03.086
धौम्य उवाच॥
Dhaumya said.
दक्षिणस्यां तु पुण्यानि शृणु तीर्थानि भारत। विस्तरेण यथाबुद्धि कीर्त्यमानानि भारत ॥०३-८६-१॥
O Bhārata, listen to the holy sacred places in the southern region; being narrated in detail as I understand, O Bhārata. (03-86-1)
यस्यामाख्यायते पुण्या दिशि गोदावरी नदी। बह्वारामा बहुजला तापसाचरिता शुभा ॥०३-८६-२॥
In that direction is the sacred Godāvarī river, said to be holy, with many retreats, abundant water, frequented by ascetics, and auspicious. (03-86-2)
वेण्णा भीमरथी चोभे नद्यौ पापभयापहे। मृगद्विजसमाकीर्णे तापसालयभूषिते ॥०३-८६-३॥
The rivers Veṇṇā and Bhīmarathī, both cleansing away sin and fear, abounded with deer and birds and were adorned with hermitages. (03-86-3)
राजर्षेस्तत्र च सरिन्नृगस्य भरतर्षभ। रम्यतीर्था बहुजला पयोष्णी द्विजसेविता ॥०३-८६-४॥
O foremost of the Bharatas, there is Payoshni of the royal sage and river Nṛga—abounding in water, with charming fords, attended by the twice-born. (03-86-4)
अपि चात्र महायोगी मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः। अनुवंष्यां जगौ गाथां नृगस्य धरणीपतेः ॥०३-८६-५॥
Here also, the great yogi Markandeya, who performed great austerities, sang a song concerning the descendants of Nriga, the lord of the earth. (03-86-5)
नृगस्य यजमानस्य प्रत्यक्षमिति नः श्रुतम्। अमाद्यदिन्द्रः सोमेन दक्षिणाभिर्द्विजातयः ॥०३-८६-६॥
We have directly heard that Indra was gladdened with soma and gifts by Nṛga, the sacrificer, together with the twice-born. (03-86-6)
माठरस्य वनं पुण्यं बहुमूलफलं शिवम्। यूपश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ वरुणस्रोतसे गिरौ ॥०३-८६-७॥
There is, O best of the Bharatas, a holy and auspicious forest of Māṭhara, abundant with roots and fruits, and a sacrificial post on the mountain at the Varuṇa stream. (03-86-7)
प्रवेण्युत्तरपार्श्वे तु पुण्ये कण्वाश्रमे तथा। तापसानामरण्यानि कीर्तितानि यथाश्रुति ॥०३-८६-८॥
On the northern side of the Praveṇī, in the holy hermitage of Kaṇva as well, the hermitages of the ascetics are mentioned as known from tradition. (03-86-8)
वेदी शूर्पारके तात जमदग्नेर्महात्मनः। रम्या पाषाणतीर्था च पुरश्चन्द्रा च भारत ॥०३-८६-९॥
O Bhārata, the altar at Śūrpāraka of the great-souled Jamadagni, the delightful stone ford, and Puraścandra as well.
