तत्प्रवृत्तिं पुनर्ज्ञातुं ब्रह्माणं केशवं गणान्
To know the course of those events, Brahma, Kesava, and the hosts of gods—
ते च काशीगुणान्सर्वे विचार्य च पुनःपुनः
They considered all the qualities of Kashi again and again.
इति श्रुत्वाथ स मुनिः प्रत्युवाच श्रियं ततः
Hearing this, the sage then replied to Sri:
यदि देयो वरो मह्यं वरयोग्योस्म्यहं यदि
If a boon is to be granted to me, if I am worthy to receive a boon,
ये पठिष्यंति च स्तोत्रं त्वद्भक्त्या मत्कृतं सदा
Those who always recite this hymn, composed by me with devotion to you,
मास्तु चेष्टवियोगश्च मास्तु संपत्ति संक्षयः 4.1.5.
May they not experience separation from their loved ones, nor the loss of prosperity.
इति लब्ध्वा वरं सोथ महालक्ष्मीं प्रणम्य च
Having thus obtained the boon, he bowed to Mahalakshmi.
पाराशर्य उवाच यां वै हृदि निधायेह पुरुषः पुरुषार्थभाक्
Parashara said: 'He who, having placed her in his heart, here becomes a recipient of the aims of human life—'
ततः श्रीदर्श नानंद सुधाधाराधुनीं मुनिः
Then the sage, radiant with beauty, whose joy was like a stream of nectar,
वह्निकुंडसमुद्भूत सूतनिर्मलमानस
whose mind was pure as gold born from the fire-pit,
परोपकरणं येषां जागर्ति हृदये सताम्
in whose hearts, among the virtuous, the desire to help others is ever awake—
तीर्थस्नानैर्न सा शुद्धिर्बहुदानैर्न तत्फलम्
Purity is not attained by bathing at holy places, nor is that result gained by many gifts.
परोपकृत्या यो धर्मो धर्मो दानादिसंभवः
The true righteousness is that which arises from helping others, the righteousness born of giving and such acts.
परिनिर्मथ्य वाग्जालं निर्णीतमिदमेव हि
Having thoroughly examined all arguments, this alone is established as the conclusion.
उपकर्तुरगस्त्यस्य जातमेतन्निदर्शनम्
This is the example set by the benefactor Agastya.
करिकर्णाग्रचपलं जीवितं विविधं वसु
Life, and all its various riches, are as fleeting as the tip of an elephant’s ear.
यल्लक्ष्मीनाममात्राप्त्या नरो नो माति कुत्रचित् 4.1.6.
A man never finds satisfaction anywhere by merely acquiring a little wealth.
गच्छन्यदृच्छयासोथ दूराच्छ्रीशैलमैक्षत
Then, by chance, as he was traveling, he saw from afar the mountain Śrīśaila.
उवाच वचनं पत्नीं तदा प्रीतमना मुनिः
At that time, the sage, his mind pleased, spoke these words to his wife.
श्रीशैल शिखरं श्रीमदिदंतद्यद्विलोकनात्
This splendid peak of Śrīśaila, just by seeing it—
गिरि श्चतुरशीत्यायं योजनानां हि विस्मृतः
This mountain, it is said, extends for eighty-four yojanas.
ब्रूते हि याऽनुज्ञाता पत्या सा पतिता भवेत्
Indeed, a woman who acts without her husband's permission is considered fallen.
अगस्त्य उवाच किं वक्तुकामा देवि त्वं ब्रूहि तत्त्वमशंकिता
Agastya said: O goddess, what do you wish to say? Speak the truth without hesitation.
ततः पप्रच्छ सा देवी प्रणम्य मुनिमानता
Then that goddess, bowing respectfully to the sage, asked him,
लोपामुद्रोवाच इदमेव हि सत्यं चेत्किमर्थं काशिरिष्यते
Lopāmudrā said: If this alone is the truth, then why is Kāśī desired?
अगस्तिरुवाच आकर्णय वरारोहे सत्यं पृष्टं त्वयामले
Agastya said: Listen, O fair-hipped one, you have asked truly, O pure one.
मुक्तिस्थानान्यनेकानि कृतस्तत्रापिनिर्णयः 4.1.6.
There are many places of liberation, and their determination has also been made there.
प्रथमं तीर्थराजं तु प्रयागाख्यं सुविश्रुतम्
First is the king of sacred fords, renowned as Prayāga.
नैमिषं च कुरुक्षेत्रं गंगाद्वारमवंतिका
Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Gaṅgādvāra, and Avaṃtikā,
सरस्वती सिंधुसंगो गंगासागरसंगमः
The Sarasvatī, the confluence of the Sindhu, and the meeting of Gaṅgā and the ocean,