Nahusha's Fall: Agastya, Bhrigu and the Gift of Lamps

Verse 1 (13.157.1)

कथं वै स विपन्नश्च कथं वै पातितो भुवि । कथं देवेन्द्रतां प्राप्तस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ॥

kathaṃ vai sa vipannaśca kathaṃ vai pātito bhuvi | kathaṃ devendratāṃ prāptastadbhavānvaktumarhati

How did he come to ruin, and how was he thrown down to the earth? And how did he come to be lord of the gods? You ought to tell me this.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads कथं देवेन्द्रतां प्राप्तः ("attained the lordship of the gods") against CE 13.103.1c 'kathaṃ cānindratāṃ prāptaḥ'; recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (13.157.2)

एवं तयोः संवदतोः क्रियास्तस्य महात्मनः । सर्वा एव प्रवर्तन्ते या दिव्या याश्च मानुषाः ॥

evaṃ tayoḥ saṃvadatoḥ kriyāstasya mahātmanaḥ | sarvā eva pravartante yā divyā yāśca mānuṣāḥ

While the two were thus conversing, all the rites of that great-souled one, divine and human alike, went on being performed.

Verse 3 (13.157.3)

तथैव दीपदानानि सर्वोपकरणानि वै । बलिकर्म च यच्चान्यद्वत्सकाश्च पृथग्विधाः ॥

tathaiva dīpadānāni sarvopakaraṇāni vai | balikarma ca yaccānyadvatsakāśca pṛthagvidhāḥ

So too the offerings of lamps, all the requisites, the rite of offerings to the beings, and whatever else there was, such as the various festivals held yearly for one's children.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.103.3a and 3c. Line 2 reads वत्सकाश्च (the page's footnote glosses it as yearly festivals for sons) against CE 'utsekāś ca'; recension variant, kept. The CE's third line (3e) begins the next verse here.

Verse 4 (13.157.4)

सर्वास्तस्य समुत्पन्ना देवेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः । देवलोके नृलोके च सदाचारपुरस्कृताः ॥

sarvāstasya samutpannā devendrasya mahātmanaḥ | devaloke nṛloke ca sadācārapuraskṛtāḥ

All of these arose for that great-souled lord of the gods, in the world of the gods and in the world of men, held foremost as the conduct of the good.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.103.3e (devarājño for देवेन्द्रस्य); line 2 is a variant of CE 4a (sadācārā budhaiḥ smṛtāḥ → सदाचारपुरस्कृताः). Kept as printed.

Verse 5 (13.157.5)

ताश्चोद्भवन्ति राजेन्द्र समृद्ध्यै गृहमेधिनः । धूपप्रदानैर्दीपैश्च नमस्कारैस्तथैव च ॥

tāścodbhavanti rājendra samṛddhyai gṛhamedhinaḥ | dhūpapradānairdīpaiśca namaskāraistathaiva ca

And these, O best of kings, come into being for the prosperity of householders, through offerings of incense and lamps and through salutations.

Note on the text: Lines are variants of CE 13.103.4c and 4e (te ced bhavanti rājendra ṛdhyante gṛhamedhinaḥ / dhūpapradānair dīpaiś ca namaskārais tathaiva ca). Kept as printed.

Verse 6 (13.157.6)

यथा सिद्धस्य चान्नस्य गृह्य चाग्रं प्रदीयते । बलयश्च गृहोद्देशे ततः प्रीयन्ति देवताः ॥

yathā siddhasya cānnasya gṛhya cāgraṃ pradīyate | balayaśca gṛhoddeśe tataḥ prīyanti devatāḥ

When the first portion of the cooked food is set aside and offered, and offerings are made in the precincts of the house, the deities are pleased.

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from CE 13.103.5a (dvijāyāgraṃ pradīyate for गृह्य चाग्रं प्रदीयते); recension variant, kept.

Verse 7 (13.157.7)

यथा च गृहिणस्तोषो भवेद्वै बलिकर्मणि । तथा शतगुणा प्रीतिर्देवतानां प्रजायते ॥

yathā ca gṛhiṇastoṣo bhavedvai balikarmaṇi | tathā śataguṇā prītirdevatānāṃ prajāyate

As the householder's own satisfaction is in the rite of offering, so a hundredfold delight arises in the deities.

