पवित्रमुत्पलारण्यं वाल्मीकिमुनिसेवितम्
The sacred Utpalāraṇya, served by the sage Vālmīki—
तत्र गत्वा स शुद्धात्मा पुष्पवत्या समन्वितः
There, having gone, he who was pure in heart, together with Puṣpavatī—
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्ता म्लेच्छजातिसमुद्भवा
Meanwhile, those born of the mleccha race arrived.
सा ददर्श परं रम्यं कृष्णाशं पुरुषोत्तमम्
She beheld the supremely beautiful, supreme person, the portion of Krishna.
मूर्च्छितां तां समालोक्य कृष्णांशः सर्वमोहनः
Seeing her unconscious, Krishna's portion, the enchanter of all, gazed upon her.
अष्टादश पुराणानि केन प्रोक्तानि किं फलम्
By whom were the eighteen Purāṇas spoken, and what is their fruit?
इति श्रुत्वा वचो रम्यं विद्वांसः शास्त्रकोविदाः
Hearing this delightful question, the learned, skilled in the scriptures,
पराशरेण रचितं पुराणं विष्णुदैवतम् 3.3.28.
The Purāṇa composed by Parāśara is dedicated to Viṣṇu as its deity.
शुकप्रोक्तं भागवतं ब्राह्मं वै ब्रह्मणा कृतम्
The Bhāgavata was spoken by Śuka; the Brahma Purāṇa was made by Brahmā.
मत्स्यः कूर्मो नृसिंहश्च वामनः शिव एव च
Matsya, Kūrma, Narasiṃha, Vāmana, and also Śiva—
राजसाः षट् स्मृता वीर कर्मकांडमया भुवि
Six are remembered as rājasika, filled with heroic deeds and ritual acts in the world.
आग्नेयमंगिराश्चैव जनयामास चोत्तमम् महादेवेन लोकार्थे भविष्यं रचितं शुभम्
The Āgneya was produced by Aṅgirās, and the excellent Bhaviṣya was composed by Mahādeva for the sake of the world.
तामसाः षट् स्मृताः प्राज्ञैः शक्तिधर्मपरायणाः
Six are remembered by the wise as tāmasika, devoted to the duties of Śakti.
घोरे भुवि कलौ प्राप्ते विक्रमो नाम भूपतिः
When the dreadful Kali age arrived on earth, there was a king named Vikrama.
तदा ते मुनयस्सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः प्रोक्तान्युपपुराणानि सूतेनाष्टादशैव च
Then all those sages dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya, the eighteen Upapurāṇas were recited by Sūta.
इति श्रुत्वा तु वचनं कृष्णांशो धर्मतत्परः
Hearing these words, Krishna's portion, intent on righteousness,
ददौ दानानि विप्रेभ्यो गोसुवर्णमयानि च
Gave gifts to the Brāhmaṇas—cows and objects of gold.
तदा तु भिक्षुकी भूत्वा शोभा नाम मदातुरा 3.3.28.
Then, becoming a beggar woman named Śobhā, maddened with pride,
ध्यात्वा महामदं वीरं पैशाचं रुद्रकिंकरम्
Meditating on the mighty, intoxicated hero, the demonic servant of Rudra,
दृष्ट्वा स्वर्णवती देवी तां मायां शोभयोद्भवाम् ।। छित्त्वा चाह्लाद्य वामांगीं स्वगेहं गंतुमुद्यता
Seeing the goddess Svarṇavatī, that Māyā born of Śobhā, after cutting and delighting her left side, prepared to go to her own home.
सा वेश्या तु शुचाविष्टा तस्याः शृंगारमुत्तमम् संहृत्य मायया धूर्ता देशं वाह्लीकमाययौ
That courtesan, seized by remorse, cunningly concealed her finest ornaments and, through deceit, departed for the land of Bahlika.
कल्पक्षेत्रमुपागम्य नेत्रसिंहसमुद्भवा
Arriving at the sacred region of Kalpa, she was born from Netra Simha.
कृष्णांशं वचनं प्राह गच्छगच्छ महाबल
She spoke to Krishnaamsha, saying: 'Go, go, O mighty one.'
गुटिकेयं मया वीर रचिता तां मुखेन च
'O hero, this pill has been prepared by me; take it with your mouth.'
इति श्रुत्वा तथा कृत्वा कृष्णांशस्सर्वमोहनः
Hearing this and doing accordingly, Krishnaamsha, the enchanter of all, complied.
सा तु वेश्या च तं वीरं दृष्ट्वा कन्दर्पकारिणम्
That courtesan, seeing the hero who was the agent of desire,
तदा सा निष्फलीभूय रुरोद करुणं बहु
Then, having become unsuccessful, she wept profusely in sorrow.
गृहीत्वा सर्वशृंगारं वचनं प्राह निर्भयः 3.3.28.
Having gathered all her ornaments, he spoke words without fear.
साह मे सहरो नाम भ्राता प्राणसमप्रियः
'I have a brother named Saharo, dear to me as life itself.'
अतो रौमि महाभाग संप्राप्ता शरणं त्वयि
'Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, I have come to you for refuge.'