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.
एतच् छ्रुत्वा पितृवचस् तथेत्य् आह स नागराट् कामरूपम् अवाप्याथ भार्यया सह सुव्रतः
Hearing his father's words, the king of the serpents replied, 'So be it,' and, having assumed any desired form, together with his virtuous wife—
पित्रा मात्रा तथा पुत्रै राज्यं कृत्वा सुविस्तरम् याते पितरि स्वर्लोकं पुत्रान् स्थाप्य स्वके पदे
Having ruled the vast kingdom with his father, mother, and sons, when his father went to the heavenly world, he established his sons in his own position.
भार्यामात्यादिसहितस् ततः शिवपुरं ययौ ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं नागतीर्थम् इति श्रुतम्
Then, accompanied by his wife, ministers, and others, he went to Śiva's city; from that time, that holy place became known as Nāgatīrtha.
यत्र नागेश्वरो देवो भोगवत्या प्रतिष्ठितः तत्र स्नानं च दानं च सर्वक्रतुफलप्रदम्
Where the Lord of Serpents, the god, is established in Bhogavatī, there bathing and giving gifts bestow the fruit of all sacrifices.
मातृतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं सर्वसिद्धिकरं नृणाम् आधिभिर् मुच्यते जन्तुस् तत्तीर्थस्मरणाद् अपि
It is known as Mātṛtīrtha, the holy place that grants all accomplishments to people; even by remembering that holy place, a being is freed from afflictions.
देवानाम् असुराणां च संगरो ऽभूत् सुदारुणः नाशक्नुवंस् तदा जेतुं देवा दानवसंगरम्
A terrible battle took place between the gods and the asuras; at that time, the gods were unable to defeat the hosts of the dānavas.
तदाहम् अगमं देवैस् तिष्ठन्तं शूलपाणिनम् अस्तवं विविधैर् वाक्यैः कृताञ्जलिपुटः शनैः
Then I approached the trident-bearing Lord, who was standing there among the gods, and with my hands joined in reverence, I slowly praised him with various words.
संमन्त्र्य देवैर् असुरैश् च सर्वैर् यदाहृतं संमथितुं समुद्रम् यत् कालकूटं समभून् महेश तत् त्वां विना को ग्रसितुं समर्थः
After conferring with all the gods and asuras, when the ocean was churned and the deadly poison appeared, O Great Lord, who but you was capable of consuming it?
पुष्पप्रहारेण जगत्त्रयं यः स्वाधीनम् आपादयितुं समर्थः मारो हरे ऽप्य् अन्यसुरादिवन्द्यो वितायमानो विलयं प्रयातः
He who, with a shower of flowers, is able to bring the three worlds under his control—Kāma, worshipped even by Hari and other gods—was destroyed and vanished.
विमथ्य वारीशम् अनङ्गशत्रो यद् उत्तमं तत् तु दिवौकसेभ्यः दत्त्वा विषं संहरन् नीलकण्ठ को वा धर्तुं त्वाम् ऋते वै समर्थः
Having churned the lord of waters, O enemy of Kāma, you gave the best to the gods, and, taking the poison upon yourself, O blue-throated one, who besides you is able to bear it?