Verse 8 (13.157.8)

एवं धूपप्रदानं च दीपदानं च साधवः । प्रयच्छति नमस्कारैर्युक्तमात्मगुणावहम् ॥

evaṃ dhūpapradānaṃ ca dīpadānaṃ ca sādhavaḥ | prayacchati namaskārairyuktamātmaguṇāvaham

In the same way good people give the offering of incense and the offering of lamps, joined with salutations, which brings virtues to oneself.

Note on the text: CE 13.103.7c reads praśaṃsanti for प्रयच्छति; recension variant, kept.

Verse 9 (13.157.9)

स्नानेनाद्भिश्च यत्कर्म क्रियते वै विपश्चिता । नमस्कारप्रयुक्तेन तेन प्रीणन्ति देवताः ॥

snānenādbhiśca yatkarma kriyate vai vipaścitā | namaskāraprayuktena tena prīṇanti devatāḥ

By the rite that a wise man performs with bathing and with water, joined with salutation, the deities are gratified.

Verse 10 (13.157.10)

पितरश्च महाभागा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । गृह्याश्च देवताः सर्वाः प्रीयन्ते विधिनाऽर्चिताः ॥

pitaraśca mahābhāgā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | gṛhyāśca devatāḥ sarvāḥ prīyante vidhinā'rcitāḥ

The great Pitris, the sages rich in austerity, and all the household deities are pleased when honoured according to rule.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the couplet is CE star line 13.103.8d*0460_01 (pitaraś ca mahābhāgā …) together with CE 8e (gṛhyāś ca devatāḥ sarvāḥ …). Kept as printed.

Verse 11 (13.157.11)

इत्येतां बुद्धिमास्थाय नहुषः स नरेश्वरः । सुरेन्द्रत्वं महत्प्राप्य कृतवानेतदद्भुतम् ॥

ityetāṃ buddhimāsthāya nahuṣaḥ sa nareśvaraḥ | surendratvaṃ mahatprāpya kṛtavānetadadbhutam

Resting on this thought, King Nahusha, having attained the great lordship of the gods, did this wonderful thing.

Verse 12 (13.157.12)

कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य भाग्यक्षय उपस्थिते । सर्वमेतदवज्ञाय न चकार यथाविधि ॥

kasya cittvatha kālasya bhāgyakṣaya upasthite | sarvametadavajñāya na cakāra yathāvidhi

But after some time, when his fortune began to wane, he disregarded all this and no longer did it according to rule.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads न चकार यथाविधि against CE 13.103.10c 'na cakāraitad īdṛśam'; recension variant, kept.

Verse 13 (13.157.13)

ततः स परिहीणोऽभूत्सुरेन्द्रो बलदर्पतः । धूपदीपादिकविधिं न यथावच्चकार ह । ततोऽस्य यज्ञविषयो रक्षोभिः परिबाध्यते ॥

tataḥ sa parihīṇo'bhūtsurendro baladarpataḥ | dhūpadīpādikavidhiṃ na yathāvaccakāra ha | tato'sya yajñaviṣayo rakṣobhiḥ paribādhyate

Then the lord of the gods fell away through pride in his strength, and no longer performed the rule of incense, lamps and the rest as it should be done. Thereupon his sphere of sacrifice came to be assailed by rakshasas.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads बलदर्पतः against CE 13.103.11a 'balikarmataḥ', and line 2 धूपदीपादिकविधिं against CE 'dhūpadīpodakavidhiṃ'; recension variants, kept. Line 3 = CE 13.103.11e.

Verse 14 (13.157.14)

अथागस्त्यमृषिश्रेष्ठं वाहनायाजुहाव ह । द्रुतं सरस्वतीकूलात्स्मयन्निव महाबलः ॥

athāgastyamṛṣiśreṣṭhaṃ vāhanāyājuhāva ha | drutaṃ sarasvatīkūlātsmayanniva mahābalaḥ

Then, mighty and as if smiling, he quickly summoned Agastya, the foremost of sages, from the bank of the Sarasvati to carry him.

