विहरस्व यथाकामं स्थानेऽस्मिन्वरवर्णिनि । तथोक्ता सा ततो देवी ताभ्यां तत्र स्थितावशा
'Enjoy as you wish in this place, O one of excellent complexion.' Thus addressed, the goddess then remained there, compelled by them.
कृत्वा भावं स्थिरं देवी मित्रावरुणयोर्गृहे । सा गृहीत्वा तयोर्भावं संस्थिता चारुदर्शना
The goddess, having fixed her mind in the house of Mitra and Varuṇa, accepted their intention and remained, beautiful to behold.
तयोस्तु पतितं वीर्यं कुम्भे दैवादनावृते । तस्माज्जातौ मुनी राजन्द्वावेवातिमनोहरौ
By divine will, the semen of the two fell into an uncovered jar; from that, O king, two exceedingly charming sages were born.
अगस्तिः प्रथमस्तत्र वसिष्ठश्चापरस्तथा । मित्रावरुणयोर्वीर्यात्तापसावृषिसत्तमौ
Agastya was the first there, and Vasiṣṭha the other; from the energy of Mitra and Varuṇa, these two ascetics became the best of sages.
प्रथमस्तु वनं प्राप्तो बाल एव महातपाः । इक्ष्वाकुस्तु वसिष्ठं तं बालं वव्रे पुरोहितम्
The first, though still a child, went to the forest, a great ascetic; Ikṣvāku chose that child Vasiṣṭha as his priest.
वंशस्यास्य सुखार्थं ते पालयामास पार्थिव । विशेषेण मुनिं ज्ञात्वा प्रीत्या युक्तो बभूव ह
For the happiness of his lineage, the king cared for him; recognizing him especially as a sage, he became devoted with affection.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वसिष्ठस्य च कारणम् । शापाद्देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्मित्रावरुणयोः कुले
All this has been told to you, including the reason for Vasiṣṭha's birth in another body due to the curse, in the family of Mitra and Varuṇa.
देवीमहिम्नि नानाभाववर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच देहप्राप्तिर्वसिष्ठस्य कथिता भवता किल । निमिः कथं पुनर्देहं प्राप्तवानिति मे वद
On the greatness of the goddess: various manifestations described. Janamejaya said: The attainment of a body by Vasiṣṭha has been told by you; tell me how Nimi again obtained a body.
व्यास उवाच वसिष्ठेन च सम्प्राप्तः पुनर्देहो नराधिप । निमिना न तथा प्राप्तो देहः शापादनन्तरम्
Vyāsa said: Vasiṣṭha indeed obtained another body, O king, but Nimi did not obtain a body in the same way after the curse.
यदा शप्तो वसिष्ठेन तदा ते ब्राह्मणाः क्रतौ ऋत्विजो ये वृता राज्ञा ते सर्वे समचिन्तयन्
When he was cursed by Vasiṣṭha, then those brāhmaṇas who had been appointed as priests by the king all deliberated together.
किं कर्तव्यमहोऽस्माभिः शापदग्धो महीपतिः । अस्मिन्यज्ञे त्वसम्पूर्णे दीक्षायुक्तश्च धार्मिकः
What should we do now? The king has been burned by a curse; in this sacrifice, which remains incomplete, he is still under vow and righteous.
किं कर्तव्यं कार्यमेतद्विपरीतमभूत्किल । अवश्यम्भाविभावत्वादशक्ताः स्म निवारणे
What should be done? This event has turned out contrary to expectation; since it was destined to happen, we were powerless to prevent it.
मन्त्रैर्बहुविधैर्देहं तदा तस्य महात्मनः । रक्षितं धारयामासुः किञ्चिच्छ्वसनसंयुतम्
With many kinds of mantras, we preserved the body of that great soul, maintaining it with a trace of breath.
गन्धैर्माल्यैश्च विविधैः पूज्यमानं मुहुर्मुहुः । मन्त्रशक्त्या प्रतिष्टभ्य निर्विकारं सुपूजितम्
Honoring him again and again with various scents and garlands, we upheld him by the power of mantras, worshipping him perfectly, unmoved.
समाप्ते च क्रतौ तत्र देवाः सर्वे समागताः । ऋत्विग्भिस्तु स्तुताः सर्वे सुप्रीताश्चाभवन्नृप
And when the sacrifice was completed there, all the gods assembled; praised by the officiating priests, they were all greatly pleased, O king.
