मद्वाक्ये भवता स्थेयं सर्वकृत्येषु मानद
You must act according to my words in all matters, O giver of honor.
प्रतिपेदे वचः सर्वं यत्कृतं हि तया तदा
She accepted all the words, and did exactly as she was told at that time.
करेणुरूपिणी भूत्वा पृष्ठे कृत्वा पतिं मम
Taking the form of a female elephant, she placed my husband on her back.
ययावाकाशमार्गेण काशीमभि मुलोचने
She traveled by the path of the sky to Kāśī, O wide-eyed one.
त्रिभिर्मुहूर्तैः संप्राप्ता काशीं विश्वेशमन्दिरम्
In three muhūrtas she reached Kāśī, the temple of Lord Viśveśvara.
इयं पापतरोः कान्त कुठारा परिकीर्तिता
O beloved, this is called the axe of the tree of sin.
कर्मबीजोपशमनी सर्वेषां गतिदायिका
It destroys the seeds of karma and grants liberation to all.
नावैष्णवे स्थले मुक्तिः सर्वस्य तु कदाचन
There is never liberation for anyone in a place that is not Vaiṣṇava.
मुक्तिदा सर्वजन्तूनां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी
It grants liberation to all beings and destroys all sins.
सर्वलोकैककर्तारं भ्राजमानं स्वतेजसा
To the sole creator of all worlds, shining with his own brilliance,
नमस्कृत्य स्थितो ह्यग्रे वेदपाठं निशामयन्
Having bowed, he stood in front, listening to the recitation of the Veda.
उद्गिरन्तं जगन्नाथं दृष्ट्वा प्रीतो ऽभवत्तदा
Seeing the Lord of the Universe uttering (the Veda), he then became pleased.
प्रगल्भं तमुपालक्ष्य क्षणाज्जातः समत्सरः
Observing him to be bold, in a moment, envy arose.
चकर्त तन्नखाग्रेण खस्थं वक्त्रं त्रिलोचनः
Trilochana (the three-eyed one) cut off that face in the sky with the tip of his nail.
वामे निर्धूतमानिशं न निवृत्तं द्विजोत्तम
On the left, it was ceaselessly shaken, never stopping, O best of twice-born.
रुद्रो ऽपि लज्जितो भूत्वा निर्ज्जगाम त्वरान्वितः
Even Rudra, becoming ashamed, quickly departed.
न शशाक परित्यक्तुं तदद्भुतमभून्महत्
He was unable to abandon it; that great wonder occurred.
तेन संस्मृतमात्रस्तु शीघ्रमाविरभूच्च सः
As soon as it was remembered by him, it quickly appeared again.
ननाम शिरसा नम्रो निष्प्रभो वृषभध्वजः
The bull-bannered one, humbled and devoid of radiance, bowed his head.
समाश्वास्या ब्रवीद्वाक्यं तत्तोषपरिकारकम्
Having comforted him, he spoke words meant to bring satisfaction.
तत्फलं भुङ्क्ष्व सर्ंवज्ञ कियत्कालं कृतं स्वयम्
O all-knowing one, enjoy the fruit of your deed for a little while, as you yourself have done.
नाभुक्तं क्षीयते कर्म ह्यपि जन्मशतैः प्रिय
Indeed, karma does not perish without being experienced, even in a hundred births, dear one.
प्राणा विकलतां यान्ति मम त्वद्दुःखदर्शनात्
My life becomes disturbed at seeing your suffering.
न तानि ब्रह्महत्यायाः समानीति मतिर्मम
In my view, these are not equal to the sin of killing a Brahmin.
ब्रह्महत्याभिभूतस्तु क्षणं स्थातुं न च क्षमः
Overcome by the sin of killing a Brahmin, he was unable to remain even for a moment.
लेलिहाना सुरेशान ग्रहीतुं त्वानुधावति
The lords of the gods, licking (their lips), pursue you to seize you.
अटनीयं हितार्थाय पापनाशाभिकाम्यया
He should wander for the sake of others’ welfare, desiring the destruction of sin.
प्रक्षालयन्करं वामं भिक्षां गृह्णन्कपालके
Washing his left hand, he should accept alms in a bowl.
इत्युक्तो विष्णुना विप्र स्थाणुः सर्वगतो ऽभवत्
Thus addressed by Viṣṇu, the sage became all-pervading.
वर्षत्रयं भ्रमित्वा तु प्राप्तो बदरिकाश्रमम्
After wandering for three years, he reached the hermitage at Badarikā.