03.087
धौम्य उवाच॥
Dhaumya said.
अवन्तिषु प्रतीच्यां वै कीर्तयिष्यामि ते दिशि। यानि तत्र पवित्राणि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ॥०३-८७-१॥
Indeed, in the western direction in the Avanti region, I will tell you of the holy and meritorious shrines that are found there. (03-87-1)
प्रियङ्ग्वाम्रवनोपेता वानीरवनमालिनी। प्रत्यक्स्रोता नदी पुण्या नर्मदा तत्र भारत ॥०३-८७-२॥
O Bhārata, there is the holy river Narmada, which flows westward, adorned with Vetiver groves and endowed with Priyangu and mango groves. (03-87-2)
निकेतः ख्यायते पुण्यो यत्र विश्रवसो मुनेः। जज्ञे धनपतिर्यत्र कुबेरो नरवाहनः ॥०३-८७-३॥
A certain auspicious abode is renowned, where Kubera, the lord of wealth and the son of the sage Viśravas, who rides men as his vehicle, was born. (03-87-3)
वैडूर्यशिखरो नाम पुण्यो गिरिवरः शुभः। दिव्यपुष्पफलास्तत्र पादपा हरितच्छदाः ॥०३-८७-४॥
There is an auspicious and holy excellent mountain named Vaiḍūryaśikhara, with a summit of beryl. There grow trees with divine flowers and fruits, their foliage bright green. (03-87-4)
तस्य शैलस्य शिखरे सरस्तत्र च धीमतः। प्रफुल्लनलिनं राजन्देवगन्धर्वसेवितम् ॥०३-८७-५॥
O King, on the summit of that mountain there is a lake abounding in blooming lotuses, attended by the devas and gandharvas. (03-87-5)
बह्वाश्चर्यं महाराज दृश्यते तत्र पर्वते। पुण्ये स्वर्गोपमे दिव्ये नित्यं देवर्षिसेविते ॥०३-८७-६॥
O great king, many wonders are seen there on that mountain, which is holy, heavenly in appearance, divine, and always attended by divine sages. (03-87-6)
ह्रदिनी पुण्यतीर्था च राजर्षेस्तत्र वै सरित्। विश्वामित्रनदी पारा पुण्या परपुरञ्जय ॥०३-८७-७॥
There, O conqueror of enemy cities, is the sacred lake, the holy ford, and the river of the royal sage—the sacred Viśvāmitra river, lying beyond. (03-87-7)
यस्यास्तीरे सतां मध्ये ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः। पपात स पुनर्लोकाँल्लेभे धर्मान्सनातनान् ॥०३-८७-८॥
On the bank where, among the virtuous, Yayati, the son of Nahusha, fell, he again obtained the eternal virtues of the worlds. (03-87-8)
तत्र पुण्यह्रदस्तात मैनाकश्चैव पर्वतः। बहुमूलफलो वीर असितो नाम पर्वतः ॥०३-८७-९॥
There, O dear, is a sacred lake, and also the mountain called Mainaka; and O hero, there is a mountain named Asita, rich in roots and fruits. (03-87-9)
आश्रमः कक्षसेनस्य पुण्यस्तत्र युधिष्ठिर। च्यवनस्याश्रमश्चैव ख्यातः सर्वत्र पाण्डव ॥ तत्राल्पेनैव सिध्यन्ति मानवास्तपसा विभो ॥०३-८७-१०॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the hermitage of Kakṣasena is holy there; and the hermitage of Cyavana too is renowned everywhere, O Pāṇḍava. There, O mighty one, people attain success with little ascetic effort. (03-87-10)
जम्बूमार्गो महाराज ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्। आश्रमः शाम्यतां श्रेष्ठ मृगद्विजगणायुतः ॥०३-८७-११॥
O great king, Jambū Path is the most excellent hermitage of the purified-souled seers, tranquil and abundantly populated by groups of beasts and birds. (03-87-11)
ततः पुण्यतमा राजन्सततं तापसायुता। केतुमाला च मेध्या च गङ्गारण्यं च भूमिप ॥ ख्यातं च सैन्धवारण्यं पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम् ॥०३-८७-१२॥
Then, O king, the most sacred regions always frequented by ascetics—Ketumalā, Medhyā, the Ganga forest, and, O ruler of the earth, the renowned holy Sindhu forest frequented by Brahmins. (03-87-12)
पितामहसरः पुण्यं पुष्करं नाम भारत। वैखानसानां सिद्धानामृषीणामाश्रमः प्रियः ॥०३-८७-१३॥
O Bhārata, the lake of the Grandfather, called the holy Puṣkara, is dear as a hermitage to the Vaikhānasa sages, siddhas, and Ṛṣis. (03-87-13)
अप्यत्र संस्तवार्थाय प्रजापतिरथो जगौ। पुष्करेषु कुरुश्रेष्ठ गाथां सुकृतिनां वर ॥०३-८७-१४॥
O best of Kurus, even here, for the sake of praise, the lord of creatures then sang among the Puṣkaras the song of the virtuous. (03-87-14)
मनसाप्यभिकामस्य पुष्कराणि मनस्विनः। पापाणि विप्रणश्यन्ति नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते ॥०३-८७-१५॥
Even by merely wishing in the mind, the high-minded person’s sins are destroyed at the sacred ponds, and he rejoices in heaven. (03-87-15)
