Great Marichi, benefactor of others, remover of the suffering of the humble, came; and Shuka, a yogi from birth, and Garga and Gautama, absorbed in the bliss of Brahman, came.
Bagdalavji the elder came, and Gaurmukh, deep in hidden knowledge; Ashtavakra and Astika came, Shakatayana, Shrungi, and Shaunaka.
Orva, Aruni, Asuri came, and the sage Bharadwaja and Bhaguri; the sages Angira and Agastya came, truthful Shukra and Sanvarta.
Vatsa, Vodhu, Vibhandaka came, Jaratkaru, Jaimini, and Japaka; Saubhari, Shakalya, Shakri came, and I mention Ashtishena and Atri.
The sages Maitreya and Mandavya came, Jajali, Jayanta, Jaigishavya; Brihaspati and Vedashira came, Vishvamitra and steadfast Vasishtha.
Kavasha, Kratu, Kakshivan came, Yajnavalkya, Jabala the wise; Utathya, Upamanyu, and Aurva came, merciful Deval and Raurva.
Vamadeva and Valmiki came, Vipula of great celibacy and self-restraint; Pippalada, Pulaha, Pulastya came, kind Kacha and all the Kashyapas.
Kardama and Katyayana came, Panchashikha and Vaishampayana; the benevolent Praceta came, Shankuvarna and Shankha-Likhita.
Kanada and Karabhajana came, Karkasha, Kanva, Babhru, Chyavana; Parashara, Lomasha, and Hamsi came, Paila, Panini, and sage Bhrigu.
Galava and Matanga came, Shandilya, Shvetaketu, Sharabhanga; Medhatithi and Manakhandi came, Brihadagni, Brihadashva, Vaitandi.
Sumantu and Sharadvan came, Indrapramada and Ilamvavan; Atharva, Ekata, Dvita, Trita came, Mandukeya, Pathara, Harita.
Bhandayani, Bhargava, Bhaluki came, Shishampayana, Parvata, Manki; Katha, Tandya, Kaundinya, Kavasha came, Ksharapani, Panada of great fame.
Harishmashru, the sage Anshuman came, Shankara and Sharadvan; Vaitahavya and Vatsyayana came, Savetasa and Saindhavayana.
Savarni and Savarnya and Samvartu came, Bhurishena, Shamika, Sankratu; Jamadagni, Jatukarnya are known, Pranada and Devarata besides.
Akrutavrana and Yasaka came, Vitahavya, Dhruva and Trichika; Gaurashira and Krishnatreya are named, Sthulashira and Maujayana too.
Nachiketa, Taitiri, Uttanka came, Dalabhya, Kalavrukshiya without doubt; Agnivesya and Mudgala were there, and the world-honored sage Rishyashringa.
Shvetaketu and Shamika came, Indrapramiti and Kushika are named; Somya, Narada, and Sarasvata came, Vatsa and wise Vedashira.
Avalambayana and Arijit came, the sage Aumi came, Ashadita; Dharanika, Dhaumya, and Dhyanesh came, Budha, Baudhayana, and Maunesha.
Gandharvaka, Goshabhila, Gopita came, Gavishthira and pure Gaushira; Purvatithya, Dhruva Vachhila came, Vaitanasa Deva and Vaihala.
Vyadrapada and Vishnudatta came, Dadhnaya and all the Sainjanghas; Devodasa and Devarata by name, Devatapa, Lohita, unattached Akama.
Vainateya and Naipuna came together, and Harikashi and Chandrayana; Haritakeya and Hansala too, and the merciful sage Udalaka.
With these and all other sages together, they beheld that hermitage with joy; first they all beheld the great garden, and saw its wondrous, matchless design.
That forest seemed like the very form of Aksharadham; who can find a fitting comparison for its covering shade, so richly it shone.
The king of sages, Nar-Narayan, cast that shade; looking beneath it, the assembled sages had the very vision of the sage-form of Nar.
He sat comfortably upon his seat, repeating the name Narayan with his mouth; and beside him sat the nine great masters of yoga.
Hear their names, O wise ones: Kavi, Antariksha, Hari, and Prabuddha; Pippalayana, Karabhajana, Avirhotra, and pure Dumila,
and Chamasa -- these nine yogis, sages who worked for the good of the world; and also dwelling in Kalapagrama, they saw Tanu and the other abodes of bliss.
So many sages gathered there, surrounding that Nar; Nar, of beautiful form and dark body, wearing a deerskin, a garland of lotus at his throat.
Beholding such a Nar with their eyes, all the sages remained filled with joy; then Nar, seeing the king of sages (Narayan), rose from his seat and touched his feet.
Then the sages fell at Nar's feet too, their affection growing beyond description; then he offered them soft seats, and the sages sat upon them.
They worshipped one another in turn, and then Nar and Narayan sat together; Nar said, blessed, blessed are you, sages, dear to the Lord's heart.
Rare indeed is the sight of true sages such as you; the happiness of the three worlds may be had cheaply, but meeting you is precious beyond price.
Meeting you dissolves millions of karmas -- what greater thing could there be? So what more can we say of your greatness -- it cannot be told in full.
Welcome, having come with the sages; now the Lord shall soon give you his darshan. Then the sages spoke to Nar: blessed are you, lord of the universe.
Dear to the Lord are you, great ascetic, ever devoted to his service; and you are indeed Narayan himself -- we say there is no difference at all.
Though you are one, you appear as two -- who can know the mystery of that? Boundless indeed is the fortune of this earth, marked as it is by the Lord's own feet.
And blessed, blessed too are the beasts, birds, and vines of this forest; the fortune of all who dwell in this hermitage cannot be praised enough.
And we too are fortunate, that we shall behold the Lord with our own eyes. So spoke the sages and Nar, praising one another.
At that very moment, Narayan himself arrived at the door of the leaf-hut; of fierce austerity and immense radiance, his face shone beyond description.
Brighter than millions of suns, moons and fires, his splendor and glory shone forth; his arms hung like an elephant's trunk, his form beautifully dark-hued.
His two eyes like fresh lotuses, his face like the full moon; his rows of teeth gleamed as he smiled, his thighs and feet exceedingly soft.
Fine golden-tinged matted locks crowned his head always, adorned with a crown; his chest, broad and matchless, resembled the tamala tree, how can it be described?
His throat shone like a conch shell, his belly like a pipal leaf; upon it were three fine folds, and his navel, deep and round.
His full body wore a golden sacred thread; in his left hand a water-pot, and in his right hand a staff of authority, his form graced with white garments.
Such an ocean of happiness, a treasury of splendor, was seen with affection by his own people; Uddhava was with him, and the Lord arrived there with love.
Beholding such a beautiful, happiness-giving dark form, the eyes of all were satisfied; then the king of sages rejoiced and fell with love at the Lord's feet.
Overwhelmed with joy, their voices choked with emotion, tears flowed from their eyes in streams, and they bowed again and again.
Then the Lord lovingly called them and had them seated beside him upon the seat; he seated everyone near him and, gazing on them with affection, removed their suffering.
Beholding him, the sages felt such immense love, as if they wished to drink in his very form with their eyes, to lick it with their tongues, to embrace it fully with their arms.
Such was the boundless love of the sages, seen by all who dwelt at that hermitage; then, to perform worship, the sages brought a great array of offerings.
With the sixteen kinds of ritual worship they worshipped the support of their very life; then with incense, lamps, and arati, they praised and glorified him.
Thus ends the fifth chapter, named 'The Names of the Sages,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.