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.
कुटिला ब३ह्मलोकं तु नीता शशिकरप्रभा
Kuṭilā, radiant as moonlight, was taken to Brahmā's world.
पुत्रं महिषहन्तारं ब्रह्मन् व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
O Brahmin, you should describe the son who will slay the buffalo demon.
शार्वं धारयितुं तेजो वराकी मुच्यातां त्वियम्
Let this unfortunate one be released, so she may bear the energy of Śarva.
तथा यतिष्ये भगवन् यता शार्वं सुदुर्द्धरम्
O Lord, I will strive accordingly, though the energy of Śarva is exceedingly hard to bear.
तपसाहं सुतप्तेन समाराध्य जनार्दनम्
By severe austerity, I will propitiate Janārdana.
तथा देव करिष्यामि सत्यं सत्यं मयोदितम्
O god, I will do so; truly, truly I have spoken.
भगवानादिकृद् ब्रह्मा सर्वेशो ऽपि महामुन्
O great sage, the blessed Brahmā, the primeval lord of all, also (spoke).
तस्मान्मच्छापनिर्दग्धा सर्वा आपो भविष्यसि
Therefore, burned by my curse, you shall become all waters.
आपोमयी ब्रह्मलोकं प्लावयामास वेगिनी
Impelled, she, composed of water, flooded Brahmā's world with her current.
ऋक्सामाथर्वयजुभिर्वाङ्मयैर्बन्धनैर्दृढम्
With the strong bonds of the Ṛk, Sāman, Atharvan, and Yajus Vedas, by means of words,