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,
मालाकारान्कर्मकाराञ्छङ्खकारान्कुविन्दकान् 1.10.
The makers of garlands, artisans, conch-shell workers, and basket weavers,
तौ च तेभ्यो वरं दत्त्वा तान्संस्थाप्य महीतले
Having granted them a boon, he established them upon the earth.
स्वर्णकारः स्वर्णचौर्याद्ब्राह्मणानां द्विजोत्तम
The goldsmith, due to stealing gold from the Brahmins, O best of twice-born,
सूत्रकारो द्विजानां तु शापेन पतितो भुवि
The thread-maker, by the curse of the Brahmins, fell to the earth.
व्यतिक्रमेण चित्राणां सद्यश्चित्रकरस्तथा
In due course, the painter of pictures also became a painter immediately.
कश्चिद्वणिग्विशेषश्च संसर्गात्स्वर्णकारिणः
Some merchant of a particular kind, through association with the goldsmith,
कुलटायां च शूद्रायां चित्रकारस्य वीर्य्यतः
And from the seed of the painter in a courtesan who was a Śūdra woman,
अट्टालिकाकारबीजात्कुम्भकारस्य योषिति
From the seed of the builder of mansions in the wife of a potter,
कुम्भकारस्य बीजेन सद्यः कोटकयोषिति
From the seed of the potter, immediately, in the wife of a basket-maker,
सद्यः क्षत्रियबीजेन राजपुत्रस्य योषिति
Immediately, from the seed of a Kṣatriya, in the wife of a prince,