चक्रे कीर्त्यर्थमतुलं संस्थानं पार्थिवर्षभः पौण्ड्रकं याम्यमहिषं स्वयं कर्षितुमुद्यतः
For the sake of fame, the bull among kings created the unparalleled Pauṇḍraka Yāmyamahiṣa, preparing himself to plough it.
प्रोवाच राजन् किमिदं भवान् कर्तुमिहोद्यतः
He said, 'O king, what is it that you are preparing to do here?'
प्रोवाच राजन् किमिदं भवान् कर्तुमिहोद्यतः
He said, 'O king, what is it that you are preparing to do here?'
कृषामि शौचं दानं च योगं च ब्रह्मचारिताम्
I cultivate purity, charity, yoga, and celibacy.
लब्धो ऽष्टाङ्गेति सहसा अवहस्य गतस्ततः
Having suddenly obtained the eightfold (yoga), he laughed and departed from there.
कृषते ऽन्यान् समन्ताच्च सप्तक्रोशान् महीपतिः
The king ploughed the surrounding land for seven krośas on all sides.
तदाष्टाङ्गं महाधर्मं समाख्यातं नृपेण हि
Then the great eightfold dharma was declared by the king.
देह्यहं वापयिष्यामि सीरं कृषतु वै भवान्
Give (the land); I will cause the furrow to be made, let you plough the field.
प्रसृतं तं भुजं दृष्ट्वा मया चक्रेण वेगतः
Seeing that outstretched arm, I struck it swiftly with my discus.
ततः सव्यो भुजो राज्ञा दत्तश् छिन्नो ऽप्यसौ मया
Then, though the king's left arm was given and cut off, still it was by me.
वरदो ऽस्मीत्यथेत्युक्ते कुरुर्वरमयाचत
When it was said, 'I am the granter of boons,' then the best of the Kurus requested a boon.
स्नातानां च मृतानां च महापुण्यफलं त्विह
For those who have bathed and for the dead, here is the fruit of great merit.
होमयज्ञादिकं चान्यच्छुभं वाप्यशुभं विभो
Other acts such as homa and sacrifice, whether auspicious or inauspicious, O mighty one,
अक्षयं प्रवरे क्षेत्रे भवत्वत्र महाफलम्
May the great fruit here be imperishable in this excellent field.
इत्येवमुक्तस्तेनाहं राज्ञा बाढमुवाच तम्
Thus addressed by him, I replied to the king, 'So be it,' and spoke to him.
तथान्तकाले मामेव लयटमेष्यसि सुव्रत
At the end of your life, O steadfast one, you will attain dissolution in me alone.
तत्रैव याजका यज्ञान् यजिष्यन्ति सहस्रशः
There, priests will perform thousands of sacrifices.
यक्षं च चन्द्रनामानं वासुकिं चापि पन्नगम्
The yakṣa named Candra and the serpent Vāsuki,
अजावनं च नृपतिं महोदेवं च पावकम्
The king Ajāvana and the great god Pāvaka (Fire),
अमीषां बलिनो ऽन्ये च भृत्याश्चैवानुयायिनः
Their powerful attendants and other followers as well,
स्नातुं न यच्छन्ति महोग्ररूपास्तवन्यस्य भूताः सचराचराणाम्
Those fierce beings among all moving and unmoving creatures do not allow bathing there.
पुण्या नदी प्राङ्मुखतां प्रयाता यत्रौघयुक्तस्य शुभा जताढ्या
The sacred river, rich in auspicious matted reeds, flows eastward where the multitude gathers.
मही जलं वह्निसमीरमेव खं त्वेवमादौ विबभौ पृथूदकः
Earth, water, fire, wind, and sky—thus at first the broad waters shone forth.
संनिर्मितानीह महाभुजेन तच्चैक्यमागात् सलिलं महीषु
Here, created by the mighty-armed one, that water merged with the earth.
तं गच्छध्वं महातीर्थं यावत् संनिधिवोधितम्
Go to that great sacred place as long as its presence is manifest.
तिष्ठन्ति सा तिथिः पुण्या त्वक्षया परिगीयते
That holy lunar day remains, and is praised as imperishable.
पितॄन् आराधयध्वं हि तत्र श्राद्धेन भक्तिततः
There, honor your ancestors with a śrāddha offering and devotion.
समाजग्मुः कुरुक्षेत्रे पुण्यतीर्थं पृथूदकम्
They gathered at Kurukṣetra, at the sacred place of Pṛthūdaka.
पुण्यां तिथिं पापहरां तव कालो ऽयमागतः
The holy lunar day that removes sin has arrived for you.
त्वदायत्तं गुरो कार्यं सुराणां तत् कुरुष्व च
O teacher, the task of the gods depends on you; therefore, do it.