गतं वर्षशतं तत्र ध्यानयुक्तस्य नित्यदा
A hundred years passed there, as he was always engaged in meditation.
मध्यमं पुष्करं तत्र ददर्शाश्वर्यमुत्तमम्
There, at the middle Puṣkara, he beheld supreme prosperity.
व्याधस्य मृगयां प्राप्तो धर्मतप्तो ऽतिपीडितः
A hunter, scorched by righteousness, arrived there for the hunt, greatly afflicted.
रामस्य पश्यतस्तत्र सरसस्तटमागतः
There, as Rāma watched, he came to the bank of the lake.
उभो तौ पिबतस्तत्र जलं शङ्कितमानसौ
There, both of them drank the water, their minds wary.
स दृष्ट्वा तत्र संविष्टं रामं भार्गवनन्दनम्
Seeing Rāma, the delight of the Bhṛgus, seated there,
स चिन्तयामास तदा शङ्कितो भृगुनन्दनात्
Then he became suspicious of the son of Bhṛgu and began to ponder.
कथमेतस्य हन्म्येतौ पश्यतो मृगयामृगौ
How can I kill these two deer of the hunt while he is watching?
तस्थौ तत्रैव रामस्य भयात्संत्रस्तमानसः
He stood there, his mind agitated with fear of Rāma.
तर्कयामास मेधावी किमत्र भयकारणम्
The wise one began to ponder, 'What is the cause of fear here?'
केनैतौ कारणेनाहो शङ्कितौ चकितेक्षणौ
By what reason, indeed, are these two anxious and glancing about suspiciously?
चेनैतौ जलपाने ऽपि पश्यतश्चकितेक्षणौ
Even while drinking water, these two look around with wary eyes.
लक्षयेते खिन्नसर्वाङ्गौ कम्पयुक्तौ यतस्त्विमौ
It is clear that both are weary in all their limbs and trembling as they stand here.
शिष्येण संयुतो रामो यावत्तौ चापि संस्थितौ
Rāma remained together with his disciple, and those two also stayed there.
रामं दृष्ट्वा महात्मानं कथां तौ चक्रतुर्मुदा
Seeing the great-souled Rāma, the two joyfully began a conversation.
अस्य वीरस्य सांनिध्ये भयं नैवावयोर्भवेत्
In the presence of this hero, there will be no fear for either of us.
दृष्टमात्रो हि मुनिना भस्मीभूतो भविष्यति
For, merely being seen by the sage, one would be reduced to ashes.
मृगश्चोवाच हर्षेण समाविष्टः प्रियां स्वकाम्
The deer, filled with delight, spoke to his beloved.
जाने ऽहमपि रामस्य प्रभावं सुमहात्मनः
I too know the power of Rāma, the supremely great-souled one.
सचाने न महाभागस्त्रातो व्याघ्रभयातुरः
But if that most fortunate one had not protected us, we would have been overcome by fear of the tiger.
पितरं कार्त्तवीर्येण दृष्ट्वा चैव तिरस्कृतम्
Having seen his father insulted by Kārtavīrya, indeed—
तत्पूर्तिकामो ह्यगमद्ब्रह्मलोकं पुरा ह्ययम्
Desiring to restore him, he once went to the world of Brahmā.
तस्य त्वाज्ञां समादाय गतो ऽसौ शिवसन्निधिम्
Having received his command, he then went to the presence of Śiva.
स कृपालुर्महादेवः सभाज्य भृगुनन्दनम्
That compassionate Mahādeva, honoring the son of Bhṛgu—
स्वीयं पाशुपतं चास्त्रमन्यास्त्रग्राममेव च
Gave him his own Pāśupata weapon, and indeed a collection of other weapons.
सो ऽयमत्रागतो भद्रे मेत्रसाधनतत्परः
Now he has come here, O gentle one, intent on fulfilling his vow.
शतवर्षाणि चाप्यस्य गतानि सुमहात्मनः
A hundred years have indeed passed for this great soul.
आत्रास्ति कारणं भक्तिः साव वै त्रिविधा मता
Here, the reason is devotion, which is considered to be of three kinds.
शिवस्य नारदस्यापि शुकस्य च महात्मनः
Of Śiva, of Nārada, and also of the great soul Śuka,
बलेर्विभीषणस्यापि प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः
Of Bali, of Vibhīṣaṇa, and of the great soul Prahlāda,