हरिरुवाच- तपसानेन पुण्येन सत्येनानेन ते द्विज । स्तोत्रेण पावनेनापि तुष्टोस्मि व्रियतां वरः
Hari said: By this austerity, by this merit, by this truth of yours, O twice-born, and by this pure hymn, I am pleased; ask for a boon.
वरं दद्मि महाभाग यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । यंयमिच्छसि कामं त्वं तंतं ते पूरयाम्यहम्
I grant you, O highly fortunate one, whatever boon you desire in your heart; whatever wish you have, that I shall fulfill for you.
सोमशर्मोवाच- प्रथमं देहि मे कृष्ण वरमेकं सुवाञ्छितम् । सुप्रसन्नेन मनसा यद्यस्ति सुदया मम
Somaśarman said: First, O Kṛṣṇa, grant me one cherished boon; if there is true compassion in me, with a mind well-pleased.
जन्मजन्मांतरं प्राप्य तव भक्तिं करोम्यहम् । दर्शयस्व परं स्थानमचलं मोक्षदायकम्
Having obtained birth after birth, may I have devotion to You; show me the supreme, unshakable place that grants liberation.
स्ववंशतारकं पुत्रं दिव्यलक्षणसंयुतम् । विष्णुभक्तिपरं नित्यं मम वंशप्रधारकम्
Grant me a son who will save my lineage, endowed with divine marks, always devoted to Viṣṇu, and the chief of my family.
सर्वज्ञं सर्वदं दांतं तपस्तेजः समन्वितम् । देवब्राह्मणलोकानां पालकं पूजकं सदा
All-knowing, generous, self-controlled, endowed with austerity and brilliance, always the protector and worshipper of the worlds of gods and Brahmins.
देवमित्रं पुण्यभावं दातारं ज्ञानपंडितम् । देहि मे ईदृशं पुत्रं दारिद्रं हर केशव
A friend to the gods, of virtuous nature, a giver, wise in knowledge; grant me such a son, remove my poverty, O Keśava.
भवत्वेवं न संदेहो वरमेनं वृणोम्यहम् । हरिरुवाच- एवमस्तु द्विजश्रेष्ठ भविष्यति न संशयः
Let it be so, there is no doubt; I choose this boon. Hari said: So be it, best of the twice-born, it shall be, without doubt.
मत्प्रसादात्सुपुत्रस्तु तव वंश प्रतारकः । भोक्ष्यसि त्वं वरान्भोगान्दिव्यांश्च मानुषानिह
By my grace, you will have a good son, the extender of your lineage; you shall enjoy both divine and human pleasures here.
समालोक्य परं सौख्यं पुत्रसंभवजं शुभम् । यावज्जीवसि विप्र त्वं तावद्दुःखं न पश्यसि
Seeing the supreme happiness arising from your son, O Brahmin, as long as you live, you will not see suffering.
दाता भोक्ता गुणग्राही भविष्यसि न संशयः । सुतीर्थे मरणं चापि यास्यसि त्वं परां गतिम्
You will become a giver, an enjoyer, and one who appreciates virtues; there is no doubt. And you will attain the highest state by dying at the holy place.
एवं वरं हरिर्दत्त्वा सप्रियाय द्विजाय सः । अंतर्धानं गतो देवः स्वप्नवत्परिदृश्यते
Thus, Hari granted the boon to the twice-born along with his beloved, and the god vanished, appearing as if in a dream.
तदा सुमनया युक्तः सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । सुतीर्थे पावने तस्मिन्रेवातीरे सुपुण्यदे
Then Somaśarman, the best of Brahmins, filled with joy, at that sacred and pure riverbank, performed holy acts.
अमरकंटके विप्रो दानं पुण्यं करोति सः । गते बहुतरे काले तस्य वै सोमशर्मणः
In Amarakaṇṭaka, the Brahmin performed acts of charity and merit; after much time had passed for Somaśarman,
कपिलारेवयोः संगे स्नानं कृत्वा स निर्गतः । दृष्टवान्पुरतो विप्रः श्वेतमेकं हि कुंजरम्
Having bathed at the confluence of the Kapilā and Revā rivers, he departed; the Brahmin saw before him a single white elephant.
