या पश्चाद्वाहिनी गंगा कालिंद्या सह संगता । हंति कोटिकृतं पापं सा माघे नृप दुर्लभा 6.127.
The Gaṅgā that flows westward, united with the Kāliṃdī, destroys ten million sins, O king, but she is rare to find in Māgha.
यत्कथ्यतेऽमृतं राजन्सा वेणी भुवि कीर्तिता । तस्यां माघे मुहूर्तं तु देवानामपि दुर्लभम्
That which is called nectar, O king, is celebrated on earth as the Veṇī; even a moment there in Māgha is difficult to attain, even for the gods.
ब्रह्माविष्णुर्महादेवो रुद्रादित्यमरुद्गणाः । गंधर्वा लोकपालाश्च यक्षकिन्नरपन्नगाः
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Mahādeva, Rudra, the Ādityas, the hosts of Maruts, the Gandharvas, guardians of the worlds, Yakṣas, Kinnaras, and serpents,
अणिमादिगुणैः सिद्धा ये चान्ये तत्त्ववादिनः । ब्रह्माणी पार्वती लक्ष्मीः शची मेनादितिर्दितिः
The Siddhas endowed with powers like aṇimā, and other teachers of truth, Brahmāṇī, Pārvatī, Lakṣmī, Śacī, Menā, Aditi, and Diti,
सर्वास्ता देवपत्न्यश्च तथा नागांगना नृप । घृताची मेनका रंभा उर्वशी च तिलोत्तमा
All these goddesses, wives of the gods, and the serpent maidens, O king, Ghṛtācī, Menakā, Rambhā, Urvaśī, and Tilottamā,
गणा ह्यप्सरसां सर्वे पितॄणां च गणास्तथा । स्नातुमायांति ते सर्वे माघे वेण्यां नराधिप
All the hosts of Apsarases and the hosts of ancestors as well, they all come to bathe at the Veṇī in Māgha, O lord of men.
कृते युगे स्वरूपेण कलौ प्रच्छन्नरूपिणः । प्रयागे माघमासे तु त्र्यहस्नानस्य यत्फलम्
In the Kṛta age they come in their true forms, in Kali in concealed forms; the fruit of bathing for three days at Prayāga in Māgha—
नाश्वमेधसहस्रेण तत्फलं लभते भुवि । त्र्यहस्नानफलं माघे पुरा कांचनमालिनी
That fruit is not obtained on earth even by a thousand horse sacrifices; in former times, Kāṃcanamālinī gave the fruit of three days' bathing in Māgha—
राक्षसाय ददौ भूप तेन मुक्तः स पापकृत् । कार्तवीर्य उवाच । भगवन्राक्षसः कोऽसौ सा का कांचनमालिनी
She gave it to a Rākṣasa, O king, and thus that sinner was freed. Kārtavīrya said: O lord, who was that Rākṣasa, and who was Kāṃcanamālinī?
कथं दत्तवती धर्मं कथं वा तस्य सद्गतिः । एतत्कथय योगींद्र अत्रिसंतानभास्कर । यदि त्वं मन्यसे श्राव्यं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
How did she give the merit, and how did he attain the good state? Tell me this, O lord of yogis, sun of the line of Atri; if you consider it worthy to be heard, for I am greatly curious.
दत्तात्रेय उवाच। शृणु राजन्विचित्रं त्वमितिहासं पुरातनम् । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं लभेत्
Dattatreya said: Listen, O King, to a wondrous and ancient tale, the mere remembrance of which bestows the fruit of a Vājapeya sacrifice.
अप्सरारूपसंपन्ना नाम्ना कांचनमालिनी । प्रयागे माघमासे सा स्नात्वा याति हरालयम्
There was an Apsaras of surpassing beauty named Kāñcanamālinī; in the month of Māgha, she bathed at Prayāga and then proceeded to the abode of Hara.
निकुंजे गिरिराजस्य तिष्ठता गिरिरूपिणा । दृष्टा गगनमारूढा तेन वृद्धेन रक्षसा
While she was in a grove on the king of mountains, she was seen ascending the sky by an aged Rākṣasa who had taken the form of a mountain.
तेजस्विनी सुहेमाभा सुश्रोणी दीर्घलोचना । चंद्रानना सुकेशी च पीनोन्नतपयोधरा
She was radiant, golden-hued, with beautiful hips, large eyes, a moon-like face, lovely hair, and full, high breasts.
