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.
नाहं देवि गमिष्यामि त्वन्यत्रेदं विहाय वै
O goddess, I will not go elsewhere, abandoning this place.
तस्मात्तदविमुक्तं हि प्रोक्तं देवेन वै स्वयम्
Therefore, that place is indeed called Avimukta, as declared by the god himself.
यस्मिन्वसेद्भवो देवः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः
In which resides Lord Bhava, revered by all the gods.
अन्तर्द्धानं कलौ याति तत्पुरं तु महात्मनः
In the Kali age, that city of the great soul becomes hidden from sight.
एवं वाराणसी शप्ता निवेशं पुनरागता
Thus Varanasi, having been cursed, returned again to habitation.
हत्वा निवेशयामास दिवोदासो नराधिपः
Having slain, King Divodasa established his residence there.
भद्रसेनस्य पुत्रस्तु दुर्मदो नाम नामतः
Bhadrasena’s son was named Durmada, by name.
दिवोदासाद्दृषद्वत्यां वीरो जज्ञे प्रतर्द्दनः
From Divodasa, in Drishadvati, was born the valiant Pratardana.
वैरस्यान्त महाराज तदा तेन विधित्सता
O great king, at that time, with the intent to end the enmity, by him—
वत्सपुत्रो ह्यलर्कस्तु सन्नतिस्तस्य चात्मजः
Vatsaputra was Alarka, and Sannati was his son.