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.
तदा निष्क्रामति श्रेष्ठं कमलं जलमध्यतः
Then, the finest lotus emerges from the midst of the water.
तन्मध्येंऽगुष्ठमात्रस्तु पुरुषो दृश्यते जनैः
Within it, a person the size of a thumb is seen by people.
एतस्मात्कारणात्स्नात्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
For this reason, the great sage Viśvāmitra bathed.
तस्यैवं वीक्षमाणस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ६.४५.
As the wise Viśvāmitra was observing thus,
अत्यंतं मृगयाश्रांतो हत्वा मृगगणान्बहून्
Utterly exhausted from hunting, having slain many groups of deer,
सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्वृकांश्चैव हिंसानारण्यचारिणः
as well as lions, tigers, and wolves—ferocious creatures roaming the forest—
अथापश्यद्द्रुमोपांते विश्वामित्रं मुनीश्वरम्
then, at the foot of a tree, he saw Viśvāmitra, the lord among sages.
ततस्तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैरवतीर्य तुरंगमात्
Then, dismounting from his horse, he bowed deeply to him.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तोयात्कमलं तद्विनिर्गतम्
At that very moment, the lotus emerged from the water.
तद्दृष्ट्वा स महीपालः पद्ममत्यद्भुतं महत्
Seeing that lotus—vast and utterly wondrous—the king was amazed.