तं च ब्रह्मा करे गृह्य तीर्थान्याहेति भारतीम्
Then Brahmā, taking it in his hand, spoke of the fords to Bhāratī.
सर्वैर्भवद्भिः संहत्य मुख्यस्त्वेकः प्रकीर्त्यताम् 1.2.58.
All of you together, let one chief among them be proclaimed.
अस्माद्धेतोश्च संप्राप्ता ज्ञात्वा देहि त्वमेव तत्
For this reason, having come and understood, you alone should give that.
सर्वे चापारमाहात्म्यं स्वयं मे वक्तुमर्हथ
All of you are worthy to speak of your own supreme glory to me.
यत्र गंगा गया काशी पुष्करं नैमिषं तथा
Where the Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kāśī, Puṣkara, and likewise Naimiṣa are—
प्रभासाद्यानि शतशो यत्र नस्तत्र का मतिः
Where there are hundreds of holy places like Prabhāsa—what is our resolve there?
चिरेणेदं ततः प्राह महीसागरसंगमः
After a long time, the confluence of earth and ocean spoke thus:
ममैनमर्घं त्वं यच्छ चतुरानन शीघ्रतः
Give this offering of mine, O Four-faced one, quickly.
यतश्चेन्द्रद्युम्नराज्ञा ताप्यमाना वसुंधरा
Because the earth was tormented by King Indradyumna—
सा च सर्वाणि तीर्थानि संयुक्तानि मया सह
She, along with all the sacred fords, was united with me.
गुहेन च महालिंगं कुमारेश्वरमीश्वरम्
By Guha, the great liṅga called Kumāreśvara, Lord of Lords,
नारदेनापि मत्तीरे स्थानं संस्थाप्य शोभनम् 1.2.58.
And by Nārada, a splendid place was established on my bank.
एवं त्रिभिर्हेतुवरैर्ममेवार्घः प्रदीयताम्
Thus, for these three excellent reasons, let my offering be given.
इत्युक्ते वचने पार्थ तीर्थराजेन भारत
When these words were spoken by the King of Fords, O Bhārata—
ततो ब्रह्मसुतो ज्येष्ठः श्वेतमाल्यानुलेपनः
Then the eldest son of Brahma, adorned with a white garland and unguents,
अहो कष्टमिदं कूक्तं तीर्थराजेन मोहतः
Alas, how unfortunate is this harsh statement, uttered by the king of sacred fords out of delusion!
स्वीयान्गुणान्स्वयं यो हि सम्पत्सु प्रक्षिपन्परान्
He who, even in prosperity, casts aside his own virtues and praises those of others,
तस्मादस्मादहंकारात्सत्स्वप्येषु गुणेषु च
Therefore, from such pride, even in the presence of true virtues,
स्तंभतीर्थमिति ख्यातं स्तम्भो गर्वः कृतो यतः
This sacred ford became known as Stambhatirtha, because arrogance (stambha) was manifested here.
इत्युक्ते धर्मदेवेन हाहेति रव उत्थितः
When this was spoken by Dharmadeva, a cry of 'Alas!' arose.
गुहस्ततो वचः प्राह धर्मदेवसमागमे
Then Guha spoke these words in the assembly of Dharmadeva:
ब्रवीतु कोऽपि सर्वेषां तीर्थानां तेषु वर्तताम् 1.2.58.
Let someone among all these sacred fords declare which one prevails among them.
तिष्ठत्वात्मगुणो यच्च तीर्थराजेन वर्णितः
And the self-praise described by the king of sacred fords should remain.
अहो न युक्तं पालानां यदि तेऽप्यविमृश्य च
Alas, it is not proper for the guardians if they too act without reflection.
एवमुक्ते गुहेनाथ धर्मो वचनमब्रवीत्
When Guha had spoken thus, Dharma then replied with these words:
मुख्यत्वं सर्वतीर्थानामर्घं चापि पितामहात् परोक्षेपि स्वप्रशंसा ब्रह्माणमपि चालयेत्
The supremacy among all sacred fords and the inestimable worth from the Grandfather— even indirect self-praise can unsettle even Brahma.
स्वप्रशंसां प्रकुर्वाणः पराक्षेपसमन्विताम् यानि पूर्वं प्रमाणानि कृतानीशेन धीमता
He who makes self-praise, accompanied by disparagement of others, should uphold the precedents formerly established by the wise Lord.
तानि सम्पालनीयानि तानि कोऽति क्रमेद्बुधः
Those precedents must be maintained; who among the wise would transgress them?
पालयामास एतच्च त्वं पालयितुमर्हसि
This too was upheld; you ought to uphold it as well.
तदस्माभिरिदं युक्तं शासनं दिश्यतां परम्
Therefore, it is proper for us to issue this command as the highest directive.