भूयस्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर
I wish to hear further from you, best among knowers of Brahman.
कथां पुण्यतमां तुभ्यं भुवि पापहरां पराम्
Tell me the most sacred story, which removes sin from the earth.
यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण शापमुक्तो भवेन्नरः
By merely hearing it, a person becomes freed from curses.
जनमेजयेन दग्धास्ते मोक्षिता ह्यास्तिकेन च
Those burned by Janamejaya were liberated by Āstika.
जनमेजयस्य यज्ञेस्मिन्देवराजस्य संनिधौ
During Janamejaya’s sacrifice, in the presence of the king of gods—
अस्माकं भूतिमन्विच्छन्वासस्यार्थं परंतप
Seeking the existence of our ancestors, for the sake of residence, O scorcher of foes—
महाकालवने रम्ये या वै कुशस्थली स्मृता
In the beautiful Mahākāla forest is the place known as Kuśasthalī.
तस्यां हि दक्षिणे भागे पूर्वतीर्थं सना तनम्
On its southern side lies the ancient and renowned holy site.
योगनिद्रां समासाद्य शेते ब्रह्म सनातनम्
There, the eternal Brahman rests, having entered yogic sleep.
लोमशश्च महातेजास्तत्रैव प्रतितिष्ठति
There too stands Lomaśa, of great brilliance.
न वर्तते कालचक्रं महाकालप्रतापतः
Because of Mahākāla’s might, the wheel of time does not operate there.
हरिश्चंद्रो विमुक्तोऽभूद्गर्ह्यचण्डालयोनितः
Hariścandra was freed there, though born in a despised outcaste lineage.
एतस्मात्कारणात्सर्वैस्तत्र विश्रम्यतां सदा
For this reason, all should always seek rest there.
एतत्ते वचनं श्रुत्वा महर्षेरास्तिकस्य च
Hearing these words of the sage Āstika,
एलापत्रः कंबलश्च कर्कोटकधनंजयौ
Elāpatra, Kambala, and the two—Karkoṭaka and Dhanaṃjaya—
पद्मकश्चार्बुदश्चैव नागास्ते सर्व एव हि
Padmaka and Arbuda—these nāgas, all of them,
तत्र रम्याणि तीर्थानि जातानि परमाणि च
There arose delightful and supreme holy places.
महापुण्यप्रदान्याहुर्महापापहराणि च 5.1.65.
They are said to bestow great merit and remove great sins.
अप्सरोगणसंघैश्च सेव्यंते च सदा वरैः
They are always served by hosts of apsarases and noble ones.
शेषशायी ह्यलं विष्णुर्भगवान्कमलेक्षणः
There rests Lord Viṣṇu, lotus-eyed, reclining on Śeṣa.
श्वेतद्वीपेति विख्याता मणिविक्रांतभूमिका
It is famed as Śvetadvīpa, land adorned with radiant jewels.
हंसकारंडकाकादि पिककोकिलसारसाः
Swans, cranes, crows, cuckoos, and sarasa birds dwell there.
निधिरेष महापद्मो नीलोत्पलसुगंधिना
This is the great lotus treasure, fragrant with blue lotuses.
यत्र सुसंस्कृता नार्यो विहरंति सुरांगनाः
There, beautifully adorned women, the celestial maidens, play.
यत्र स्नात्वा नरो याति वैकुंठं धाम शोभनम्
Where, after bathing, a man attains the splendid abode of Vaikuntha.
तत्र रमासरो नाम तीर्थं परमशोभनम्
There is the sacred place called Ramāsara, supremely beautiful.
एवं व्यास परं स्थानं सर्वपापहरं परम्
Thus, Vyasa, it is the supreme place, the highest remover of all sins.
अत्र स्नानादिकं कार्यं यत्र संनिहितो हरिः 5.1.65.
Here, one should perform bathing and other rites, for Hari is present there.
कियत्प्रमाणमात्रां च ये ददति वसुंधराम्
Those who give even a small measure of land here—
अक्षय्या लभ्यते वृद्धिस्तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः
For them, inexhaustible increase and eternal worlds are obtained.