पूर्वमाचरितं घोरं पतिकामनया तपः। तव नाशार्थमिच्छंती चरिष्ये दारुणं पुनः
The dreadful austerity I performed before, desiring the destruction of your husband, I will again undertake, wishing for your ruin.
यदा त्वां निहतं दुष्टं नहुषेण महात्मना। निििििशितैर्वज्रसङ्काशैर्बाणैराशीविषोपमैः।९१ रणे निपतितं पाप मुक्तकेशं सलोहितम् । गतासुं च प्रपश्यामि तदा यास्याम्यहं पतिम्
When I see you, wicked one, slain by the great-souled Nahuṣa with arrows sharp as thunderbolts and venomous as serpents, fallen in battle, hair disheveled, bloodied, and lifeless—then I shall go to my husband.
एवं सुनियमं कृत्वा गंगातीरमनुत्तमम्। संस्थिता हुंडनाशाय निश्चला शिवनंदिनी
Having thus firmly resolved, she stood unmoving on the excellent bank of the Ganges, intent on the destruction of Huṇḍa, steadfast as Śiva’s devotee.
वह्नेर्यथादीप्तिमती शिखोज्ज्वला तेजोभियुक्ता प्रदहेत्सुलोकान्। क्रोधेन दीप्ता विबुधेशपुत्री गङ्गातटे दुश्चरमाचरत्तपः
Just as a blazing, radiant flame of fire, endowed with energy, can burn up the worlds, so, inflamed with anger, the daughter of the lord of the gods performed fierce austerity on the bank of the Ganges.
"कुञ्जल उवाच- एवमुक्ता महाभाग शिवस्य तनया गता । गङ्गांभसि ततः स्नात्वा स्वपुरे काञ्चनाह्वये
"Kuñjala said: Thus addressed, the illustrious daughter of Śiva went, bathed in the waters of the Ganges, and then returned to her own city called Kāñcana."
तपश्चचार तन्वङ्गी हुण्डस्य वधहेतवे । अशोकसुन्दरी बाला सत्येन च समन्विता
The slender-limbed maiden, Aśokasundarī, endowed with truth, performed austerity for the destruction of Huṇḍa.
हुण्डोपि दुःखितोभूतः शापदग्धेन चेतसा। चिंतयामास सन्तप्त अतीव वचनानलैः
Huṇḍa, too, became miserable, his mind scorched by the curse; greatly tormented, he reflected upon her words, which burned like fire.
समाहूय अमात्यं तं कम्पनाख्यमथाब्रवीत् । समाचष्ट स वृत्तान्तं तस्याः शापोद्भवं महत्
Summoning his minister named Kampana, he spoke to him and related the entire story, the great origin of her curse.
शप्तोस्म्यशोकसुंदर्या शिवस्यापि सुकन्यया। नहुषस्यापि मे भर्त्तुस्त्वं तु हस्तान्मरिष्यसि
"I have been cursed by Aśokasundarī, the virtuous daughter of Śiva, and by my husband Nahuṣa as well; you will die at his hands."
नैव जातस्त्वसौ गर्भ आयोर्भार्या च गुर्विणी। यथा सत्याद्व्यलीकस्तु तस्याः शापस्तथा कुरु
That one has not yet been born, and Āyu’s wife is pregnant; as the curse was pronounced in truth, so let it be fulfilled.
कम्पन उवाच- अपहृत्य प्रियां तस्य आयोश्चापि समानय । अनेनापि प्रकारेण तव शत्रुर्न जायते
Kampana said: Take away his beloved and bring his life as well; even by this method, your enemy will not be defeated.
नो वा प्रपातयस्व त्वं गर्भं तस्याः प्रभीषणैः । अनेनापि प्रकारेण तव शत्रुर्न जायते
Or, you may cause her to miscarry by terrifying means; even by this method, your enemy will not be defeated.
जन्मकालं प्रतीक्षस्व नहुषस्य दुरात्मनः । अपहृत्य समानीय जहि त्वं पापचेतनम्
Wait for the birth of Nahusha, the wicked one; after taking and bringing him, you must kill that evil-minded one.
एवं समंत्र्य तेनापि कंपनेन स दानवः । अभूत्स उद्यमोपेतो नहुषस्य प्रणाशने
Thus, after consulting with Kampana, that demon became determined to destroy Nahusha.
'विष्णुरुवाच- एलपुत्रो महाभाग आयुर्नाम क्षितीश्वरः। सार्वभौमः स धर्मात्मा सत्यव्रतपरायणः
Viṣṇu said: The fortunate son of Ela, named Āyus, was a king; he was a universal sovereign, righteous, and devoted to truth and vows.
