एषा त्वां विष्णुना सार्धं दहामि मघवन्बलात् मिषतां सर्वभूतानां दृश्यतां मे तपोबलम्
'Now, together with Viṣṇu, I will burn you by force, O Maghavan, before the eyes of all beings—let my ascetic power be seen.'
तया ऽभिभूतौ तौ देवाव् इन्द्राविष्णू बभूवतुः कथं मुच्येव सहितौ विष्णुरिन्द्रम् अभाषत
Overpowered by her, those two gods, Indra and Viṣṇu, were bound; then Viṣṇu said to Indra, 'How shall we be freed together?'
इन्द्रो ऽब्रवीज्जहि ह्येनां यावन्नौ न दहेत्प्रभो विशेषणाभिभूतो ऽस्मि त्वत्तो ऽहं जहि मा चिरम्
Indra said, 'Strike her down before she burns us, Lord; I am overwhelmed by her special power—strike her quickly, do not delay.'
ततः समीक्ष्य विष्णुस्तां स्त्रीवधे कृच्छ्रम् आस्थितः अभिध्याय ततश्चक्रम् आपदुद्धरणे तु तत्
Then Viṣṇu, seeing the difficulty in slaying a woman, pondered, and took up his discus to remove the calamity.
ततस्तु त्वरया युक्तः शीघ्रकारी भयान्वितः ज्ञात्वा विष्णुस्ततस्तस्या क्रूरं देव्याश्चिकीर्षितम् क्रुद्धः स्वमस्त्रमादाय शिरश्चिच्छेद वै भिया
Then, urged by haste and filled with fear, Viṣṇu, knowing the cruel intent of the goddess, angrily took up his weapon and, out of fear, cut off her head.
तं दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीवधं घोरं चुक्रोध भृगुरीश्वरः ततो ऽभिशप्तो भृगुणा विष्णुर् भार्यावधे तदा
Seeing that terrible act of killing a woman, Bhṛgu, lord among sages, became angry; then Viṣṇu was cursed by Bhṛgu for the slaying of a wife.
यस्मात्ते जानतो धर्मप्रवध्या स्त्री निषूदिता तस्मात्त्वं सप्तकृत्वेह मानुषेषूपपत्स्जसे
Because, knowing righteousness, you killed a woman who should not be slain, therefore you shall be born seven times among men here.
ततस्तेनाभिशापेन नष्टे धर्मे पुनःपुनः लोकस्य च हितार्थाय जायते मानुयेष्विह
Thus, by that curse, when righteousness is lost again and again, for the sake of the world's welfare, he is born among men here.
अनुव्याहृत्य विष्णुं स तदादाय शिरस्त्वरन् समानीय ततः कायम् असौ गृह्येदमब्रवीत्
Having recited a formula to Viṣṇu, he quickly took the head, brought it to the body, and spoke these words.
एषा त्वं विष्पुना देवि हता संजीवयाम्यहम् ततस्तां योज्य शिरसा अभिजीवेति सो ऽब्रवीत्
O goddess, you were slain by Viṣṇu; I will revive you. Then, joining her head, he said, 'Let her live.'
यदि कृत्स्नो मया धर्मो ज्ञायते चरितो ऽपि वा तेन सत्येन जीवस्व यदि सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
If I have truly known or practiced righteousness in full, by that truth may you live; if I speak the truth.
ततस्तां प्रोक्ष्य शीताभिर् अद्भिर् जीवेति सो ऽब्रवीत् ततो ऽभिव्याहृते तस्य देवी संजीविता तदा
Then, sprinkling her with cool water, he said, 'Live!' And when he had spoken thus, the goddess was revived.
ततस्तां सर्वभूतानि दृष्ट्वा सुप्तोत्थितामिव साधु साध्विति चक्रुस्ते वचसा सर्वतोदिशम्
Then, seeing her as if awakened from sleep, all beings exclaimed 'Excellent, excellent!' in every direction.
एवं प्रत्याहृता तेन देवी सा भृगुणा तदा मिषतां देवतानां हि तदद्भुतम् इवाभवद्
Thus, at that time, the goddess was restored by Bhṛgu, and in the sight of the gods, it appeared as a marvel.
असंभ्रान्तेन भृगुणा पत्नी संजीविता पुनः दृष्ट्वा चेन्द्रो नालभत शर्म काव्यभयात्पुनः प्रजागरे ततश्चेन्द्रो जयन्तीमिदमब्रवीत्
By the unperturbed Bhṛgu, his wife was brought back to life; but seeing this, Indra found no peace, fearing Kāvya, and so, remaining awake, Indra then spoke to Jayantī.
