एतद् वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राक्षसेन समीरितम् शाकल्यः कृपया प्राह वरदा सा सरस्वती
Hearing these words spoken by the Rākṣasa, Śākalya, moved by compassion, spoke; Sarasvatī, the bestower of boons, also spoke.
तवाचिराद् दैत्यपते ततः स्तुहि जनार्दनम् मनोरथफलप्राप्तौ नान्यन् नारायणस्तुतेः
Soon, O lord of the Daityas, praise Janārdana; for the fulfillment of your desire, there is no other way than praise of Nārāyaṇa.
किंचिद् अप्य् अस्ति लोके ऽस्मिन् कारणं शृणु राक्षस प्रसन्ना तव सा देवी मद्वाक्याच् च भविष्यति
Listen, O Rākṣasa, there is some cause in this world; that goddess is pleased with you, and by my words, it shall come to pass.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा स परशुर् गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यपावनीम् स्नात्वा शुचिर् यतमना गङ्गाम् अभिमुखः स्थितः
Saying 'so be it,' Paraśur bathed in the Ganges, purifier of the three worlds; purified and focused, he stood facing the Ganges.
तत्रापश्यद् दिव्यरूपां दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनाम् सरस्वतीं जगद्धात्रीं शाकल्यवचने स्थिताम्
There he saw Sarasvatī, of divine form, adorned with celestial fragrance, the sustainer of the world, present as spoken by Śākalya.
जगज्जाड्यहरां विश्वजननीं भुवनेश्वरीम् ताम् उवाच विनीतात्मा परशुर् गतकल्मषः
He saw her as the remover of the world's dullness, the mother of all, the ruler of the earth; Paraśur, with a humble heart and freed from sin, addressed her.
गुरुः शाकल्य इत्य् आह माकान्तं स्तुहि विध्वजम् तव प्रसादात् सा शक्तिर् यथा मे स्यात् तथा कुरु
Śākalya, the teacher, said: 'Praise the creator without delay; by your favor, may that power come to me—do so accordingly.'
तथास्त्व् इति च सा प्राह परशुं श्रीसरस्वती सरस्वत्याः प्रसादेन परशुस् तं जनार्दनम्
Sarasvatī replied, 'So be it.' By the grace of Sarasvatī, Paraśur praised Janārdana.
तुष्टाव विविधैर् वाक्यैस् ततस् तुष्टो ऽभवद् धरिः वरं प्रादाद् राक्षसाय कृपासिन्धुर् जनार्दनः
He praised Hari with various words; then Hari became pleased and, as the ocean of compassion, granted a boon to the Rākṣasa.
यद् यन् मनोगतं रक्षस् तत् तत् सर्वं भविष्यति
Whatever is in your mind, O Rākṣasa, all that shall come to pass.
शाकल्यस्य प्रसादेन गौतम्याश् च प्रसादतः सरस्वत्याः प्रसादेन नरसिंहप्रसादतः
By the grace of Śākalya, Gautamī, Sarasvatī, and Narasiṃha, all blessings were bestowed.
पापिष्ठो ऽपि तदा रक्षः परशुर् दिवम् एयिवान् सर्वतीर्थाङ्घ्रिपद्मस्य प्रसादाच् छार्ङ्गधन्वनः
Though wicked, the Rākṣasa Paraśur ascended to heaven, by the grace of the lotus feet of all sacred places and of the wielder of the Śārṅga bow.
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं सारस्वतम् इति श्रुतम् तत्र स्नानेन दानेन विष्णुलोके महीयते
From that time onward, that sacred place became known as Sarasvata; by bathing and giving gifts there, one is honored in the world of Vishnu.
वाग्जवैष्णवशाकल्यपरशुप्रभवाणि हि बहून्य् अभूवंस् तीर्थानि तस्मिन् वै श्वेतपर्वते
Many holy sites arose there on Mount Shveta, originating from Vaga, Vaishnava, Shakala, and Parashu.
चिच्चिकातीर्थम् इत्य् उक्तं सर्वरोगविनाशनम् सर्वचिन्ताप्रहरणं सर्वशान्तिकरं नृणाम्
It is called the holy place of Chiccika, destroyer of all diseases, remover of all anxieties, and bringer of complete peace to people.