Verse 15 (13.157.15)

ततो भृगुर्महातेजा मैत्रावरुणिमब्रवीत् । निमीलयस्व नयने जटां यावद्विशामि ते । सुरेन्द्रपतनायेति स च नेत्रे न्यमीलयत् ॥

tato bhṛgurmahātejā maitrāvaruṇimabravīt | nimīlayasva nayane jaṭāṃ yāvadviśāmi te | surendrapatanāyeti sa ca netre nyamīlayat

Then the greatly radiant Bhrigu said to the son of Mitra and Varuna, "Close your eyes, until I enter your matted hair." And Agastya shut his eyes, for the fall of the lord of the gods.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick, closing quote mark and doubled danda printed round line 3 (wiki marks), and corrected नेत्र → नेत्रे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ए, 'the eyes'; CE 'netre'). Lines 1-2 = CE 13.103.13a, 13c; line 3 is CE star line 13d*0461_01 (surendrapātanāyeti sa ca netre nyamīlayat).

Verse 16 (13.157.16)

ततोऽगस्त्यस्याथ जटां दृष्ट्वा प्राविशदच्युतः । भृगुः स सुमहातेजाः पातनाय नृपस्य च ॥

tato'gastyasyātha jaṭāṃ dṛṣṭvā prāviśadacyutaḥ | bhṛguḥ sa sumahātejāḥ pātanāya nṛpasya ca

Then, seeing Agastya's matted hair, the unfailing and greatly radiant Bhrigu entered it, to bring about the king's downfall.

Note on the text: Differs from CE 13.103.14a,c (sthāṇubhūtasya tasyātha jaṭāḥ prāviśad acyutaḥ …); recension variant, kept.

Verse 17 (13.157.17)

ततः स देवराट् प्राप्तस्तमृषिं वाहनाय वै । ततोऽगस्त्यः सुरपतिं वाक्यमाह विशाम्पते । योजयस्वेति मां क्षिप्रं कं च देशं वहामि ते ॥

tataḥ sa devarāṭ prāptastamṛṣiṃ vāhanāya vai | tato'gastyaḥ surapatiṃ vākyamāha viśāmpate | yojayasveti māṃ kṣipraṃ kaṃ ca deśaṃ vahāmi te

Then the king of the gods arrived to have that sage carry him. And Agastya said to the lord of the gods, O lord of men, "Yoke me quickly, and tell me to what place I am to carry you."

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 13.103.15a, 15c; line 3 is a variant of CE 16a (yojayasvendra māṃ kṣipraṃ …). Kept as printed.

Verse 18 (13.157.18)

यत्र वक्ष्यसि तत्र त्वां नयिष्यामि सुराधिप । इत्युक्तो नहुषस्तेन योजयामास तं मुनिम् ॥

yatra vakṣyasi tatra tvāṃ nayiṣyāmi surādhipa | ityukto nahuṣastena yojayāmāsa taṃ munim

"Wherever you tell me, there I shall take you, lord of the gods." Thus addressed by him, Nahusha yoked that sage.

Note on the text: Corrected नरहुषस्तेन → नहुषस्तेन (misprint in Wikisource; stray र; CE 'nahuṣas'). Line 1 = CE 13.103.16c; line 2 = CE 17a.

Verse 19 (13.157.19)

भृगुस्तस्य जटान्तस्थो बभूव हृषितो भृशम् । न चापि दर्शनं तस्य चकार स भृगुस्तदा । वरदानप्रभावज्ञो नहुषस्य महात्मनः ॥

bhṛgustasya jaṭāntastho babhūva hṛṣito bhṛśam | na cāpi darśanaṃ tasya cakāra sa bhṛgustadā | varadānaprabhāvajño nahuṣasya mahātmanaḥ

Bhrigu, lodged in the ends of his matted hair, was greatly delighted. And Bhrigu, who knew the power of the boon given to the great-souled Nahusha, did not let himself be seen by him then.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 13.103.17c (bhṛgus tasya jaṭāsaṃstho babhūva hṛṣito bhṛśam); lines 2-3 = CE 18a, 18c.

