क्षणं चकार क्रोडे तां कृपया च कृपानिधिः । नेत्रोदकेन मनसां स्नापयामास तां मुनिः
For a moment, the ocean of mercy held her in his embrace out of compassion; the sage bathed her with the water of his eyes and his mind.
साश्रु नेत्रा मुनेः क्रोडं सिषेच भेदकातरा । तदा ज्ञानेन तौ द्वौ च विशोकौ सम्बभूवतुः
With tearful eyes, she drenched the sage's lap, trembling with distress; then, through knowledge, both became free from sorrow.
स्मारं स्मारं पदाम्भोजं कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः । जगाम तपसे विप्रः स्वकान्तां सम्प्रबोध्य च
Remembering again and again the lotus feet of Krishna, the Supreme Soul, the sage went to practice austerity, having awakened his beloved.
जगाम मनसा शम्भोः कैलासं मन्दिरं गुरोः । पार्वती बोधयामास मनसां शोककर्शिताम्
He went in his mind to the abode of Shambhu on Kailasa, the guru's temple; Parvati awakened her mind, afflicted by sorrow.
शिवश्चातीव ज्ञानेन शिवेन च शिवालयः । सुप्रशस्ते दिने साध्वी सुषुवे मङ्गलक्षणे
And Shiva, through supreme knowledge, and in the auspicious abode of Shiva, on a most excellent day, the virtuous woman gave birth at a moment of good fortune.
नारायणांशं पुत्रं तं योगिनां ज्ञानिनां गुरुम् । गर्भस्थितो महाज्ञानं श्रुत्वा शङ्करवक्त्रतः
She bore a son, a portion of Narayana, the guru of yogis and the wise, who possessed great knowledge in the womb, having heard it from the mouth of Shankara.
सम्बभूव च योगीन्द्रो योगिनां ज्ञानिनां गुरुः । जातकं कारयामास वाचयामास मङ्गलम्
Thus arose the lord of yogis, the guru of yogis and the wise; they performed the birth rites and recited auspicious hymns.
वेदांश्च पाठयामास शिवाय च शिवः शिशोः । मणिरत्नकिरीटांश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ शिवः
They made him recite the Vedas, and Shiva gave jewels and crowns to the Brahmins for the child.
पार्वती च गवां लक्षं रत्नानि विविधानि च । शम्भुश्च चतुरो वेदान्वेदाङ्गानितरांस्तथा
Parvati gave a hundred thousand cows and various jewels; Shambhu gave the four Vedas, the Vedangas, and other texts.
बालकं पाठयामास ज्ञानं मृत्युञ्जयं परम् । भक्तिरस्त्यधिका कान्तेऽभीष्टदेवे गुरौ तथा
He taught the boy supreme knowledge, the death-conquering wisdom; devotion was especially present in the beloved, the desired deity, and the guru.
यस्यास्तेन च तत्पुत्रो बभूवास्तीक एव च । जगाम तपसे विष्णोः पुष्करं शङ्कराज्ञया
From her, that son was born, and he was indeed Astika; he went to perform austerities for Vishnu at Pushkara, by the command of Shankara.
सम्प्राप्य च महामन्त्रं ततश्च परमात्मनः । दिव्यं वर्षत्रिलक्षं च तपस्तप्त्वा तपोधनः
Having obtained the great mantra from the Supreme Soul, the ascetic performed divine austerity for three hundred thousand years.
आजगाम महायोगी नमस्कर्तुं शिवं प्रभुम् । शङ्करं च नमस्कृत्य स्थित्वा तत्रैव बालकः
The great yogi came to bow to Shiva, the Lord; having bowed to Shankara, the boy remained there.
सा चाजगाम मनसा कश्यपस्याश्रमं पितुः । तां सपुत्रां सुतां दृष्ट्वा मुदं प्राप प्रजापतिः
She also went in her mind to the hermitage of Kashyapa, her father; seeing her with her son, the progenitor rejoiced.
शतलक्षं च रत्नानां बाह्मणेभ्यो ददौ मुने । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयामास सोऽसंख्यान् श्रेयसे शिशोः
He gave a hundred thousand gems to the Brahmins, O sage, and fed countless Brahmins for the welfare of the child.
