Adhyaya 2

Verse 1

। व्यास उवाच पृथ्वीपुरंध्यास्तिलकं ललाटे लक्ष्मीलतायाः स्फुटमालवालम् । वाग्देवताया जलकेलिरम्यं नोहेरकं संप्रति वर्णयामि

Vyāsa said: Now I shall describe Noheraka—like a tilaka upon the brow of the Earth as a noble lady; like the clear and fertile bed of Lakṣmī’s creeper; and like the delightful water-sport of the goddess of speech—an abode of sacred beauty and merit.

Verse 2

साधु पृष्टं त्वया राजन्वाराणस्यधिकाधिकम् । धर्मारण्यं नृपश्रेष्ठ श्रृणुष्वावहितो भृशम्

Well have you asked, O King, about the ever-exceeding greatness of Vārāṇasī. O best of rulers, listen with full attention as I speak of Dharmāraṇya.

Verse 3

सर्वतीर्थानि तत्रैव ऊषरं तेन कथ्यते । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्यैरिंद्राद्यैः परिसेवितम्

All sacred fords are there itself; therefore it is called ‘Ūṣara’. It is duly resorted to by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa, and also by Indra and the other gods.

Verse 4

लोकपालैश्च दिक्पालैर्मातृभिः शिवशक्तिभिः । गंधर्वैश्वाप्सरोभिश्च सेवितं यज्ञकर्मभिः

It is attended by the guardians of the worlds and quarters, by the Mothers and the powers of Śiva, and by Gandharvas and Apsarases—honoured there through sacrificial rites and sacred acts.

Verse 6

तदाद्यं च नृपस्थानं सर्वसौख्यप्रदुं तथा । यज्ञैश्च बहुभिश्चैव सेवितं मुनिसत्तमैः

That foremost royal seat is indeed a bestower of every happiness. It is honoured by the best of sages through many sacrifices as well.

Verse 7

सिंहव्याघ्रैर्द्विपैश्चैव पक्षिभिर्विविधैस्तथा । गोमहिष्यादिभिश्चैव सारसैर्मृगशूकरैः

It is inhabited by lions and tigers, by elephants, and by many kinds of birds; likewise by cows, buffaloes and the like, by cranes, deer, and boars.

Verse 8

सेवितं नृपशार्दूल श्वापदैवैर्विविधैरपि । तत्र ये निधनं प्राप्ताः पक्षिणः कीटकादयः

O tiger among kings, it is also frequented by many kinds of beasts of prey. And those there—birds, insects, and other creatures—who meet their end in that place…

Verse 9

भूतवेतालशाकिनीग्रहदेवाधिदेवतैः । ऋतुभिर्मासपक्षैश्च सेव्यमानं सुरासुरेः

It is resorted to by bhūtas, vetālas, śākinīs, grahas, gods and their presiding deities; and even by the seasons, months, and fortnights—indeed, by devas and asuras alike.

Verse 10

एकोत्तरशतैः सार्द्धं मुक्तिस्तेषां हि शाश्वती । ते सर्वे विष्णुलोकांश्च प्रयांत्येव न संशयः

Along with a hundred and one (others), they gain everlasting liberation. All of them indeed proceed to the realms of Viṣṇu—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 11

संतारयति पूर्वज्ञान्दश पूर्वान्दशापरान् । यवव्रीहितिलैः सर्पिर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च दूर्वया

He delivers his forefathers—ten generations before and ten after—by offerings of barley, rice, sesame, ghee, bilva leaves, and dūrvā grass.

Verse 12

गुडैश्चैवोदकैर्नाथ तत्र पिंडं करोति यः । उद्धरेत्सप्त गोत्राणि कुलमेकोत्तरं शतम्

O Lord, whoever there prepares a piṇḍa-offering with jaggery and water delivers seven gotras and uplifts the family line through one hundred and one generations.

Verse 13

वृक्षैरनेकधा युंक्ते लतागुल्मैः सुशोभितम् । सदा पुण्यप्रदं तच्च सदा फलसमन्वितम्

Adorned in many ways with trees, and beautified with creepers and shrubs, that place ever bestows merit (puṇya) and is ever rich in fruits.

Verse 16

महानंदमयं दिव्यं पावनात्पावनं परम् । कलकंठः कलोत्कंठमनुगुंजति कुंजगः

It is divine, filled with great bliss—supremely purifying beyond what is purifying. There the cuckoo, dwelling in the groves, sweetly echoes its eager, melodious call.