तां दृष्ट्वा रूपसंपन्नामुवाच राक्षसस्तदा । का त्वं कमलपत्राक्षि कुत आगम्यते त्वया
Seeing her endowed with such beauty, the Rākṣasa spoke: Who are you, O lotus-eyed one? From where have you come?
आर्द्रं च वसनं कस्मात्सार्द्रा ते कबरी कुतः । कुत्र आगम्यते भीरु कुतस्ते खेचरी गतिः
Why are your garments wet, and why is your hair damp? From where do you come, O timid one, and how do you move through the sky?
केन पुण्येन वा भद्रे तव तेजोमयं वपुः । अतीवरूपसंपन्नं संभूतं च मनोहरम्
By what merit, O blessed one, do you possess this radiant, supremely beautiful and enchanting form?
त्वद्वस्त्रबिंदुपातेन मम मूर्ध्नि सुलोचने । क्षणेन ह्यगमच्छांतिं क्रूरं मे मानसं सदा
O bright-eyed one, by the mere fall of drops from your garment upon my head, my mind—always cruel—became peaceful in an instant.
नीरस्य महिमा कोऽयमेतद्व्याख्यातुमर्हसि । त्वं मे शीलवती भासि नाकृतिर्निर्गुणा भवेत्
What is the greatness of this water without taste? You should explain this to me. You appear to be virtuous; form does not arise without virtue.
अप्सरा उवाच। श्रूयतामप्सराश्चाहं भो रक्षः कामरूपिणी । प्रयागतश्चागताऽहं नाम्ना कांचनमालिनी
The Apsaras said: Listen, O Rākṣasa, I am an Apsaras, able to assume forms at will. I have come to Prayāga, and my name is Kāñcanamālinī.
आर्द्रः परिकरो मेऽतः सुस्नाताऽहं सितासिते । गंतव्यं तु मया रक्षः कैलासे तु नगोत्तमे
My girdle is wet because I have just bathed, O Rākṣasa, in the pure white and black waters. Now I must go to the supreme mountain, Kailāsa.
तत्रास्ते पार्वतीनाथः सुरासुरसुपूजितः । वेणीवारिप्रभावेण रक्षस्ते क्रूरता गता
There dwells the Lord of Pārvatī, worshipped by gods and asuras alike. By the power of water from my braid, O Rākṣasa, your cruelty has departed.
जाताहं येन पुण्येन गंधर्वस्य सुमेधसः । कन्यका दिव्यरूपा तु तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते
By what merit was I born, a maiden of divine form, to the Gandharva named Sumedhas? I will tell you everything.
कलिंगाधिपते राज्ञस्त्वहमासीच्च वेश्यका । रूपलावण्यसंपन्ना सौभाग्यमदगर्विता
In a previous birth, I was a courtesan in the city of the king of Kaliṅga, endowed with beauty and charm, yet not proud of my good fortune.
अन्यासां युवतीनां च तत्पुरेऽहं शिरोमणिः । तज्जन्मनि मया रक्षो भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथेच्छया
Among all the young women of that city, I was the foremost jewel. In that life, O Rākṣasa, I enjoyed pleasures as I wished.
मोहितं तत्पुरं सर्वं मया यौवनसंपदा । रत्नानि च विचित्राणि भूषणानि धनानि च
By the power of my youth, I enchanted the entire city, acquiring various jewels, ornaments, and wealth.
वासांसि चित्ररूपाणि कर्पूरागुरुचंदनम् । एतच्चोपार्जितं सर्वं मया मोहनरूपया
I obtained all manner of beautiful garments, camphor, aloe, and sandalwood—all this was gained by me through the power of enchantment.
नाहं जानामि हेम्नोंतं स्वनिवासे निशाचर । संसेवंते युवानो मे चरणौ कामपीडिताः
O night-wanderer, I do not know the limit of gold in my own house; young men, tormented by desire, served at my feet.
मया ते वंचिताः सर्वे सर्वस्वेन तु मायया । अन्योन्यस्पर्धाभावेन मृताः केचित्तु कामिनः
By my illusion, I deceived them all, taking everything from them; some died in rivalry with each other, and some were overcome by desire.
इत्थं तन्नगरे रम्ये सकले मे गतिस्तदा । प्राप्ते तु वार्द्धके काले शुशोच हृदयं मम । न दत्तं न हुतं जप्तं न व्रतं चरितं मया
Thus, in that beautiful city, all my pursuits were fulfilled; but when old age arrived, my heart grieved: I had not given, nor sacrificed, nor recited, nor observed any vow.