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:
तोषितोऽहं नृपश्रेष्ठ त्वयेहाद्येन कर्मणा।। याजनं ब्राह्मणानां तु विधिदृष्टं परन्तप
'I am satisfied, O foremost of kings, by this act you have performed here. The officiating at sacrifices, scorcher of foes, is prescribed for Brāhmaṇas.'
अतोऽहं त्वां स्वयं नाद्य याजयामि परन्तप। ममांशस्तु क्षितितले महाभागो द्विजोत्तमः
'Therefore, I shall not myself officiate for you today, O scorcher of foes. But my own eminent portion on earth, the illustrious Brāhmaṇa—'
दुर्वासा इति विख्यातः स हि त्वां याजयिष्यति। मन्नियोगान्महातेजाः संभाराः संभ्रियन्तु ते
'He who is renowned as Durvāsas, he will officiate for you. By my command, O mighty one, let the sacrificial materials be prepared for you.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं रुद्रेण समुदाहृतम्। स्वपुरं पुनरागम्य संभारान्पुनरार्जयत्
Having heard these words spoken by Rudra, he returned to his city and again gathered the sacrificial materials.
ततः संभृतसंभारो भूयो रुद्रमुपागमत्। `उवाच च महिपालः प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः।' संभृता मम संभाराः सर्वोपकरणानि च
Then, having assembled all the materials, he again approached Rudra. The king, with joined palms and bowed, said: 'All my materials and implements are assembled.'
त्वत्प्रसादानमहादेव श्वो मे दीक्षा भवेदिति। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः
'By your grace, O great god, may my consecration take place tomorrow.' Having heard these words of that great-souled king—
दुर्वाससं समाहूय रुद्रो वचनमब्रवीत्। एष राजा महाभागः श्वेतकिर्द्विजसत्तम
Rudra summoned Durvāsas and spoke these words: 'This king, O illustrious Brāhmaṇa, Śvetaki—'
एनं याजय विप्रेन्द्र मन्नियोगेन भूमिपम्। बाढमित्येव वचनं रुद्रं त्वृषिरुवाच ह
'O best of Brāhmaṇas, officiate at the sacrifice for this king at my command.' The sage replied to Rudra, 'So be it.'
ततः सत्रं समभवत्तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः। यथाविधि यथाकालं यथोक्तं बहुदक्षिणम्
Then, that great-souled king held a sacrificial session, as prescribed, at the proper time, as declared, and with abundant gifts.
तस्मिन्परिसमाप्ते तु राज्ञः सत्रे महात्मनः। दुर्वाससाऽभ्यनुज्ञाता विप्रतस्थुः स्म याजकाः
When the king's grand sacrifice was completed, the officiating priests, having been permitted by Durvasa, departed.