अहो कष्टं महाकष्टं नष्टा मे सुरनाथता गोदावर्यां तपः कुर्याद् यमो वै दुष्टचेष्टितः जिघृक्षुर् मत्पदं नूनं देवा इति मतिर् मम
Alas, this is terrible, truly most terrible! My lordship over the gods is lost. If Yama performs austerity on the Godāvarī, with wicked intent, he surely seeks to seize my position—such is my thought, O gods.
इत्य् उक्त्वा सहसेन्द्रेण आहूतश् चाप्सरोगणः
Having spoken thus, Indra at once summoned the host of apsarases.
का भवतीषु कालस्य स्थितस्य तपसि द्विषः तपःप्रणाशने शक्ता इति मे शीघ्रम् उच्यताम्
Which among you is capable of destroying the austerity of this enemy, who is established in penance for a long time? Tell me quickly.
इति शक्रवचः श्रुत्वा नोचे कापि महामुने अथ शक्रः प्रकोपेण प्रत्युवाचाप्सरोगणम्
Hearing Śakra’s words, none of the great sages spoke; then Śakra, in anger, addressed the host of apsarases.
उत्तरं नाब्रवीत् किंचिद् यामस् तर्हि वयं स्वयम् सज्जा भवन्तु विबुधाः सैन्यैर् आयान्तु मा चिरम् घातयामो वयं शत्रुं तपसा स्वर्गकामुकम्
Since none of you has given an answer, then let us go ourselves. Let the gods be ready, let them come with their armies without delay. We shall destroy this enemy, who desires heaven through austerity.
इत्य् उक्ते सति देवानां सेना प्रादुर्बभूव ह इतीन्द्रहृदयं ज्ञात्वा हरिणा लोकधारिणा
When this was said, the army of the gods appeared. Knowing Indra’s heart, Hari, the sustainer of the worlds—
प्रेषितं चक्रिणा चक्रं रक्षणाय यमस्य हि चक्रं यत्राभवत् तत्र चक्रतीर्थम् अनुत्तमम्
The Discus-bearer sent his discus to protect Yama; wherever the discus was, there arose the supreme holy place called Cakratīrtha.
अथेन्द्रं मेनका प्राह शङ्कितेति वचस् तदा
Then Menakā spoke to Indra, expressing her doubt in these words.
कालावलोकने नालं काचिद् अस्ति सुरेश्वर मरणं च वरं देव भवतो न यमात् पुनः
O Lord of the gods, none of us is able to withstand the gaze of Kāla. O god, death at your hands is preferable to death at Yama’s.
रूपयौवनमत्तेयं गणिकायाचनं प्रभो प्रेषणं तत् प्रयच्छैषा स्वामित्वं मन्यते त्वया
This courtesan, intoxicated by beauty and youth, is accustomed to solicitation, O Lord. Send her; let her go. She considers herself your property.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस् तस्याः शक्रः सुरवरेश्वरः आदिदेशाबलां क्षामां सत्कृत्य गणिकां तथा
Hearing her words, Śakra, the lord of the gods, honored the slender, beautiful courtesan and gave her instructions accordingly.
गणिके गच्छ मे कार्यं कुरु सुन्दरि मा चिरम् कृतकृत्यागता भूयो वल्लभा मे यथा शची
O courtesan, go and accomplish my task, O beautiful one, without delay. Return successful, and you shall be as dear to me as Śacī.
इत्य् आकर्ण्य वचः शक्राद् उत्पत्य गणिका दिशः क्षणेन यमसांनिध्यम् आयाता चारुरूपिणी
Hearing Śakra’s command, the courtesan swiftly soared through the directions and, in a moment, arrived in the presence of Yama, radiant in form.
यमान्तिकम् अनुप्राप्ता द्योतयन्ती दिशो दश सलीलं ललितं बाला जगौ हिन्दोलकङ्कलम्
Arriving before Yama, shining in all ten directions, the graceful maiden playfully sang the Hindola melody.
ततश् चचाल कालस्य मनो लोलं चलाचलम् अथोन्मील्य यमो नेत्रे कामपावकपूरिते
Then the mind of Kāla wavered, restless and unsteady; opening his eyes, Yama’s gaze was filled with the fire of desire.
