वैशम्पायन उवाच शरतल्पगतं भीष्मं पाण्डवोऽथ कुरूद्वहः। युधिष्ठिरो हितं प्रेप्सुरपृच्छत् कल्मषापहम्॥
Vaishampayana said Desirous of acquiring the merit which destroys sins that perpetuator of Kuru's race, viz., Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, questioned Bhishma who was lying on a bed of arrows saying.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच किं श्रेयः पुरुषस्येह किं कुर्वन् सुखमेधते। विपाप्मा स भवेत् केन किं वा कल्मषनाशनम्॥
Yudhishthira said What, indeed, is beneficial for a person in this world? What is that by doing which one may acquire happiness? By what may one be purged of all his sins? Indeed, what is that which destroys sins?
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्मै शुश्रूषमाणाय भूयः शान्तनवस्तदा। दैवं वंशं यथान्यायमाचष्ट पुरुषर्षभ॥
Vaishampayana said On this subject, the royal son of Shantanu, ( foremost of men, duly recited the names of the celestials to Yudhishthira who was desirous of hearing.
भीष्म उवाच अयं दैवतवंशो वै ऋषिवंशसमन्वितः। त्रिसंध्यं पठितः पुत्र कल्मषापहरः परः॥
Bhishma said O son, the following names of the celestials with those of the Rishis, if duly recited morning, noon, and evening, destroy all sins.
यदह्ना कुरुते पापमिन्द्रियैः पुरुषश्चरन्। बुद्धिपूर्वमबुद्धिर्वा रात्रौ यच्चापि संध्ययोः॥ मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः कीर्तयन् वै शुचिः सदा। नान्धो न बधिरः काले कुरुते स्वस्तिमान् सदा॥
Acting with the help of his senses, whatever sins one may commit by day or by night or by the two twilight's, willingly or unwillingly, one is sure to be cleansed therefrom and become thoroughly pure by reciting these names. One, man never that takes those names, has never to become blind or deaf indeed, by taking those names, one always succeeds in getting what is beneficial.
तिर्यग्योनि न गच्छेच्च नरकं संकराणि च। न च दुःखभयं तस्य मरणे स न मुह्यति॥
Such a never takes birth in the intermediate order of being never goes to hell and never becomes a human being of any of the mixed castes. He has never to fear any calamity. When death comes, he becomes stupefied.
देवासुरगुरुर्देवः सर्वभूतनमस्कृतः। अचिन्त्योऽथाप्यनिर्देश्यः सर्वप्राणो ह्ययोनिजः॥
The master of all the celestials and Apsaras, resplendent with effulgence, adored of all creatures, inconceivable, indescribable, the life of all living beings, and unborn is the Grandfather Brahman, that Lord of the universe. His chaste wife is Savittri. Then comes that origin of the Vedas, the creator Vishnu, otherwise called Narayana of immeasurable power.
