यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण ब्रह्महत्या व्यपोहति
By merely hearing its name, even the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa is dispelled.
पुरा कल्पक्षये व्यास नष्टकल्पा च मेदिनी
Once, at the end of a cycle, Vyāsa, the world and its cycles were destroyed.
तदात्र पतितं व्यास वैकुण्ठशिखरोत्तमम्
Then there fell here, O Vyasa, the most exalted peak of Vaikuntha.
तत्क्षणात्पतिते शृंगे कुण्डं जातं सुनिश्चितम्
At the very moment the peak fell, a pond certainly came into being.
जांबूनदकरारोहं हेमपद्मविराजितम्
It had golden steps and was adorned with lotus flowers of gold.
हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्
It was filled with swans and waterfowl, and beautified by chakravaka birds.
कल्पक्षये न क्षीयंते यानि तत्त्वानि सर्वशः 5.1.53.
At the end of a kalpa, all those principles do not perish at all.
वेदशास्त्रपुराणानि गाथागीतिक्षराक्षराः
The Vedas, scriptures, Puranas, verses, songs, and syllables—
कलाः काष्ठा मुहूर्ताश्च लवत्रुटिपलं घटिः
The divisions of time—kalas, kasthas, muhurtas, lavas, trutis, palas, and ghatis—
संवत्सरयुगाश्चैव कुण्डे तिष्ठंति मूर्तितः
The years and yugas as well, remain embodied in the pond.
गंधर्वाप्सरसो यक्षाः सिद्धाः किंपुरुषास्तथा
Gandharvas, apsaras, yakshas, siddhas, and also kimpurushas—
ब्रह्मा रुद्रश्च कालश्च लोकपाला महौजसः
Brahma, Rudra, Time, and the mighty guardians of the worlds—
तिष्ठंति बहुयुग व्यास यावत्कल्पः समाप्यते
They remain for many ages, O Vyasa, until the kalpa is completed.
दिव्यपादपसंयुक्तं पारिजातगुणान्वितम्
It is endowed with divine trees and possesses the qualities of the Parijata.
क्वचिन्मयूरा नृत्यंति क्वचित्कूजंति कोकिलाः
In some places peacocks dance, in others cuckoos sing.
सुन्दरं सुन्दराकारं सुन्दरं तेन चोच्यते
It is beautiful, of beautiful form, and therefore is called Beautiful.
यत्र संनिहितो विष्णुः शिवः शक्त्या युतो वशी 5.1.53.
There, Vishnu is present, along with Shiva, united with Shakti, the Lord.
पक्षार्धं पक्षमेकं च सुन्दरकुण्डे नरो वसेत्
For half a fortnight or a whole fortnight, a man may dwell at the Beautiful Pond.
पक्षिकीटपतंगाश्च मृता यांति शिवालयम्
Birds, insects, and moths that die there go to the abode of Shiva.
ये ददति तिलान्धेनुं गजवा जिरथावनीः
Those who give sesame, cows, elephants, horses, or land—
शय्यादानविमानानि दानानि विविधानि च
Beds, gifts, and various kinds of donations,
भूयः शृणु परं व्यास सुन्दरकुण्डफलं स्मृतम्
Now listen further, Vyāsa, to the supreme and renowned fruit of Sundara-kuṇḍa.
पिशाचो मोक्षमापन्नः शिव रूपधरो गतः
A piśāca attained liberation, assuming the form of Śiva and departed.
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो यद्यपि ब्रह्महा भवेत्
One is freed from all sins, even if he should be a slayer of a brāhmaṇa.
कोऽसौ पिशाच इति ख्यातः किं तेन दुष्कृतं कृतम्
Who is this piśāca, as he is known, and what evil deed did he commit?
कथं तीर्थप्रसंगोऽस्य जातो वै द्विज सत्तम
How did his connection with the holy place arise, O best of twice-born?
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।।5.1.53.
By merely hearing of whom, all sins are destroyed.
ब्राह्मणो देवलो नाम दाक्षिणात्यो द्विजाधमः
There was a brāhmaṇa named Devala, a southerner, the lowest among twice-born.
गुरुद्रोही कितवो धूर्तो गुरुहा गुरुतल्पगः
He was a betrayer of his teacher, a gambler, a rogue, a murderer of his guru, and one who violated his teacher’s wife.
अभक्ष्यभक्षकश्चैव वेदशास्त्रविवर्जितः
He ate forbidden foods and was devoid of Vedic knowledge and scriptures.