किन्नरास्तत्र गायंति गंधर्वाः सुस्वरैर्नृप । अप्सरोभिः समाकीर्णं देववृंदैरुपावृतम्
There, Kinnaras sing, Gandharvas play sweet melodies, and the place is crowded with Apsarases and surrounded by hosts of gods.
सिद्धचारणसंघुष्टं मुनिवृंदैरलंकृतम् । नानापक्षिनिनादैश्च सर्वत्र परिनादितम्
It resounds with the gatherings of Siddhas and Cāraṇas, is adorned by groups of sages, and is filled everywhere with the calls of various birds.
एवं गिरिं समासाद्य उज्ज्वलो लघुविक्रमः । सुस्वरेणापि सा कन्या गिरौ तस्मिन्प्ररोदिति
Thus, when Ujjvala, swift of stride, reached the mountain, he heard a maiden there weeping in a melodious voice.
रोरूयमाणां स प्राज्ञो वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् । का त्वं भवसि कल्याणि कस्माद्रोदिषि सांप्रतम्
Seeing her crying aloud, that wise one spoke these words: 'Who are you, O blessed one, and why do you weep now?'
कमाश्रिता महाभागे केन ते विप्रियं कृतम् । समाचक्ष्व ममाद्यैव सर्वदुःखस्य कारणम्
'On whom do you depend, O highly fortunate one? Who has wronged you? Tell me today the cause of all your sorrow.'
दिव्यादेव्युवाच- विपाको हि महाभाग कर्मणां मम सांप्रतम् । इह तिष्ठामि दुःखेन वैधव्येन समन्विता
The divine lady said: 'O highly fortunate one, the result of my actions has now come upon me; I remain here in sorrow, afflicted by widowhood.'
भवान्को हि महाभाग कृपया मम पीडितः । पक्षिरूपधरो वत्स सोत्सवं परिभाषते
'Who are you, O highly fortunate one, who are moved by compassion for my suffering? You speak joyfully, though you appear in the form of a bird, O child.'
एवमाकर्ण्य तत्सर्वं भाषितं राजकन्यया । अहं पक्षी महाभागे कृपया तव पीडितः
Hearing all that was spoken by the princess, he replied: 'O highly fortunate one, I am a bird, moved by compassion for your suffering.'
पक्षिरूपधरो भद्रे नाहं सिद्धो न ज्ञानवान् । रुदमानां महालापैर्भवतीं दृष्टवानिह
'O gentle one, though I have taken the form of a bird, I am neither a Siddha nor a knower of wisdom; I saw you here, weeping with great lamentation.'
ततः पृच्छाम्यहं देवि वद मे कारणं त्विह । पितुर्गेहे यथावृत्तमात्मवृत्तांतमेव हि
'Therefore, O goddess, I ask you—tell me the reason for this. Tell me all that happened in your father's house, your own story.'
तया निवेदितं सर्वं यथासंख्येन दुःखदम् । समासेन समाकर्ण्य उज्ज्वलस्तु महमनाः
Having heard from her, in brief, all the countless sorrows she had endured, Ujjvala, with a great mind, listened attentively.
तामुवाच महापक्षी दिव्यादेवीं सुदुःखिताम् । यथा विवाहकाले ते भर्तारो मरणं गताः
That great-winged one spoke to the divine lady, who was deeply distressed: 'At the time of your wedding, your husbands met their death.'
स्वयंवरनिमित्तं ते क्षयं याताश्च क्षत्रियाः । एतत्ते चेष्टितं सर्वं मया पितरि भाषितम्
'For the sake of your svayaṃvara, the Kshatriyas perished; all this that you have done, I have spoken about to my father.'
अन्यजन्मकृतंकर्मतव पापं सुलोचने । मम पित्रा ममाग्रे तु कृपया परिभाषितम्
'O beautiful-eyed one, the sinful deed you committed in a previous birth—my father, out of compassion, spoke of it before me.'
तेन दोषेण संपुष्टा लिप्ता जाता वरानने । एतावत्कारणं सर्वं तातेन परिभाषितम्
'Because of that fault, you have become enveloped and afflicted, O lovely-faced one; my father explained all these reasons.'
