समुत्तिष्ठतु तन्वङ्गी व्रतचर्याप्रभावतः । धर्म उवाच विश्वावसुसुतां कन्यां देवदूत यदीच्छसि
Let the slender-bodied girl rise up, by the power of her vow and discipline. Dharma spoke: If you desire the maiden, daughter of Viśvāvasu, O divine messenger,
उत्तिष्ठत्वायुषोऽर्धेन रुरुं गत्वा त्वमर्पय । राजोवाच एवमुक्तस्ततो गत्वा जीवयित्वा प्रमद्वराम्
Let her rise, by half of Ruru’s lifespan; go and deliver her to Ruru. The king spoke: Thus instructed, he went and revived Pramadvara.
रुरोः समर्पयामास देवदूतस्त्वरान्वितः । ततः शुभेऽह्नि विधिना रुरुणापि विवाहिता
The divine messenger, acting swiftly, delivered her to Ruru. Then, on an auspicious day and according to proper rites, she was married to Ruru.
इत्थं चोपाययोगेन मृताप्युज्जीविता तदा । उपायस्तु प्रकर्तव्यः सर्वथा शास्त्रसम्मतः
Thus, by means of this method, even one who was dead was brought back to life. The method must always be performed in accordance with the scriptures.
मणिमन्त्रौषधीभिश्च विधिवत्प्राणरक्षणे । इत्युक्त्वा सचिवान् राजा कल्पयित्वा सुरक्षकान्
With gems, mantras, and medicines, life is to be protected according to prescribed procedures. Having said this, the king appointed ministers and arranged for guards.
कारयित्वाथ प्रासादं सप्तभूमिकमुत्तमम् । आरुरोहोत्तरासूनुः सचिवैः सह तत्क्षणम्
He had a splendid seven-storied palace constructed. At that moment, the king’s son ascended it together with his ministers.
मणिमन्त्रधराः शूराः स्थापितास्तत्र रक्षणे । प्रेषयामास भूपालो मुनिं गौरमुखं ततः
Brave men bearing gems and mantras were stationed there for protection. Then the king sent the sage Gauramukha.
प्रसादार्थं सेवकस्य क्षमस्वेति पुनः पुनः । ब्राह्मणान्सिद्धमन्त्रज्ञान् रक्षणार्थमितस्ततः
For the sake of the servant’s favor, he repeatedly requested forgiveness. Brahmins skilled in perfected mantras were sent there for protection.
मन्त्रिपुत्रः स्थितस्तत्र स्थापयामास दन्तिनः । न कश्चिदारुहेत्तत्र प्रासादे चातिरक्षिते
The minister’s son was stationed there, and elephants were placed for security. No one could enter that well-guarded palace.
वातोऽपि न चरेत्तत्र प्रवेशे विनिवार्यते । भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं राजा तत्रस्थश्च चकार सः
Not even the wind could move there; entry was strictly prevented. The king, residing there, arranged all kinds of food and drink.
स्तानसन्ध्यादिकं कर्म तत्रैव विनिवर्त्य च । राजकार्याणि सर्वाणि तत्रस्थश्चाकरोन्नृपः
All daily duties, such as worship and rituals, were performed there. The king, staying there, conducted all royal affairs.
मन्त्रिभिः सह सम्मन्त्र्य गणयन्दिवसानपि । कश्चिच्च कश्यपो नाम ब्राह्मणो मन्त्रिसत्तमः
Consulting with his ministers, he counted the days as well. There was a certain Brahmin named Kaśyapa, foremost among the ministers.
शुश्राव च तथा शापं प्राप्तं राज्ञा महात्मना । स धनार्थी द्विजश्रेष्ठः कश्यपः समचिन्तयत्
He heard as well of the curse that had befallen the great-souled king; that foremost of twice-born, Kaśyapa, who sought wealth, reflected thus.
व्रजामि तत्र यत्रास्ते शप्तो राजा द्विजेन ह । इति कृत्वा मतिं विप्रः स्वगृहान्निःसृतः पथि
I shall go there where the king, cursed by the brāhmaṇa, now resides; having resolved thus, the brāhmaṇa departed from his own house onto the road.
कश्यपो मन्त्रविद्विद्वान्धनार्थी मुनिसत्तमः
Kaśyapa, master of mantras, learned and foremost among sages, desiring wealth—
परीक्षिन्मरणम् सूत उवाच तस्मिन्नेव दिने नाम्ना तक्षकस्तं नृपोत्तमम् । शप्तं ज्ञात्वा गृहात्तूर्णं निःसृतः पुरुषोत्तमः
Sūta said: On that very day, Takṣaka, by name, knowing that the best of kings had been cursed, swiftly left his house, that supreme among serpents.