पितामहो जगन्नाथः सावित्री ब्रह्मणः सती। वेदभूरथ कर्ता च विष्णुर्नारायणः प्रभुः॥ उमापतिर्विरूपाक्षः स्कन्दः सेनापतिस्तथा। विशाखो हुतभुग् वायुश्चन्द्रसूर्यो प्रभाकरौ॥ शक्रः शचीपतिर्देवो यमो धूमोर्णया सह। वरुणः सह गौर्या च सह ऋद्ध्या धनेश्वरः॥ सौम्या गौः सुरभिर्देवी विश्रवाश्च महानृषिः। संकल्पः सागरो गङ्गा स्रवन्त्योऽथ मरुद्गणः॥ वालखिल्यास्तपः सिद्धाः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तथा। नारदः पर्वतश्चैव विश्वावसुर्हहाहुहूः॥ तुम्बुरुश्चित्रसेनश्च देवदूतश्च विश्रुतः। देवकन्या महाभागा दिव्याश्चाप्सरसां गणाः॥ उर्वशी मेनका रम्भा मिश्रकेशी ह्यलम्बुषा। विश्वाची च घृताची च पञ्चचूडा तिलोत्तमा॥ आदित्या वसवो रुद्राः साश्विनः पितरोऽपि च। धर्मः श्रुतं तपो दीक्षा व्यवसाय: पितामहः॥ शर्वर्यो दिवसाश्चैव मारीचः कश्यपस्तथा। शुक्रो बृहस्पति मो बुधो राहुः शनैश्चरः॥ नक्षत्राण्यतवश्चैव मासाः पक्षाः सवत्सराः। वैनतेयाः समुद्राश्च कद्रुजाः पन्नगास्तथा॥ शतद्रुक्ष विपाशा च चन्द्रभागा सरस्वती। सिंधुश्च देविका चैव प्रभासं पुष्कराणि च॥ गङ्गा महानदी वेणा कावेरी नर्मदा तथा। कुलप्पुना विशल्या च करतोयाम्बुवाहिनी॥ सरयूर्गण्डकी चैव लोहितश्च महानदः। ताम्रारुणा वेत्रवती पर्णाशा गौतमी तथा॥ गोदावरी च वेण्या च कृष्णवेणा तथाद्रिजा। दृषद्वती च कावेरी चक्षुर्मन्दाकिनी तथा॥ प्रयागं च प्रभासं च पुण्यं नैमिषमेव च। तच्च विश्वेश्वरस्थानं यत्र तद्विमलं सरः॥ पुण्यतीर्थं सुसलिलं कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रकीर्तितम्। सिंधूत्तमं तपोदानं जम्बूमार्गमथापि च॥ हिरण्वती वितस्ता च तथा प्लक्षवती नदी। वेदस्मृतिर्वेदवती मालवाथाश्ववत्यपि॥ भूमिभागास्तथा पुण्या गङ्गाद्वारमथापि च। ऋषिकुल्यास्तथा मेध्या नद्य: सिंधुवहास्तथा॥ चर्मण्वती नदी पुण्या कौशिकी यमुना तथा। नदी भीमरथी चैव बाहुदा च महानदी॥ माहेन्द्रवाणी त्रिदिवा नीलिका च सरस्वती। नन्दा चापरनन्दा च तथा तीर्थमहाह्रदः॥ गयाथ फल्गुतीर्थ च धर्मारण्यं सुरैर्वृतम्। तथा देवनदी पुण्या सरश्च ब्रह्मनिर्मितम्॥ पुण्यं त्रिलोकविख्यातं सर्वपापहरं शिवम्। हिमवान् पर्वतश्चैव दिव्यौषधिसमन्वितः॥ विध्यो धातुविचित्राङ्गस्तीर्थवानौषधान्वितः। मेरुर्महेन्द्रो मलयः श्वेतश्च रजतावृतः॥ शृङ्गवान् मन्दरो नीलो निषधो दर्दुरस्तथा। चित्रकूटोऽजनाभश्च पर्वतो गन्धमादनः॥ पुण्यः सोमगिरिश्चैव तथैवान्ये महीधराः। दिशश्च विदिशश्चैव क्षितिः सर्वे महीरुहाः॥ विश्वेदेवा नभश्चैव नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा। पान्तु नः सततं देवा: कीर्तिताऽकीर्तिता मया॥
Then comes the three-eye Lord of Uma; then Scanda the commander in-chief of the celestial army, then Vishoka; then Agni the eater of sacrificial libations; then Vayu the god of wind; then Chandramas; then the sungod, gifted with effulgence; then the illustrious Shankra the husband of Sachi, and Yama with his wife Dhumorna; and Varuna with Gauri; Kubera the lord of riches, with his wife Riddhi; the amiable and illustrious cow Surabhi, the great Rishi Vishravas; Sankalpa, Ocean, Ganga; the other sacred Rivers, the Maruts; the Valakhilyas crowned with success of penances; the island-born Krishna, Narada, Parvata; Vishvavasu; the Hahas; the Huhus; Tumburu; Chitrasena; the celestial messenger; the highly blessed celestial maidens; the celestial Apsaras; Urvashi, Menaka, Ramba, Mishrakeshi, Almbusha, Vishvachi, Ghritachi, Panchchada, Tilottama, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Pitris; Dharma, (Righteousness); Vedic