03.085
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tān sarvān utsukān dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavān dīna-cetasaḥ। āśvāsayaṃs tadā dhaumyo bṛhaspati-samaḥ abravīt॥03-85-1॥
Seeing all the anxious, downhearted Pāṇḍavas, Dhaumya, who was as wise as Bṛhaspati, then consoled them and spoke. (03-85-1)
brāhmaṇānumatān puṇyān āśramān bharatarṣabha। diśas tīrthāni śailāṁś ca śṛṇu me gadato nṛpa ॥03-85-2॥
O best of the Bharatas, O king, listen as I describe those holy hermitages sanctioned by Brāhmaṇas, as well as the sacred places, directions, and mountains. (03-85-2)
pūrvaṃ prācīṃ diśaṃ rājan rājarṣigaṇasevitām। ramyāṃ te kīrtayiṣyāmi yudhiṣṭhira yathāsmṛti ॥03-85-3॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, I shall now extol to you, as I remember, the beautiful eastern direction, which has been attended by groups of royal sages, O king. (03-85-3)
tasyāṁ devarṣijuṣṭāyāṁ naimiṣaṁ nāma bhārata। yatra tīrthāni devānāṁ supuṇyāni pṛthakpṛthak ॥03-85-4॥
O Bhārata, in that place called Naimisha, favoured by the divine sages, there are many sacred and very pure pilgrimage sites of the gods, each distinct from the other. (03-85-4)
yatra sā gomatī puṇyā ramyā devarṣisevitā। yajñabhūmiś ca devānāṃ śāmitraṃ ca vivasvataḥ ॥03-85-5॥
Where that holy and pleasant Gomatī river, served by divine sages, and the sacrificial ground of the gods, and the alliance of Vivasvat (the Sun) exist. (03-85-5)
tasyāṃ girivaraḥ puṇyo yayo rājarṣisatkṛtaḥ। śivaṃ brahmasaro yatra sevitaṃ tridaśarṣibhiḥ॥03-85-6॥
In that region is the holy and excellent mountain, Gaya, revered by royal sages; there is the auspicious Brahma lake, which is worshipped by the seers of the gods. (03-85-6)
yad-arthaṃ puruṣa-vyāghra kīrtayanti purātanāḥ। eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yad-y-eko'pi gayāṃ vrajet॥03-85-7॥
O best of men, for which reason the ancients say that many sons are to be desired: for if even one may go to Gayā. (03-85-7)
mahānadī ca tatraiva tathā gAyaśiro'naqha। yatrāsau kīrtyate viprair akṣayya-karaṇo vaṭaḥ॥ yatra dattaṃ pitṛbhyo'nnam akṣayyaṃ bhavati prabho॥03-85-8॥
There, at the great river and also at Gayaśiras, O sinless one, where the banyan tree bringing inexhaustible merit is praised by the Brāhmaṇas, whatever food is offered to the ancestors there becomes imperishable, O Lord. (03-85-8)
sā ca puṇyajalā yatra phalgunāmā mahānadī। bahumūlaphalā cāpi kauśikī bharatarṣabha॥ viśvāmitro'bhyagādyatra brāhmaṇatvaṃ tapodhanaḥ॥03-85-9॥
There, where the sacred-waters of the great river Phalgu flow, and where the Kauśikī, rich in roots and fruits, also runs, O best of the Bharatas—Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, attained brahminhood. (03-85-9)
gaṅgā yatra nadī puṇyā yasyāstīre bhagīrathaḥ। ayajattāta bahubhiḥ kratubhirbhūridakṣiṇaiḥ॥03-85-10॥
O dear, on the bank of the holy river Gaṅgā, Bhagīratha performed many sacrifices with abundant gifts. (03-85-10)
pāñcāleṣu ca kauravya kathayantyutpalāvatam। viśvāmitro'yajadyatra śakreṇa saha kauśikaḥ ॥ yatrānuvaṃśaṃ bhagavāñjāmadagnyas tathā jagau ॥03-85-11॥
