सर्वस्वं प्रददौ रुष्टो मरणे कृतनिश्चयः
Angry and resolved on death, he gave away all his possessions.
साऽपि तस्य सती भार्या कृत्वा मृत्युविनिश्चयम्
His faithful wife also, having resolved upon death,
आवाभ्यां संप्रविष्टाभ्यां वह्नौ पुत्र ततस्तदा ६.२५.
Then, my son, both of them entered the fire together.
ततस्तौ दम्पती हृष्टौ यावद्वह्निसमीपगौ
Then, as the couple joyfully approached the fire,
तावत्प्राप्तो मुनिर्नाम शांडिल्यो वेदपारगः
At that moment, a sage named Shandilya, learned in the Vedas, arrived.
स वृत्तांतं समाकर्ण्य कोपसंरक्तलोचनः
Hearing the account, his eyes reddened with anger.
अहो मूढतमा यूयं यदेतद्ब्राह्मणत्रयम्
Ah, how utterly foolish you are, that you have done this to these three Brahmins.
अत्र कात्यायनेनोक्तं यद्वचः सुमहात्मना
Here, what was spoken by Katyayana, that great soul, is relevant.
चांद्रायणानि कृच्छ्राणि तथा सांतपनानि च
Chandrayana, Krichchhra, and also Santapana penances,
अत्र विष्णुपदी गंगा तत्क्षेत्रे तु द्विजोत्तमाः
Here is the Ganga, the river of Vishnu's feet; in that sacred place, O best of twice-born,
मौंजीहोमः प्रमाणं स्यान्मुनिवाक्येन चेद्भवेत्
The Munji homa would be the standard, if it is established by the words of a sage.
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे हर्षेण महतान्विताः
Then all the Brahmins became filled with great joy.
ततः प्रबोध्य तं विप्रं निन्युस्तत्र द्विजोत्तमाः ६.२५.
Then, after awakening that Brahmin, the best of twice-born led him there.
तत्र स ब्राह्मणो यावद्गंगातोयसमुद्भवम् उदरादखिलं तोयं निष्क्रांतं द्विजसत्तमाः
There, as much water as had arisen from the Ganga, all of it exited from his belly, O best of Brahmins.
ततोऽवगाहते यावत्तस्यास्तोयं सुशोभनम्
Then, as he bathed, all the beautiful water of that river,
शुद्धोऽयं ब्राह्मणः साक्षाद्विष्णुपद्याः समागमात्
This Brahmin is purified, directly by the union with Vishnu's river.
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे चंडशर्मादयश्च ये
Then all the Brahmins, including Chanda Sharma and others,
तस्य क्षेत्रस्य सीमांते पश्चिमे पापनाशिनी
At the western boundary of that sacred field is the destroyer of sin.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं विष्णुपद्याः समुद्भवम्
All this has been told to you, the origin of Vishnu's river.
दक्षिणोत्तरसंभूतं तद्वो वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम्
Now I will tell you about that which arose from the south and north.
अस्ति भूभितले ख्याता मधुराख्या महापुरी
There is a great city on earth, renowned as Madhura.
तस्यामासीद्द्विजश्रेष्ठो गोकर्ण इति विश्रुतः
In that city lived a foremost Brahmin, famous as Gokarna.
अथापरोऽस्ति तन्नामा तत्र विप्रो वयोऽन्वितः
And there was another, bearing that name, an aged Brahmin in that place.
कस्यचित्त्वथकालस्य यमः प्राह स्वकिंकरम्
At a certain time, Yama spoke to his own attendant.
अद्य गच्छ द्रुतं दूत मथुराख्यां महापुरीम्
Today, go quickly, messenger, to the great city called Mathura.
तस्यायुषः क्षयो जातो मध्याह्नेऽद्यतने दिने .
The span of his life has ended at midday on this very day.
विभ्रमादानयामास गोकर्णं च चिरायुषम्
By mistake, he brought Gokarna, who is long-lived.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा यमः प्रोवाच किंकरम्
Then, filled with anger, Yama spoke to his attendant.
तस्मात्प्रापय तत्रैव यावदस्य च बन्धुभिः ६.२६.
Therefore, bring him there at once, along with his relatives.
ब्राह्मण उवाच नाहं तत्र गमिष्यामि दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोस्मि तेंऽतिकम्
The Brahmin said: I will not go there; by fate, I have reached your presence.