Narada, Yudhishthira, and the Beginning of King Dilipa's Story

Verse 1 (padma.3.10.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । पृथिव्या हि परीमाणं संस्थानं सरितस्तथा । त्वत्तः श्रुत्वा महाभाग अमृतं पीतमेव च

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ pṛthivyā hi parīmāṇaṁ saṁsthānaṁ saritastathā tvattaḥ śrutvā mahābhāga amṛtaṁ pītameva ca

The sages said: Having heard from you, O greatly fortunate one, the measure and structure of the earth and of the rivers, it was as though we drank nectar.

Verse 2 (padma.3.10.2)

तत्र भूमौ च तीर्थानि पावनानीति नः श्रुतम् । आचक्ष्व तानि सर्वाणि यथाफलकराणि च । सविशेषं महाप्राज्ञ श्रोतुमिच्छामहे तव

tatra bhūmau ca tīrthāni pāvanānīti naḥ śrutam ācakṣva tāni sarvāṇi yathāphalakarāṇi ca saviśeṣaṁ mahāprājña śrotumicchāmahe tava

We have heard that there are, upon this earth, tirthas that purify. Tell us all of them, O greatly wise one, and how they bring forth their fruits — we especially wish to hear this from you.

Verse 3 (padma.3.10.3)

सूत उवाच । धन्यं पुण्यं महाख्यानं पृष्टमेव तपोधनाः । यथामति प्रवक्ष्यामि यथायोगं यथाश्रुतम्

sūta uvāca dhanyaṁ puṇyaṁ mahākhyānaṁ pṛṣṭameva tapodhanāḥ yathāmati pravakṣyāmi yathāyogaṁ yathāśrutam

Suta said: O ascetics, you have asked a blessed, sacred, and great account; I shall tell it as best I can, in due manner, just as I have heard it.

Verse 4 (padma.3.10.4)

पुरातनं प्रवक्ष्यामि देवर्षेर्नारदस्य हि । युधिष्ठिरेण संवादं शृणु तद्द्विजसत्तमाः

purātanaṁ pravakṣyāmi devarṣernāradasya hi yudhiṣṭhireṇa saṁvādaṁ śṛṇu taddvijasattamāḥ

I shall tell of an ancient dialogue between the divine seer Narada and Yudhishthira; hear it, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 5 (padma.3.10.5)

हृतराज्याः पांडुपुत्रा वने तस्मिन्महारथाः । न्यवसंति महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह पांडवाः

hṛtarājyāḥ pāṁḍuputrā vane tasminmahārathāḥ nyavasaṁti mahābhāgā draupadyā saha pāṁḍavāḥ

Deprived of their kingdom, the sons of Pandu, those great warriors, O greatly fortunate ones, together with Draupadi, dwelt there in that forest.

Verse 6 (padma.3.10.6)

अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम् । दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम्

athāpaśyanmahātmānaṁ devarṣiṁ tatra nāradam dīpyamānaṁ śriyā brāhmyā dīptāgnisamatejasam

Then they saw there the great-souled divine seer Narada, radiant with brahminical splendor, blazing with a radiance like kindled fire.

Verse 7 (padma.3.10.7)

स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुनंदनः । दिवि भाति हि दीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः

sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śrīmānbhrātṛbhiḥ kurunaṁdanaḥ divi bhāti hi dīptaujā devairiva śatakratuḥ

Surrounded by his brothers, that glorious joy of the Kurus shone with his own blazing splendor, like Indra of a hundred sacrifices amid the gods.

Verse 8 (padma.3.10.8)

यथा च देवान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन् । न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा

yathā ca devānsāvitrī yājñasenī tathā patīn na jahau dharmataḥ pārthānmerumarkaprabhā yathā

Just as Savitri did not forsake the gods, so the daughter of Yajnasena did not forsake the sons of Pritha in accordance with dharma — as the sun's radiance does not leave Mount Meru.

Verse 9 (padma.3.10.9)

प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः । आश्वासयद्धर्म्मपुत्रं युक्तरूपप्रियेण च

pratigṛhya tataḥ pūjāṁ nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ āśvāsayaddharmmaputraṁ yuktarūpapriyeṇa ca

Then, having received their worship, the blessed sage Narada consoled the son of Dharma with fitting and pleasing words,

Verse 10 (padma.3.10.10)

उवाच च महात्मानं धर्म्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । ब्रूहि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ किं प्रार्थ्यं हि ददामि ते

uvāca ca mahātmānaṁ dharmmarājaṁ yudhiṣṭhiram brūhi dharmmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha kiṁ prārthyaṁ hi dadāmi te

and said to the great-souled Dharmaraja Yudhishthira: 'Speak, O best among the upholders of dharma — whatever you wish, I shall grant it to you.'

Verse 11 (padma.3.10.11)

अथ धर्मसुतो राजा प्रणम्य भ्रातृभिः सह । उवाच प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं नारदं देवसंमितम्

atha dharmasuto rājā praṇamya bhrātṛbhiḥ saha uvāca prāṁjalirvākyaṁ nāradaṁ devasaṁmitam

Then the king, son of Dharma, having bowed together with his brothers, with joined palms, spoke these words to Narada, who was honored as a god —

Verse 12 (padma.3.10.12)

त्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते । कृतमित्येव मन्ये हि प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत

tvayi tuṣṭe mahābhāga sarvalokābhipūjite kṛtamityeva manye hi prasādāttava suvrata

'With you pleased, O greatly fortunate one, honored throughout all the worlds, I already consider my purpose accomplished by your grace, O one of noble vows.'