Verse 17

ध्यानस्थः श्रोष्यति तदा पारावत्येति वार्य्यते । केकः कोकीं परित्यज्य मौनं तिष्ठति तद्भयात्

When one is seated in meditation, one then hears the call, “pārāvatī!” The peacock, abandoning its mate, stands silent—out of awe of that sanctity.

Verse 18

चकोरश्चंद्रिकाभोक्ता नक्तव्रतमिवास्थितः । पठंति सारिकाः सारं शुकं संबोधयत्यहो

The cakora bird, drinking in moonlight, abides as though observing a night-vow. The mynas recite what is essential, and—wondrously—the parrot instructs, as if teaching speech and lore.

Verse 19

भेकोऽहिना क्रीडते च मानुषा राक्षसैः सह । निर्भयं वसते तत्र धर्म्मारण्यं च भूतले

There, even the frog plays with the serpent, and humans dwell together with rākṣasas. In that Dharmāraṇya upon the earth, all live without fear.

Verse 20

अश्वमेधाधिको धर्मस्तस्य स्याच्च पदेपदे । शापानुग्रहसंयुक्ता ब्राह्मणास्तत्र संति वै

At every step there, the merit of dharma surpasses even that of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. And there indeed dwell brāhmaṇas endowed with both curse and blessing.

Verse 21

अष्टादशसहस्राणि पुण्यकार्येषु निर्मिताः । षट्त्रिंशत्तु सहस्राणि भृत्यास्ते वणिजो भुवि

Eighteen thousand are established for works of merit; and on earth there are thirty-six thousand servants—those merchants attending the sacred economy of the place.

Verse 22

द्विजभक्तिसमायुक्ता ब्रह्मण्यास्ते त्वयोनिजाः । पुराणज्ञाः सदाचारा धार्मिकाः शुद्धबुद्धयः । स्वर्गे देवाः प्रशंसंति धर्म्मारण्यनिवासिनः

Endowed with devotion to the twice-born and devoted to Brahman, those beings—born without a womb—are knowers of the Purāṇas, of good conduct, righteous, and pure in understanding. In heaven, the gods praise the dwellers of Dharmāraṇya.

Verse 23

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । धर्मारण्येति त्रिदशैः कदा नाम प्रतिष्ठितम् । पावनं भूतले जातं कस्मात्तेन विनिर्मितम्

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “When was it established by the gods with the name ‘Dharmāraṇya’? For what reason did this purifier come into being upon the earth, and why was it created?”

Verse 24

तीर्थभूतं हि कस्माच्च कारणात्तद्वदस्व मे । ब्राह्मणाः कतिसं ख्याकाः केन वै स्थापिताः पुरा

Tell me: for what reason did this place become a tīrtha, a sacred ford? And how many Brāhmaṇas were there, and by whom were they established here in ancient times?

Verse 25

अष्टादशसहस्राणि किमर्थं स्थापितानि वै । कस्मिन्नंशे समुत्पन्ना ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्म सत्तमाः

Why, indeed, were eighteen thousand Brāhmaṇas established here? From what portion (aṃśa) did those Brāhmaṇas—foremost among the knowers of Brahman—originate?

Verse 26

सर्वविद्यासु निष्णाता वेदवेदांगपारगाः । ऋग्वेदेषु च निष्णाता यजुर्वेदकृतश्रमाः

They were accomplished in every branch of learning, having reached the far shore of the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas; skilled in the Ṛgveda, and well-trained through rigorous study of the Yajurveda.

Verse 27

सामवेदांगपारज्ञास्त्रैविद्या धर्म वित्तमाः । तपोनिष्ठा शुभाचाराः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः

They knew the far shore of the Sāmaveda and its auxiliaries; they were versed in the threefold Vedic lore, eminent knowers of dharma—steadfast in tapas, of noble conduct, devoted to vows of truth.

Verse 28

मासोपवासैः कृशितास्तथा चांद्रायणादिभिः । सदाचाराश्च ब्रह्मण्याः केन नित्यो पजीविनः । तत्सर्वमादितः कृत्स्नं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर

Emaciated by month-long fasts and by observances such as the Cāndrāyaṇa, they were of pure conduct and devoted to Brahman. By what means did they maintain their daily livelihood? Tell me all of this completely, from the beginning—O best among speakers.

Verse 29

दानवास्तत्र दैतेया भूतवेतालसंभवाः । राक्षसाश्च पिशाचाश्च उद्वेजंते कथं न तान्

There were Dānavas and Daityas, and beings born of bhūtas and vetālas—Rākṣasas and Piśācas as well: how could they not terrify those Brāhmaṇas?