जन्मजन्मनि त्वं माता पिता चैव भविष्यथः । पितोवाच- शृणुध्वं मामकाः पुत्राः सुवरं पुण्यदायकम्
'in every birth you will be our mother and father.' The father said: 'Listen, my sons, to this excellent, merit-giving boon.'
मयि तुष्टे सुता भोगा ननु भुंजंतु चाक्षयान् । पुत्रा ऊचुः- यदि तात प्रसन्नोसि वरं दातुमिहेच्छसि
'If I am pleased, my sons, may you enjoy inexhaustible pleasures.' The sons said: 'If, father, you are pleased and wish to grant a boon,'
अस्मान्प्रेषय गोलोकं वैष्णवं दाहवर्जितम् । पितोवाच- गच्छध्वं वैष्णवं लोकं यूयं विगतकल्मषाः
'send us to Goloka, the Vaishnava world, free from burning.' The father said: 'Go to the Vaishnava world, you who are free from sin.'
मत्प्रसादात्तपोभिश्च पितृभक्त्यानया स्वया । एवमुक्ते तु तेनापि सुवाक्ये ऋषिणा ततः
'By my grace, by asceticism, and by this devotion to your father.' When these auspicious words were spoken by the sage,
शंखचक्रगदापाणिर्गरुडारूढ आगतः । सपुत्रं शिवशर्माणमित्युवाच पुनः पुनः
Then, the one with conch, discus, and mace in hand, mounted on Garuda, arrived and repeatedly addressed Shivaśarman with his sons:
सपुत्रेण त्वयाद्यैव जितो भक्त्यास्मि वै द्विज । पुत्रैः सार्द्धं समागच्छ चतुर्भिः पुण्यकारिभिः
'Today, O twice-born, you have conquered me with devotion together with your sons. Come with your four sons, doers of merit.'
अनया भार्यया सार्द्धं पुण्यया पतिकाम्यया । शिवशर्मोवाच- अमी गच्छंतु पुत्रा मे वैष्णवं लोकमुत्तमम्
With this virtuous wife, who is devoted to her husband, Shiva Sharma said: May my sons go to the supreme Vaishnava world.
कंचित्कालं तु नेष्यामि भूमौ वै भार्यया सह । अनेनापि सुपुत्रेण अंत्येन सोमशर्मणा
For some time, I will remain on earth with my wife, along with this good son, the youngest, Soma Sharma.
एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये ऋषिणा सत्यभाषिणा । तानुवाचाथ देवेशः सुपुत्राञ्छिवशर्मणः
When the truthful sage spoke these auspicious words, then the Lord of the gods addressed Shiva Sharma's good sons.
गच्छंतु मोक्षदं लोकं दाहप्रलयवर्जितम् । एवमुक्ते ततो विप्राश्चत्वारः सत्यचेतसः
Let them go to the world that grants liberation, free from burning and destruction. When this was said, the four truthful-minded Brahmins,
विष्णुरूपधराः सर्वे बभूवुस्तत्क्षणादपि । इंद्रनीलसमावर्णैः शंखचक्रगदाधराः
All at once, they took on the form of Vishnu, with the color of blue sapphires, holding conch, discus, and mace.
सर्वाभरणसौभाग्या विष्णुरूपा महौजसः । हारकंकणशोभाढ्या रत्नमालाभिशोभिताः
Adorned with all ornaments and prosperity, in the form of Vishnu, of great splendor, radiant with necklaces and bracelets, shining with garlands of gems.
सूर्यतेजःप्रतीकाशास्तेजोज्वालाभिरावृताः । प्रविष्टा वैष्णवं कायं पश्यतः शिवशर्मणः
Resembling the brilliance of the sun, surrounded by blazing radiance, they entered the Vaishnava body as Shiva Sharma watched.
दीपं दीपा यथा यांति तद्वल्लीना महामते । गतास्ते वैष्णवं धाम पितृभक्त्या द्विजोत्तमाः
Just as many lamps merge into one, so did those excellent Brahmins, through devotion to their father, attain the Vaishnava abode.