learning, Penances, Diksha, Perseverance (in religious acts) the Grandfather, Day and Night, Kashyapa, the the son of Marichi, Shukra, Brihaspati, Mangala the son of Earth, Vudha, Rahu, Shanaishchara, the Constellations, the Seasons, the Months, the fortnights, the Year, Garuda the son of Vinata, the several Oceans, the sons of Kadru, viz., the Snakes, Shatarudra, Vipasha, Chandrabhaga, Sarasvati, Sindhu, Devika, Prabhasa, the lakes of Pushkara, Ganga, Mahanadi, Vena, Kaveri, Narmada, Kaulampuna, Vishalya, Karatoya, Ambuvahini, Saryu, Gandaki, the great river Lohita, Tamra, Aruna, Vetravati, Parnasa, Gautami, Godavari, Vena, Krisnnavena, Dvije, Drishdvati, Kaveri, Vankhu, Mandakini, Prayaga, Prabhasa, the sacred Naimisha, the spot sacred to Vishvaswera or Mahadeva, viz., Kashi, that lake of crystal water, Kurukshetra, full of many sacred waters, the foremost of oceans (viz., the ocean of milk), Penances, Gifts, Jambamarga, Hiranwati, Vitasta the river Plakshavati, Vadasmriti, Vedamati, Malava, on Ashvavati, all sacred spots Earth, Gangadvars, the sacred Rishikulya, the river Chitravaha, the Charmanwati, the sacred river Kaushiki, the Yamuna, the river Bhimarathi, the great river Vahuda, Mahendravani, Tridiva, Milika, Sarasvati, Nanda the other Nanda, the large sacred lake Gaya, Phalgutirtha, Dharmaranya (the sacred forest) inhabited by the celestials, the sacred celestial river, the lake created by the Grandfather Brahinan, which is sacred and celebrated over the three worlds and auspicious and capable of purifying all sins, the Himavat mountain having excellent herbs, the Vindhya mountain variegated with various kinds of metals, containing many Tirhas and evergrown with medicinal herbs, Meru, Mahendrs, Malays, Shveta gifted with silver, Shringavat, Mandara, Nila, Nishadha, Dardura, Chitrakuta, Anjanabha, the Gandhamadana mountains, the sacred Somagiri, the various other mountains, the cardinal points of the compass, the subsidiary points, the Earth, all the trees, the Vishvedevas, the Firmament, the Constellations, the Planets, and the Deities, let these all, named and unnamed, rescue and purify us.
कीर्तयानो नरो ह्येतान् मुच्यते सर्वकिल्विषैः। स्तुवंश्च प्रतिनन्दंश्च मुच्यते सर्वतो भयात्॥
The man, who takes the names of these, becomes purged of all his sins. By singing their praises and pleasing them, one becomes freed from every fear.
सर्वसंकरपापेभ्यो देवतास्तवनन्दकः। देवतानन्तरं विप्रांस्तपः सिद्धास्तपोऽधिकान्॥
Indeed, the man, who delights in singing the hymns in laudation of the deities, becomes purged of all such sins as lead to birth in impure orders.
कीर्तितान् कीर्तयिष्यामि सर्वपापप्रमोचनान्। यवक्रीतोऽथ रैभ्यश्च कक्षीवानौशिजस्तथा॥ भृग्वङ्गिरास्तथा कण्वो मेधातिथिरथ प्रभुः। बी च गुणसम्पन्न: प्राची दिशमुपाश्रिताः॥
After this recital of the deities, I shall name those learned Brahmanas crowned with ascetic merit and success and capable of purifying one of every sin. They are Yavakrita and Raibhya and Kakshivat and Aushija, and Bhrigu and Angirasa and Kanva and the powerful Medhatithi, and Varhi endued with every accomplishment. These all belong to the Eastern region.
