तस्माद्यदि भवानस्य श्राद्धे भोक्ता ततः स्वयम्
Therefore, if you yourself are the one who partakes in his śrāddha offering—
मयैवास्य प्रतिज्ञातं भोक्तुं श्राद्धे महीपतेः
It is I who have promised to partake in the śrāddha of this king.
एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेंद्रस्तेनैव सहितस्तदा
Having spoken thus, the best of Brahmins, together with him at that time—
भुक्तमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन्वागुवाचाशरीरिणी ६.३१.
As soon as the food was eaten there, a bodiless voice spoke.
प्रेतभावाद्विनिर्मुक्तः पुत्राहं त्वत्प्रभावतः
Freed from the state of a departed spirit, I am your son by your power.
तत्कृत्वा नृपतिर्हृष्टस्तं प्रणम्य द्विजोत्तमम्
Having done this, the delighted king bowed to that foremost Brahmin.
अस्ति माहिष्मतीनाम नगरी नर्मदातटे
There is a city named Māhiṣmatī on the banks of the Narmadā.
अहं यच्छामि ते ब्रह्मन्समस्तविषयान्विताम्
I grant it to you, O Brahmin, along with all its territories.
स्वं देशं हर्षसंयुक्तः कृतकृत्यो द्विजोत्तमाः
Filled with joy, having accomplished his purpose, he returned to his own land, O best of Brahmins.
सोऽपि सर्वैः परित्यक्तो ब्राह्मणैः पुरवासिभिः
He too was abandoned by all the Brahmins and the city-dwellers.
ततो नागह्रदे तस्मिन्स कृत्वा निजमन्दिरम्
Then, at that Nāga lake, he built his own dwelling.
तत्रस्थस्य निरस्तस्य ये पुत्राः स्युर्द्विजोत्तमाः
The sons born to him there, in exile, O best of Brahmins—
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं नागतीर्थसमुद्भवम् ६.३१.
All this I have told you—the origin of the Nāga tīrtha.
यश्चैतत्पठते भक्त्या संप्राप्ते पंचमीदिने
Whoever recites this with devotion on the fifth day—
तथा विमुच्यते पापाद्भक्षजातान्न संशयः
He is likewise freed from sins arising from food; there is no doubt.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन नागतीर्थमनुत्तमम्
Therefore, by every effort, one should seek the unsurpassed Nāga tīrtha.
श्राद्धकाले तु संप्राप्ते यश्चैतत्पठते द्विजः
And when the time for śrāddha arrives, any Brahmin who recites this—
तथा ये कीर्तिता दोषाः श्राद्धे द्रव्यसमुद्भवाः
Likewise, the faults in śrāddha that arise from the materials used—
ते सर्वे नाशमायांति कीर्त्यमाने समाहितैः
All of them are destroyed when recited with concentration.
तथा विनिहता गोभिर्ब्राह्मणैः श्वापदैरपि
In the same way, they are subdued by cows, by brahmins, and even by wild beasts.
सप्तर्षीणां सुविख्यात आश्रमः सर्वकामदः
The hermitage of the Seven Sages is renowned and grants all desires.
तत्र श्रावणमासस्य पंचदश्यां समाहितः
There, on the fifteenth day of the month of Śrāvaṇa, with focused mind,
कन्दमूलफलैः शाकैर्यस्तत्र श्राद्धमाचरेत्
Whoever performs the śrāddha there with roots, fruits, and vegetables,
पंचम्यां शुक्लपक्षे तु मासि भाद्रपदे द्विजाः विधिनानेन विप्रेन्द्राः सर्वानेव यथाक्रमम्
On the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādrapada, O twice-born, the best of brahmins should, according to this rule, perform for all in due order.
ॐ अत्रये नमः ॐ कश्यपाय नमः ॐ गौतमाय नमः ॐ जमदग्नये नमः गृह्णंत्वर्घं मया दत्तमृषयः सर्वकामदाः
Om, obeisance to Atri; Om, obeisance to Kaśyapa; Om, obeisance to Gautama; Om, obeisance to Jamadagni; O sages who grant all desires, accept the arghya offered by me.
विस्तरात्सूतज ब्रूहि परं कौतूहलं हि नः
O Sūta, narrate in detail, for we have great curiosity.
सर्वोषधिक्षयो जातस्ततो लोकाः क्षयार्दिताः
The destruction of all herbs occurred, and thus the worlds were afflicted by decline.
अस्थिशेषा निरुत्साहास्त्यक्तधर्मव्रतक्रियाः
Only bones remained, devoid of vigor, having abandoned religious vows and rites.
त्यजंति मातरः पुत्रान्कलत्राणि तथा नराः
Mothers abandoned their sons, and men likewise abandoned their wives.
संत्यक्तान्यग्निहोत्राणि ब्राह्मणैर्याजकैरपि ६.३२.
Even the agnihotra fires were forsaken by brahmins and officiating priests.