घृताची कारुमुक्त्वा च साऽगच्छत्काममन्दिरम् 1.10.
Having spoken to the artisan, Ghṛtācī went to Kāma’s abode.
सा भारते च कामोक्त्या गोपस्य मदनस्य च
There, in Bhārata, by the will of Kāma and the cowherd,
जातिस्मरा तत्प्रसूता बभूव च तपस्विनी
She was born remembering her past life, and became an ascetic.
तपश्चकार तपसा तप्तकाञ्चनसन्निभा
She performed austerities, her body shining like heated gold.
वीर्येण सुरकारोश्च नव पुत्रान्प्रसूय सा
By the power of the artisan of the gods, she bore nine sons.
शौनक उवाच पुत्रान्नव प्रसूता च कुत्र वा कति वासरान्
Śaunaka said: Where did she give birth to the nine sons, and after how many days?
सौतिरुवाच जगाम ब्रह्मणः स्थानं शोकेन हृतचेतनः
The Sūta said: Overcome by grief, he went to the abode of Brahmā.
नत्वा स्तुत्वा च ब्रह्माणं कथयामास तां कथाम्
Having bowed and praised Brahmā, he recounted that story.
स एव ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा भुवि कारुर्बभूव ह
That very brāhmaṇa, being born on earth, became an artisan.
शिल्पं च कारयामास सर्वेभ्यः सर्वतः सदा । विचित्रं विविधं शिल्पमाश्चर्य्यं सुमनोहरम्
He made crafts for everyone, everywhere, always—wondrous, various, astonishing, and delightful works.
एकदा तु प्रयागे च शिल्पं कृत्वा नृपस्य च 1.10.
Once, at Prayāga, after making a craft for the king,
घृताचीं नवरूपां च युवतिं तां तपस्विनीम्
He saw Ghṛtācī, young and ascetic, in a new form.
दृष्ट्वा सकामः सहसा बभूव हृतचेतनः
Seeing her, filled with desire, he suddenly became bewildered and lost his senses.
ब्राह्मण उवाच मा मां स्मरसि रम्भोरु विश्वकर्माऽहमेव च
The Brāhmaṇa said: Do not think of me so, O slender-waisted one; I am Viśvakarmā himself.
शापमोक्षं करिष्यामि भज मां तव सुन्दरि
I shall grant you release from the curse; seek me, O beautiful one.
द्विजस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा घृताची नवरूपिणी
Hearing the words of the twice-born, Ghṛtācī, now in a new form,
गोपिकोवाच कथं त्वया संगता स्यां गंगातीरे च भारते
The cowherdess said: How could I be united with you on the banks of the Gaṅgā in Bhārata?
विश्वकर्मन्निदं पुण्यं कर्मक्षेत्रं च भारतम्
O Viśvakarmā, this Bhārata is a sacred land of action.
धर्मी मोक्षकृते जन्म प्रलभ्य तपसः फलात्
Birth here is gained as the fruit of asceticism by the righteous, for the sake of liberation.
माया नारायणीशाना परितुष्टा च यं भवेत्
She whom the goddess Nārāyaṇī, sovereign of illusion, is pleased with—
यो मूढो विषयासक्तो लब्धजन्मा च भारते 1.10.
Whoever, deluded and attached to sense objects, is born in Bhārata—
सर्वं स्मरामि देवाहमहो जातिस्मरा पुरा
I remember everything, O gods; indeed, I am one who recalls past births.
तपः करोमि मोक्षार्थं गङ्गातीरे सुपुण्यदे
I perform austerities for the sake of liberation on the supremely holy bank of the Gaṅgā.
अन्यत्र यत्कृतं पापं गंगायां तद्विनश्यति
Whatever sin is committed elsewhere is destroyed in the Gaṅgā.
तत्तु नारायणक्षेत्रे तपसा च विनश्यति
But that is destroyed by austerity in the holy place of Nārāyaṇa.
घृताचीवचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वकर्माऽनिलाकृतिः
Hearing the words of Ghṛtācī, Viśvakarmā, of wind-like form,
रम्यायां मलयद्रोण्यां पुष्पतल्पे मनोरमे ।। । पुष्पचन्दनवातेन संततं सुरभीकृते
In the delightful valley of Malaya, upon a charming bed of flowers, made fragrant by the constant breeze of flowers and sandalwood,
चकार सुखसम्भोगं तया स विजने वने
He enjoyed pleasurable union with her in that secluded forest.
बभूव गर्भः कामिन्याः परिपूर्णः सुदुर्वहः
A full and exceedingly heavy pregnancy arose in the passionate woman.
कृतशिक्षितशिल्पांश्व ज्ञानयुक्तांश्च शौनक
O Śaunaka, endowed with knowledge and skilled in all the arts and crafts,