विज्ञप्ता मुनिभिः स्तोत्रैर्निर्विण्णात्मानमब्रुवन् । प्रसन्नाः स्म महीपाल वरं वरय सुव्रत
Addressed by the sages with hymns, they spoke to him, whose heart was despondent: 'We are pleased, O protector of the earth; choose a boon, O virtuous one.'
यज्ञेनानेन राजर्षे वरं जन्म विधीयते । देवदेहं नृदेहं वा यत्ते मनसि वाञ्छितम्
By this sacrifice, O royal sage, a boon of birth is granted—whether as a god or a human, whatever you desire in your heart.
दृप्तः कामं पुरोधास्ते मृत्युलोके यथासुखम् । एवमुक्तो निमेरात्मा सन्तुष्टस्तानुवाच ह
Your priest, proud as he was, may enjoy himself as he wishes in the world of mortals. Thus addressed, Nimi's spirit, satisfied, replied to them.
न देहे मम वाञ्छास्ति सर्वदैव विनश्वरे । वासो मे सर्वसत्त्वानां दृष्टावस्तु सुरोत्तमाः
I have no desire for a body, which is always perishable; O best of gods, let my dwelling be in the eyes of all beings, as is seen.
नेत्रेषु सर्वभूतानां वायुभूतश्चराम्यहम् । एवमुक्ताः सुरास्तत्र निमेरात्मानमब्रुवन्
I shall move as air in the eyes of all creatures. Thus spoken, the gods there addressed Nimi's spirit.
प्रार्थय त्वं महाराज देवीं सर्वेश्वरीं शिवाम् । मखेनानेन सन्तुष्टा सा तेऽभीष्टं विधास्यति
Pray, O great king, to the Goddess, the Supreme Ruler, the Auspicious One; satisfied by this sacrifice, she will grant you your wish.
स देवैरेवमुक्तस्तु प्रार्थयामास देवताम् । स्तोत्रैर्नानाविधैर्दिव्यैर्भक्त्या गद्गदया गिरा
Thus addressed by the gods, he prayed to the Goddess with various divine hymns, his voice choked with devotion.
प्रसन्ना सा तदा देवी प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं ददौ । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं रूपं लावण्यदीपितम् । १६ दृष्ट्वा प्रमुदिताः सर्वे कृतकृत्याश्च चेतसि । प्रसन्नायां देवतायां राजा वव्रे वरं नृप
Then the Goddess, pleased, appeared before them in person, her form shining with the brilliance of ten million suns, radiant with beauty. Seeing her, all were filled with joy and felt fulfilled in their hearts. When the Goddess was pleased, the king asked for a boon, O king.
ज्ञानं तद्विमलं देहि येन मोक्षो भवेदपि । नेत्रेषु सर्वभूतानां निवासो मे भवेदिति
Grant me that pure knowledge by which liberation may be attained, and let my dwelling be in the eyes of all beings.
ततः प्रसन्ना देवेशी प्रोवाच जगदम्बिका । ज्ञानं ते विमलं भूयात्प्रारब्धस्यावशेषतः
Then the Goddess, pleased, the Mother of the Universe, spoke: 'May you obtain pure knowledge; as for what remains of your destiny—'
नेत्रेषु सर्वभूतानां निवासोऽपि भविष्यति । निमिषं यान्ति चक्षूंषि त्वत्कृतेनैव देहिनाम्
'Your dwelling will also be in the eyes of all beings; because of you, the eyes of embodied beings will blink.'
तव वासात्सनिमिषा मानवाः पशवस्तथा । पतङ्गाश्च भविष्यन्ति पुनश्चानिमिषाः सुराः
'Because of your presence, humans and animals will be called Sanimiṣa (blinking), and the gods will again be called Animisha (unblinking).'
इति दत्त्वा वरं तस्मै तदा श्रीवरदेवता । आमन्त्र्य च मुनीन्सर्वांस्तत्रैवान्तर्हिताभवत्
Thus granting him the boon, the blessed Goddess, having addressed all the sages, vanished from there.
अन्तर्हितायां देव्यां तु मुनयस्तत्र संस्थिताः । विचिन्त्य विथिवत्सर्वे निमेर्देहं समाहरन्
When the Goddess became invisible, the sages gathered there, all reflecting deeply, assembled the body of Nimi.
अरणिं तत्र संस्थाप्य ममन्धुर्मन्त्रवत्तदा । मन्त्रहोमैर्महात्मानः पुत्रहेतोर्निमेरथ
Placing the arani there, they churned it with mantras; those great souls performed mantra-offerings for the sake of obtaining a son for Nimi.