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.
उवाच चैनं भगवान्स्निग्धगम्भीरया गिरा। प्रीतोऽस्मि नरशार्दूल तपसा ते परन्तप
The Blessed Lord spoke to him with a gentle and deep voice: 'I am pleased with your austerity, O tiger among men, scorcher of foes.'
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते यं त्वमिच्छसि पार्थिव। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं रुद्रस्यामिततेजसः
'Choose a boon, O fortunate one, whatever you desire, O king. Having heard these words of Rudra, of immeasurable brilliance—'
प्रणिपत्य महात्मानं राजर्षिः प्रत्यभाषत। यदि मे भगवान्प्रीतः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः
The royal sage, having bowed to the great-souled one, replied: 'If the Blessed Lord, revered by all worlds, is pleased with me—'
स्वयं मां देवदेवेश याजयस्व सुरेश्वर। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं राज्ञा तेन प्रभाषितम्
'O Lord of gods, O ruler of the immortals, please yourself cause me to perform the sacrifice.' Having heard these words spoken by the king—'
उवाच भगवान्प्रीतः स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः। नास्माकमेतद्विषये वर्तते याजनं प्रति
The Blessed Lord, pleased, first smiled and spoke these words: 'It does not fall within our domain to officiate at sacrifices.'
त्वया च सुमहत्तप्तं तपो राजन्वरार्थिना। याजयिष्यामि राजंस्त्वां समयेन परन्तप
'But you, O king, seeker of boons, have performed great austerity. I will cause you to be initiated into the sacrifice at the proper time, scorcher of foes.'
समा द्वादश राजेन्द्र ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः। सततं त्वाज्यधाराभिर्यदि तर्पयसेऽनलम्
'For twelve years, O king, if you, steadfast in discipline, continually satisfy the fire with streams of clarified butter—'
कामं प्रार्थयसे यं त्वं मत्तः प्राप्स्यसि तं नृप। एवमुक्तश्च रुद्रेण श्वेतकिर्मनुजाधिपः
'Whatever desire you seek from me, O king, you shall obtain.' Thus addressed by Rudra, the lord of the Śvetakīns—
तथा चकार तत्सर्वं यथोक्तं शूलपाणिना। पूर्णे तु द्वादशे वर्षे पुनरायान्महेश्वरः
He did all that exactly as commanded by the trident-wielder. When the twelve years were complete, Mahādeva returned again.
दृष्टैव च स राजानं शङ्करो लोकभावनः। उवाच परमप्रीतः श्वेतकिं नृपसत्तमम्
Having seen the king, Śaṅkara, the benefactor of the worlds, spoke with great satisfaction to Śvetaki, the best of kings: