ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं प्रवरासंगमं विदुः प्रेरिता देवदेवेन शक्तिर् या प्रेरिता तु सा
From that time onward, that sacred place has been known as the foremost confluence, inspired by the Lord of gods, by the power that was thus set in motion.
अमृता सैव विख्याता प्रवरैवं महानदी
She herself is famed as immortal, and thus is the foremost great river.
वृद्धासंगमम् आख्यातं यत्र वृद्धेश्वरः शिवः तस्याख्यानं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु पापप्रणाशनम्
The confluence called Vṛddhāsaṅgama, where Vṛddheśvara Śiva abides—I shall recount its story, which destroys sin; listen.
गौतमो वृद्ध इत्य् उक्तो मुनिर् आसीन् महातपाः यदा पुराभवद् बालो गौतमस्य सुतो द्विजः
Gautama, called Vṛddha, was a sage of great austerity; once, his son was a child, a twice-born by birth.
अनासः स पुरोत्पन्नस् तस्माद् विकृतरूपधृक् स वैराग्याज् जगामाथ देशं तीर्थम् इतस् ततः
He was born without a nose, bearing a deformed appearance; out of dispassion, he wandered from place to place, to sacred sites.
उपाध्यायेन नैवासील् लज्जितस्य समागमः शिष्यैर् अन्यैः सहाध्यायो लज्जितस्य च नाभवत्
Ashamed, he did not associate with his teacher, nor did he study with other disciples.
उपनीतः कथंचिच् च पित्रा वै गौतमेन सः एतावता गौतमो ऽपि व्यगमच् चरितुं बहिः
Somehow, his father Gautama initiated him; with that, Gautama too went out to wander.
एवं बहुतिथे काले ब्रह्ममात्रा धृते द्विजे नैव चाध्ययनं तस्य संजातं गौतमस्य हि
Thus, after a long time, the twice-born Gautama was sustained only by the measure of the Veda, but did not study further.
नैव शास्त्रस्य चाभ्यासो गौतमस्याभवत् तदा अग्निकार्यं ततश् चक्रे नित्यम् एव यतव्रतः
At that time, Gautama did not practice the scriptures; then, steadfast in his vows, he performed the fire ritual daily.
गायत्र्यभ्यासमात्रेण ब्राह्मणो नामधारकः अग्न्युपासनमात्रं च गायत्र्यभ्यसनं तथा
By merely reciting the Gāyatrī, he bore the name of brāhmaṇa; his only practices were worship of the fire and recitation of the Gāyatrī.
एतावता ब्राह्मणत्वं गौतमस्याभवन् मुने उपासतो ऽग्निं विधिवद् गायत्रीं च महात्मनः
By this alone, Gautama attained the status of a brāhmaṇa, O sage, as he duly worshipped the fire and the Gāyatrī, being a great soul.
तस्यायुर् ववृधे पुत्र गौतमस्य चिरायुषः न दारसंग्रहं लेभे नैव दातास्ति कन्यकाम्
His lifespan increased, O son, Gautama became long-lived; he did not take a wife, nor was there anyone to give him a maiden.
तथा चरंस् तीर्थदेशे वनेषु विविधेषु च आश्रमेषु च पुण्येषु अटन्न् आस्ते स गौतमः
Thus, dwelling in sacred places, in various forests and holy hermitages, Gautama wandered and lived.
एवं भ्रमञ् शीतगिरिम् आश्रित्यास्ते स गौतमः तत्रापश्यद् गुहां रम्यां वल्लीविटपमालिनीम्
Thus wandering, Gautama took refuge on Śītāgiri and remained there; there he saw a delightful cave, adorned with creepers and trees.
तत्रोपविश्य विप्रेन्द्रो वस्तुं समकरोन् मतिम् चिन्तयंस् तु प्रविष्टो ऽसाव् अपश्यत् स्त्रियम् उत्तमाम्
There, sitting down, the best of brāhmaṇas resolved to dwell, and as he pondered, he saw an excellent woman enter.
