बलवान्नमुचिर्नाम दानवो बलवत्तरः
There was a powerful Dānava named Namuci, stronger still.
भद्रकर्णस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा दानवं तदनंतरम्
Bhadrakarṇa, seeing that Dānava immediately—
छित्त्वाऽसिमसिना तस्य चर्म चापि महाबलः
With his mighty sword, he struck and cut off that one’s armor.
अथासौ निहतस्तेन प्रविश्य विपुलं तमः वधं प्राप्तस्तु दैत्योऽसौ नत्वा हरमसौ स्थितः 7.3.8.
Then, struck down by him, that Daitya entered deep darkness; slain, he bowed to Hara and remained there.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो हृदये स्थितः
‘Choose a boon, good one, you who always dwell in my heart.’
अत्रास्तु तव सांनिध्यं ह्रदेऽस्मिंश्च स्थिरो भव
‘May your presence be here, and may you remain steadfast in this lake.’
सांनिध्यं च विशेषेण ह्रदे लिंगे भविष्यति
There will be a special presence in the lake and in the liṅga.
भद्रकर्णह्रदे स्नात्वा त्रिनेत्रं यः समाहितः
Whoever bathes in the Bhadrakarṇa lake with focused mind upon the Three-Eyed One—
तस्मात्सर्वत्र यत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, one should diligently perform bathing there above all other places.
केदारमिति विख्यातं सर्वपापहरं नृणाम्
It is renowned as Kedāra, the remover of all sins for people.
यत्र मन्दाकिनी पुण्या सरस्वत्या समागता
There, the sacred Mandākinī joins with Sarasvatī.
शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तमितिहास पुरातनम्
Hear, O King, the ancient story as it truly happened.
अजपालो नृपश्रेष्ठः सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः
Ajapāla, best of kings, was born of the Solar dynasty.
न हस्तिनो न पादाता न चाश्वास्तस्य भूपतेः
That king had neither elephants nor infantry nor cavalry.
न गृह्णाति करं राजन्प्रजाभ्योथाधिकं नृप
O King, he did not levy taxes upon his subjects.
जातापराधो भूपृष्ठे जायते चेत्कथंचन
If by any chance an offense arose among his people,
एवमस्य नरेन्द्रस्य वर्त्तमानस्य भूतले
Thus, while this king ruled upon the earth,
कामं वर्षति पर्जन्यः सस्यानि रसवंति च
The clouds rained as desired, and the crops were full of flavor.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः 7.3.9.
Then, after some time, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha—
तं दृष्ट्वा पूजयामास शास्त्रदृष्टेन वर्त्मना
Seeing him, he honored him according to the path prescribed by scripture.
एवं संपूजितस्तेन भक्त्या परमया नृप राजर्षीणां कथाश्चक्रे देवर्षीणां तथैव च
Thus honored with supreme devotion by him, O King, he recounted the stories of royal sages and likewise of divine sages.
ततः कथावसाने तु कस्मिंश्चिन्नृपसत्तम
Then, at the end of the stories, O best of kings,
त्वं वेत्सि सकलं ब्रह्मंस्तपश्चर्याप्रभावतः
You know all, O Brahman, through the power of your austerities.
कौतुकं हृदि मे जातं वर्त्तते मुनिपुंगव
A curiosity has arisen in my heart, O foremost of sages.
कथयिष्यामि तत्सर्वं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्ल्लभम्
I shall tell you all of that, even though it may be very difficult to obtain.
निष्कण्टकं सदा क्षेमं सर्वकामसमन्वितम्
It is always free from thorns, secure, and endowed with every desired object.
न दीनो न च दुःखार्त्तो व्याधिग्रस्तो न कोऽपि च
No one is miserable, afflicted by sorrow, or suffering from disease.
नारीयं मम साध्वी च प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी अनया चिंतितं ब्रह्मन्सर्वं विस्तरतो वद
My wife is virtuous and dearer to me than life itself; O Brahmin, tell me in detail all that she has pondered.
किं दानस्य प्रभावेन व्रतयागस्य वा मुने 7.3.9.
Is it by the power of charity, or by the observance of vows and sacrifices, O sage?
जन्मान्तरकृतं पुण्यं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
The merit accumulated in a previous birth arouses great curiosity in me.