भद्रां दिशं महाभागा उल्मुचुः प्रमुचुस्तथा। मुमुचुश्च महाभागः स्वस्त्यात्रेयश्च वीर्यवान्॥ मित्रावरुणयोः पुत्रस्तथागस्त्यः प्रतापवान्। दृढायुश्चोर्ध्वबाहुश्च विश्रुतावृषिसत्तमौ॥
Others, viz., Unmuchu, Pramuchu, Mumuchu, all highly blessed, the highly energetic Svastyatreya, the highly powerful Agastya, the son of Mitra and Varuna; Dridhayu and Urdhavahu, those two foremost and celebrated of Rishis, these live in the Southern quarter.
पश्चिमां दिशमाश्रित्य य एधन्ते निबोध तान्। उषङ्गुः सह सोदर्यैः परिव्याधश्च वीर्यवान्॥ ऋर्षिर्दीर्घतमाश्चैव गौतमः काश्यपस्तथा। एकतश्च द्वितश्चैव त्रितश्चैव महानृषिः॥ अत्रेः पुत्रश्च धर्मात्मा तथा सारस्वतः प्रभुः। उत्तरां दिशमाश्रित्य य एधन्ते निबोध तान्॥
Listen now to me as I name those Rishis who live in the Western quarter. They are Ushangu with his uterine brothers, greatly energetic, Dirghatamas, Gautama, Kashyapa, Ekata, Dvita, Trita, the righteous-souled son of Atri (viz., Durvasa). and and the powerful Sarasvati, Listen now to me as I name those Rishis who adore the celestial in sacrifices, living in the Northern region.
अत्रिर्वसिष्ठः शक्तिश्च पाराशर्यश्च वीर्यवान्। विश्वामित्रो भरद्वाजो जमदग्निस्तथैव च।॥ ऋचीकपुत्रो रामश्च ऋषिरौद्दालकिस्तथा। श्वेतकेतुः कोहलश्च विपुलो देवलस्तथा॥ देवशर्मा च धौम्यश्च हस्तिकाश्यप एव च। लोमशो नाचिकेतश्च लोकहर्षण एव च॥ ऋषिरुग्रश्चवाश्चैव भार्गवश्च्यवनस्तथा।
They are Atri, Vasishtha, Shakti, Parashara's son Vyasa of Great energy; Vishvamitra, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, the son of Richika, Rama, Auddalaka, Shvetaketu, Kohala, Vipula, Devala Devasharian, Dhaumya, Hastikashyapa, Lomasha, Nachiketa, Lomaharshana, Ugrashravas, and Bhrigu's son Chyavana. This is the number of Rishis gifted with Vedic learning.
एष वै समवायश्च ऋषिदेवसमन्वितः॥ आद्यः प्रकीर्तितो राजन् सर्वपापप्रमोचनः।
They are primeval Rishis, O king, whose names, if taken, are capable of purifying one of every sin. After this I shall recite the names of the principle kings.
