मृत्योमृर्त्युस्वरूपेण मृत्युसंसारखण्डन
O Death of death, who takes the form of death, destroyer of the bondage of death and worldly existence.
कालरूपं कलयतां कालकालेश कारण
O Lord of time, cause of all, who contemplates the form of time among those who contemplate time.
गुणातीत गुणाधार गुणबीज गुणात्मक
Transcending the qualities, yet the support of the qualities, the seed of the qualities, and composed of the qualities.
ब्रह्मस्वरूप ब्रह्मज्ञ ब्रह्मभावे च तत्पर
Of the nature of Brahman, knower of Brahman, devoted to the state of Brahman.
इति स्तुत्वा शिवं नत्वा पुरस्तस्थौ मुनीश्वरः
Having thus praised and bowed to Shiva, the lord of sages stood before him.
असितेन कृतं स्तोत्रं भक्तियुक्तश्च यः पठेत्
Whoever recites this hymn composed by Asita, endowed with devotion,
स लभेद्वै ष्णवं पुत्रं ज्ञानिनं चिरजीविनम् 4.30.
He will obtain a Vaishnava son, wise and long-lived.
अभार्यो लभते भार्यां सुशीलां च पतिव्र ताम्
A man without a wife obtains a virtuous and devoted wife.
इदं स्तोत्रं पुरा दत्तं ब्रह्मणा च प्रचेतसे
This hymn was formerly given by Brahma to Pracetas.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच उवाच ब्रह्मणः पुत्रं स्वभक्तं भक्तव त्सलः
Śrī Krishna said: Out of affection for his devotee, he spoke to Brahma's son.
शंकर उवाच पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं मदंशेन च मत्समः
Shankara said: Your son will truly be born, equal to me, with a portion of myself.
दास्यामि मन्त्रमतुलं सर्वेषां च सुदुर्लभम्
I will give you an unparalleled mantra, exceedingly rare for all.
स्तोत्रं पूजाविधानं च कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
Hymns of praise, the method of worship, and the most wondrous protective charm—
वरं दातुमिष्टदेवी प्रत्यक्षा भवितेति च
The cherished goddess herself will appear directly to grant a boon.
जजाप परमं मन्त्रं सोऽसितः शतवत्सरम्
That Asita recited the supreme mantra for a hundred years.
पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं महाज्ञानी सुतेति च
Your son will indeed be born—a great knower, a true son.
कालेन च सुतस्तस्य शिवांशेन बभूव ह 4.30.
In time, his son was born, endowed with a portion of Shiva.
सुयज्ञनृपतेः कन्यां रत्नमालावतीं मुदा
With joy, he married Ratnamalavati, the daughter of King Suyajña.
स्थाने स्थाने च रहसि शतवर्षं तया सह
In various secluded places, he spent a hundred years with her.
कालान्तरे स विरतो बभूव मुनिपुंगवः
After some time, that foremost sage withdrew from worldly life.
उत्थाय रात्रौ शयनाद्विरक्तश्च तपोधनः
Rising at night from his bed, the ascetic, now detached, departed.
निद्रां त्यक्त्वा च तत्कान्ता न दृष्ट्वा स्वामिनं सती
Awakening and not seeing her husband, the faithful wife abandoned sleep.
उत्तिष्ठन्ती निर्विशन्ती रुरोदोच्चैर्मुहुर्मुहुः
Rising and searching, she wept aloud again and again.
आहारं च परित्यज्य प्राणांस्तत्याज सुन्दरी
Forsaking food, the beautiful woman gave up her life-breath.
तपश्चकार स मुनिर्गन्धमादनगह्वरे
That sage performed austerities in the caves of Gandhamadana.
तं ददर्श ह दैवेन रम्भा शृंगारलोलुपा
By divine arrangement, Rambha, eager for passion, beheld him.
सा च तं कथयामास निर्जने समुपस्थिता 4.30.
She approached him in solitude and spoke these words.
रम्भोवाच त्यक्त्वा कठोरं रहसि भज मां सुखदायिकाम्
Rambha said: Abandon harsh austerity in solitude and enjoy me, the giver of delight.
त्वं वरेषु वरः पृथ्व्यां वरारोहा स्वयंवरा
Among all men on earth, you are the best; I am the most beautiful, free to choose my own husband.
यज्ञं कुर्वन्ति भूपाला भारते स्वर्गहेतुकम्
Kings in Bharata perform sacrifices for the sake of heaven.