सर्वतीर्थमयं क्षेत्रं तद्विज्ञाय तपोनिधिः
That treasury of austerity, realizing that the place was composed of all sacred fords—
अद्येयं कार्तिकी पुण्या कृत्तिकायोगसंयुता आद्यं तु पुष्करं दूरे न गन्तुं शक्यतेऽधुना
Today is the auspicious Kārtikī, joined with the conjunction of Kṛttikā; but the foremost Puṣkara is far away and cannot be reached now.
तस्मादत्र स्थितं यच्च तस्मिन्स्नानं करोम्यहम्
Therefore, as I am staying here, I shall perform the bath here as it is done there.
ततश्चान्वेषयामास पुष्कराणि समंततः
Then he began to search for the Puṣkaras all around.
दृष्ट्वादृष्ट्वा जलस्थानं स्नानं चक्रे ततः परम् ६.४५.
Having seen and not seen a place with water, he then performed the bath accordingly.
वृक्षमूलं समाश्रित्य निविष्टश्च क्षितौ ततः मध्यमाद्योजनं स्वर्गः कनिष्ठादर्ध योजनम्
Taking shelter at the root of a tree, he settled on the ground there; from the middlemost point, heaven is a yojana away, and from the lowest, half a yojana.
पावयंति हि तीर्थानि स्नानदानादसंशयम्
Indeed, the sacred fords purify through bathing and giving, without doubt.
पुष्करारण्यमाश्रित्य शाकमूलफलैरपि
Residing in the Puṣkara forest, even on vegetables, roots, and fruits—
पुष्करे दुष्करं स्नानं पुष्करे दुष्करं तपः
At Puṣkara, bathing is difficult; at Puṣkara, austerity is difficult.
कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे पुष्करे स्नाति यो नरः
Whoever bathes at Puṣkara during Kārtikā, at the conjunction with Kṛttikā—
ज्येष्ठे प्रातश्च मध्याह्ने मध्यमे स्नाति यो नरः
Or whoever bathes at Puṣkara in the morning during Jyeṣṭhā, or at midday in the middle period—
तावत्तिष्ठति देहेषु पातकं सर्वदेहिनाम्
For as long as sin remains in all embodied beings, it abides in their bodies.
दिवाकरकरैः स्पृष्टं तमो यद्वत्प्रणश्यति
Just as darkness is dispelled when touched by the rays of the sun,
ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं कृत्वापि पुरुषो भुवि ६.४५.
so too, even if a person commits sins such as the killing of a Brahmin on earth,
किं दानैः किं व्रतैर्होमैः किं यज्ञैर्वहुविस्तरैः
What use are gifts, what use are vows and oblations, what use are elaborate sacrifices,
यद्येषा भारती सत्या मया सम्यमुदीरिता
if this statement of mine, spoken with restraint, is indeed true, O descendant of Bharata?
एवं तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः
Thus, as the wise Viśvāmitra was speaking,
विश्वामित्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ सदा मे गगने स्थितिः
"O best of sages, Viśvāmitra, my place is always in the sky.
तदत्र दिवसे वासो मम भूमितले ध्रुवम्
Therefore, my dwelling on the earth on this day is certain.
तत्कथं वेद्मि तीर्थेश त्वामत्रैव व्यवस्थितम्
How, O lord of the sacred place, do I know that you are established right here?
तदोत्थिता पुनर्वाणी तारा गगनगोचरा
Then again, a voice arose, the star moving through the sky,
नातिदूरे वनादस्मादत्र संति जलाशयाः
Not far from this forest, there are pools of water here.
ऊर्ध्ववक्त्रं द्वितीये च तिर्यग्वक्त्रं तृतीयके
In the first, the face is upward; in the second, the face is sideways; in the third,
पार्श्ववक्त्रैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ मध्यमं परिकीर्तितम् ६.४५.
with faces on the sides, O best of twice-born, the middle one is described.
एतैश्चिह्नैर्मुनिश्रेष्ठ ज्ञात्वा स्नानं समाचर
By these signs, O best of sages, knowing them, perform your bath.
तादृशैः कमलैस्तत्र संस्थितास्ते जलाशयाः
In those pools, such lotuses are found standing.
ततश्च विधिना सम्यक्चकारपितृतर्पणम्
Then, according to the proper rite, he performed the offering to the ancestors.
ततः शाकैश्च मूलैश्च नीवारैः फलसंयुतैः
Then, with vegetables, roots, and grains mixed with fruits,
तत्र तस्यैव तीरस्थो वीक्षांचक्रे समाहितः
There, standing on the bank, he observed with concentration.
संप्राप्ते कृत्तिकायोगे सर्वं तत्र वदाशु नः
When the conjunction with Kṛttikā arrived, tell us everything there quickly.