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.
नरेण कर्मयुक्तेन पापपुण्यमयेन हि । शोधनं च कुरुष्व त्वमुभयो रोगयुक्तयोः
Indeed, by a man engaged in karma, composed of both sin and merit, purification must be performed for both who are afflicted with disease.
शुश्रूषणं महाभाग यदि पुण्यमिहेच्छसि । एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये सोमशर्मा महायशाः
If you desire merit, O greatly fortunate one, then serve. When these auspicious words were spoken, Somaśarmā, renowned, said—
शुश्रूषां वा करिष्यामि युवयोः पुण्ययुक्तयोः । मया पापेन दुष्टेन कृपणेन द्विजोत्तम
I will serve both of you, endowed with merit. By me, sinful, wicked, and miserable, O best of twice-born—
किं कर्तव्यमिहाद्यैव यो गुरुं न हि पूजयेत् । एवमाभाष्य दुःखाद्वा तयोर्दुःखेन दुःखितः
What should be done here today by one who does not honor the guru? Having spoken thus, distressed by their suffering, he was pained by their pain.
श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषं च उभयोः पर्यशोधयत् । पादप्रक्षालनं चक्रे अंगसंवाहनं तथा
He cleansed the phlegm, urine, and excrement of both; he washed their feet and massaged their limbs as well.
स्नानस्थानादिकं सोपि तयोर्भक्त्यान्वितः स्वयम् । द्वावेतौ हि गुरू विप्रः सोमशर्मा महायशाः
He himself, filled with devotion, attended to their bathing and other needs. Somaśarmā, the illustrious Brahmin, considered both as his gurus.
तीर्थं नयति धर्मात्मा स्कंधमारोप्य सत्तमः । द्वावेतौ हि स्वहस्तेन स्नापयित्वा तु मंगलैः
The righteous one carried both, the best, on his shoulders to the sacred place. With his own hands, he bathed them with auspicious rites.
सुमंत्रैर्वेदविच्चैव स्नानस्य विधिपूर्वकम् । तर्पणं च पितॄणां तु देवतानां तु पूजनम्
With excellent mantras and Vedic knowledge, he performed the prescribed bathing, the offering to the ancestors, and the worship of the deities.
द्वाभ्यामपि स धर्मात्मा स कारयति नित्यशः । स्वयं होमं ददात्यग्नौ पचत्यन्नमनुत्तमम्
That righteous one had both of them perform these acts daily; he himself offered oblations into the fire and cooked excellent food.
संज्ञापयति सुप्रीतौ द्वावेतौ च महागुरू । शय्यासने च तौ विप्रः प्रस्वापयति नित्यशः
He made both the revered elders rest contentedly, and the Brahmin daily put them to sleep on a bed and seat.