अन्यैस्सुरैश्च संपूज्यो बभूव हरिपूजनात्
He was also honored by other gods, having worshipped Hari.
कदाचित्तस्य गेहे वै व्रती कश्चित्समागतः दृष्ट्वोवाच महाभागः स स्पर्शाढ्यो दयापरः
Once, a certain observer of vows came to his house; seeing him, the greatly fortunate one, rich in touch and full of compassion, spoke.
अनेन स्पर्शमणिना लोहधातुश्च कांचनम्
With this touchstone, iron can be turned into gold.
स्नात्वा तावत्सरय्वां चायास्यामि तेंतिकं मुदा कृत्वा लक्ष्मीं समाप्यासीद्विष्णुशर्मा तदागमत्
Having bathed in the Sarayū, I shall come to you joyfully; having performed Lakshmi's worship, Viṣṇuśarman then arrived.
बहुस्वर्णयुतां पत्नीं दृष्ट्वोवाच हरिप्रियः
Seeing his wife adorned with much gold, the devotee of Hari spoke.
अहं विष्णुपरो दीनश्चौरभीतः सदैव हि
I am devoted to Vishnu, destitute, and always fearful of thieves.
इति श्रुत्वा वचो घोरं पतिभीता पतिव्रता
Hearing those dreadful words, the devoted wife became fearful of her husband.
द्विजोऽपि घर्घरामध्ये तद्द्रव्यं बलतोऽक्षिपत् उवाच ब्राह्मणीं दीनां स्वर्णं किं न कृतं त्वया
The twice-born, in the midst of the commotion, forcibly threw down that substance and said to the distressed Brahmani, 'Why did you not make the gold?'
साह भो मत्पतिश्शुद्धो गृहीत्वा स्पर्शकं रुषा निर्लोहो वर्तते विप्रस्ततः प्रभृति हे गुरो ।। 3.4.10.
She replied, 'O sir, my husband is pure; having taken and touched it in anger, the touchstone remains without gold, O teacher, from that moment onward.'
इति श्रुत्वा तु वचनं स यतिर्विस्मयान्वितः
Hearing those words, the ascetic was filled with astonishment.
दरिद्रो भिक्षुकश्चास्ति भवान्दैवेन मोहितः
You are poor and a beggar, O sir, deluded by fate.
इत्युक्तवंतं यतिनं विष्णु शर्मा तदाब्रवीत्
When the ascetic had spoken thus, Vishnu Sharma then addressed him.
इत्युक्त्वा यतिना सार्द्धं गृहीत्वा कंटकान्बहून्
Having spoken thus, together with the ascetic, he took many thorns.
तदा तु स यती विप्रं नत्वा प्रोवाच नम्रधीः ततः प्राप्तं शुभं रत्नं तत्तु तद्दर्शनेन वै
Then the ascetic, bowing to the Brahmin, spoke humbly; after that, a splendid gem appeared, indeed, upon seeing it.
स्पर्शको बहुधा प्राप्तो मया लोभात्मना द्विज
O twice-born, the touchstone has come to me in many ways due to my greedy nature.
विष्णुशर्मा सहस्राब्दमुषित्वा जगतीतले
Vishnu Sharma, having dwelt on the earth for a thousand years,
स द्विजो वैष्णवं तेजो धृत्वा वै मासि फाल्गुने
That Brahmin, bearing Vaishnava radiance, indeed, in the month of Phalguna,
सूत उवाच फाल्गुने मासि तं सूर्यं समाराध्य सुखी भव
Suta said: In the month of Phalguna, worship that sun and be happy.
इत्युक्तो गुरुणा देवो ध्यात्वा सर्वमयं हरिम् 3.4.10.
Thus instructed by the teacher, the god meditated upon Hari, who is all-pervading.
तदा प्रसन्नो भगवान्समभूत्सूर्यमण्डलात् पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां शक्रदेहमुपागमत्
Then the blessed Lord became pleased and emerged from the solar orb; before all the gods, he entered the body of Shakra.
तत्तेजसा तदा शक्रः स्वान्तर्लीय स्वकं वपुः ।। । अयोनिस्स द्विजो भूत्वा शची देवी तथैव सा
Then, by that radiance, Shakra dissolved his own form within; the twice-born became unborn, and Shachi Devi likewise.
तदा तौ मिथुनीभूतौ वैष्णवाग्निप्रपीडितौ
Then the two became united as a couple, afflicted by Vaishnava fire.
अधाद्गर्भं तदा देवी शची तु द्विजरूपिणी
At that time, Devi Shachi, in the form of a Brahmin woman, conceived.
प्रादुरासीत्स्वयं विष्णुर्धृत्वा सर्व कलां हरिः
Then Vishnu himself appeared, Hari having assumed all powers.
तदा रुद्राश्च वसवो विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः
Then the Rudras, the Vasus, the Viśvadevas, and the hosts of Maruts—
रमणं मुनिभिर्विधिशंभुयुतं प्रणमाम वयं भवभीतिहरम्
We bow to the Lord of rites, accompanied by the sages and Śambhu, the remover of the fear of worldly existence.
दरचक्रगदाम्बुजमानधरः सुरशत्रुकठोरशरीरहरः
He bears the discus, the mace, and the lotus; he is the destroyer of the fierce-bodied enemies of the gods.
नमस्ते शचीनंदनानन्दकारिन्महापापसन्तापदुर्लापहारिन्
Salutations to you, who bring joy to the son of Śacī, who remove the distress of great sins and suffering.
त्वया हंसरूपेण सत्यं प्रपाल्यं त्वया यज्ञरूपेण वेदः प्ररक्ष्य 3.4.10.
By you, in the form of a swan, truth is to be protected; by you, in the form of sacrifice, the Veda is to be preserved.
अनर्पितचरोचिरात्करुणयावतीर्णः कलौ समर्पयितुमुन्नतोज्वलरसां स्वभक्तिश्रियम्
He, who had never before bestowed such radiant mercy, has descended in the age of Kali to offer the supreme, resplendent essence of devotion.