Verse 13 (padma.3.10.13)

यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ । संदेहं मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ हृत्स्थं त्वं छेत्तुमर्हसि

yadi tvahamanugrāhyo bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito'nagha saṁdehaṁ me muniśreṣṭha hṛtsthaṁ tvaṁ chettumarhasi

'O sinless one, if I, together with my brothers, am worthy of your favor, then, O best of sages, you should dispel the doubt that dwells within my heart.'

Verse 14 (padma.3.10.14)

प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः । किं फलं तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्ब्रह्मन्वक्तुमर्हसि

pradakṣiṇāṁ yaḥ kurute pṛthivīṁ tīrthatatparaḥ kiṁ phalaṁ tasya kārtsnyena tadbrahmanvaktumarhasi

'One who, devoted to pilgrimage, circumambulates the earth — what, taken as a whole, is the fruit of that? O brahmin, you should tell me this.'

Verse 15 (padma.3.10.15)

नारद उवाच । शृणु राजन्नवहितो दिलीपेन यथा पुरा । वसिष्ठस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्

nārada uvāca śṛṇu rājannavahito dilīpena yathā purā vasiṣṭhasya sakāśādvai sarvametadupaśrutam

Narada said: Listen attentively, O king, just as all this was heard of old by Dilipa from Vasishtha — all this indeed have I too heard.

Verse 16 (padma.3.10.16)

पुरा भागीरथीतीरे दिलीपो राजसत्तमः । धर्म्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिवत्तदा

purā bhāgīrathītīre dilīpo rājasattamaḥ dharmyaṁ vrataṁ samāsthāya nyavasanmunivattadā

Long ago, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, Dilipa, best among kings, having taken up a righteous vow, dwelt there like a sage.

Verse 17 (padma.3.10.17)

शुभेदेशे महाराजपुण्ये देवर्षिपूजिते । गंगाद्वारे महातेजा देवगंधर्वसेविते

śubhedeśe mahārājapuṇye devarṣipūjite gaṁgādvāre mahātejā devagaṁdharvasevite

O great king, in that auspicious, sacred place honored by divine seers — at Gangadvara, of great splendor, served by gods and gandharvas —

Verse 18 (padma.3.10.18)

स पितॄंस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः । ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा

sa pitṝṁstarpayāmāsa devāṁśca paramadyutiḥ ṛṣīṁśca tarpayāmāsa vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

that supremely radiant king performed the tarpana for the ancestors and the gods, and, with rites duly prescribed, performed the tarpana for the sages too.

Verse 19 (padma.3.10.19)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य जपन्नेव महामनाः । ददर्श भूतसंकाशं वसिष्ठमृषिमुत्तमम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya japanneva mahāmanāḥ dadarśa bhūtasaṁkāśaṁ vasiṣṭhamṛṣimuttamam

Then, after some time, while engaged in japa, that great-minded king beheld the excellent sage Vasishtha, resembling the very embodiment of divine splendor.

Verse 20 (padma.3.10.20)

पुरोहितं स तं दृष्ट्वा दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे विस्मयं परमं ययौ

purohitaṁ sa taṁ dṛṣṭvā dīpyamānamiva śriyā praharṣamatulaṁ lebhe vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayau

Having seen his family priest, as if blazing with splendor, he attained incomparable joy, and was overcome with supreme wonder.

Verse 21 (padma.3.10.21)

उपस्थितं महाराज पूजयामास भारत । स हि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा

upasthitaṁ mahārāja pūjayāmāsa bhārata sa hi dharmmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭho vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

O great king, O Bharata, he worshipped that best of the upholders of dharma, present before him, with rites duly prescribed.

Verse 22 (padma.3.10.22)

शिरसा चार्घ्यमादाय शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । नामसंकीर्त्तयामास तस्मिन्ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमे

śirasā cārghyamādāya śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ nāmasaṁkīrttayāmāsa tasminbrahmarṣisattame

Taking the water-offering upon his head, pure and with a controlled mind, he proclaimed his own name before that foremost of brahmarshis —

Verse 23 (padma.3.10.23)

दिलीपोऽहं तु भद्रं ते दासोस्मि तव सुव्रत । तव संदर्शनादेव मुक्तोहं सर्वकिल्बिषैः

dilīpo'haṁ tu bhadraṁ te dāsosmi tava suvrata tava saṁdarśanādeva muktohaṁ sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

'I am Dilipa; may it be well with you; I am your servant, O one of noble vows. By this very sight of you, I am freed from all sins.'

Verse 24 (padma.3.10.24)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज दिलीपो द्विपदां वरः । वाग्यतः प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा तूष्णीमासीद्युधिष्ठिर

evamuktvā mahārāja dilīpo dvipadāṁ varaḥ vāgyataḥ prāṁjalirbhūtvā tūṣṇīmāsīdyudhiṣṭhira

Having spoken thus, O great king Yudhishthira, Dilipa, foremost among men, restrained in speech, stood silent with joined palms.

Verse 25 (padma.3.10.25)

तं दृष्ट्वा नियमेनाथ स्वाध्यायेन च कर्षितम् । दिलीपं नृपतिश्रेष्ठं मुनिः प्रीतमनाभवत्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā niyamenātha svādhyāyena ca karṣitam dilīpaṁ nṛpatiśreṣṭhaṁ muniḥ prītamanābhavat

Seeing that foremost of kings, Dilipa, worn thin by his vow and by his recitation of the Veda, the sage Vasishtha became pleased in mind.