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.
वसिष्ठ उवाच शृणु सर्वं महीपाल विस्तरेण च कथ्यते
Vasiṣṭha said: Hear everything, O king, as it is explained in detail.
अन्यदेहांतरे राजञ्छूद्रजातिसमुद्भवः
In another body, O king, you were born in the Śūdra caste.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन दुर्भिक्षे समुपस्थिते
Then, after some time, when a famine arose,
ततस्त्वं भार्यया सार्द्धमन्यदेशांतरे गतः
You went, together with your wife, to another land.
त्वया दृष्टं मनोहारि शुभं पंकजकाननम्
There you saw a beautiful and delightful lotus forest.
मनसा चिंतितं ह्येतत्पद्मान्यादाय करोम्यहम्
You thought in your mind: 'I will gather these lotuses.'
ततः पद्मानि भूरीणि गृहीत्वा भार्यया सह
Then, taking many lotuses together with your wife,
न केऽपि प्रति गृह्णंति लोका दुर्भिक्षपीडिताः
No one among the people, afflicted by famine, would accept them.
ततो दिनावसाने तु गुहामेकां समाश्रितः 7.3.9.
Then, at the end of the day, you took refuge in a solitary cave.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु कर्णयोस्ते समागतः
At that very moment, a sound reached your ears.
तं श्रुत्वा सहसोत्थाय ज्ञात्वा जागरणं ततः
Hearing that, you immediately rose up, realizing it was a vigil.
तत्र नागवती वेश्या शिवरात्रिपरायणा
There, a courtesan named Nāgavatī was devoted to the observance of Śiva's night.
तस्याः पार्श्वे स्थिता दासी त्वया पृष्टा नरेश्वर
O king, a maidservant standing at her side was questioned by you.
तयोक्तं शिवरात्र्यां वै वेश्येयं वरवर्णिनी
She said: 'On the night of Śivarātri, this beautiful courtesan—'
यः श्रद्धाभक्तिसंयुक्तः कुरुते रात्रिजागरम्
Whoever, endowed with faith and devotion, keeps vigil through the night—
कृत्वोपवासं पद्मैर्य्यः पूजयेत्त्र्यंबकं नरः
And, having fasted, worships Tryambaka with lotuses—
सकामो लभते कामान्देवैरपि सुदुर्ल्लभान् एतेषां मूल्यमादाय प्राणाधारं समाचर
He attains his desires, even those most difficult for the gods to obtain. Having received their price, perform the act that sustains life.
ततस्त्वं भार्यया चोक्तो गृह्यमाणे च कांचने
Then you were addressed by your wife as the gold was being taken.
उपवासो बलाज्जातो ह्यन्नाभावाद्वयोरपि 7.3.9.
The fast occurred by force, for both of you, due to the absence of food.
इदं त्वयाऽद्य कर्त्तव्यं त्याज्यमस्यास्तु कांचनम्
Today you must do this: let this gold be given up by her.