निकुंभश्चापि धर्मात्मा सिद्धक्षेत्रं शशाप यः
And Nikumbha, righteous in soul, cursed the sacred region.
वसते स महातेजाः स्फीतायां वै नराधिपः
That mighty king dwelled there, in the prosperous land.
देव्याः स प्रियकामस्तु वसन्वै श्वशुरान्तिके
He, desiring his beloved wife, lived near his father-in-law.
पूर्वोक्तरूपसंवेषैस्तोषयन्ति महेश्वरीम्
They pleased Maheśvarī with attire as previously described.
जुगुप्सते सा नित्यं वै देवं देवीं तथैव च
She always despises both the god and the goddess.
दरिद्रः सर्वथैवेह हा कष्टं लज्जते न वै
He is utterly poor here; alas, he feels no shame at all.
स्मितं कृत्वा तु वरदा हरपार्श्वमथागमत्
Smiling, the giver of boons then approached the side of Hara.
नेह वत्स्याम्यहं देव नय मां स्वं निवेशनम्
O god, I will not stay here; take me to my own abode.
वासार्थं रोचयामास पृथिव्यां तु द्विजोत्तमाः
For the sake of residence, the excellent twice-born ones desired a place on earth.
दिवोदासेन तां ज्ञात्वा निविष्टां नगरीं भवः
Knowing that the city had been settled by Divodāsa, Bhava (Śiva) acted.
गणेश्वर पुरीं गत्वा शून्यां वाराणसीं कुरु
O lord of the hosts, go to the city and make Vārāṇasī empty.
ततो गत्वा निकुंभस्तु पुरीं वाराणसीं पुरा
Then Nikumbha went to the city of Vārāṇasī in ancient times.
श्रेयस्ते ऽहं करिष्यामि स्थानं मे रोचयानघ
I will create a place for your welfare, O sinless one, which pleases me.
तथा स्वप्ने यथा दृष्टं सर्वं कारितवान्द्विजः
Just as it was seen in the dream, the twice-born carried out everything.
पूजा तुमहती चैव नित्यमेव प्रयुज्यते
A very great worship was indeed performed constantly.
अन्नप्रदानयुक्तैश्च ह्यत्यद्भुतमिवाभवत्
With offerings of food, it became as if exceedingly wondrous.
ततो वरसहस्राणि नागराणां प्रयच्छति
Then he granted thousands of boons to the citizens.
राज्ञस्तु महिषी श्रेष्टा सुयशा नाम विश्रुता
The king’s chief queen, renowned as Suyaśā, was the best.
पूजां तु विपुलां कृत्वा देवी पुत्रानयाचत
Having performed abundant worship, the queen petitioned for sons.
न प्रयच्छति पुत्रांस्तु निकुंभः कारणेन तु
Nikuṃbha did not grant sons, however, for a certain reason.
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन क्रोधो राजानमाविशत्
Then, after a long time, anger entered the king.
प्रीत्या वरांश्च शतशो न किञ्चिन्नः प्रयच्छति
Though he gave hundreds of boons out of affection, nothing was granted to us.
स याचितश्च बहुशो देव्या मे पुत्रकारणात्
He was repeatedly petitioned by the queen on account of sons.
अतो नार्हति पूजा तु मत्सकाशात्कथञ्चन
Therefore, worship from my side is not deserved in any way.
एवं तु स विनिश्चित्य दुरात्मा राजकिल्बिषी
Thus, having resolved so, that wicked king, stained by sin,
भग्नमायतनं दृष्ट्वा राजानमशपत्प्रभुः
Seeing the broken sanctuary, the lord cursed the king.
अकस्मात्तु पुरी शून्या भवित्रीते नराधिप
Suddenly, your city will become empty, O ruler of men.
शप्त्वा पुरीं निकुंभस्तु महादेवमथानयत्
Having cursed the city, Nikuṃbha then went to Mahādeva.
तुल्यां देवविभूत्या तु देव्याश्चैव महामनाः
Great-minded, equal to the goddess in divine splendor,
देव्या क्रीडार्थमीशानो देवो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
For the sake of the goddess’s play, the Lord then spoke these words.