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.
नमोऽस्तु देवदेवेश नमोऽस्तु परमेश्वर। त्वामहं शरणं प्राप्तः शरणागतवत्सल
Salutations to you, lord of gods, salutations to you, supreme lord; I have come to you for refuge, O protector of those who seek shelter.
उद्धरस्व हृषीकेश मायां कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठसि । विश्वस्थानां प्रजानां तु विद्वांसंविश्वनायकम्
Lift me up, O Hṛṣīkeśa, having assumed a form through your māyā; you are the wise lord of all beings in the universe.
जानाम्यहं जगन्नाथं भवन्तं मधुसूदनम्। मामेव रक्ष गोविन्द विश्वरूप नमोस्तु ते
I know you as the lord of the universe, as Madhusūdana; protect me, O Govinda, O universal form, salutations to you.
"कुञ्जल उवाच- गते बहुतिथे काले दत्तात्रेयो नृपोत्तमम्। उवाच मत्तरूपेण कुरुष्व वचनं मम
Kuñjala said: When much time had passed, Dattātreya spoke to the best of kings, having taken on an intoxicated form: 'Do as I say.'
कपाले मे सुरां देहि पाचितं मांसभोजनम्। एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं स चायुः पृथिवीपतिः
'Give me liquor in a skull and well-cooked meat to eat.' Hearing these words, that king Āyu acted accordingly.
उत्सुकस्तु कपालेन सुरामाहृत्य वेगवान्। पलं सुपाचितं चैव च्छित्त्वा हस्तेन सत्वरम्
Eagerly, he quickly brought liquor in a skull, and, cutting a well-cooked piece of meat with his hand, hurriedly.
नृपेन्द्रः प्रददौ चापि दत्तात्रेयाय सत्तम। अथ प्रसन्नचेताः स संजातो मुनिपुङ्गवः
The king gave them to the excellent Dattātreya; then that foremost sage became pleased in mind.
दृष्ट्वा भक्तिं प्रभावं च गुरुशुश्रूषणं परम्। समुवाच नृपेन्द्रं तमायुं प्रणतमानसम्
Seeing his devotion, power, and supreme service to his teacher, he spoke to that king Āyu, whose mind was bowed in reverence.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते दुर्लभं भुवि भूपते। सर्वमेव प्रदास्यामि यंयमिच्छसि साम्प्रतम्
'Choose a boon, good fortune to you, O king; I will grant you whatever you desire, even if it is rare in this world.'
"राजोवाच- भवान्दाता वरं सत्यं कृपया मुनिसत्तम। पुत्रं देहि गुणोपेतं सर्वज्ञं गुणसंयुतम्
The king said: 'You are the true giver of boons, O best of sages, by your grace; grant me a son endowed with virtues, all-knowing and full of qualities.'