तेषां कनीयान् यो भ्राता शान्तो गुणगणैर् वृतः आसन्दिव इति ख्यातः सर्वज्ञानो महामतिः
The youngest among them, surrounded by many virtues, was known as Asandiva, possessed of all knowledge and great intellect.
विवाहाय पिता तस्माऐ आसन्दिवाय यत्नवान् एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे रात्रौ सुप्तं तं द्विजपुत्रकम्
His father, intent upon arranging Asandiva's marriage, meanwhile, as night fell, the Brahmin's son was sleeping.
अविष्णुस्मरणं सौम्यशिरस्कम् असमाहितम् आसन्दिवं क्रूररूपा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी
Asandiva, lacking remembrance of Vishnu, gentle-minded and inattentive, was seized by a cruel-looking, shape-shifting Rakshasi.
तम् आदायागमच् छीघ्रं गौतम्या दक्षिणे तटे श्रीगिरेर् उत्तरे पारे बहुब्राह्मणसेवितम्
Taking him, she swiftly went to the southern bank of the Gautami, to the northern shore of Srigiri, frequented by many Brahmins.
नगरं धर्मनिलयं लक्ष्म्या निलयम् एव च तत्र राजा बृहत्कीर्तिः सर्वक्षत्रगुणान्वितः
There was a city, abode of righteousness and of Lakshmi; its king was Brihatkirti, endowed with all royal virtues.
तस्यामितक्षेमसुभिक्षयुक्तं निशावसाने द्विजपुत्रयुक्ता सा राक्षसी तत् पुरम् आससाद मनोज्ञरूपाणि बिभर्ति नित्यम्
At the end of the night, accompanied by the Brahmin's son, the Rakshasi reached that city, which was abundant in safety and prosperity, always bearing enchanting forms.
सा कामरूपेण चरत्य् अशेषां महीम् इमां तेन समं द्विजेन गोदावरीदक्षिणतीरभागे वृद्धाकृतिस् तं द्विजम् आह भीमा
She, in her shape-shifting form, roamed the entire earth; together with the Brahmin, on the southern bank of the Godavari, she, now aged in appearance, addressed him in a terrifying manner.
एषा तु गङ्गा द्विजमुख्य संध्या उपास्यतां विप्रवरैः समेत्य यथोचितं विप्रवरास् तु काले नोपासते यत्नत एव संध्याम्
This is the Ganga, O foremost of Brahmins; at dusk, let it be worshipped by the excellent Brahmins, assembling as is proper; yet, at the appointed time, the best Brahmins do not diligently worship at dusk.
नीचास् त एवाभिहिताः सुरेशैर् अन्त्यावसायिप्रवरास् त एते अहं जनित्री तव चेति वाच्यं नो चेद् इदानीं त्वम् उपैषि नाशम्
Those who are low-born, as declared by the lords of the gods, are the lowest and the best among the outcastes. Say to them: 'I am your mother, and you are my child.' If you do not, you will now meet your destruction.
मद्वाक्यकर्तासि यदि द्विजेन्द्र सुखं करिष्ये तव यत् प्रियं च पुनश् च देशं निलयं गुरूंश् च संप्रापयिष्ये ननु सत्यम् एतत्
If you act according to my words, O best of twice-born, I will make you happy and do whatever pleases you. Again, I will return you to your land, your home, and your teachers. Truly, this is so.
स प्राह का त्वं द्विजपुंगवो ऽपि सोवाच तं राक्षसी कामरूपा विश्वासयन्ती शपथैर् अनेकैस् तं भ्रान्तचित्तं मुनिराजपुत्रम्
He asked, 'Who are you?' Even though he was the foremost among Brahmins, she, a rakshasi able to assume any form at will, sought to win his trust with many oaths, addressing the prince among sages whose mind was confused.
कङ्कालिनी नाम जगत्प्रसिद्धा विप्रो ऽपि ताम् आह निवेदितं यत् तद् एव कर्तास्मि न संशयो ऽत्र यत् तत् प्रियं वच्मि करोमि चैव
'I am known everywhere as Kankalini.' The Brahmin replied to her, 'Whatever you have declared, I will do exactly that—there is no doubt. Whatever you say that pleases you, I will say and do.'
तद् विप्रवचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी वृद्धा तथापि चार्वङ्गी दिव्यालंकारभूषणा
Hearing the Brahmin's words, the rakshasi of changing form, though old, was still beautiful in body and adorned with divine ornaments.
द्विजम् आदाय सर्वत्र मत्सुतो ऽयं गुणाकरः एवं वदन्ती सर्वत्र याति वक्ति करोति च
Taking the Brahmin everywhere, she would say, 'This is my son, a repository of virtues.' Thus speaking, she went about everywhere, speaking and acting accordingly.
