राजापि प्रियया सार्द्धं क्षुधातृष्णाप्रपीडितः । न पश्यति हृषीकेशं दुःखेन महतान्वितः
The king, together with his beloved, afflicted by hunger and thirst, did not see Hrishikesha, overwhelmed by great suffering.
सूत उवाच- एवं स दुःखितो राजा प्रियया सह सत्तम । आकुल व्याकुलो जातः पीडितः क्षुधया भृशम्
Suta said: Thus, the king, distressed, together with his beloved, became greatly agitated and troubled, afflicted intensely by hunger.
इतश्चेतश्च वेगैश्च धावते वसुधाधिपः । सर्वाभरणशोभांगो वस्त्रचंदनभूषितः
Here and there, with haste, the lord of the earth ran; adorned with all ornaments, clothed and smeared with sandalwood.
पुष्पमालाप्रशोभांगो हारकुंडलकंकणैः । रत्नदीप्तिप्रशोभांगः प्रययौ स महीपतिः
Adorned with garlands of flowers, with necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, his limbs shining with the brilliance of jewels, that king proceeded.
एवं दुःखसमाचारः स्तूयमानश्च पाठकैः । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टः स्वप्रियां वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus, though surrounded by suffering, and praised by reciters, overwhelmed by sorrow and distress, he spoke words to his beloved.
विष्णुलोकमहं प्राप्तस्त्वया सह सुशोभने । ऋषिभिः स्तूयमानोपि विमानेनापि भामिनि
I have attained the world of Vishnu together with you, O beautiful one; though praised by sages and riding in a celestial chariot, O lovely lady.
कर्मणा केन मे चेयं क्षुधातीव प्रवर्द्धते । विष्णुलोकं च संप्राप्य न दृष्टो मधुसूदनः
By what action has this intense hunger arisen for me? Having reached the world of Vishnu, Madhusudana is not seen.
तत्किं हि कारणं भद्रे न भुनज्मि महत्फलम् । कर्मणाथ निजेनापि एतद्दुःखं प्रवर्त्तते
What is the reason, O gentle one, that I do not enjoy the great fruit? Or is it by my own action that this suffering occurs?
सैवं श्रुत्वा च तद्वाक्यं राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
She, having heard those words, spoke this to the king.
भार्योवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वया राजन्नास्ति धर्मस्य वै फलम् । वेदशास्त्रपुराणेषु ये पठंति च ब्राह्मणाः
The wife said: Truly you have spoken, O king; there is no fruit of righteousness. In the Vedas, scriptures, and Puranas, those Brahmins who recite—
दुःखशोकौ विधूयेह सर्वदोषैः प्रमुच्यते । नामोच्चारेण देवस्य विष्णोश्चैव सुचक्रिणः
Here, by dispelling sorrow and suffering, one is freed from all faults; by uttering the name of the virtuous god Vishnu.
पुण्यात्मानो महाभागा ध्यायमाना जनार्दनम् । त्वयैवाराधितो देवः शंखचक्रगदाधरः
Those blessed souls, of great fortune, who meditate on Janardana; the god bearing the conch, discus, and mace has been worshipped by you.
अन्नादिदानं विप्रेभ्यो न प्रदत्तं द्विजोदितम् । फलं तस्य प्रजानामि न दृष्टो मधुसूदनः
The giving of food and such to the Brahmins, as prescribed for twice-born men, was not performed; I know the result of that, for Madhusudana was not seen.
क्षुधा मे बाधते राजंस्तृष्णा चैव प्रशोषयेत् । कुंजल उवाच- एवमुक्तस्तु प्रियया राजा चिंताकुलेंद्रियः
Hunger oppresses me, O King, and thirst dries me up as well. Kuñjala said: Thus addressed by his beloved, the king, his senses troubled by anxiety—
ततो दृष्ट्वा महापुण्यमाश्रमं श्रमनाशनम् । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं तडागैरुपशोभितम्
Then, seeing a most holy hermitage, a remover of fatigue, filled with divine trees and adorned with ponds,
वापीकुंडतडागैश्च पुण्यतोयप्रपूरितैः । हंसकारंडवाकीर्णं कह्लारैरुपशोभितम्
With wells, pools, and tanks filled with sacred waters, crowded with swans and cranes, and beautified by lotuses,
आश्रमः शोभते पुत्र मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं मृगव्रातैश्च शोभितम्
The hermitage shone, O son, with sages who know the truth, filled with divine trees and adorned by herds of deer.