O Kauravya, among the Pāñcālas, they speak of Utpalāvata, where Viśvāmitra, the Kauśika, performed a sacrifice along with Śakra. There, too, the venerable Jāmadagnya recited the genealogy. (03-85-11)
viśvāmitrasya tāṃ dṛṣṭvā vibhūtim atimānuṣīm। kanyakubje'pipat somam indreṇa saha kauśikaḥ॥ tataḥ kṣatrād apākrāmad brāhmaṇo'smīti cābravīt॥03-85-12॥
Having seen that superhuman splendor of Viśvāmitra, in Kanyakubja, Kauśika drank Soma with Indra. Then, departing from the Kṣatriya status, he said, "I am a Brāhmaṇa." (03-85-12)
pavitram ṛṣibhir juṣṭaṃ puṇyaṃ pāvanam uttamam। gaṅgā-yamunayoḥ vīra saṅgamaṃ loka-viśrutam॥03-85-13॥
O hero, the confluence of Gaṅgā and Yamunā is pure, honored by sages, meritorious, purifying, supreme, and renowned in the world. (03-85-13)
yatrāyajata bhūtātmā pūrvameva pitāmahaḥ। prayāgamiti vikhyātaṃ tasmādbharatasattama ॥03-85-14॥
O best of the Bharatas, that place where the grandsire, the soul of all beings, formerly performed sacrifice is hence renowned as Prayāga. (03-85-14)
agastyasya ca rājendra tatrāśramavaro mahān। hiraṇyabinduḥ kathito girau kālañjare nṛpa ॥03-85-15॥
O king, there is the great and excellent hermitage of Agastya. Hiraṇyabindu is said to be on the Kālañjara mountain, O king. (03-85-15)
atyanyān parvatān rājan puṇyaḥ girivaraḥ śivaḥ। mahendro nāma kauravya bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ॥03-85-16॥
O king, surpassing other mountains is the sacred and auspicious mountain called Mahendra, O descendant of Kuru; it belongs to the great-souled Bhārgava. (03-85-16)
ayajadyatra kaunteya pūrvameva pitāmahaḥ। yatra bhāgīrathī puṇyā sadasyāsīdyudhiṣṭhira ॥03-85-17॥
O son of Kuntī, the grandsire formerly performed sacrifice in that place, O Yudhiṣṭhira, where the sacred Bhāgīrathī and the assembly once were. (03-85-17)
yatrāsau brahmaśāleti puṇyā khyātā viśāṃ pate। dhūtapāpmabhirākīrṇā puṇyaṃ tasyāśca darśanam ॥03-85-18॥
O lord of men, where that place named Brahmashala is famous as meritorious, filled with those whose sins are washed away — the very seeing of it is holy. (03-85-18)
pavitro maṅgalīyaś ca khyāto loke sanātanaḥ। kedāraś ca mataṅgasya mahān āśrama uttamaḥ॥03-85-19॥
The pure, auspicious, and world-renowned eternal Kedara, and the excellent great hermitage of Mataṅga.
kuṇḍodaḥ parvato ramyo bahu-mūla-phala-udakaḥ। naiṣadhas tṛṣito yatra jalaṃ śarma ca labdhavān॥03-85-20॥
Kuṇḍoda is a charming mountain with abundant roots, fruits, and water; it is where the thirsty Naiṣadha obtained both water and comfort. (03-85-20)
yatra devavanaṃ ramyaṃ tāpasair upaśobhitam। bāhudā ca nadī yatra nandā ca girimūrdhani ॥03-85-21॥
Where the charming divine forest is adorned by ascetics, and where the river Bāhudā and the Nandā are on the mountain peak. (03-85-21)
tīrthāni saritaḥ śailāḥ puṇyāni āyatanāni ca। prācyāṃ diśi mahārāja kīrtitāni mayā tava॥03-85-22॥
O great king, I have described to you the holy places, rivers, mountains, and sacred shrines in the eastern region. (03-85-22)
tisṛṣv-anyāsu puṇyāni dikṣu tīrthāni me śṛṇu. saritaḥ parvatāṁś-caiva puṇyāny-āyatanāni ca ॥03-85-23॥
Hear from me about the sacred places in the three other directions: the rivers, the mountains, and the auspicious abodes. (03-85-23)
