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.
द्विमुखस्य द्विजस्योक्तं श्रुत्वा राजातिविस्मितः
Hearing the words spoken by the two-mouthed brahmin, the king was greatly astonished.
को भवान् किं कृतं पापं कस्माच् छून्यश् च पर्वतः एकेनास्येन तृप्यन्ति प्राणिनो ऽत्र नगोत्तमे
Who are you? What sin have you committed? And why is this mountain desolate? Here, on this great mountain, living beings are satisfied with a single mouth—
किम् उतास्यद्वयेन त्वं न तृप्तिम् उपयास्यसि किं वा ते दुष्कृतं प्राप्तम् इह जन्मन्य् अथो पुरा
But will you not find satisfaction even with two mouths? What evil deed have you obtained in this birth, or perhaps in a previous one?
तत् सर्वं शंस मे सत्यं त्रास्ये त्वां महतो भयात्
Tell me all of this truthfully; I will protect you from great fear.
राजानं तं द्विजः प्राह निःश्वसन्न् अथ चिच्चिकः
Then, sighing, the brahmin named Ciccika spoke to the king.
वक्ष्ये ऽहं त्वां पूर्ववृत्तं पवमान शृणुष्व तत् अहं द्विजातिप्रवरो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
I will tell you my former story, O Pavamāna; listen to it. I am a foremost twice-born, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
कुलीनो विदितप्राज्ञः कार्यहन्ता कलिप्रियः वदे पुरस् तथा पृष्ठे अन्यद् अन्यच् च जन्तुषु
Born in a noble family, known for wisdom, a destroyer of duties, fond of quarrel, I speak one thing in front, another behind, and yet another among people.
परवृद्ध्या सदा दुःखी मायया विश्ववञ्चकः कृतघ्नः सत्यरहितः परनिन्दाविचक्षणः
Always distressed by others' prosperity, deceiving the world with illusion, ungrateful, devoid of truth, and skilled in slandering others.
मित्रस्वामिगुरुद्रोही दम्भाचारो ऽतिनिर्घृणः मनसा कर्मणा वाचा तापयामि जनान् बहून्
A betrayer of friends, masters, and teachers, practicing hypocrisy, extremely cruel, I torment many people by thought, deed, and word.
अयम् एव विनोदो मे सदा यत् परहिंसनम् युग्मभेदं गणोच्छेदं मर्यादाभेदनं सदा
My only delight has always been harming others, breaking pairs, destroying groups, and ever violating boundaries.