ज्वलमानौ स्वतेजोभिर् दिव्यस्रगनुलेपनौ अथ तौ तं समागम्य नृपम् इन्द्रसखं तदा
Radiant with their own brilliance, adorned with divine garlands and ointments, they approached the king, Indra's friend.
ताव् ऊचतुर् महाराज किम् अत्र त्वं करिष्यसि किमर्थं च महाबाहो शातितश् च वनस्पतिः
The two said, 'O great king, what are you doing here? For what reason, mighty-armed one, have you cut down this tree?'
असहायो महादुर्गे निर्जने गहने वने महासिन्धुतटे चैव कथं वै शातितो द्रुमः
'Alone, in this vast wilderness, in the dense forest by the great riverbank, how is it that you have felled this tree?'
तयोः श्रुत्वा वचो विप्राः स तु राजा मुदान्वितः बभाषे वचनं ताभ्यां मृदुलं मधुरं तथा
Hearing their words, the king, filled with joy, spoke to them gently and sweetly.
दृष्ट्वा तौ ब्राह्मणौ तत्र चन्द्रसूर्याव् इवागतौ नमस्कृत्य जगन्नाथाव् अवाङ्मुखम् अवस्थितः
Seeing those two Brahmins, who appeared like the moon and sun, he bowed to the lords of the world and stood with his head lowered.
देवदेवम् अनाद्यन्तम् अनन्तं जगतां पतिम् आराधयितुं प्रतिमां करोमीति मतिर् मम
'To worship the god of gods, the beginningless, endless, lord of the worlds, I wish to make an image.'
अहं स देवदेवेन परमेण महात्मना स्वप्नान्ते च समुद्दिष्टो भवद्भ्यां श्रावितं मया
'I have been instructed by that supreme, divine one at the end of a dream, and you both have made it known to me.'
राज्ञस् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा देवेन्द्रप्रतिमस्य च प्रहस्य तस्मै विश्वेशस् तुष्टो वचनम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing the king's words about the image of Indra, the lord of the universe smiled, pleased, and spoke to him.
साधु साधु महीपाल यद् एतन् मतम् उत्तमम् संसारसागरे घोरे कदलीदलसंनिभे
Excellent, excellent, O king, is this supreme opinion of yours, in the dreadful ocean of worldly existence, which is like a banana leaf.
निःसारे दुःखबहुले कामक्रोधसमाकुले इन्द्रियावर्तकलिले दुस्तरे रोमहर्षणे
In this insubstantial, sorrow-filled world, overwhelmed by desire and anger, tangled in the whirlpool of the senses, difficult to cross, and causing one's hair to stand on end,
नानाव्याधिशतावर्ते जलबुद्बुदसंनिभे यतस् ते मतिर् उत्पन्ना विष्णोर् आराधनाय वै
In the midst of hundreds of diseases, resembling water bubbles, your mind has arisen for the worship of Vishnu.
धन्यस् त्वं नृपशार्दूल गुणैः सर्वैर् अलंकृतः सप्रजा पृथिवी धन्या सशैलवनकानना
Blessed are you, O foremost of kings, adorned with all virtues; blessed is the earth with its people, mountains, forests, and groves.
सपुरग्रामनगरा चतुर्वर्णैर् अलंकृता यत्र त्वं नृपशार्दूल प्रजाः पालयिता प्रभुः
Blessed too are its cities, villages, and towns, adorned by the four castes, where you, O tiger among kings, are the lord who protects the people.
एह्य् एहि सुमहाभाग द्रुमे ऽस्मिन् सुखशीतले आवाभ्यां सह तिष्ठ त्वं कथाभिर् धर्मसंश्रितः
Come, come, O greatly fortunate one, under this tree, pleasantly cool; stay here with me, engaged in stories rooted in dharma.
अयं मम सहायस् तु आगतः शिल्पिनां वरः विश्वकर्मसमः साक्षान् निपुणः सर्वकर्मसु मयोद्दिष्टां तु प्रतिमां करोत्य् एष तटं त्यज
This companion of mine has arrived, foremost among artisans, equal to Vishvakarma himself, skilled in all tasks; he will make the image as I instruct—leave the shore.