संचिन्त्य मतिमान् वाक्यं स्वां कन्यां पाकशासनः एष काव्यो ह्यमित्राय व्रतं चरति दारुणम् तेनाहं व्याकुलः पुत्रि कृतो मतिमता भृशम्
Reflecting wisely, the lord of the gods addressed his daughter: 'Kāvya is performing a terrible vow against his enemies. Because of this, O daughter, I have been greatly disturbed by the wise Bhṛgu.'
गच्छ संसाधयस्वैनं श्रमापनयनैः शुभैः तैस्तैर्मनोनुकूलैश्च ह्य् उपचारैर् अतन्द्रिता
Go, accomplish your task with pleasant acts that remove his fatigue, and with various attentions that delight his mind, untiringly.
काव्यमाराधयस्वैनं यथा तुष्येत स द्विजः गच्छ त्वं तस्य दत्ताऽसि प्रयत्नं कुरु मत्कृते
Honor Kāvya in such a way that the twice-born is pleased. Go, for you have been given to him; make every effort for my sake.
एवमुक्ता जयन्ती सा वचः संगृह्य वै पितुः अगच्छद्यत्र घोरं स तप आरभ्य तिष्ठति
Thus addressed, Jayantī accepted her father's words and went to where he, engaged in fierce austerity, was standing.
तं दृष्ट्वा तु पिबन्तं सा कणधूमम् अवाङ्मुखम् यक्षेण पात्यमानं च कुण्डधारेण पातितम्
Seeing him drinking smoke, facing downward, and being struck by a yakṣa, and poured upon by a water vessel,
दृष्ट्वा च तं पात्यमानं देवी काव्यमवस्थितम् स्वरूपं ध्यानशाम्यन्तं दुर्बलं भूतिमास्थितम् पित्रा यथोक्तं वाक्यं सा काव्ये कृतवती तदा
Seeing Kāvya thus afflicted, yet steadfast in his own form, absorbed in meditation, weak, but established in glory, she then did as her father had instructed regarding Kāvya.
गीर्भिश्चैवानुकूलाभिः स्तुवती वल्गुभाषिणी गात्रसंवाहनैः काले सेवमाना त्वचः सुखैः व्रतचर्यानुकूलाभिर् उवास बहुलाः समाः
With pleasing words, praising him sweetly, serving him at the proper time with gentle massages and comforts for his body, and with observances suited to his vow, she attended him for many years.
पूर्णे धूमव्रते तस्मिन् घोरे वर्षसहस्रके वरेण च्छन्दयामास काव्यं प्रीतो भवस्तदा
When that dreadful vow of smoke was completed after a thousand years, Kāvya, pleased, offered her a boon of her choice.
एतद्व्रतं त्वयैकेन चीर्णं नान्येन केनचित् तस्माद्वै तपसा बुद्ध्या श्रुतेन च बलेन च
This vow has been performed by you alone, by no other. Therefore, through austerity, wisdom, learning, and strength,
तेजसा च सुरान्सर्वांस् त्वमेको ऽभिभविष्यसि यच्चाभिलषितं ब्रह्मन् विद्यते भृगुनन्दन
And by your energy, you alone will surpass all the gods. Whatever you desire, O Brāhmaṇa, O son of Bhṛgu, exists for you.
प्रपत्स्यसे तु तत्सर्वं नानुवाच्यं तु कस्यचित् सर्वाभिभावी तेन त्वं भविष्यसि द्विजोत्तम
You will attain all that, and it is not to be revealed to anyone. Thus, you will become supreme over all, O best of the twice-born.
एतान्दत्त्वा वरांस्तस्मै भार्गवाय भवः पुनः प्रजेशत्वं धनेशत्वम् अवध्यत्वं च वै ददौ
Having granted these boons to Bhārgava, Bhava again bestowed upon him lordship over beings, lordship over wealth, and invulnerability.
एतांल्लब्ध्वा वरान्काव्यः सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः हर्षात्प्रादुर्बभौ तस्य दिव्यस्तोत्रं महेश्वरे तथा तिर्यक्स्थितश्चैव तुष्टुवे नीललोहितम्
Having obtained these boons, Kāvyā was filled with joy, and out of delight, he offered a divine hymn to Maheśvara, praising the blue-red one while standing sideways.
नमो ऽस्तु शितिकण्ठाय कनिष्ठाय सुवर्चसे लेलिहानाय काव्याय वत्सरायान्धसः पते
Homage to Śitikaṇṭha, the youngest, radiant one, the one who licks, the sage of the Kāvyas, the year, the lord of Soma.
कपर्दिने करालाय हर्यक्ष्णे वरदाय च संस्तुताय सुतीर्थाय देवदेवाय रंहसे
To the matted-haired, the fierce, the tawny-eyed, the granter of boons, the praised one, the holy, the god of gods, the swift—salutations.