठ्यवर्जितः॥ २.
Indeed, in old age he does not rejoice; a man will not be so. One should employ what is righteously acquired, with faith, devoid of deceit.
तदेतन्निर्धनत्वाच्च कथं नाम भविष्यति २.
So, because of this poverty, how indeed will this come to be?
नाधनस्यास्त्ययं लोको न परश्च कथंचन २.
For the poor, neither this world nor the next exists in any way.
दारिद्र्यं पातकं लोके कस्तच्छंसितुमर्हति २.
Poverty is a sin in the world—who is fit to endure it?
यः कृशाश्वः कृशधनः कृशभृत्यः कृशातिथिः २.
He who has lean horses, little wealth, few servants, and scant guests—
अर्थवान्दुष्कुलीनोऽपि लोके पूज्यतमो नरः २.
A man with wealth, even if of low lineage, is most honored in the world.
ज्ञानवृद्धास्तपोवृद्धा ये च वृद्धा बहुश्रुताः २.
Those who are advanced in knowledge, in austerity, and those elders who have heard much—
यद्यप्ययं त्रिभुवने अर्थोऽस्माकं पराग्नहि २.
Even though, for us, wealth in the three worlds is like a hostile fire—
अथवैतत्पुरा सर्वं चिंतयिष्यामि सुस्फुटम् २.
Still, I will consider all this clearly beforehand.
स चिंतयित्वेति बहुप्रकारं देशांश्च ग्रामान्नगराणि चाश्रमान् २.
So, having considered in many ways the regions, villages, cities, and hermitages—
एवं स्थानानि पुण्यानि यानियानीह वै भुवि ३.
Thus, the holy places, however many there are on earth—
विचरन्मेदिनीं सर्वां प्राप्तोऽहमाश्रमं भृगोः ३.
Wandering over the whole earth, I have reached the hermitage of Bhrigu.
महापुण्या पवित्रा च सर्वतीर्थमयी शुभा ३.
It is greatly holy, pure, auspicious, and contains all sacred waters.
तत्रावगाहनात्पार्थ मुच्यते जंतुरंहसा ३.
There, O Partha, by bathing, a creature is freed from sin.
इयं ब्रह्मांडपिण्डस्य स्थाने तस्मिन्प्रकीर्तिता ३.
This is said to be the place of the cosmic egg in that region.
यत्र वै स्नानमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या प्रणश्यति ३.
Where, indeed, by merely bathing, the sin of killing a Brahmin is destroyed.
नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं लतागुल्मोपशोभितम् ३.
It is filled with various trees, adorned with creepers and bushes.
अनेकाश्वापदाकीर्णं विहगैरनुनादितम् ३.
It is crowded with many wild animals and resounds with the cries of birds.
भ्रमरैः सर्वमुत्सृज्य निलीनं रावसंयुतम् ३.
Everywhere bees, having left all else, are hidden, accompanied by their humming.
कोकिला मधुरैः स्वानैर्नादयंति तथा मुनीन् ३.
There, the cuckoos fill the air with their sweet calls, delighting the sages.
यत्र वृक्षा ह्लादयंति फलैः पुष्पैश्च पत्रकैः ३.
There, the trees gladden with their fruits, flowers, and leaves.
पुत्रपुत्रेति वाशंते यत्र पुत्रप्रियाः खगाः ३.
There, birds devoted to their offspring cry out, 'Son, son!'
एवंविधं मुनेस्तस्य भृगोराश्रममंडलम् ३.
Such was the hermitage circle of the sage Bhrigu.
ऋग्यजुः सामनिर्घोपैरारूरितदिगन्तरम् ३.
The directions resounded with the chanting of Rig, Yajur, and Sama hymns.
तत्राहं पार्थ संप्राप्तो यत्रास्ते मुनिसत्तमः ३.
There, O Partha, I arrived where the eminent sage dwelled.