श्रुत्वैवं वचनं तस्य तदा राजा द्विजन्मनः सागरस्य तटं त्यक्त्वा गत्वा तस्य समीपतः
Hearing these words, the king, born twice, left the shore of the ocean and went near him.
तस्थौ स नृपतिश्रेष्ठो वृक्षच्छाये सुशीतले ततस् तस्मै स विश्वात्मा ददाव् आज्ञां द्विजाकृतिः
The eminent king stood beneath the pleasantly cool shade of the tree; then the universal soul, in the form of a Brahmin, gave him instructions.
शिल्पिमुख्याय विप्रेन्द्राः कुरुष्व प्रतिमा इति कृष्णरूपं परं शान्तं पद्मपत्त्रायतेक्षणम्
To the chief artisan, the best of Brahmins said: 'Make the images—one in the form of Krishna, supremely peaceful, with eyes wide like lotus petals.'
श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधरं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् गौराङ्गं क्षीरवर्णाभं द्वितीयं स्वस्तिकाङ्कितम्
Bearing the marks of Shrivatsa and Kaustubha, holding conch, discus, and mace, with a fair body resembling milk, the second marked with a swastika.
लाङ्गलास्त्रधरं देवम् अनन्ताख्यं महाबलम् देवदानवगन्धर्वयक्षविद्याधरोरगैः
The god named Ananta, wielder of plough and weapons, of great strength, not known by gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, vidyadharas, or serpents.
न विज्ञातो हि तस्यान्तस् तेनानन्त इति स्मृतः भगिनीं वासुदेवस्य रुक्मवर्णां सुशोभनाम्
His end is not known, thus he is called Ananta; the sister of Vasudeva, shining with golden hue.
तृतीयां वै सुभद्रां च सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताम्
The third is Subhadra, adorned with all auspicious marks.
श्रुत्वैतद् वचनं तस्य विश्वकर्मा सुकर्मकृत् तत्क्षणात् कारयाम् आस प्रतिमाः शुभलक्षणाः
Hearing these words, Vishvakarma, the doer of good deeds, immediately began to make the auspicious images.
प्रथमं शुक्लवर्णाभं शारदेन्दुसमप्रभम् आरक्ताक्षं महाकायं स्फटाविकटमस्तकम्
First, one with a white complexion, radiant like the autumn moon, with red eyes, a large body, and a broad, crystal-like head.
नीलाम्बरधरं चोग्रं बलं बलमदोद्धतम् कुण्डलैकधरं दिव्यं गदामुशलधारिणम्
Wearing blue garments, fierce, with strength overflowing with pride, adorned with a single earring, divine, holding mace and club.
द्वितीयं पुण्डरीकाक्षं नीलजीमूतसंनिभम् अतसीपुष्पसंकाशं पद्मपत्त्रायतेक्षणम्
The second, with lotus-like eyes, resembling a dark rain cloud, like the flower of the flax plant, with eyes wide like lotus petals.
पीतवाससम् अत्युग्रं शुभं श्रीवत्सलक्षणम् चक्रपूर्णकरं दिव्यं सर्वपापहरं हरिम्
Clad in yellow garments, exceedingly fierce, auspicious, bearing the mark of Śrīvatsa, holding a discus in his full hand, divine, remover of all sins—Hari.
तृतीयां स्वर्णवर्णाभां पद्मपत्त्रायतेक्षणाम् विचित्रवस्त्रसंछन्नां हारकेयूरभूषिताम्
The third, shining with a golden hue, with eyes long as lotus petals, covered in wondrous garments, adorned with necklaces and armlets.
विचित्राभरणोपेतां रत्नहारावलम्बिताम् पीनोन्नतकुचां रम्यां विश्वकर्मा विनिर्ममे
Adorned with various ornaments, hung with strings of jeweled necklaces, with full and prominent breasts, lovely—Viśvakarman fashioned her.
स तु राजाद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा क्षणेनैकेन निर्मिताः दिव्यवस्त्रयुगच्छन्ना नानारत्नैर् अलंकृताः
The king, seeing this wondrous creation, made in but a moment, covered in pairs of divine garments, adorned with various jewels—