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.
दृश्यते चैव यत्रैव सस्यं वापि कथंचन
Wherever any crop was seen at all,
एवमन्नक्षये जाते पीडिते धरणीतले
Thus, when famine arose and the earth was afflicted,
अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च कश्यपः सुमहातपाः कौशिको जमदग्निश्च तथैवारुंधती सती
Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa of great austerity, Kauśika, Jamadagni, and the virtuous Arundhatī,
अथ तेषां समस्तानां चंडाभूत्परिचारिका
Then, among them all, there was a fierce attendant.
ततस्ते विषयं प्राप्ता वृषादर्भिमहीपतेः
Then they reached the domain of King Vṛṣādarbhi.
ततस्तैः पतितो भूमौ दृष्टो मृतकुमारकः
Then, by them, a dead boy was seen lying on the ground.
अपचन्यावदग्नौ तं क्षुधया परिपीडिताः
Afflicted by hunger, they placed him in the fire of disrespect.
राक्षसानामयं धर्मो महामांसस्य भक्षणम्
The custom of the rakshasas is the eating of great quantities of flesh.
सोऽहं सस्यं प्रदास्यामि ग्रामान्व्रीहीन्यवानपि ६.३२.
Therefore, I will give grain, villages, and even rice fields.
प्रतिग्रहस्य भूपाला दापत्कालेऽपि नो नृप
O king, even at the time of need, rulers must not accept gifts.