तं विप्रं रूपसौभाग्यवयोविद्याविभूषितम् तां च वृद्धां गुणोपेताम् अस्य मातेति मेनिरे
Seeing the Brahmin, endowed with beauty, good fortune, youth, knowledge, and distinction, and the old woman possessed of virtues, people thought she was his mother.
तत्र द्विजवरः कश्चित् स्वां कन्यां भूषणान्विताम् राक्षसीं तां पुरस्कृत्य प्रादात् तस्मै द्विजातये
There, a certain excellent Brahmin, having a daughter adorned with ornaments, gave her in marriage to that Brahmin, presenting the rakshasi as the foremost.
सा कन्या तं पतिं प्राप्य कृतार्थास्मीत्य् अचिन्तयत् स द्विजो ऽपि गुणैर् युक्तां पत्नीं दृष्ट्वा सुदुःखितः
That maiden, having obtained him as her husband, thought, 'I have achieved my purpose.' But the Brahmin, seeing his wife endowed with virtues, was deeply distressed.
माम् इयं भक्षयेद् एव राक्षसी पापरूपिणी किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कस्यैतत् कथयामि वा
'This rakshasi, evil in form, will surely devour me. What shall I do? Where shall I go? To whom shall I tell this?'
महत् संकटम् आपन्नं रक्षयिष्यति को ऽत्र माम् भार्या ममेयं कल्याणी गुणरूपवयोयुता एनाम् अप्य् अशुभाकस्माद् भक्षयिष्यति राक्षसी
'Who here will save me from this great danger? This wife of mine is auspicious, endowed with virtue, beauty, and youth, yet even her, by some evil fate, the rakshasi will devour.'
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे तत्र भार्या सा गुणशालिनी वृद्धाप्य् अतिदुराधर्षा सा गता कुत्रचित् तदा
Meanwhile, that virtuous wife, though old, was exceedingly formidable and had gone somewhere else at that time.
प्रश्रयावनता भूत्वा बाला चापि पतिव्रता भर्तारं दुःखितं ज्ञात्वा पतिं प्राह रहः शनैः
The young, devoted wife, humble and bowed in respect, knowing her husband was distressed, quietly spoke to him in private.
कस्मात् ते दुःखम् आपन्नं स्वामिंस् तत्त्वं वदस्व मे
'Why have you fallen into sorrow, my lord? Tell me the truth.'
शनैः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां यथावत् पूर्वविस्तरम् किम् अकथ्यं प्रिये मित्रे कुलीनायां च योषिति
He slowly spoke to his wife, recounting everything as it happened before: 'What is there that should not be told to a dear friend or a noble-born woman?'
भर्तृवाक्यं निशम्येदं प्रोवाच वदतां वरा
Hearing her husband's words, she, the best among speakers, replied.
अनात्मनः सर्वतो ऽपि भयम् अस्ति गृहेष्व् अपि कुतो भयं ह्य् आत्मवतां किं पुनर् गौतमीतटे
'For one who lacks self-mastery, there is fear everywhere—even at home. But how could there be fear for those who possess self-mastery? What then, on the bank of the Gautami?'
वसतां विष्णुभक्तानां विरक्तानां विवेकिनाम् अत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर् भूत्वा स्तुहि देवम् अनामयम्
'Among those who dwell here—devoted to Vishnu, detached, and discerning—bathe here, become pure, and praise the flawless Lord.'
एतद् आकर्ण्य गङ्गायां स्नात्वा विगतकल्मषः तुष्टाव गौतमीतीरे द्विजो नारायणं तथा
Hearing this, the twice-born, purified of sin by bathing in the Ganges, praised Narayana on the bank of the Gautami.
त्वम् अन्तरात्मा जगतो ऽस्य नाथ त्वम् एव कर्तास्य मुकुन्द हर्ता त्वं पालकः पालयसे न दीनम् अनाथबन्धो नरसिंह कस्मात्
You are the inner soul, the lord of this world; you alone are its creator, Mukunda, its destroyer, and its protector. You care for the helpless, O Narasimha, why do you not protect?
श्रुत्वैतत् प्रार्थनं तस्य जगच्छोकनिवारणः नारायणो ऽपि तां पापां निजघान स राक्षसीम्
Hearing his prayer, Narayana, remover of the world's sorrow, destroyed that sinful rakshasi.
सुदर्शनेन चक्रेण सहस्रारेण भास्वता तस्मै प्रादाद् वरान् इष्टान् प्रापयच् च गुरुं प्रभुः
With the Sudarshana discus, radiant with a thousand spokes, the Lord granted him desired boons and brought him to his guru.