अदितिश्च दितिश्चान्या मुदं प्राप परन्तप । सा सपुत्रा च सुचिरं तस्थौ तातालये सदा
Aditi and Diti, O scorcher of foes, were filled with joy; together with their sons, they dwelt for a long time in their father's abode.
तदीयं पुनराख्यानं वक्ष्यामि तन्निशामय । अथाभिमन्युतनये ब्रह्मशापः परीक्षिते
I will now relate their story; listen to it. Then, regarding the son of Abhimanyu, the curse of Brahma was tested.
बभूव सहसा ब्रह्मन् दैवदोषेण कर्मणा । सप्ताहे समतीते तु तक्षकस्त्वां च धक्ष्यति
Suddenly, O Brahmin, due to a divine fault in action, after seven days have passed, Takshaka will burn you.
शशाप शृङ्गी तत्रैव कौशिक्याश्च जलेन वै । राजा श्रुत्वा तत्प्रवृत्तिं निर्वातस्थानमागतः
Shringi cursed him there itself, using water from the Kausiki river. Hearing this news, the king went to a place of solitude.
तत्र तस्थौ च सप्ताहं देहरक्षणतत्परः । सप्ताहे समतीते तु गच्छन्तं तक्षकं पथि
There he stayed for seven days, intent on protecting his body. When seven days had passed, Takshaka was seen traveling on the path.
धन्वन्तरिर्नृपं भोक्तुं ददर्श गामुकः पथि । तयोर्बभूव संवादः सुप्रीतिश्च परस्परम्
Dhanvantari, wishing to eat, saw the king on the road. A conversation arose between them, and they were mutually delighted.
धन्वन्तरिर्मणिं प्राप तक्षकः स्वेच्छया ददौ । स ययौ तं गृहीत्वा तु सन्तुष्टो हृष्टमानसः
Dhanvantari obtained a jewel; Takshaka gave it to him willingly. Taking it, he departed, satisfied and joyful in heart.
तक्षको भक्षयामास नृपं तं मञ्चके स्थितम् । राजा जगाम तरसा देहं त्यक्त्वा परत्र च
Takshaka consumed the king as he lay upon his couch. The king swiftly departed, leaving his body for the next world.
संस्कारं कारयामास पितुर्वै जनमेजयः । राजा चकार यज्ञं च सर्पसत्रं ततो मुने
Janamejaya performed the funeral rites for his father. The king then conducted the serpent-sacrifice, O sage.
प्राणांस्तत्याज सर्पाणां समूहो ब्रह्मतेजसा । स तक्षको वै भीतस्तु महेन्द्रं शरणं ययौ
By the power of Brahma, the host of serpents surrendered their lives. Takshaka, terrified, sought refuge with Mahendra.
सेन्द्रं च तक्षकं हन्तुं विप्रवर्गः समुद्यतः । अथ देवाश्च सेन्द्राश्च सञ्जग्मुर्मनसान्तिकम्
The group of Brahmins prepared to slay Takshaka along with Indra. Then the gods, together with Indra, approached with their minds.
तां तुष्टाव महेन्द्रश्च भयकातरविह्वलः । तत आस्तीक आगत्य यज्ञं च मातुराज्ञया
Mahendra, overwhelmed by fear, praised her. Then Astika arrived at the sacrifice, by his mother's command.
महेन्द्रतक्षकप्राणान्ययाचे भूमिपं परम् । ददौ वरं नृपश्रेष्ठः कृपया ब्राह्मणाज्ञया
He requested the king for the lives of Mahendra and Takshaka. The foremost king granted the boon, out of compassion and at the Brahmin's command.
यज्ञं समाप्य विप्रेभ्यो दक्षिणां च ददौ मुदा । विप्राश्च मुनयो देवा गत्वा च मनसान्तिकम्
Completing the sacrifice, he joyfully gave gifts to the Brahmins. The Brahmins, sages, and gods departed, approaching with their minds.
मनसां पूजयामासुस्तुष्टुवुश्च पृथक् पृथक् । शक्रः सम्भृतसम्भारो भक्तियुक्तः सदा शुचिः
They worshipped the goddess with their minds and praised her individually. Shakra, always pure and devoted, prepared offerings with devotion.