नानापुष्पसमाकीर्णं हृद्यगंधसमाकुलम् । द्विजसिद्धैः समाकीर्णमृषिशिष्यैः समाकुलम्
Abundant with various flowers, pervaded by delightful fragrances, crowded with twice-born sages and their disciples.
योगियोगेंद्र संघुष्टं देववृंदैरलंकृतम् । कदलीवनसंबाधैः सुफलैः परिशोभितम्
Resounding with assemblies of yogis and great yogis, adorned by hosts of gods, and splendid with dense groves of fruitful plantains.
नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वकामसमन्वितम् । श्रीखंडैश्चारुगंधैश्च सुफलैः शोभितं सदा
Filled with various trees, granting every desire, always adorned with fragrant sandalwood and abundant fruits.
एवं पुण्यं समाकीर्णं ब्रह्मलक्ष्मसमायुतम् । स सुबाहुस्ततो राजा तया सुप्रियया सह
Thus, that meritorious place, filled with virtue and marked by the presence of Brahma, was entered by King Subahu together with his beloved.
प्रविवेश महापुण्यं तद्वनं सर्वकामदम् । भासमानो दिशः सर्वा यत्रास्ते सूर्यसंनिभः
He entered that most holy forest, bestower of all desires, shining in all directions, where one resplendent as the sun abided.
राजमानो महादीप्त्या परया सूर्यसंनिभः । योगासनसमारूढो योगपट्टेन संवृतः
Radiant with great brilliance, like the sun, seated in yogic posture, covered with a yogic cloth,
वामदेवऋषिश्रेष्ठो वैष्णवानां वरस्तथा । ध्यायमानो हृषीकेशं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
The foremost sage Vāmadeva, the best among Vaishnavas, was meditating on Hrishikesha, the giver of enjoyment and liberation.
वामदेवं महात्मानं तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिसत्तमम् । त्वरं गत्वा प्रणम्यैव स राजा प्रियया सह
Seeing that great-souled Vāmadeva, the best of sages, the king, together with his beloved, quickly approached and bowed.
वामदेवस्ततो दृष्ट्वा प्रणतं राजसत्तमम् । आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव राजानं प्रिययान्वितम्
Then Vāmadeva, seeing the excellent king bowing, greeted the king, accompanied by his beloved, with blessings.
उपवेश्यासने पुण्ये सुबाहुं राजसत्तमम् । आसनादि ततः पाद्यैरर्घपूजादिभिस्तथा
He seated Subahu, the excellent king, on a holy seat, and then honored him with water for the feet, offerings, and other rites.
मुनिना पूजितो भूपः प्रियया सह चागतः । अथ पप्रच्छ राजानं महाभागवतोत्तमम्
The king, who had come with his beloved, was honored by the sage; then the king asked the most exalted devotee.
वामदेव उवाच- त्वामहं विष्णुधर्मज्ञं विष्णुभक्तं नरोत्तमम् । जाने ज्ञानेन राजेंद्र दिव्येन चोलभूमिपम्
Vāmadeva said: I know you, O knower of Vishnu's dharma, O devotee of Vishnu, best of men, O king of Chola, by divine knowledge.
निरामयश्चागतोसि तार्क्ष्यया भार्यया सह । राजोवाच- निरामयश्चागतोऽस्मि प्राप्तो विष्णोः परं पदम्
You have arrived here free from affliction, together with your wife Tārkṣyā. The king said: I have come here free from affliction, having attained the supreme abode of Vishnu.