न ह्येतत्कारणं ब्रह्मन्नल्पं संप्रतिभाति मे। यद्ददाह सुसंक्रुद्धः खाण्डवं हव्यवाहनः
Indeed, O Brahman, this reason does not seem minor to me, that Agni, the carrier of offerings, so wrathfully burned Khandava.
एतद्विस्तरशो ब्रह्मन्श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। खाण्डवस्य पुरा दाहो यथा समभवन्मुने
O Brahman, I wish to hear in detail and truly how, in former times, the burning of Khandava came to be, O sage.
शृणु मे ब्रुवतो राजन्सर्वमेतद्यथातथम्। यन्निमित्तं ददाहाग्निः खाण्डवं पृथिवीपते
Hear from me, O king, as I relate everything exactly, for what reason Agni burned Khandava, O lord of the earth.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि पौराणीमृषिसंस्तुताम्। कथामिमां नरश्रेष्ठ खाण्डवस्य विनाशिनीम्
Now I shall tell you, O best of men, this ancient tale praised by sages, the story of the destruction of Khandava.
पौराणः श्रूयते राजन्राजा हरिहयोपमः। श्वेतकिर्नाम विख्यातो बलविक्रमसंयुतः
It is heard, O king, that there was an ancient king, renowned as Shvetaki, equal to Hari and Haya in might and valor.
यज्वा दानपतिर्धीमान्यथा नान्योऽस्ति कश्चन। `जग्राह दीक्षां स नृपः तदा द्वादशवार्षिकीम्
He was a performer of sacrifices, a lord of gifts, wise—such as none other; that king then undertook a twelve-year vow.
तस्य सत्रे सदा तस्मिन्समागच्छन्महर्षयः। वेदवेदाङ्गविद्वांसो ब्राह्मणाश्च सहस्रशः
During his sacrifice, many great sages always assembled there, as well as thousands of Brahmins learned in the Vedas and its branches.
ईजे च स महायज्ञैः क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः
He worshipped with great sacrifices and with rites accompanied by ample gifts.
तस्य नान्याऽभवद्बुद्धिर्दिवसे दिवसे नृप। सत्रे क्रियासमारम्भे दानेषु विविधेषु च
That king had no other thought, day after day, but the commencement of sacrificial rites and the giving of various gifts.
ऋत्विग्भिः सहितो धीमानेवमीजे स भूमिपः। ततस्तु ऋत्विजश्चास्य धूमव्याकुललोचनाः
Thus, that wise king performed the rites together with the officiating priests; but then those priests, their eyes afflicted by smoke,
कालेन महता खिन्नास्तत्यजुस्ते नराधिपम्। ततः प्रसादयामास ऋत्विजस्तान्महीपतिः
After a long time, wearied, they abandoned the king; then the king sought to appease those priests.
चक्षुर्विकलतां प्राप्ता न प्रपेदुश्च ते क्रतुम्। ततस्तेषामनुमते तद्विप्रैस्तु नराधिपः
Their sight impaired, they could no longer perform the sacrifice; then, with their consent, the king, with those Brahmins...
सत्रं समापयामास ऋत्विग्भिरपरैः सह। तस्यैवंवर्तमानस्य कदाचित्कालपर्यये
He completed the sacrificial session together with the other officiating priests; and as he thus continued, at some point, with the passage of time—
सत्रमहार्तुकामस्य संवत्सरशतं किल। ऋत्विजो नाभ्यपद्यन्त समाहर्तुं महात्मनः
Desiring to perform a great sacrifice in every season, for a hundred years, indeed, the priests did not consent to gather again for the great-souled one.
स च राजाऽकरोद्यत्नं महान्तं ससुहृज्जनः। प्रणिपातेन सान्त्वेन दानेन च महायशाः
And that king, renowned for his great fame, made tremendous efforts, along with his friends, through reverence, conciliation, and gifts.
ऋत्विजोऽनुनयामास भूयो भूयस्त्वतन्द्रितः। ते चास्य तमभिप्रायं न चक्रुरमितौजसः
He persistently entreated the priests again and again, tirelessly; but those of immeasurable energy did not fulfill his intention.