पूर्वकर्मविपाकं तु भुंक्ष्व त्वं च समाश्वस । एवं सा भाषितं तस्य श्रुत्वा कन्योज्ज्वलस्य तत्
'Endure the result of your past actions, and take comfort.' Thus, when she heard these words spoken by Ujjvala,
प्रत्युवाच महात्मानं ब्रुवंतं पक्षिणं पुनः । प्रणता दीनया वाचा कुरु पक्षिन्कृपां मम
She replied again to the great-souled bird as he spoke, bowing and with a sorrowful voice: 'O bird, show me your compassion.'
कथयस्व प्रसादेन तस्य पापस्य निष्कृतिम् । प्रायश्चित्तं सुपुण्यं च मम पातकशोधनम्
'Out of your grace, tell me the expiation for that sin—a most virtuous atonement that will cleanse my wrongdoing.'
येन व्रजाम्यहं पुण्यं विशुद्धाधौतकल्मषा । प्रायश्चित्तं महाभाग वद मे त्वं प्रसादतः
'By which I may attain merit, purified and cleansed of all stain—O greatly fortunate one, kindly tell me the atonement.'
उज्ज्वल उवाच- तवार्थं तु महाभागे पितरं पृष्टवानहम् । समाख्यातमतः पित्रा प्रायश्चित्तमनुत्तमम्
Ujjvala said: 'For your sake, O greatly fortunate one, I questioned my father; from him I have learned the supreme atonement.'
तत्त्वं कुरु महाभागे सर्वपातकशोधनम् । ध्यायस्व हि हृषीकेशं शतनामजपस्व च
'Do that, O greatly fortunate one, which cleanses all sins: meditate on Hṛṣīkeśa and recite the hundred names.'
भव ज्ञानपरा नित्यं कुरु व्रतमनुत्तमम् । अशून्यशयनं पुण्यं व्रतं पापप्रणाशकम्
'Be devoted to knowledge always; undertake the supreme vow—Aśūnyaśayana, a virtuous vow that destroys sin.'
समाचष्ट स धर्मात्मा सर्वज्ञानप्रकाशकम् । ज्ञानं स्तोत्रं व्रतं ध्यानं विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः
That righteous one explained the knowledge, hymn, vow, and meditation that reveal all wisdom, pertaining to the great-souled Viṣṇu.
विष्णुरुवाच- तस्मात्सा हि प्रजग्राह संस्थिता निर्जने वने । सर्वद्वंद्वविनिर्मुक्ता संजाता तपसि स्थिता
Viṣṇu said: 'Therefore, she accepted it, remaining in a solitary forest, freed from all dualities, steadfast in austerity.'
व्रतं चक्रे जिताहारा निराधारा सुदुःखिता । कामक्रोधविहीना सा वर्गं संयम्य नित्यशः
She undertook the vow, controlling her food, unsupported, deeply afflicted, free from desire and anger, always restraining her senses.
इंद्रियाणां महाराज महामोहं निरस्य सा । अब्दे चतुर्थके प्राप्ते सुप्रसन्नो जनार्दनः
O great king, having dispelled the great delusion of the senses, when the fourth year arrived, Janārdana became exceedingly pleased.
तस्यै वरं दातुकामश्चायातो वरनायकः । तस्यै संदर्शयामास स्वरूपं वरदः प्रभुः
Desiring to grant her a boon, the bestower of boons himself appeared to her and revealed his true form, the gracious Lord.
सूत उवाच- इंद्रनीलघनश्यामं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् । सर्वाभरणशोभाढ्यं पद्महस्तं महेश्वरम्
Sūta said: 'He was dark as a rain cloud and blue as indra-nīla, bearing conch, discus, and mace, adorned with all ornaments, holding a lotus, the great Lord.'
बद्धांजलिपुटा भूत्वा वेपमाना निराश्रया । उवाच गद्गदैर्वाक्यैः प्रणता मधुसूदनम्
With hands joined in reverence, trembling and without support, she spoke to Madhusudana, bowing, with words broken by emotion.
तेजसा तव दिव्येन स्थातुं शक्नोमि नैव हि । दिव्यरूपो भवेः कस्त्वं कृपया मम चाग्रतः
By the brilliance of your divine radiance, I am unable to stand; who are you, appearing before me in this celestial form, with compassion?