भोगवत्याश् च यो भर्ता महासर्पो ऽतिभीषणः एकान्तदेशे विजने गृहे रत्नसुशोभिते
The lord of Bhogavati, a great and exceedingly fearsome serpent, dwells alone in a secluded place, in a house splendid with jewels.
सुगन्धकुसुमाकीर्णे तत्रास्ते सुखशीतले स सर्पो मातरं प्राह पितरं च पुनः पुनः
There, in that cool and pleasant abode strewn with fragrant flowers, that serpent repeatedly spoke to his mother and father.
मम भार्या राजपुत्री किं मां नैवोपसर्पति तत् पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा सर्पमातेदम् अब्रवीत्
"My wife is a princess—why does she not approach me?" Hearing her son's words, the serpent's mother spoke thus.
धात्रिके गच्छ सुभगे शीघ्रं भोगवतीं वद तव भर्ता सर्प इति ततः सा किं वदिष्यति
"Nurse, go quickly, O fortunate one, to Bhogavati and tell her: 'Your husband is a serpent.' Then let us see what she will say."
धात्रिका च तथेत्य् उक्त्वा गत्वा भोगवतीं तदा रहोगता उवाचेदं विनीतवद् अपूर्ववत्
The nurse, having said "So be it," went at that time to Bhogavati, and, finding her alone, addressed her respectfully as if for the first time.
जाने ऽहं सुभगे भद्रे भर्तारं तव दैवतम् न चाख्येयं त्वया क्वापि सर्पो न पुरुषो ध्रुवम्
"I know, O fortunate and noble lady, that your husband is a divine being. But you must never reveal this anywhere: your husband is certainly a serpent, not a man."
तस्यास् तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा भोगवत्य् अब्रवीद् इदम्
Hearing those words from her, Bhogavati spoke as follows.
मानुषीणां मनुष्यो हि भर्ता सामान्यतो भवेत् किं पुनर् देवजातिस् तु भर्ता पुण्येन लभ्यते
"Among humans, a husband is generally a man; but a husband of divine birth is attained only through great merit."
भोगवत्यास् तु तद् वाक्यं सा च सर्वं न्यवेदयत् सर्पाय सर्पमात्रे च राज्ञे चैव यथाक्रमम्
Bhogavati then conveyed all these words in order to the serpent, to the serpent's mother, and to the king.
रुरोद राजा तद्वाक्यात् स्मृत्वा तां कर्मणो गतिम् भोगवत्य् अपि तां प्राह उक्तपूर्वां पुनः सखीम्
Hearing these words, the king wept, recalling the course of fate; and Bhogavati again spoke to her friend as she had before.
कान्तं दर्शय भद्रं ते वृथा याति वयो मम
"Show me your beloved husband, O noble one; my youth is passing away in vain."
ततः सा दर्शयाम् आस सर्पं तम् अतिभीषणम् सुगन्धकुसुमाकीर्णे शयने सा रहोगता
Then she showed her that exceedingly fearsome serpent, while alone, upon a bed strewn with fragrant flowers.
तं दृष्ट्वा भीषणं सर्पं भर्तारं रत्नभूषितम् कृताञ्जलिपुटा वाक्यम् अवदत् कान्तम् अञ्जसा
Seeing that terrifying serpent, her husband adorned with jewels, she, with hands joined in reverence, spoke these words to her beloved without delay:
धन्यास्म्य् अनुगृहीतास्मि यस्या मे दैवतं पतिः
"I am blessed, I am favored, for my husband is my divine lord."
इत्य् उक्त्वा शयने स्थित्वा तं सर्पं सर्पभावनैः खेलयाम् आस तन्वङ्गी गीतैश् चैवाङ्गसंगमैः
Having spoken thus, she remained on the bed and began to delight that serpent, slender-limbed, with gestures of affection, songs, and gentle touches.
सुगन्धकुसुमैः पानैस् तोषयाम् आस तं पतिम् तस्याश् चैव प्रसादेन सर्पस्याभूत् स्मृतिर् मुने स्मृत्वा सर्वं दैवकृतं रात्रौ सर्पो ऽब्रवीत् प्रियाम्
She pleased her husband with fragrant flowers and drinks; and by her favor, memory returned to the serpent, O sage. Remembering all that was divinely ordained, the serpent spoke to his beloved at night.
