आगच्छंतं तु मां दृष्ट्वा दीनं च मुदितं तथा ३.
Seeing me approaching, both distressed and joyful,
कृत्वा सुस्वागतं दत्त्वा अर्घाद्यं भृगुणा सह ३.
He gave me a warm welcome, offering water for hospitality, together with Bhrigu.
विश्रांतं तु ततो ज्ञात्वा भृगुर्मामप्युवाचह ३.
After knowing that I had rested, Bhrigu also spoke to me.
आगमनकारणं सर्वं समाचक्ष्व परिस्फुटम् ३.
Tell me clearly the entire reason for your coming.
श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि यदर्थमहामागतः ३.
Listen, I will declare the purpose for which I have come.
द्विजानां भूमिदानार्थं मार्गमाणः पदेपदे ३.
Seeking land for the gift to the twice-born, step by step,
रम्यां मनोरमां भूमिं न पश्यामि कथंचन भृगुरुवाच ३.
I do not see any delightful or charming land anywhere, said Bhrigu.
पृथ्वी सागरपर्यंता दृष्टा सर्वा तदानघ ३.
O sinless one, the entire earth up to the ocean has been seen.
दिव्या मनोरमा सौम्या महापापप्रणाशिनी ३.
Divine, charming, gentle, and destroyer of great sins,
पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि दृष्टादृष्टानि नारद ३.
All the sacred places on earth, seen and unseen, O Narada,
सा समुद्रेण संप्राप्ता पुण्यतोया महानदी ३.
That holy river, whose waters are pure, has reached the ocean.
स्तंभाख्यं तत्र तीर्थं तु त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ३.
There is the sacred place called Stambha, renowned in the three worlds.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता नोपसर्पंति वै यमम् ३.
Those who are freed from all sins do not approach Yama.
तदहं कीर्तयिष्यामि मुने श्रृणु महाद्भुतम् ३.
Therefore, O sage, I shall recount a most wonderful event; listen.
तीरे स्थितं प्रपश्यामि मुनींद्रं पावकोपमम् ३.
I saw, standing on the riverbank, the foremost of sages, blazing like fire.
भुजावूर्ध्वौ ततः कृत्वा प्ररुदंतं मुहुर्मुहुः ३.
With his arms raised upward, he was weeping again and again.
सतां लक्षणमेतद्धि यद्दृष्ट्वा दुःखितं जनम् ३.
Indeed, this is the mark of the virtuous: to feel sorrow upon seeing others in distress.
अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं मानुष्ये सति दुर्लभम् ३.
Nonviolence, truthfulness, and non-stealing are rare among humans, even when present.
किमर्थं रोदिशि मुने शोके किं कारणं तव ३.
O sage, why do you weep? What is the cause of your grief?
मुनिस्ततो मामवदद्भृगो निर्भाग्यवानहम् ३.
Then the sage said to me, 'O Bhrigu, I am unfortunate.'
तमहं विस्मयाविष्टः पुनरेवेदमब्रुवम् ३.
Astonished, I again spoke these words to him.
मनुष्यत्वे ब्राह्मणत्वं मुनित्वं तत्र दुर्लभम् ३.
Among humans, to be a Brahmin is rare, and among Brahmins, to be a sage is rarer still.
किमर्थं रोदिषि मुने विस्मयोऽत्र महान्मम ३.
O sage, why do you weep? This is a great wonder to me.
सुभद्रोनाम नाम्ना च मुनिस्तत्राभ्युपाययौ ३.
Then a sage named Subhadra arrived there.
कृताश्रमः पूजयति सदा स्तंभेश्वरं मुनिः ३.
Having established his hermitage, the sage always worships Staṃbheśvara.
अथाहाचम्य स मुनिः श्रूयतां कारणं मुनी ३.
Then, having performed ācamana, the sage said, 'O sage, listen to the reason.'
निवसामि कृतस्थानो गंगासागरसंगमे ३.
I reside, having established my place, at the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean.
श्राद्धांते ते च प्रत्यक्षा ह्याशिषो मे वदंति च ३.
At the conclusion of the śrāddha, they appear before me and speak their blessings.
वयं सदात्र चायामो देवशर्मंस्तवांतिके ३.
We always come here and stay near you, O Devaśarman.
स्थानं दिदृक्षुस्तच्चाहं न शक्तोऽस्मि निवोदितुम् ३.
Desiring to see that place, I am not able to describe it.