तस्य स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि शुभ्रे तस्मिन् नगोत्तमे गङ्गाया उत्तरे पारे यत्र देवो गदाधरः
I will describe its true nature: on that pure and excellent mountain, on the northern bank of the Ganga, where the god Gadadhara resides.
चिच्चिकः पक्षिराट् तत्र भेरुण्डो यो ऽभिधीयते सदा वसति तत्रैव मांसाशी श्वेतपर्वते
There dwells Chiccika, the king of birds, known as Bherunda, a flesh-eater, always residing on Mount Shveta.
नानापुष्पफलाकीर्णैः सर्वर्तुकुसुमैर् नगैः सेविते द्विजमुख्यैश् च गौतम्या चोपशोभिते
Adorned with various flowers and fruits, served by trees blossoming in all seasons, attended by foremost Brahmins, and beautified by the Gautami river.
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वकिंनरामरसंकुले तत्समीपे नगः कश्चिद् द्विपदां च चतुष्पदाम्
That area is crowded with Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and Apsaras; nearby stands a mountain, a refuge for both two-footed and four-footed beings.
रोगार्तिक्षुत्तृषाचिन्तामरणानां न भाजनम् एवं गुणान्विते शैले नानामुनिगणावृते
On that mountain endowed with such qualities, surrounded by various groups of sages, there is no place for disease, suffering, hunger, thirst, anxiety, or death.
पूर्वदेशाधिपः कश्चित् पवमान इति श्रुतः क्षत्रधर्मरतः श्रीमान् देवब्राह्मणपालकः
There was a certain ruler of the eastern region, known as Pavamana, devoted to the duties of a warrior, prosperous, and protector of gods and Brahmins.
बलेन महता युक्तः सपुरोधा वनं ययौ रेमे स्त्रीभिर् मनोज्ञाभिर् नृत्यवादित्रजैः सुखैः
Endowed with great strength, accompanied by his priests, he entered the forest, delighting in the company of charming women, and enjoying music, dance, and pleasures.
स च एवं धनुष्पाणिर् मृगयाशीलिभिर् वृतः एवं भ्रमन् कदाचित् स श्रान्तो द्रुमम् उपागतः
Armed with a bow, surrounded by hunters fond of the chase, as he wandered thus, he once grew weary and approached a tree.
गौतमीतीरसंभूतं नानापक्षिगणैर् वृतम् आश्रमाणां गृहपतिं धर्मज्ञम् इव सेवितम्
That tree, born on the bank of the Gautami, was surrounded by many kinds of birds, and was served like a householder sage who knows righteousness.
तम् आश्रित्य नगश्रेष्ठं पवमानो नृपोत्तमः स विश्रान्तो जनवृत ईक्षां चक्रे नगोत्तमम्
Taking shelter under that chief of mountains, King Pavamana, surrounded by people, rested and gazed upon the excellent mountain.
तत्रापश्यद् द्विजं स्थूलं द्विमुखं शोभनाकृतिम् चिन्ताविष्टं तथा श्रान्तं तम् अपृच्छन् नृपोत्तमः
There he saw a large, two-faced bird of beautiful form, absorbed in thought and weary; the great king questioned him.
को भवान् द्विमुखः पक्षी चिन्तावान् इव लक्ष्यसे नैवात्र कश्चिद् दुःखार्तः कस्मात् त्वं दुःखम् आगतः
Who are you, two-faced bird? You appear to be deep in thought. No one here seems afflicted by sorrow; why then have you come to grief?
ततः प्रोवाच नृपतिं पवमानं शनैः शनैः समाश्वस्तमनाः पक्षी चिच्चिको निःश्वसन् मुहुः
Then, slowly and with a mind somewhat calmed, the bird Chiccika, sighing repeatedly, spoke to King Pavamana.
मत्तो भयं न चान्येषां मम वान्योपपादितम् नानापुष्पफलाकीर्णं मुनिभिः परिसेवितम्
I have no fear of anyone, nor has anyone caused me harm; this mountain, adorned with various flowers and fruits, is served by sages.
पश्येयं शून्यम् एवाद्रिं ततः शोचामि माम् अहम् न लभामि सुखं किंचिन् न तृप्यामि कदाचन निद्रां प्राप्नोमि न क्वापि न विश्रान्तिं न निर्वृतिम्
Yet I see the mountain as empty, and so I grieve for myself; I find no happiness at all, I am never satisfied, I never obtain sleep anywhere, nor rest, nor contentment.