यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पुत्रवाञ्जायते नरः
By merely seeing him, a man becomes endowed with sons.
समुद्राः संति चत्वारः क्षारक्षीरदधीक्षवः
There are four oceans: saline, milky, curd, and sweet.
कथय त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुद्युम्नेन प्रतिष्ठिताः
Tell me, O best of sages, which were established by Sudyumna.
लक्षयोजनपर्यंतं जंबुद्वीपं सुशोभनम्
Jambudvīpa, beautiful, extends up to a hundred thousand yojanas.
शाकद्वीपे द्विलक्षे तु क्षीराब्धिः संप्रतिष्ठितः शाल्मले त्विक्षुजलधिर्ह्यष्टलक्षः प्रतिष्ठितः
On Śākadvīpa, the milk ocean is established at two hundred thousand; on Śālmalī, the sugarcane ocean is established at eight hundred thousand.
चत्वारस्ते समाख्याताः समुद्रा भूमिमंडले
These four oceans have been described on the earth's sphere.
तस्य पत्नी वरारोहा नाम्ना ख्याता सुदर्शना
His wife, renowned by name, is Sudarśanā, of excellent form.
मुनिं दाल्भ्यं च सा दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ सुतकाम्यया
She, seeing the sage Dālbhya, questioned him with the desire for a son.
सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णः पुत्रो लभ्यो मया कथम्
How may I obtain a son, complete in all characteristics?
स्वयंभुवेन देवेन ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा ।। 5.1.14.
By the self-born god, Brahmā, the creator of worlds.
तेषु राज्ञा कृते स्नाने तव पुत्रो भविष्यति
When the kings have bathed in those, your son will be born.
दाल्भ्यस्यैव तु वाक्येन विचित्राख्यानकेन च
By the words of Dālbhya himself and by the wondrous narrative.
स गत्वा तोषयामास शंकरं गंधमादने
He went and pleased Śaṃkara in Gandhamādana.
अवंतीं गच्छ राजेद्र पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि शोभनम्
Go to Avanti, O king; you will obtain a splendid son.
मेरुरूपे स्थले राजन्समीपे शंकरस्य च अभ्यर्थितास्त्वया तत्र स्थास्यंति कलया सदा
On the land resembling Meru, near Śaṃkara, O king, those who are requested by you will always remain there with skill.
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवो जगामादर्शनं विभुः
Having spoken thus, the great god departed from sight.
आगतस्तु कुशस्थल्यां समुद्रांश्च ददर्श ह
Arriving at Kuśasthalī, he beheld the oceans.
स वव्रे मनसा पुत्रं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् तावदत्रैव स्थातव्यं राजस्थलसमीपतः
He mentally desired a son endowed with all marks; one must remain here, near the royal grounds, for that long.
भविष्यति च ते पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः
Your son will indeed possess all auspicious marks.
स्थले चात्र शुभे राजन्स्थास्यामः कलया सह
On this auspicious land, O king, we shall remain together with skill.
कुरुते तेषु यो यात्रां तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
Hear the meritorious result for one who undertakes pilgrimage among them.
कुर्याच्छाद्धं ततो व्यास पितॄणां भक्तितत्परः
Then, Vyāsa, one devoted to the ancestors should offer food.
मंडकांश्च ततो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे
After that, he should give Maṇḍaka cakes to a Brahmin versed in the Vedas.
सहिरण्यं च दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे
Gold should also be given to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas.
सदक्षिणं फलैर्युक्तमर्घ्यं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः
With proper gifts and fruits, one should carefully offer arghya.
क्षीरं तत्र प्रदातव्यं ताम्रपात्रेण पूरितम्
Milk should be given there, filled in a copper vessel.
इक्ष्वब्धौ च तथा कृत्वा दद्याद्विप्रे गुडं शुभम्
Similarly, at Ikṣvabdhau, he should give fine jaggery to a Brahmin.
भव्यां हि लभते लक्ष्मीं पुत्रांश्चापि मनोरमान् ।। 5.1.14.
He attains auspicious fortune and delightful sons.
मृते स्वर्गमवाप्नोति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश
Upon death, he attains heaven for as long as fourteen Indras reign.
क्रीडमानेन देवेन निर्मितं तीर्थमुत्तमम्
The supreme tīrtha was created by the playful god.