तस्यां व्यापारयाम् आस श्रेयःशत्रौ महामुने ततो विलीय सा सद्यः सरित्त्वम् अगमत् तदा
He engaged with her, O great sage, though she was his enemy for the sake of merit; then, at once, she dissolved and became a river.
गौतम्यां तु समागम्य गणिकागणकिंकरैः गीयमाना गता स्वर्गे तस्य तीर्थप्रभावतः
Having come together with her attendants and musicians at Gautamī, the courtesan, being sung to, ascended to heaven by the power of that holy place.
गच्छन्तीं गणिकां दृष्ट्वा विमानस्थां दिवं प्रति विस्मयं परमं प्राप्तः कालस् तरललोचनः अथादित्येन चागत्य एवम् उक्तो यमस् तदा
Seeing the courtesan ascending to heaven in a celestial chariot, Kāla, with restless eyes, was struck with great wonder; then, as the Sun approached, Yama was addressed thus.
कुरु पुत्र निजं कर्म प्रजानां त्वं परिक्षयम् पश्य वातं सदा वान्तं सृजन्तं वेधसं प्रजाः पर्यटन्तं त्रिलोकीं मां वहन्तीं वसुधां प्रजाः
Perform your own duty, my son; you are to oversee the end of beings. See the wind, always blowing, creating beings for the Creator; see the people wandering the three worlds, and the earth bearing all creatures.
इति श्रुत्वा यमो वाक्यं पितुर् वचनम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, Yama spoke in reply to his father’s command.
एतन् न गर्हितं कर्म कुर्याम् अहम् इदं ध्रुवम् कर्मण्य् अस्मिन् महाक्रूरे समादेष्टुं न वार्हसि
This is not a blameworthy act; I shall surely do this. You should not command me to perform such a cruel deed.
इति श्रुत्वा च तद् वाक्यं भानुर् वचनम् अब्रवीत् किं नाम गर्हितं कर्म तव कर्तुम् अलं यम
Hearing those words, the Sun replied: What act is there that is blameworthy for you to perform, O Yama?
किं न दृष्टा त्वया यान्ती गणिका गणकिंकरैः गीयमाना दिवं सद्यो गौतमीतोयम् आप्लुता
Did you not see the courtesan, accompanied by her attendants, being sung to, ascending to heaven at once after bathing in the Gautamī?
त्वया चात्र तपस् तीव्रं कृतं पुत्र सुदुष्करम् नैवान्तं तस्य पश्यामि तस्माद् गच्छ निजं पुरम्
You have performed severe austerity here, my son, which is most difficult; yet I do not see its end. Therefore, return to your own city.
इत्य् उक्त्वा भगवान् भानुस् तत्र स्नात्वा गतो दिवम् यमो ऽपि संगमे स्नात्वा ततो निजपुरं ययौ
Having spoken thus, the blessed Sun, after bathing there, went to heaven; Yama also, having bathed at the confluence, returned to his own city.
भूतहापि ततः शङ्कां तत्याज च महामुने तथा दृष्ट्वा यमं यान्तं चक्रे चक्रं प्रयाणकम्
Even the slayer of beings then abandoned doubt, O great sage; seeing Yama departing, he set his wheel in motion for travel.
भगवान् यत्र गोविन्दो वनमालाविभूषितः इति यः शृणुयान् मर्त्यः पठेद् वापि समाहितः
Where the blessed Govinda, adorned with a garland of forest flowers, resides—whoever hears or recites this with concentration,
आपदस् तस्य नश्यन्ति दीर्घम् आयुर् अवाप्नुयात्
His calamities are destroyed, and he attains long life.
अहल्यासंगमं चेह तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यपावनम् शृणु सम्यङ् मुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्र वृत्तम् इदं यथा
Now hear, O best of sages, about the holy place of Ahalyā’s union, which purifies the three worlds, and what happened there.
कौतुकेनातिमहता मया पूर्वं मुनीश्वर सृष्टा कन्या बहुविधा रूपवत्यो गुणान्विताः
Out of great curiosity, O lord of sages, I formerly created many maidens, endowed with various forms and virtues.