शिप्रायां स्नानजं पुण्यं वक्तुं शक्तो न कीदृशम्
The merit arising from bathing in Shipra cannot be adequately described.
यस्मात्स्नानं कृतं सर्वैः शिप्रायां पन्नगोत्तमैः 5.1.51.
For all the foremost serpents performed ablution in Shipra.
नीत्वा शिप्रोदकं पुण्यं कुण्डेषु परिषिञ्चत
Taking the sacred water of Shipra, pour it into the pools.
संपूर्णानि भविष्यंति स्थिराणि पन्नगोत्तमाः
The pools will become full and enduring, O best of serpents.
गतास्ते वै स्वकं लोकं नमस्कृत्वा महेश्वरम्
Having bowed to Maheshvara, they returned to their own world.
सर्वलोकेषु विख्याता व्यास शिप्राऽमृतोद्भवा
O Vyasa, Shipra, born of nectar, is renowned in all the worlds.
न तेषां दुष्कृतं किंचिन्नापदो न च दुर्गतिः
For them, there is no evil deed, no calamity, nor misfortune.
न च मित्राणि दुष्यंति न रोगो न दरिद्रता पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्वापि गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Nor do their friends suffer, nor disease, nor poverty; by reciting or hearing this, one obtains the merit of a thousand cows.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण हयमेधफलं भवेत्
By merely hearing this, one attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
शिप्रा च सर्वतः पुण्या पवित्रा पापहारिणी
And Shipra is everywhere meritorious, pure, and destroyer of sin.
तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिं विस्तराद्गदतो मम शृणु व्यास महापुण्यां कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम्
Nevertheless, Vyasa, listen as I recount in detail the origin of that event—a most auspicious and ancient tale, full of great merit.
पुरा महासुरो जातो हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः
Long ago, there was born a mighty asura named Hiranyaksha, of immense strength.
स चेमां सकलां पृथ्वीं वशीकृत्वा चकार ह
Having brought the entire earth under his control, he ruled over it.
जित्वा च सकलाँल्लोकान्सुरानिंद्रपुरोगमान्
And after conquering all the worlds, including the gods led by Indra,
स सर्वान्सर्वलोकेभ्यः स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति
He himself assumed dominion over all beings in every world.
विचरंति यथा मर्त्या भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः
The gods, deprived of their kingdoms and defeated, wandered like mortals cast down from power.
तत्र गत्वा नमस्कृत्य दैत्यकृत्यं न्यवेदयन्
Thereupon, they went and, after offering their respects, reported the deeds of the daitya.
येन देवगणाः सर्वे नष्टप्रायाश्च तत्क्षणात् 5.1.52.
By him, all the hosts of gods were nearly destroyed in that very instant.
यज्ञभागांश्च वै सर्वानुपाश्नाति पृथक्पृथक्
And he consumed all the shares of the sacrifices, each one separately.
इति विक्लवितं तेषां देवानां स पितामहः
Seeing the gods in such distress, their grandsire became troubled.
ब्रह्मोवाच शृणुध्वं भोः सुरश्रेष्ठा यूयं सर्वे समाहिताः
Brahma said: 'Hear me, O best of gods, all of you gathered here with focused minds.'
द्वावेव सचिवौ दांतौ विष्णुवेषधरावुभौ
There are only two attendants, both restrained, both bearing the form of Vishnu.
एकदा वै मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मणो मानसात्मजाः
Once, O best of sages, the mind-born sons of Brahma—
सनकादयो महाभागा भगवद्दर्शनलालसाः
The greatly fortunate Sanaka and his brothers, eager for a vision of the Blessed Lord—
मुमुहुश्च तदा व्यास कुमारा भृशदुःखिताः
At that time, Vyasa, the young sages became bewildered and deeply distressed.
ददर्श सहसा विष्णुः कुमारान्भुवि दुःखितान्
Suddenly, Vishnu beheld the sorrowful sages upon the earth.
मूर्ध्नि चाघ्राय बाहुभ्यां परिष्वज्य ह्युवाच ह 5.1.52.
He smelled their heads, embraced them with his arms, and spoke to them.
सर्वं तत्कारणं बाला ब्रूत नो धर्मवित्तमाः
Children, most learned in righteousness, tell us the whole reason for this.
येन प्राप्ता वयं ब्रह्मन्दशामेतां शृणुष्व ह
Hear now how we came to this state of the cosmic egg.
आयाता भ्रातरो ह्येते चत्वारो लोकपर्यटाः
These four brothers, wanderers of the worlds, arrived.