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.
प्रक्षिप्तं देवदेवेन कपालक्षालनं जलम्
The water used by the Lord of gods for washing the skull was poured out.
अर्काष्टम्यां नरः स्नात्वा दिशासु विदिशासु च
On the eighth lunar day under the Sun, a man, having bathed in all directions and intermediate directions,
हविष्यान्नयुतान्व्यास दद्याच्च करका न्नवान्
should give, O Vyasa, food suitable for offerings, accompanied by handfuls numbering nine.
परत्र चेह ये लोकाः सर्वभावसमन्विताः
The worlds here and hereafter, endowed with all good qualities,
ये नरा कीर्तयिष्यंति माहात्म्यमतिभाविकाः
those men who will recite this exceedingly glorious greatness,
तुष्टाव प्रयतो भूत्वा देवदेवं दिवाकरम्
having become intent, he praised the god of gods, the Sun.
आजगाम दिवानाथः संतुष्टः प्राह शंकरम्
The lord of the day arrived, satisfied, and spoke to Shankara.
सूर्य उवाच वरं वरय भूतेश वरदोऽस्मि ददामि ते
The Sun said: 'Choose a boon, Lord of beings; I am the giver of boons, I shall grant it to you.'
अंशेन स्थीयतामत्र हितार्थं सर्वदेहिनाम् 5.1.15.
'May a portion of you remain here for the welfare of all embodied beings.'
ततो देवाधिदेवस्य शंकरस्य महौजसः
Then from Shankara, the god of gods, of great splendor,
शंकरादित्यनामेति लोकानुग्रहकारकः
arose the form called Shankara-Aditya, bestower of grace upon the worlds.
अहो धन्यमिदं स्थानं यत्रास्ते त्रिपुरांतकः
Ah, blessed is this place where the destroyer of Tripura abides.
ततस्तुष्टाश्च ते सर्वे ब्रह्माद्याः सुरसत्तमाः
Then all those excellent gods, beginning with Brahma, were pleased.
मूर्तिमंतश्च ते देवा अवतीर्य च शोभनम्
And those gods, assuming visible forms, descended splendidly.
न दुःखं जायते तेषां जरामरण शोकजम् तस्माच्चैवाधिकं ह्यत्र शंकरादित्यदर्शनात्
No sorrow arises for them from old age, death, or grief; and moreover, here, from the sight of Shankara-Aditya.
व्याधयो नाधयश्चैव दारिद्र्यं न कदाचन
Neither diseases nor afflictions, nor poverty ever occur.
न रोगो न च दारिद्र्यं वियोगो न च बन्धुभिः
There is no illness, nor poverty, nor separation from relatives.
इत्येवं देवदेवेन पुरा वै शूलपाणिना
Thus, in ancient times, it was declared by the Lord of gods, the wielder of the trident.
स्थापितं परमं तीर्थं स्वनाम्ना मुनिसत्तम
O best of sages, a supreme sacred ford was established, bearing his own name.
एकदा समये व्यास कपालक्षालनाय वै
Once, at a certain time, Vyāsa came to wash his skull-bowl.