सुप्रभं सुंदरं दिव्यं सुमदं चारुलक्षणम् । नानाभरणशोभांगं बहुलक्ष्म्या समन्वितम्
Radiant, beautiful, divine, splendidly marked, adorned with various ornaments, endowed with abundant fortune.
सिंदूरैः कुंकुमैस्तस्य कुंभस्थले विराजिते । कर्णनीलोत्पलयुतं पताकादंडसंयुतम्
Its forehead shone with vermilion and saffron; it was adorned with blue lotus earrings and equipped with banner poles.
नागोपरिस्थितो दिव्यः पुरुषो दृढसुप्रभः । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वाभरणभूषितः
Upon the elephant sat a divine man, firm and radiant, possessing divine marks and adorned with all ornaments.
दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः । सुसौम्यं सोमवत्पूर्णच्छत्रचामरसंयुतम्
Wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, gentle and full like the moon, accompanied by parasol and fan.
नागारूढं प्रयांतं तं पुनः पश्यति सत्तमः । सिद्धचारणगंधर्वैः स्तूयमानं सुमंगलम्
The noble one again saw him proceeding mounted on the elephant, praised by Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Gandharvas, auspicious in every way.
सगजं सुंदरं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं दिव्यलक्षणम् । व्यतर्कयत्सोमशर्मा विस्मयाविष्टमानसः
Seeing the beautiful elephant and the man with divine marks, Somaśarman, his mind seized by wonder, began to ponder.
कोऽयं प्रयाति दिव्यांगः पंथानं प्राप्य सुव्रतः । एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य यावद्गृहं समाप्तवान्
Who is this person, of divine form, proceeding on the path, so virtuous? While he was thinking thus, he reached his home.
प्रविशंतं गृहद्वारं देवरूपं मनोहरम् । हर्षेण महताविष्टः सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः
As he entered the doorway of his house, Somaśarman, the foremost Brahmin, was overcome with great joy, seeing the charming, godlike figure.
स्वगृहं प्रति धर्मात्मा त्वरमाणः प्रयाति च । गृहद्वारं गतो यावत्तावत्तं तु न पश्यति
The righteous one hurried toward his own house; as he reached the doorway, he did not see him there.
पतितान्येव पुष्पाणि सौहृद्यानि महामतिः । दिव्यानि वासयुक्तानि प्रांगणे द्विजसत्तमः
Only flowers, friendly and divine, fragrant and adorned, had fallen in the courtyard of the excellent Brahmin.
चंदनैः कुंकुमैः पुण्यैः सुगंधैस्तु विलेपितम् । स्वकीयं प्रांगणे दृष्ट्वा दूर्वाक्षतसमन्वितम्
He saw his own courtyard smeared with sandalwood, saffron, and sacred, fragrant substances, together with dūrvā grass and rice grains.
स एवं विस्मयाविष्टश्चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः । ददर्श सुमनां प्राज्ञो दिव्यमंगलसंपदम्
Thus, filled with wonder, he kept pondering again and again; the wise Somaśarman saw auspicious divine prosperity.
सोमशर्मोवाच- केन दत्तानि दिव्यानि एतान्याभरणानि च । शृंगारंरूपसौभाग्यं वस्त्रालंकारभूषणम्
Somaśarman spoke: By whom were these divine ornaments given? This adornment, beauty, and garment-jewel decoration?
तन्मे त्वं कारणं भद्रे कथयस्वाविशंकिता । एवं संभाष्यतां भार्यां विरराम द्विजोत्तमः
O gentle one, tell me the reason for this without hesitation. Thus, having spoken to his wife, the best of twice-born ceased.
सुमनोवाच- शृणु कांत समायातः कश्चिद्देववरोत्तमः । श्वेतनागसमारूढो दिव्याभरणभूषितः
Sumanā said: Listen, beloved, a certain most excellent god arrived, mounted on a white elephant, adorned with divine ornaments.