Verse 20 (13.157.20)

न चुकोप तदाऽगस्त्यो युक्तोऽपि नहुषेण वै । तं तु राजा पदैकेन चोदयामास भारत । श्रुतिः स्मृतिः प्रमाणं वा नेतिवादेन देवराट् ॥

na cukopa tadā'gastyo yukto'pi nahuṣeṇa vai | taṃ tu rājā padaikena codayāmāsa bhārata | śrutiḥ smṛtiḥ pramāṇaṃ vā netivādena devarāṭ

Though yoked by Nahusha, Agastya did not grow angry. But the king goaded him with his foot, O Bharata, in a dispute denying that scripture or tradition is any authority.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick, closing quote mark and doubled danda printed round line 3 (wiki marks). Lines 1-2 = CE 13.103.19a, 19c (line 2 reads पदैकेन against CE 'pratodena'; the page's footnote records the same variant); line 3 is CE star line 19d*0462_01 (śrutismṛtī pramāṇaṃ vā neti vāde sa devarāṭ), here in a variant form.

Verse 21 (13.157.21)

न चुकोप स धर्मात्मा ततः पादेन देवराट् । अगस्त्यस्य तदा क्रुद्धो वामेनाभ्यहनच्छिरः ॥

na cukopa sa dharmātmā tataḥ pādena devarāṭ | agastyasya tadā kruddho vāmenābhyahanacchiraḥ

That righteous-souled sage did not grow angry; but then the king of the gods, enraged, struck Agastya's head with his left foot.

Verse 22 (13.157.22)

तस्मिञ्शिरस्यभिहते स जटान्तर्गतो भृगुः । शशाप बलवत्क्रुद्धो नहुषं पापचेतसम् ॥

tasmiñśirasyabhihate sa jaṭāntargato bhṛguḥ | śaśāpa balavatkruddho nahuṣaṃ pāpacetasam

When that head was struck, Bhrigu, who was within the matted hair, in great anger cursed the evil-minded Nahusha.

Verse 23 (13.157.23)

यस्मात्पदाऽवधीः क्रोधाच्छिरसीमं महामुनिम् । तस्मादाशु महीं गच्छ सर्पो भूत्वा सुदुर्मते ॥

yasmātpadā'vadhīḥ krodhācchirasīmaṃ mahāmunim | tasmādāśu mahīṃ gaccha sarpo bhūtvā sudurmate

"Because in anger you struck the head of this great sage with your foot, therefore, O fool, go quickly to the earth, becoming a serpent."

Note on the text: Speaker: no heading is printed; the whole verse is Bhrigu's curse (the input had Bhishma). CE 13.103.22 heads this verse 'bhṛgur uvāca'.

Verse 24 (13.157.24)

शप्तोऽथ स तदा तेन सर्पो भूत्वा पपात ह । अदृष्टेनाथ भृगुणा भूतले भरतर्षभ ॥

śapto'tha sa tadā tena sarpo bhūtvā papāta ha | adṛṣṭenātha bhṛguṇā bhūtale bharatarṣabha

Cursed by him in this way, he then fell to the ground, O best of the Bharatas, having become a serpent, while Bhrigu remained unseen.

Verse 25 (13.157.25)

भृगुं हि यदि सोऽद्राक्षीन्नहुषः पृथिवीपते । स शक्तो नाभविष्यद्वै पातने तस्य तेजसा ॥

bhṛguṃ hi yadi so'drākṣīnnahuṣaḥ pṛthivīpate | sa śakto nābhaviṣyadvai pātane tasya tejasā

For if Nahusha had seen Bhrigu, O lord of the earth, Bhrigu would not have been able to bring about his fall, because of Nahusha's radiance.

Note on the text: Corrected शक्तोनाऽभविष्यद्वै → शक्तो नाभविष्यद्वै (misprint in Wikisource; word-division and a spurious avagraha; CE 'na sa śakto 'bhaviṣyad vai').