अशोकतीर्थं मर्त्येषु कौन्तेय बहुलाश्रमम्। अगस्त्यतीर्थं पाण्ड्येषु वारुणं च युधिष्ठिर ॥०३-८६-१०॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, Aśoka-tīrtha is a place with many hermitages among men, O son of Kuntī; among the Pāṇḍyas, Agastya-tīrtha and the sacred place of Varuṇa are (prominent). (03-86-10)
कुमार्यः कथिताः पुण्याः पाण्ड्येष्वेव नरर्षभ। ताम्रपर्णीं तु कौन्तेय कीर्तयिष्यामि तां शृणु ॥०३-८६-११॥
O bull among men, I have already described the auspicious maidens among the Pāṇḍya people. But now, O son of Kuntī, listen as I will praise the Tāmraparṇī (river). (03-86-11)
यत्र देवैस्तपस्तप्तं महदिच्छद्भिराश्रमे। गोकर्णमिति विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत ॥०३-८६-१२॥
O Bhārata, Gokarṇa is renowned in the three worlds as the hermitage where the gods, desiring something great, performed austerities. (03-86-12)
शीततोयो बहुजलः पुण्यस्तात शिवश्च सः। ह्रदः परमदुष्प्रापो मानुषैरकृतात्मभिः ॥०३-८६-१३॥
O dear one, that lake, full of cold and abundant water, is meritorious and auspicious, and is extremely difficult to reach for men lacking self-discipline. (03-86-13)
तत्रैव तृणसोमाग्नेः सम्पन्नफलमूलवान्। आश्रमोऽगस्त्यशिष्यस्य पुण्यो देवसभे गिरौ ॥०३-८६-१४॥
There itself, on the mountain named Devasabha, lies the auspicious hermitage of Agastya's disciple, rich in fruits and roots, formerly belonging to Tṛṇa, Soma, and Agni. (03-86-14)
वैडूर्यपर्वतस्तत्र श्रीमान्मणिमयः शिवः। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमश्चैव बहुमूलफलोदकः ॥०३-८६-१५॥
There stood the splendid beryl mountain made of jewels, auspicious. Also, there was the hermitage of Agastya, abundant in roots, fruits, and water. (03-86-15)
सुराष्ट्रेष्वपि वक्ष्यामि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च। आश्रमान्सरितः शैलान्सरांसि च नराधिप ॥०३-८६-१६॥
O king, I shall also tell you about the holy shrines, hermitages, rivers, mountains, and lakes in the Surashtra region. (03-86-16)
चमसोन्मज्जनं विप्रास्तत्रापि कथयन्त्युत। प्रभासं चोदधौ तीर्थं त्रिदशानां युधिष्ठिर ॥०३-८६-१७॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the Brahmins also tell there of the emergence of the sacrificial vessel and of Prabhāsa, the holy place of the gods in the ocean. (03-86-17)
तत्र पिण्डारकं नाम तापसाचरितं शुभम्। उज्जयन्तश्च शिखरी क्षिप्रं सिद्धिकरो महान् ॥०३-८६-१८॥
There is Piṇḍāraka, an auspicious place frequented by ascetics. And the peak of Ujjayanta, great and quickly granting success. (03-86-18)
तत्र देवर्षिवर्येण नारदेनानुकीर्तितः। पुराणः श्रूयते श्लोकस्तं निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥०३-८६-१९॥
There, an ancient story recited by the illustrious sage Nārada is heard; understand that verse, O Yudhisthira. (03-86-19)
पुण्ये गिरौ सुराष्ट्रेषु मृगपक्षिनिषेविते। उज्जयन्ते स्म तप्ताङ्गो नाकपृष्ठे महीयते ॥०३-८६-२०॥
He who endures on the virtuous mountain in Saurashtra, frequented by beasts and birds, is indeed honored, and one whose body is scorched by austerity is exalted in heaven. (03-86-20)
पुण्या द्वारवती तत्र यत्रास्ते मधुसूदनः। साक्षाद्देवः पुराणोऽसौ स हि धर्मः सनातनः ॥०३-८६-२१॥
Holy Dvaravati is that place where Madhusudana dwells; he is the god manifest, the ancient one; he indeed is the eternal righteousness. (03-86-21)
ये च वेदविदो विप्रा ये चाध्यात्मविदो जनाः। ते वदन्ति महात्मानं कृष्णं धर्मं सनातनम् ॥०३-८६-२२॥
Those who are knowers of the Veda, the wise, and those who know the Self among men, they speak of the great-souled Kṛṣṇa as the eternal dharma. (03-86-22)
पवित्राणां हि गोविन्दः पवित्रं परमुच्यते। पुण्यानामपि पुण्योऽसौ मङ्गलानां च मङ्गलम् ॥०३-८६-२३॥
Indeed, among all that is pure, Govinda is said to be the supreme purity; he is the most virtuous among the virtuous, and the most auspicious among the auspicious. (03-86-23)
त्रैलोक्यं पुण्डरीकाक्षो देवदेवः सनातनः। आस्ते हरिरचिन्त्यात्मा तत्रैव मधुसूदनः ॥०३-८६-२४॥
The lotus-eyed god of gods, the eternal one, Hari of inconceivable nature, Madhusūdana, abides in the three worlds right there. (03-86-24)