राजकन्यापि मां दृष्ट्वा न भीतासि कथं प्रिये सोवाच दैवविहितं को ऽतिक्रमितुम् ईश्वरः पतिर् एव गतिः स्त्रीणां सर्वदैव विशेषतः
The princess said, "Beloved, how is it that I am not afraid upon seeing you?" She replied, "Who can transgress what is ordained by fate? The husband is always the path for women, especially so."
श्रुत्वेति हृष्टस् ताम् आह नागः प्रहसिताननः
Hearing this, the serpent, delighted, spoke to her with a smiling face.
तुष्टो ऽस्मि तव भक्त्याहं किं ददामि तवेप्सितम् तव प्रसादाच् चार्वङ्गि सर्वस्मृतिर् अभूद् इयम्
I am pleased with your devotion; what shall I grant you as you desire? By my favor, O beautiful one, you have attained all remembrance.
शप्तो ऽहं देवदेवेन कुपितेन पिनाकिना महेश्वरकरे नागः शेषपुत्रो महाबलः
I was cursed by the god of gods, the wrathful Pinākin, and in the hand of Maheśvara, the mighty serpent, son of Śeṣa, was born.
सो ऽहं पतिस् त्वं च भार्या नाम्ना भोगवती पुरा उमावाक्याज् जहासोच्चैः शंभुः प्रीतो रहोगतः
Thus I am the husband and you are the wife, named Bhogavatī; formerly, at Umā's words, Śambhu laughed aloud in secret, being pleased.
ममापि चागतं भद्रे हास्यं तद्देवसंनिधौ ततस् तु कुपितः शंभुः प्रादाच् छापं ममेदृशम्
O auspicious one, I too laughed in the presence of the gods; then Śambhu, angered, pronounced this curse upon me.
मनुष्ययोनौ त्वं सर्पो भविता ज्ञानवान् इति
You will be born as a serpent in the human world, endowed with knowledge.
ततः प्रसादितः शंभुस् त्वया भद्रे मया सह ततश् चोक्तं तेन भद्रे गौतम्यां मम पूजनम्
Then, O blessed one, you propitiated Śambhu together with me; then he said, 'O blessed one, in Gautamī, worship me.'
कुर्वतो ज्ञानम् आधास्ये यदा सर्पाकृतेस् तव तदा विशापो भविता भोगवत्याः प्रसादतः
While you perform worship in Gautamī in the form of a serpent, I will bestow knowledge upon you; then, by the favor of Bhogavatī, the curse will be lifted.
तस्माद् इदं ममापन्नं तव चापि शुभानने तस्मान् नीत्वा गौतमीं मां पूजां कुरु मया सह
Therefore, O auspicious-faced one, this has befallen me and you; so, taking me to Gautamī, perform worship together with me.
ततो विशापो भविता आवां यावः शिवं पुनः सर्वेषां सर्वदार्तानां शिव एव परा गतिः
Then the curse will be lifted for both of us, until we reach Śiva again; for all, for all who are afflicted, Śiva alone is the supreme goal.
तच् छ्रुत्वा भर्तृवचनं सा भर्त्रा गौतमीं ययौ ततः स्नात्वा तु गौतम्यां पूजां चक्रे शिवस्य तु
Hearing her husband's words, she went with him to Gautamī; then, after bathing in Gautamī, she performed worship of Śiva.
ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान् दिव्यरूपं ददौ मुने आपृच्छ्य पितरौ सर्पो भार्यया गन्तुम् उद्यतः शिवलोकं ततो ज्ञात्वा पिता प्राह महामतिः
Then the blessed Lord, being pleased, revealed his divine form, O sage; after taking leave of his parents, the serpent, with his wife, prepared to go to Śiva's realm; knowing this, his wise father spoke.
युवराज्यधरो ज्येष्ठः पुत्र एको भवान् इति तस्माद् राज्यम् अशेषेण कृत्वोत्पाद्य सुतान् बहून् याते मयि परं धाम ततो याहि शिवं पुरम्
You alone, my eldest son, bear the royal succession; therefore, rule the kingdom completely, beget many sons, and when I depart to the highest abode, then go to Śiva's city.