Verse 26 (13.157.26)

स तु तैस्तैः प्रदानैश्च तपोभिर्नियमैस्तथा । पतितोऽपि महाराज भूतले स्मृतिमानभूत् ॥

sa tu taistaiḥ pradānaiśca tapobhirniyamaistathā | patito'pi mahārāja bhūtale smṛtimānabhūt

But because of his many gifts, his austerities and his observances, he kept his memory even though fallen to the earth, O great king.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match; the couplet is CE 13.103.25a, 25c (sa tu tais taiḥ pradānaiś ca tapobhir niyamais tathā / patito 'pi mahārāja bhūtale smṛtimān abhūt), slightly varied.

Verse 27 (13.157.27)

प्रसादयामास भृगुं शापान्तो मे भवेदिति । ततोऽगस्त्यः कृपाविष्टः प्रासादयत तं भृगुम् । शापान्तार्थं महाराज स च प्रादात्कृपान्वितः ॥

prasādayāmāsa bhṛguṃ śāpānto me bhavediti | tato'gastyaḥ kṛpāviṣṭaḥ prāsādayata taṃ bhṛgum | śāpāntārthaṃ mahārāja sa ca prādātkṛpānvitaḥ

He entreated Bhrigu, "Let there be an end to my curse." Then Agastya, moved by compassion, also appeased Bhrigu for the ending of the curse, O great king; and Bhrigu, full of compassion, granted it.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.103.25e (prasādayām āsa bhṛguṃ śāpānto me bhaved iti, here reordered); lines 2-3 = CE 26a, 26c.

Verse 28 (13.157.28)

राजा युधिष्ठिरो नाम भविष्यति कुरूद्वहः । स त्वां मोक्षयिता शापादित्युक्त्वाऽन्तरधीयत ॥

rājā yudhiṣṭhiro nāma bhaviṣyati kurūdvahaḥ | sa tvāṃ mokṣayitā śāpādityuktvā'ntaradhīyata

"There will be a king named Yudhishthira, the pride of the Kurus. He will free you from the curse." Saying this, he vanished.

Note on the text: Page heading is 'भृगुरुवाच' (CE 13.103.27 likewise). Line 2 ends with the narrator's 'इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तरधीयत'; kept under the printed heading.

Verse 29 (13.157.29)

अगस्त्योऽपि महातेजाः कृत्वा कार्यं शतक्रतोः । स्वमाश्रमपदं प्रायात्पूज्यमानो द्विजातिभिः ॥

agastyo'pi mahātejāḥ kṛtvā kāryaṃ śatakratoḥ | svamāśramapadaṃ prāyātpūjyamāno dvijātibhiḥ

And Agastya too, of great radiance, having done what Indra needed done, went to his own hermitage, honoured by the twice-born.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma resumes here (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 30 (13.157.30)

नहुषोऽपि त्वया राजंस्तस्माच्छापात्समुद्धृतः । जगाम ब्रह्मभवनं पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप ॥

nahuṣo'pi tvayā rājaṃstasmācchāpātsamuddhṛtaḥ | jagāma brahmabhavanaṃ paśyataste janādhipa

And Nahusha, O king, was raised up from that curse by you, and went to the abode of Brahma while you looked on, O lord of men.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 31 (13.157.31)

तदा स पातयित्वा तं नहुषं भूतले भृगुः । जगाम ब्रह्मभवनं ब्रह्मणे च न्यवेदयत् ॥

tadā sa pātayitvā taṃ nahuṣaṃ bhūtale bhṛguḥ | jagāma brahmabhavanaṃ brahmaṇe ca nyavedayat

Then, having cast Nahusha down to the earth, Bhrigu went to the abode of Brahma and reported it to Brahma.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 32 (13.157.32)

ततः शक्रं समानाय्य देवानाह पितामहः । वरदानान्मम सुरा नहुषो राज्यमाप्तवान् । स चागस्त्येन क्रुद्धेन भ्रंशितो भूतलं गतः ॥

tataḥ śakraṃ samānāyya devānāha pitāmahaḥ | varadānānmama surā nahuṣo rājyamāptavān | sa cāgastyena kruddhena bhraṃśito bhūtalaṃ gataḥ

Then the Grandfather summoned Shakra and said to the gods: "By my boon, gods, Nahusha obtained the kingdom; and he has been brought down by angry Agastya and has gone to the earth."

