वैशम्पायन उवाच धनंजयोत्सुकानां तु भ्रातृणां कृष्णया सह। श्रुत्वा वाक्यानि विमनाधर्मराजोऽप्यजायत्॥
Vaishampayana said : Having heard these words of his brothers and Krishna (Draupadi) who were all anxious for Dhananjaya, Dharmaraja became absentminded.
अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षि तत्र नारदम्। दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्मया हुतार्चिषमिवानलम्॥
(At that time) he saw (before him) .ne celestials Rishi Narada, blazing with Brahma effulgence and resembling a fire flaming up for the sacrifice.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातृभिः सहधर्मराट्। प्रत्युत्थाय यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रे महात्मने॥
Seeing him arrived, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) with his brothers and stoop up and duly worshipped the illustrious one.
स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान् भ्रातृभिः कुरुसत्तमः। विबभावतिदीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः॥
Endued with blazing effulgence the handsome chief of the Kurus, surrounded by his brothers, shone like Shatakratu (Indra) surrounded by the celestials.
यथा च वेदान् सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन्। न जहौधर्मतः पार्थान् मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा॥
In obedience to the dictates of Dharma Yajnaseni (Draupadi) did not abandon the sons of Pritha and is adhered to her husband, as to Savitri to the Vedas or the rays of the sun to the Meru (mountain).
प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः। आश्वासयद् धर्मसुतं युक्तरूपमिवानघ॥
O sinless one, having received their worship, the exalted Rishi Narada comforted the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira) in proper words.
उवाच च महात्मानंधर्मराज युधिष्ठिरम्। ब्रूहिधर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ केनार्थः किं ददानि ते॥
He thus spoke the high-souled Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, “O foremost of virtuous men, tell me what you seek and what I can give you."
अथधर्मसुता राजा प्रणम्य भ्रातृभिः सह। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा नारदं देवसम्मितम्॥
Then the son of , the king (Yudhishthira), bowing (to the Rishi) with his brothers, thus spoke with joined hands to Narada, the revered of the celestials.
त्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते। कृतमित्येव मन्येऽहं प्रसादात् तव सुव्रत॥
Yudhishthira said: O highly exalted one, O worshipped of all the worlds, O Rishi of excellent vows, when you are pleased with me, I consider that all my wishes are gratificd through your grace.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ। संदेहं मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्त्वतश्छेत्तुमर्हसि॥
O sinless one, O foremost of Rishis, I and my brothers deserve (to receive) your favours. You ought to dispel my doubt.
प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः। किं फलं तस्य कात्स्येन तद्भवान् वक्तुमर्हति॥
You should tell me in detail what merit is obtained by him who travels over the world with the desire of seeing the Tirthas and sacred shrines.
नारद उवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा भीष्मेणधीमता। पुलस्त्यस्य सकाशाद् वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्॥
Narada said: O king, hear with attention what was heard by the intelligent Bhishma from Paulastya. Hear all that in detail.
पुरा भागीरथीतीरे भीष्मोधर्मभृतां वरः। पित्र्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिभिः सह॥ शुभे देशे तथा राजन् पुण्ये देवर्षिसेविते। गङ्गाद्वारे महाभाग देवगन्धर्वसेविते॥
Formerly that foremost of virtuous men Bhishma, when observing the Pitrya vow, lived on the banks of the Bhagirathi with the Rishis. O king, O highly exalted one, it was a delightful and sacred region, situated on the source of the Ganges and frequented by the celestials and the Gandharvas.
स पितॄस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः। ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥
That greatly effulgent hero (Bhishma) gratified the Pitris, the celestials and the Rishis with offering oblations to them according to the rites ordained in the Shastras.
कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य जपन्नेव महायशाः। ददर्शाद्भुतसंकाशं पुलस्त्यमृषिसत्तमाम्॥
One day when the greatly illustrious one was thus engaged (in observing his vow), he saw that foremost of Rishis, Pulastya of wonderful appearance.
स तं दृष्ट्वोग्रतपसं दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे विस्मयं परमं ययौ॥
Seeing that austere ascetic, as if blazing with prosperity, he became exceedingly glad and was filled with great wonder.
उपस्थितं महाभागं पूजयामास भारता भीष्मोधर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥
O descendant of Bharata, then that foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma, worshipped according to the rites of the ordinance that highly exalted Rishi who had already arrived.
शिरसा चार्घ्यमादाय शुचिः प्रयतमानसः। नाम संकीर्तयामास तस्मिन् ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमे॥
Purifying himself and making his mind exceedingly attentive and also taking the Arghya on his head, he loudly uttered his name near that foremost of Rishis.
भीष्मोऽहमस्मि भद्रं ते दासोऽस्मि तव सुव्रत। तव संदर्शनादेव मुक्तोऽहं सर्वकिल्बिषैः॥
"O Rishi of excellent vows, be blessed; I am Bhishma, your servant. At the very sight of yours I am cleansed of all my sins."
एवमुक्त्वा महाराज भीष्मोधर्मभृतां परः। वाग्यतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तृष्णीमासीद् युधिष्ठिर॥
O great king, O Yudhishthira, having said this, that foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma restraining his speech, stood (before the Rishi) in silence and with joined hands.
तं दृष्ट्वा नियमेनाथ स्वाध्यायाम्नायकर्शितम्। भीष्मं कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ मुनिः प्रीतमनाभवत्॥
Seeing that foremost of the Kuru race, Bhishma, rendered emaciated by the observance of vows and the study of the Vedas, the Rishi became exceedingly pleased.