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.
यदि वर्षाधिपो ऽहं स्यां ततो यास्यामि देवताः
If I should become lord of the rains, then I will go, O gods.
तस्यां पुरन्दरः प्रीतः पिण्डं पितृषु भक्तितः
There, Purandara, pleased, offered a rice-ball to the ancestors with devotion.
ततः प्रीतास्तु पितरस्तां प्राहुस्तनयां निजाम
Then, pleased, the ancestors spoke to their own daughter.
प्रीतिमानभवच्चासौ रराम च यथेच्छया
She became joyful and lived as she wished.
अजीजनत् सा तनयाश्च तिस्रो रूपातियुक्ताः सुरयोषितोपमाः
She gave birth to three daughters, endowed with extraordinary beauty, comparable to divine women.
सुनाभ इति च ख्यातश्चतुर्थस्तनयो ऽभवत्
A fourth son was born, known as Sunābha.
रागिणि नाम संजाता ज्येष्ठा मेनासुता मुने
O sage, the eldest daughter of Menā was born with the name Rāgiṇī.
श्वेतमाल्याम्बरधरा कुटिला नाम चापरा
Another, named Kuṭilā, wore white garlands and garments.
रूपेणानुपमा काली जघन्या मेनकासुता
The youngest daughter of Menā, Kālī, was incomparable in beauty.
कर्तुं तपः प्रयातास्ता देवास्ता ददृशुः शुभाः
Those auspicious goddesses set out to perform austerities; the gods saw them.