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma narrating (the input carried Bhrigu over); lines 2-3 are Brahma's words, quoted within the narration.

Verse 33 (13.157.33)

न च शक्यं विना राज्ञा सुखं वर्तयितुं क्वचित् । तस्मादयं पुनः शक्रो देवराज्येऽभिषिच्यताम् ॥

na ca śakyaṃ vinā rājñā sukhaṃ vartayituṃ kvacit | tasmādayaṃ punaḥ śakro devarājye'bhiṣicyatām

"Without a king it is never possible to live in comfort. Therefore let this Shakra be consecrated again in the kingship of the gods."

Note on the text: Speaker: Brahma. No heading is printed; the whole verse is his direct speech (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 34 (13.157.34)

एवं सम्भाषमाणं तु देवाः पार्थ पितामहम् । एवमस्त्विति संहृष्टाः प्रत्यूचुस्तं नराधिप ॥

evaṃ sambhāṣamāṇaṃ tu devāḥ pārtha pitāmaham | evamastviti saṃhṛṣṭāḥ pratyūcustaṃ narādhipa

To the Grandfather as he spoke thus, O Partha, the gods, delighted, replied, "So be it," O lord of men.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 35 (13.157.35)

सोऽभिषिक्तो भगवता देवराज्ये च वासवः । ब्रह्मणा राजशार्दूल यथापूर्वं व्यरोचत ॥

so'bhiṣikto bhagavatā devarājye ca vāsavaḥ | brahmaṇā rājaśārdūla yathāpūrvaṃ vyarocata

Consecrated by the blessed Brahma in the kingship of the gods, Vasava shone as before, O tiger among kings.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 36 (13.157.36)

एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तं नहुषस्य व्यतिक्रमात् । स च तैरेव संसिद्धो नहुषः कर्मभिः पुनः ॥

evametatpurāvṛttaṃ nahuṣasya vyatikramāt | sa ca taireva saṃsiddho nahuṣaḥ karmabhiḥ punaḥ

Such is this old event, which came about through Nahusha's transgression; and Nahusha was brought again to success by those very same deeds.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over).

Verse 37 (13.157.37)

तस्माद्दीपाः प्रदातव्याः सायं वै गृहमेधिभिः । दिव्यं चक्षुरवाप्नोति प्रेत्य दीपस्य दायकः । पूर्णचन्द्रप्रतीकाशा दीपदाश्च भवन्त्युत ॥

tasmāddīpāḥ pradātavyāḥ sāyaṃ vai gṛhamedhibhiḥ | divyaṃ cakṣuravāpnoti pretya dīpasya dāyakaḥ | pūrṇacandrapratīkāśā dīpadāśca bhavantyuta

Therefore lamps should be offered in the evening by householders. The giver of a lamp gains divine sight after death, and givers of lamps come to shine like the full moon.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over). Line 3 is CE 13.103.36e.

Verse 38 (13.157.38)

यावदक्षिनिमेषाणि ज्वलन्ते तावतीः समाः । रूपवान्बलवांश्चापि नरो भवति दीपदः ॥

yāvadakṣinimeṣāṇi jvalante tāvatīḥ samāḥ | rūpavānbalavāṃścāpi naro bhavati dīpadaḥ

For as many years as the lamps burn, counted in winks of the eye, the man who gives a lamp becomes handsome and strong.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over). Line 2 reads बलवांश्च against CE 13.103.37c 'dhanavāṃś ca' (the page's footnote notes धर्मवान्); recension variant, kept.

Verse 39 (13.157.39)

य इदं शृणुयाद्वापि पठते यो द्विजोत्तमः । ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति स च वै नात्र संशयः ॥

ya idaṃ śṛṇuyādvāpi paṭhate yo dvijottamaḥ | brahmalokamavāpnoti sa ca vai nātra saṃśayaḥ

Whoever hears this, or the best of the twice-born who recites it, reaches the world of Brahma; there is no doubt of this.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (the input carried Bhrigu over). Not in the critical edition's numbered text: it is CE star passage 13.103.37d*0463_01-02.