अतिथिरुवाच उपदेशं तु ते विप्र करिष्येऽहं यथाक्रमम्। गुरुणा मे यथाख्यातमर्थतत्त्वं तु मे शृणु॥
The Guest said-For all that, O Brahmana, I shall try to instruct you duly. Listen to me as I recount to you what I have heard from my preceptor.
यत्र पूर्वाभिसर्गे वै धर्मचक्र प्रवर्तितम्। नैमिषे गोमतीतीरे तत्र नागाह्वयं पुरम्॥
In that place whence in course of a former creation, the wheel of virtue was set in motion, in that forest which is known by the name of Naimisha, and which is situate on the banks of the Gomati, there is a city called Nagapura.
समग्रैस्त्रिदशैस्तत्र इष्टमासीद् द्विजर्षभ। योन्द्रातिक्रमं चक्रे मान्धाता राजसत्तमः॥
There, in that region, all the gods, asscmbled a grand sacrifice. There the foremost of earthly kings, Mandhatri, defeated Indra, the king of the gods.
कृताधिवासो धर्मात्मा तत्र चक्षुःश्रवा महान्। पद्मनाभो महानागः पद्म इत्येव विश्रुतः॥
A powerful Naga, of righteous soul, lives in the city that stands in that region. That great Naga is known by the name of Padmanabha or Padma.
स वाचा कर्मणा चैव मनसा च द्विजर्षभ। प्रसादयति भूतानि त्रिविधे वर्त्मनि स्थितः॥
Walking in the three-fold path (of acts, knowledge, and adoration), he pleases all creatures in thought, word, and deed.
साम्ना भेदेन दानेन दण्डेनेति चतुर्विधम्। विषमस्थं समस्थं च चक्षुर्ध्यानेन रक्षति॥
Thinking upon all things with great care, he protects the virtuous and punishes the wicked by following the four-fold policy on conciliation, creating dissensions, making gifts or giving bribes, and using force.
तमतिक्रम्य विधिना प्रष्टुमर्हसि कासितम्। स ते परमकं धर्मं न मिथ्या दर्शयिष्यति॥
Going there, you should put to him the questions you wish. He will show you truly what the highest religion is.
स हि सर्वातिथि गो बुद्धिशास्त्रविशारदः। गुणैरनुपमैर्युक्तः समस्तैराभिकामिकैः॥
That Naga is always fond of guests. Gifted with great intelligence, he is well conversant with the Scriptures. He possesses all desirable virtues the like of which are not to be seen in any other person.
प्रकृत्या नित्यसलिलो नित्यमध्ययने रतः। तपोदमाभ्यां संयुक्तो वृत्तेनानवरेण च॥
By nature he does those duties which are performed with or in water. He is given to the study of the Vedas. He is endued with penances and self-control. He has great riches.
यज्वा दानपतिः क्षान्तो वृत्ते च परमे स्थितः। सत्यवागनसूयुश्च शीलवानियतेन्द्रियः।१०॥
He celebrates sacrifices, makes gifts, abstains from doing injury, and practises forgiveness. His conduct is in every way good. Truthful in speech and shorn of malice, his conduct is good and his senses are under proper control.
शेषान्नभोक्ता वचनानुकूलो हितार्जवोत्कृष्टकृताकृतज्ञः। अवैरकृद् भूतहिते नियुक्तो गङ्गाह्रदाम्भोऽभिजनोपपन्नः॥
He eats after feeding all his guests and attendants. He is kind of speech. He has knowledge of what is good and what is simple and right and what is censurable. He takes an account of what he does and what he leaves undone. He never acts with hostility towards any one. He is always engaged in doing what is good to all creatures. He belongs to a family which is as pure and stainless as the water of a lake in the midst of the Ganges.