स चाश्रमस्थान्राजर्षिस्तानुवाच रुषान्वितः। यद्यहं पतितो विप्राः शुश्रूषायां न च स्थितः
Then the royal sage, filled with anger, spoke to those ascetics: 'If I have fallen, O Brahmins, and am not steadfast in service—'
आशु त्याज्योऽस्मि युष्माभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च जुगुप्सितः। तन्नार्हथ क्रतुश्रद्धां व्याघातयितुमद्य ताम्
'Then quickly I am to be abandoned by you, and regarded with contempt by the Brahmins; yet you should not destroy today the faith in sacrifice.'
अस्थाने वा परित्यागं कर्तुं मे द्विजसत्तमाः। प्रपन्न एव वो विप्राः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हथ
'To cast me aside without cause, O best of twice-born, is not fitting; since I have taken refuge with you, O Brahmins, you ought to show me favor.'
सान्त्वदानादिभिर्वाक्यैस्तत्त्वतः कार्यवत्तया। प्रसादयित्वा वक्ष्यामि यन्नः कार्यं द्विजोत्तमाः
'With words of conciliation, gifts, and the like, in accordance with truth and propriety, having appeased you, I shall declare what is to be done, O best of Brahmins.'
अथवाऽहं परित्यक्तो भवद्भिर्द्वेषकारणात्। ऋत्विजोऽन्यान्गमिष्यामि याजनार्थं द्विजोत्तमाः
'Otherwise, if I am abandoned by you out of enmity, O best of Brahmins, I shall go to other priests for the purpose of sacrifice.'
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं विरराम स पार्थिवः। यदा न शेकू राजानं याजनार्थं परन्तप
Having spoken thus, the king fell silent, scorcher of foes, when they were unable to officiate at the sacrifice for the king.
ततस्ते याजकाः क्रुद्धास्तमूचुर्नृपसत्तमम्। तव कर्माम्यजस्रं वै वर्तन्ते पार्थिवोत्तम
Then those officiating priests, angered, spoke to the best of kings: 'Your sacrificial work, O foremost of kings, is indeed unceasing.'
ततो वयं परिश्रान्ताः सततं कर्मवाहिनः। श्रमादस्मात्परिश्रान्तान्स त्वं नस्त्यक्तुमर्हसि
'Therefore, we are exhausted, constantly engaged in ritual work; being worn out from this labor, you ought not to abandon us.'
बुद्धिमोहं समास्थाय त्वरासंभावितोऽनघ। गच्छ रुद्रसकाशं त्वं सहि त्वां याजयिष्यति
'Having taken up deluded understanding, and with undue haste, O faultless one, go to Rudra yourself; let him officiate your sacrifice, if he can endure you.'
साधिक्षेपं वचः श्रुत्वा संक्रुद्धः श्वेतकिर्नृपः। कैलासं पर्वतं गत्वा तप उग्रं समास्थितः
Hearing these words, spoken with reproach, the white-haired king, enraged, went to Mount Kailāsa and undertook severe austerity.
आराधयन्महादेवं नियतः संशितव्रतः। उपवासपरो राजन्दीर्घकालमतिष्ठत
Restrained and firm in his vows, the king worshipped Mahādeva, devoted to fasting, and remained for a long time.
कदाचिद्द्वादशे काले कदाचिदपि षोडशे। आहारमकरोद्राजा मूलानि च फलानि च
Sometimes on the twelfth day, sometimes even on the sixteenth, the king took food—roots and fruits.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुस्त्वनिमिषस्तिष्ठन्स्थाणुरिवाचलः। षण्मासानभवद्राजा श्वेतकिः सुसमाहितः
With arms raised, unblinking, standing motionless like a pillar, King Śvetaki remained fully concentrated for six months.
तं तथा नृपशार्दूलं तप्यमानं महत्तपः। शङ्करः परमप्रीत्या दर्शयामास भारत
As that tiger among kings performed such great austerity, O Bhārata, Śaṅkara, greatly pleased, revealed himself to him.