इन्द्रोपेन्द्रसमो राजा तपसा यशसा बलैः। दानयज्ञैः सुपुण्यैश्च सत्येन नियमेन च
That king, equal to Indra and Upendra in austerity, fame, and strength, excelled in charity, sacrifices, great virtues, truth, and discipline.
एकच्छत्रेण वै राज्यं चक्रे भूपतिसत्तमः। पृथिव्यां सर्वधर्मज्ञः सोमवंशस्य भूषणम्
The excellent lord of kings ruled under a single umbrella, knowing all dharmas on earth, and was the ornament of the Soma dynasty.
पुत्रं न विंदते राजा तेन दुःखी व्यजायत। चिंतयामास धर्मात्मा कथं मे जायते सुतः
That king did not obtain a son and thus became sorrowful; the righteous one pondered, 'How will a son be born to me?'
इति चिन्तां समापेदे आयुश्च पृथिवीपतिः। पुत्रार्थं परमं यत्नमकरोत्सुसमाहितः
Thus, Āyus, the lord of the earth, entered into contemplation; for the sake of a son, he made the highest effort with great resolve.
अत्रिपुत्रो महात्मा वै दत्तात्रेयो महामुनिः। क्रीडमानः स्त्रिया सार्द्धं मदिरारुणलोचनः
The great-souled son of Atri, Dattātreya, the great sage, was playing with a woman, his eyes reddened by wine.
वारुण्या मत्त धर्मात्मा स्त्रीवृन्दैश्च समावृतः। अङ्के युवतिमाधाय सर्वयोषिद्वरां शुभाम्
Intoxicated with Varuni, the righteous one was surrounded by groups of women; holding the most beautiful of all women on his lap.
गायते नृत्यते विप्रः सुरां च पिबते भृशम्। विना यज्ञोपवीतेन महायोगीश्वरोत्तमः
The Brahmin sang, danced, and drank liquor abundantly, without the sacred thread, though he was the supreme lord of great yogis.
पुष्पमालाभिर्दिव्याभिर्मुक्ताहारपरिच्छदैः । चंदनागुरुदिग्धांगो राजमानो मुनीश्वरः
Adorned with divine flower garlands, pearl necklaces, and ornaments, his body smeared with sandalwood and agar, the sage shone like a king.
तस्याश्रमं नृपो गत्वा तं दृष्ट्वा द्विजसत्तमम् । प्रणाममकरोन्मूर्ध्ना दण्डवत्सुसमाहितः
The king went to his hermitage and, seeing the foremost of twice-born, made a full prostration with his head, carefully and respectfully.
अत्रिपुत्रः स धर्मात्मा समालोक्य नृपोत्तमम्। आगतं पुरतो भक्त्या अथ ध्यानं समास्थितः
The righteous son of Atri, seeing the excellent king come before him with devotion, then entered into meditation.
एवं वर्षशतं प्राप्तं तस्य भूपस्य सत्तम। निश्चलं शान्तिमापन्नं मानसं भक्तितत्परम्
Thus, for a hundred years, that excellent king attained unwavering peace, his mind absorbed in devotion.
समाहूय उवाचेदं किमर्थं क्लिश्यसे नृप। ब्रह्माचारेण हीनोस्मि ब्रह्मत्वं नास्ति मे कदा
Summoning him, he said: 'Why do you suffer, O king? I am deficient in brahmacarya; I never attain Brahmanhood.'
सुरामांसप्रलुब्धोऽस्मि स्त्रियासक्तः सदैव हि । वरदाने न मे शक्तिरन्यं शुश्रूष ब्राह्मणम्
I am always greedy for liquor and meat, and attached to women; I have no power to grant boons—serve another Brahmin.
"आयुरुवाच- भवादृशो महाभाग नास्ति ब्राह्मणसत्तमः। सर्वकामप्रदाता वै त्रैलोक्ये परमेश्वरः
Āyu said: O most fortunate one, there is no best of Brāhmaṇas like you; you are the supreme lord who grants all desires in the three worlds.
अत्रिवंशे महाभाग गोविंदः परमेश्वरः। ब्राह्मणस्य स्वरूपेण भवान्वै गरुडध्वजः
O blessed one, in the lineage of Atri, Govinda, the supreme lord, you yourself, O bearer of the Garuḍa banner, have appeared in the form of a Brāhmaṇa.