प्रभावं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि सुसत्यं सोमशर्मणः
Now I will truly declare the power of Soma Sharma.
सूत उवाच- गतेषु तेषु गोलोकं वैष्णवं तमसः परम् । शिवशर्मा महाप्राज्ञः कनिष्ठं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Suta said: When they had gone to Goloka, the Vaishnava realm beyond darkness, the wise Shiva Sharma spoke to his youngest son.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- सोमशर्मन्महाप्राज्ञ त्वं पितुर्भक्तितत्परः । अमृतस्य महाकुंभं रक्ष दत्तं मयाधुना
The Brahmin said: Soma Sharma, wise one, you are devoted to your father; now protect the great vessel of nectar that I give you.
तीर्थयात्रां प्रयास्यामि अनया भार्यया सह । एवमस्तु महाभाग करिष्ये रक्षणं शुभम्
I will go on a pilgrimage with this wife. So be it, O fortunate one, I will protect the vessel well.
कुंभं दत्वा स मेधावी तस्य हस्ते महात्मनः । दशवर्षप्रमाणं तु तपस्तेपे निरंतरम्
Giving the vessel into the hand of that noble son, the wise one performed uninterrupted austerity for ten years.
कुंभं रक्षति धर्मात्मा दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः । पुनः स हि समायातः शिवशर्मा महायशाः
The righteous Soma Sharma guarded the vessel day and night without fatigue; then Shiva Sharma, renowned, returned again.
मायां कृत्वा महाप्राज्ञो भार्यया सह तं सुतम् । कुष्ठरोगातुरो भूत्वा तस्य भार्या च तादृशी
The wise one, by his power, together with his wife, made himself and his son appear afflicted with leprosy; his wife also became the same.
मांसपिंडोपमौ जातौ द्वावेतौ मायया कृतौ । संनिधिं तस्य घोरस्य विप्रस्य सोमशर्मणः
By illusion, both of them became like lumps of flesh, and they approached the presence of the noble Soma Sharma.
समागतौ हि तौ दृष्ट्वा सर्वतो हि सुदुःखितौ । कृपया परयाविष्टः सोमशर्मा महायशाः
Seeing them come together, miserable in every way, Soma Sharma, renowned, was overcome with great compassion.
तयोः पादं नमस्कृत्य भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । भवादृशौ न पश्यामि तपसाभिसमन्वितम्
Bowing at their feet with devotion, his head bent in reverence, he said: I have not seen anyone like you, endowed with such austerity.
गुणव्रातैः सुपुण्यैश्च किमिदं वर्तितं त्वयि । दासवद्देवताः सर्वा वर्तंते सर्वदा तव
By what multitude of virtues and great merits has this come to pass for you? All the gods always serve you like servants.
आदेशं प्राप्य विप्रेंद्र आकृष्टास्तेजसा तव । तवांगे केन पापेन गदोयं वेदनान्वितः
Having received your command, O best of Brahmins, they are drawn by your radiance. By what sin has this disease, full of pain, arisen on your body?
संजातो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तन्मे कथय कारणम् । इयं पुण्यवती माता महापुण्या पतिव्रता
O foremost of Brahmins, tell me the reason for this. This mother is virtuous, greatly meritorious, and devoted to her husband.
या हि भर्तृप्रसादेन त्रैलोक्यं कर्तुमिच्छति । सा कथं दुःखमाप्नोति किं नास्ति तपसः फलम्
She who, by her husband's grace, wishes to accomplish the three worlds—how does she encounter suffering? Is there no fruit of austerity?
रागद्वेषौ परित्यज्य विविधेनापि कर्मणा । या च शुश्रूषते कांतं देववद्गुरुवत्सला
She who, having abandoned attachment and aversion, serves her beloved in every way, with the devotion of a goddess and the affection of a disciple—
सा कथं दुःखमाप्नोति कुष्ठरोगं सुदुःखदम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- मा शुचस्त्वं महाभाग भुज्यते कर्मजं फलम्
How does she experience suffering, the great pain of leprosy? Śivaśarma said: Do not grieve, O greatly fortunate one; the fruit of karma is being experienced.