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.
ये तत्र दीक्षिताः सर्वे सदस्याश्च महौजसः। सोऽपि राजन्महाभागः स्वपुरं प्राविशत्तदा
All those who had been initiated there, and the powerful members of the assembly, and that illustrious king himself, O ruler, entered his own city at that time.
पूज्यमानो महाभागैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। बन्दिभिः स्तूयमानश्च नागरैश्चाभिनन्दितः
He was honored by the noble Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, praised by bards, and welcomed by the townspeople.
एवंवृत्तः स राजर्षिः श्वेतकिर्नृपसत्तमः। कालेन महता चापि ययौ स्वर्गमभिष्टुतः
Thus, that royal sage, the best of kings, Shvetaki, having acted in this way, after a long time, ascended to heaven, praised by all.
ऋत्विग्भिः सहितः सर्वैः सदस्यैश्च समन्वितः। तस्य सत्रे पपौ वह्निर्हविद्वार्दशवत्सरान्
Accompanied by all the officiating priests and assembly members, at his sacrifice, the fire consumed the offerings for twelve years.
सततं चाज्यधाराभिरैकात्म्ये तत्र कर्मणि। हविषा च ततो वह्निः परां तृप्तिमगच्छत
There, through a continuous stream of clarified butter, in that single-minded rite, the fire became fully satisfied by the offerings.
न चैच्छत्पुनरादातुं हविरन्यस्य कस्यचित्। पाण्डुवर्णो विवर्णश्च न यतावत्प्रकाशते
And he did not wish to accept offerings from anyone else; pale and discolored, he did not shine as before.
ततो भघवतो वह्नेर्विकारः समजायत। तेजसा विप्रहीणश्च ग्लानिश्चैनं समाविशत्
Then, a change came over the divine Fire; deprived of brilliance, weariness overtook him.
स लक्षयित्वा चात्मानं तेजोहीनं हुताशनः। जगाम सदनं पुण्यं ब्रह्मणो लोकपूजितम्
Perceiving himself to be lacking in energy, the fire-god went to the holy abode of Brahma, revered by the worlds.
तत्र ब्रह्माणमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। भगवन्परमा प्रीतिः कृता श्वेतकिना मम
There, seated before Brahma, he spoke these words: 'O Lord, supreme satisfaction has been given to me by Shvetaki.'
अरुचिश्चाभवत्तीव्रा तां न शक्नोम्यपोहितुम्। तेजसा विप्रहीणोऽस्मि बलेन च जगत्पते
'But now a severe distaste has arisen, which I cannot dispel; I am deprived of energy and strength, O Lord of the world.'