शीतलोष्णोदकस्नानं सुस्निग्धचन्दनद्रवम्
Bathing in cold or hot water, and well-anointed sandalwood paste,
एतत्ते कथितं वत्से सद्योवायुप्रणाशनम्
This, O child, I have told you as that which immediately destroys wind (vāyu).
व्याधिसंघश्च कथितस्तन्त्राणि विविधानि च 1.16.
The group of diseases and various methods have also been described.
तन्त्राण्येतानि सर्वाणि व्याधिक्षयकराणि च
All these methods are causes of disease and destruction.
न शक्तः कथितुं साध्वि यथार्थं वत्सरेण च
O virtuous one, it is not possible to describe them accurately even in a year.
केन रोगेण त्वत्कान्तो मृतः कथय शोभने
By what disease did your beloved die? Tell me, O beautiful one.
सौतिरुवाच कथां कथितुमारेभे सा गान्धर्वी प्रहर्षिता
The bard said: Gandharvi, delighted, began to tell the story.
मालावत्युवाच सभायां लज्जितः कान्तो मम विप्र निशामय
Mālavati said: O Brahmin, listen—my beloved was ashamed in the assembly.
सर्वं श्रुतमपूर्वं च शुभाख्यानं मनोहरम्
All this has been heard—an auspicious and delightful tale, never told before.
अधुना मत्प्राणकान्तं देहि देहि विचक्षण
Now, O wise one, grant me my beloved, the very breath of my life—grant him, grant him to me!
मालावतीवचः श्रुत्वा विप्ररूपी जनार्दनः
Hearing the words of Mālāvatī, Janārdana, disguised as a brāhmaṇa, listened.
सौतिरुवाच परस्परं च सम्भाषा बभूव तत्र संसदि
Sauti said: There, in that assembly, a conversation arose among them.
मा तं बुबुधिरे देवाः श्रीहरिं विप्ररूपिणम्
The gods did not recognize Śrī Hari, who had taken the form of a brāhmaṇa.
सुरान्सम्बोध्य विप्रश्च वाचा मधुरया द्विज
Addressing the gods and the brāhmaṇa with sweet words, O twice-born one—
ब्राह्मण उवाच ययाचे जीवदानं च स्वामिनः शोककर्षिता
The brāhmaṇa said: She, worn down by grief, begged her master for the gift of life.
अधुना किमनुष्ठानमस्य कार्यस्य निश्चितम्
Now, what is the proper course of action, what should certainly be done in this matter?
शप्तुकामा सुरान्सर्वान्साध्वी तेजस्विनी वरा
That virtuous and radiant lady was about to curse all the gods.
स्तुतिः कृता च युष्माभिः श्वेतद्वीपे हरेरपि
You all have offered praise even to Hari on Śvetadvīpa.
बभूवाकाशवाणीति पश्चाद्यास्यति केशव
Then, a voice from the sky arose, saying: 'Keśava will come later.'
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स्वयं ब्रह्मा जगद्गुरुः
Hearing the words of the brāhmaṇa, Brahmā himself, the teacher of the world—
ब्रह्मोवाच योगेन प्राणांस्तत्याज पुनः शापान्ममैव हि ।। 1.17.
Brahmā said: By yoga, he gave up his life, but again, it was by my own curse.
कालं लक्षयुगं व्याप्य स्थितिरस्य महीतले
After spanning a period of a hundred thousand ages, his existence remained on earth.
अस्य कालावशेषस्य किञ्चिदस्ति द्विजोत्तम
Of this remaining time, O best of twice-born, only a little is left.
दास्यामि जीवदानं च स्वयं विष्णोः प्रसादतः
I myself shall grant him the gift of life, by the grace of Viṣṇu.
नागतो हरिरत्रेति त्वया यत्कथितं द्विज
O brāhmaṇa, as you have said, 'Hari has not come here'—
स्वेच्छामयः परं ब्रह्म भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहः
The Supreme Brahman is of the nature of free will, the embodiment of compassion for devotees.
विषिश्च व्याप्तिवचनो नुश्च सर्वत्रवाचकः
The term 'viṣi' denotes pervasiveness, and 'nu' signifies universality everywhere.
अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा
Whether impure or pure, or in any state whatsoever,
कर्मारम्भे च मध्ये वा शेषे विष्णुं च यः स्मरेत्
At the beginning of action, in the middle, or at the end, whoever remembers Viṣṇu,
अहं स्रष्टा च जगतां विधाता संहरो हरः
I am the creator of worlds, the arranger, and Hara is the destroyer.