शिथिलाङ्गीम् अथ कृशां वृद्धां च तपसि स्थिताम् ब्रह्मचर्येण वर्तन्तीं विरागां रहसि स्थिताम्
She was emaciated, with loosened limbs, aged, steadfast in austerity, living in celibacy, dispassionate, and dwelling in solitude.
स तां दृष्ट्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो नमस्काराय तस्थिवान् नमस्यन्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं तं गौतमम् अवारयत्
Seeing her, the eminent sage stood ready to offer his respects; but Gautama restrained the sage who was about to bow.
गुरुस् त्वं भविता मह्यं न मां वन्दितुम् अर्हसि आयुर् विद्या धनं कीर्तिर् धर्मः स्वर्गादिकं च यत् तस्य नश्यति वै सर्वं यं नमस्यति वै गुरुः
You will become my teacher; you should not bow to me. Whoever bows to their teacher loses their lifespan, knowledge, wealth, fame, virtue, and even heaven.
कृताञ्जलिपुटस् तां वै गौतमः प्राह विस्मितः
With hands joined in reverence, Gautama spoke to her, astonished.
तपस्विनी त्वं वृद्धा च गुणज्येष्ठा च भामिनी अल्पविद्यस् त्व् अल्पवया अहं तव गुरुः कथम्
You are an ascetic, elderly, and foremost in virtue, O radiant one; I am young and possess little knowledge. How can I be your teacher?
आर्ष्टिषेणप्रियपुत्र ऋतध्वज इति श्रुतः गुणवान् मतिमाञ् शूरः क्षत्रधर्मपरायणः
My beloved son was named Ṛtadhvaja, dear to Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa; he was renowned as virtuous, intelligent, heroic, and devoted to the duties of a warrior.
स कदाचिद् वनं प्रायान् मृगयाकृष्टचेतनः विश्रामम् अकरोद् अस्यां गुहायां स ऋतध्वजः
Once, drawn by the hunt, Ṛtadhvaja entered the forest and rested in this cave.
युवा स मतिमान् दक्षो बलेन महता वृतः तं विश्रान्तं नृपवरम् अप्सरा ददृशे ततः
He was young, intelligent, capable, and endowed with great strength. As he rested, an apsaras beheld this noble king.
गन्धर्वराजस्य सुता सुश्यामा इति विश्रुता तां दृष्ट्वा चकमे राजा राजानं चकमे च सा
She was known as Suśyāmā, daughter of the king of the Gandharvas. Seeing him, the king desired her, and she desired the king.
इति क्रीडा समभवत् तया राज्ञो महामते निवृत्तकामो राजेन्द्रस् ताम् आपृच्छ्यागमद् गृहम्
Thus, the wise king enjoyed sport with her; when his desire was fulfilled, the lord of kings took leave of her and returned home.
उत्पन्नाहं ततस् तस्यां सुश्यामायां महामते गच्छन्ती मां तदा माता इदम् आह तपोधन
From Suśyāmā, O wise one, I was born. As she departed, my mother spoke this to me, O ascetic.
यस् त्व् अस्यां प्रविशेद् भद्रे स ते भर्ता भविष्यति
Whoever enters here, O blessed one, will become your husband.
इत्य् उक्त्वा सा जगमाथ माता मम महामते तस्माद् अत्र प्रविष्टस् त्वं पुमान् नान्यः कदाचन
Having said this, my mother departed, O wise one. Therefore, you alone have entered here; no other man ever.
सहस्राणि तथाशीतिं कृत्वा राज्यं पिता मम अत्रैव च तपस् तप्त्वा ततः स्वर्गम् उपेयिवान्
My father ruled for eighty thousand years, and performed austerities here; then he attained heaven.
स्वर्गं याते ऽपि पितरि सहस्राणि तथा दश वर्षाणि मुनिशार्दूल राज्यं कृत्वा तथा परः
Even after my father went to heaven, another ruled for ten thousand years, O eminent sage.