वृद्धब्राह्मणवेषेण तक्षकः पथि निर्गतः । अपश्यत्कश्यपं मार्गे व्रजन्तं नृपतिं प्रति
Takṣaka, in the guise of an old brāhmaṇa, set out on the road; he saw Kaśyapa traveling along the path toward the king.
तमपृच्छत्पन्नगोऽसौ ब्राह्मणं मन्त्रवादिनम् । क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किञ्च कार्यं चिकीर्षति
That serpent questioned the brāhmaṇa skilled in mantras: 'Where are you hastening to, sir, and what business do you intend to accomplish?'
कश्यप उवाच परीक्षितं नृपश्रेष्ठं तक्षकश्च प्रधक्ष्यति । तत्राहं त्वरितो यामि नृपं कर्तुमपज्वरम्
Kaśyapa said: 'Takṣaka will burn up Parīkṣit, the best of kings; I am hurrying there to free the king from suffering.'
मन्त्रोऽस्ति मम विप्रेन्द्र विषनाशकरः किल । जीवयिष्याम्यहं तं वै जीवितव्येऽधुना किल
'I possess, O best of brāhmaṇas, a mantra said to destroy poison; I shall revive him, for now it is his time to live.'
तक्षक उवाच अहं स पन्नगो ब्रह्मंस्तं धक्ष्यामि महीपतिम् । निवर्तस्व न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्टं चिकित्सितुम्
Takṣaka said: 'I am that serpent, O brāhmaṇa, who will consume the king; turn back, for you are not able to heal one bitten by me.'
कश्यप उवाच अहं दष्टं त्वया सर्प नृपं शप्तं द्विजेन वै । जीवयिष्याम्यसन्देहं कामं मन्त्रबलेन वै
Kaśyapa said: 'O serpent, even if you bite the king cursed by the brāhmaṇa, I shall surely revive him by the power of my mantra—there is no doubt.'
तक्षक उवाच यदि त्वं जीवितुं यासि मया दष्टं नृपोत्तमम् । मन्त्रशक्तिबलं विप्र दर्शय त्वं ममानघ
Takṣaka said: 'If you are going to revive the best of kings after he is bitten by me, O sinless brāhmaṇa, then show me the power of your mantra.'
धक्ष्याम्येनं च न्यग्रोधं विषदंष्ट्राभिरद्य वै । कश्यप उवाच जीवयिष्ये त्वया दष्टं दग्धं वा पन्नगोत्तम
'Today I shall burn down this banyan tree with my venomous fangs.' Kaśyapa said: 'Even if you bite or burn it, O best of serpents, I shall revive it.'
सूत उवाच अदशत्पन्नगो वृक्षं भस्मसाच्च चकार तम् । उवाच कश्यपं भूयो जीवयैनं द्विजोत्तम
Sūta said: The serpent bit the tree and reduced it to ashes; then he said to Kaśyapa, 'Revive it, O best of brāhmaṇas.'
दृष्ट्वा भस्मीकृतं वृक्षं पन्नगेन विषाग्निना । सर्वं भस्म समाहृत्य कश्यपो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing the tree reduced to ashes by the serpent's fiery poison, Kaśyapa gathered all the ashes and spoke these words.
पश्य मन्त्रबलं मेऽद्य न्यग्रोधं पन्नगोत्तम । जीवयाम्यद्य वृक्षं वै पश्यतस्ते महाविष
'Behold today the power of my mantra, O best of serpents; I shall revive this banyan tree now, as you watch, O mighty one of great venom.'
इत्युक्त्वा जलमादाय कश्यपो मन्त्रवित्तमः । सिषेच भस्मराशिं तं मन्त्रितेनैव वारिणा
Having spoken thus, Kaśyapa, master of mantras, took water and sprinkled that heap of ashes with water empowered by mantra.
तद्वारिसेचनाज्जातो न्यग्रोधः पूर्ववच्छुभः । विस्मयं तक्षकः प्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा तं जीवितं नगम्
From the sprinkling of that water, the banyan tree was restored, beautiful as before; Takṣaka was amazed to see the tree brought back to life.
तमाह कश्यपं नागः किमर्थं ते परिश्रमः । सम्पादयामि तं कामं ब्रूहि वाडव वाञ्छितम्
The serpent said to Kaśyapa: 'Why do you exert yourself so? Tell me your desired wish, and I shall fulfill it for you.'