03.087
dhaumya uvāca॥
Dhaumya said.
avantiṣu pratīcyāṃ vai kīrtayiṣyāmi te diśi। yāni tatra pavitrāṇi puṇyānyāyatanāni ca ॥03-87-1॥
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)
priyaṅgv-āmra-vanopetā vānīra-vanamālinī। pratyak-srotā nadī puṇyā narmadā tatra bhārata ॥03-87-2॥
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)
niketaḥ khyāyate puṇyo yatra viśravaso muneḥ। jajñe dhana-patir yatra kubero nara-vāhanaḥ॥03-87-3॥
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)
vaiḍūryaśikharo nāma puṇyo girivaraḥ śubhaḥ। divyapuṣpaphalās tatra pādapā haritacchadāḥ॥03-87-4॥
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)
tasya śailasya śikhare saras tatra ca dhīmataḥ। praphullanalinam rājan deva-gandharva-sevitam॥03-87-5॥
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)
bahvāścaryaṃ mahārāja dṛśyate tatra parvate। puṇye svargopame divye nityaṃ devarṣisevite ॥03-87-6॥
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)
hradinī puṇyatīrthā ca rājarṣes tatra vai sarit। viśvāmitranadī pārā puṇyā parapurañjaya ॥03-87-7॥
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)
yasyāstīre satāṃ madhye yayātir-nahuṣātmajaḥ। papāta sa punarlokān-lebhe dharmān-sanātanān ॥03-87-8॥
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)
tatra puṇyahṛdastāt mainākaścaiva parvataḥ। bahumūlaphalo vīra asito nāma parvataḥ ॥03-87-9॥
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)
āśramaḥ kakṣasenasya puṇyas tatra yudhiṣṭhira। cyavanasya āśramaś caiva khyātaḥ sarvatra pāṇḍava॥ tatra alpenaiva sidhyanti mānavās tapasā vibho॥03-87-10॥
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)
jambūmārgo mahārāja ṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanām। āśramaḥ śāmyatāṃ śreṣṭha mṛgadvijagaṇāyutaḥ॥03-87-11॥
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)
tataḥ puṇyatamā rājansatataṃ tāpasāyutā। ketumālā ca medhyā ca gaṅgāraṇyaṃ ca bhūmipa ॥ khyātaṃ ca saindhavāraṇyaṃ puṇyaṃ dvijaniṣevitam ॥03-87-12॥
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)
pitāmahasaraḥ puṇyaṃ puṣkaraṃ nāma bhārata। vaikhānasānāṃ siddhānāṃ ṛṣīṇām āśramaḥ priyaḥ ॥03-87-13॥
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)
apyatra saṁstavārthāya prajāpati-ratho jagau. puṣkareṣu kuru-śreṣṭha gāthāṁ sukṛtināṁ vara ॥03-87-14॥
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)
manasāpyabhikāmasya puṣkarāṇi manasvinaḥ। pāpāṇi vipraṇaśyanti nākapṛṣṭhe ca modate॥03-87-15॥
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)
