तत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यक्छ्रद्धावान्सुसमाहितः
There, a man who bathes properly, with faith and full concentration—
तस्य पश्चिमदिग्भागे लिंगमस्ति महीपते
On its western side, O king, there is a liṅga.
स्नात्वा मामुह्रदे पुण्ये यस्तल्लिंगं च पश्यति स प्राप्नोति परं श्रेयः सर्वतीर्थेषु दुर्लभम्
Having bathed in the holy Māmu-hrada and seen that liṅga, he attains the supreme good, rare even among all sacred places.
यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं दक्षिणां मूर्तिमाश्रितः
He who performs śrāddha there, giving gifts, having taken refuge in the image—
तत्र दानं प्रशंसंति नीवाराणां महर्षयः
The great sages praise the giving of nīvāra grains there.
मुद्गलस्याश्रमं ब्रूहि मम सर्वं विधानतः
Tell me in detail, according to rule, about Mudgala's hermitage.
पुलस्त्य उवाच तत्रस्थस्य पुरा राजन्मुद्गलस्य महात्मनः
Pulastya said: Once, O King, the great-souled Mudgala was present there.
सोऽब्रवीद्देवराज्ञाहं प्रेषितो मुनिसत्तम
He spoke, 'I have been sent by the king of the gods, O best of sages.'
तान्मे वद करिष्येऽहं श्रुत्वा वै यत्क्षमं भवेत्॥ 7.3.35.
Tell me what you wish; having heard, I shall do whatever is proper.
ब्रूहि तान्सकलान्दूत त्वागमिष्याम्यहं ततः
Go and tell them all; I will come there afterwards.
पुण्यैः स्वकैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ समागच्छेरिदं ततः
By my own merits, O best of twice-born, I have come here.
करिष्येऽहं तपो भूरि पूजयिष्ये महेश्वरम्
I shall perform great austerity and worship Maheshvara.
संक्षेपात्कथयिष्यामि यदि ते निश्चयः परः
I will tell you briefly, if your resolve is firm.
नंदनादीनि रम्याणि तत्र देववनानि च
There are the delightful Nandana and other divine groves.
बुभुक्षा नैव तृष्णा च निद्रालस्ये न च प्रभो रमयंति नरं तत्र गीतैर्नृत्यैरनेकशः
There, O lord, neither hunger nor thirst nor sleep nor laziness afflict a person; instead, he is delighted by many songs and dances.
एवं च वसते तत्र जनः स्वर्गे तपोधन
Thus, O ascetic rich in penance, people dwell there in heaven.
एक एव मुने दोषः स्वर्लोके प्रतिभाति मे
Yet, O sage, one fault alone appears to me in heaven.
न पुण्यं लभते तत्र कर्तुं विप्र कथंचन
No merit can ever be gained there by any means, O brahmin.
यदत्र क्रियते कर्म शुभं तत्रोप भुज्यते 7.3.35.
Whatever good deed is performed here, its result is enjoyed there.
बहुतेजोन्वितान्स्वर्गे ह्यल्पपुण्यो द्विजोत्तम
In heaven, O best of twice-born, those with little merit see many possessed of great splendor.
न मया सुकृतं भूरि कृतं मर्त्त्ये कथंचन
I have not performed much good in the mortal world by any means.
तथा च पतमानांश्च दृष्ट्वा चान्यान्सहस्रशः
And so, seeing thousands of others falling,
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं गुणदोषसमुद्भवम्
All this, the origin of virtue and fault, has been told to you.
तेन स्वर्गेण मे दूत नैव कार्यं कथंचन
Therefore, O messenger, I have no desire whatsoever for heaven.
वाच्यस्त्वया ममादेशाद्देवराजः स्फुटं वचः
You must clearly speak these words to the king of the gods on my behalf.
तत्कर्माऽहं करिष्यामि येन नो पतनाद्भयम्।. साधयिष्यामि ताँल्लोकान्ये सदा पातवर्जिताः
I will perform that act by which we will have no fear of falling; I will accomplish those worlds so that they are always free from downfall.
पुलस्त्य उवाच एवमुक्त्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ मुद्गलः स्वर्गनिःस्पृहः
Pulastya said: Having spoken thus, O best of kings, Mudgala, who was unattached to heaven,
श्रुत्वा दूतोऽपि शक्रस्य तस्य वाक्यं सविस्तरम्
The messenger of Śakra, too, after hearing his words in detail,
देवदूताप्रमाणं च विमानं हि त्वया कृतम् 7.3.35.
And the celestial vehicle, measured for the divine messenger, was made by you.
तस्मात्तत्र द्रुतं गत्वा बलादानय तं मुनिम्
Therefore, go there quickly and forcibly bring that sage.