नृगो ययातिर्नहुषो यदुः पूरुश्च वीर्यवान्।॥ धुन्धुमारो दिलीपश्च सगरश्च प्रतापवान्। कृशाश्वो यौवनाश्वश्च चित्राश्वः सत्यवांस्तथा॥ दुष्यन्तो भरतश्चैव चक्रवर्ती महायशाः। पवनो जनकश्चैव तथा दृष्टरथो नृपः॥ रधुर्नरवरश्चैव तथा दशरथो नृपः। रामो राक्षसहा वीरः शशबिन्दुर्भगीरथः॥ हरिश्चन्द्रो मरुत्तश्च तथा दृढरथो नृपः। महोदर्यो डलर्कश्च ऐलश्चैव नराधिपः॥ करन्धमो नरश्रेष्ठः कध्मोरश्च नराधिपः। दक्षोऽम्बरीषः कुकुरो रैवतश्च महायशाः॥ कुरुः संवरणश्चैव मान्धाता सत्यविक्रमः। मुचुकुन्दश्च राजर्षिर्जगुर्जाह्नविसेवितः॥ आदिराजः पृथुर्वैन्यो मित्रभानुः प्रियङ्करः। त्रसदस्युस्तथा राजा श्वेतो राजर्षिसत्तमः॥ महाभिषश्च विख्यातो निमिराजा तथाष्टकः। आयुः क्षुपश्च राजर्षिः कक्षेयुश्च नराधिपः॥ प्रतर्दनो दिवोदासः सुदासः कोसलेश्वरः। ऐलो नलश्च राजर्षिर्मनुश्चैव प्रजापतिः॥ हविध्रश्च पृषध्रश्च प्रतीपः शान्तनुस्तथा। अजः प्राचीनबर्हिश्च तथेक्ष्वाकुर्महायशाः॥ अनरण्यो नरपतिर्जानुजंघस्तथैव च। कक्षसेनश्च राजर्षिर्ये चान्ये चानुकीर्तिताः॥
They are Nriga, Yayati, Nahusha, Yadu, highly energetic Puru, Sagara, Dhundhumara, Dilpa of great prowess, Krisashva, Yauvanashva, Chitrashva, Satyavat, Dushmanta, Bharata who became an illustrious Emperor over many kings, Dasharatha, the heroic Rama, that destroyer of Rakshas, Shashabindu, Bhagiratha, Harishchandra, Maruta, Dridharatha, the highly fortunate Alarka, Aila, Karandhama, that foremost of men, Kashmira, Daksha, Ambarisha, Kukura, highly illustrious Raivata, Kuru, Samvarana, Mandhatri of Unmitigated prowess, the royal sage Muchukunda, Jahnu who was much favoured by Janhavi (Ganga), the first (in point of time) of all kings, viz., Prithu the son of Vena, Mitrabhanu, Priyankara, Trasadasyu, Shveta that foremost of royal sages, the celebrated Mahabhisha, Nimi. Ashtaka, Ayu, the royal sage Kshupa, Kaksheyu, Pratarddana, Divodasa, Sudasa, Koshaleshvara, Aila, Nala, the royal sage Manu, that lord of all creatures, Havidhra, Prishadhra, Pratipa, Shantanu, Aja, the Senior Varhi, Ikshvaku of great fame, Anaranya, Janujangha the royal sage Kakshasena, and inany others not named (in history).
तल्यमुत्थाय यो नित्यं संध्ये द्वेस्तमयोदये। पठेच्छुचिरनावृत्तः स धर्मफलभाग् भवेत्॥
That man, who rising carly in the morning, takes the names of these kings at the two twilight's, viz., at sunset and sunrise, with a pure body and mind and without distracted attention, wins great religious merit.
देवा देवर्षयश्चैव स्तुता राजर्षयस्तथा। पुष्टिमायुर्यशः स्वर्गे विधास्यन्ति ममेश्वराः॥
One should sing the praises of the celestial Rishis, and the royal sages and say, These lord of the creation will ordain my growth, longevity and fame.
मा विनं मा च मे पापं मा च मे परिपन्थिनः। ध्रुवो जयो मे नित्यः स्यात् परत्र च शुभा गतिः।।६२।
Let no calamity visit me, let no sin define me, and let there be no opponents or enemies of mine. Forsooth, I will always have victory and an auspicious end hereafter.
मा विनं मा च मे पापं मा च मे परिपन्थिनः। ध्रुवो जयो मे नित्यः स्यात् परत्र च शुभा गतिः।।६२।
Let no calamity visit me, let no sin define me, and let there be no opponents or enemies of mine. Forsooth, I will always have victory and an auspicious end hereafter.