ईश्वर उवाच-। स्वागतं तु मुनिश्रेष्ठाः किमर्थमिह चागताः । किं दुःखं कोऽनुसंतापः कुतो वा भयमागतम्
The Lord said: 'Welcome, O best of sages! For what purpose have you come here? What sorrow, what distress, or from where has fear arisen?
कथयध्वं महाभागा एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् । एवमुक्तास्तु रुद्रेणाकथयन्नमितव्रताः
Tell me, O blessed ones, I wish to know this.' Thus addressed by Rudra, those of firm vows spoke.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। अपि घोरो महावीर्यो दानवो बलदर्पितः । बाणो नामेति विख्यातो यस्य वै त्रिपुरं पुरम्
The sages said: Is it true that the fierce and mighty demon, renowned as Bāṇa, whose strength is excessive, is the one for whom Tripura is the city?
गगने तु वसद्दिव्यं भ्रमते तस्य तेजसा । तस्माद्भीता विरूपाक्ष त्वामेव शरणं गताः
His radiance moves through the sky, dwelling divinely; because of this, O Virūpākṣa, we are afraid and have come to you for refuge.
त्रायस्व महतो दुःखाद्देवत्वं हि परा गतिः । एवं प्रसादं देवेश सर्वेषां कर्तुमर्हसि
Rescue us from this great suffering, for divinity is the highest path; O Lord of the gods, you ought to grant such favor to all.
येन देवाः सुप्रसन्नाः सुखमेधंति शंकर । परां निर्वृतिमायांति तत्प्रभो कर्तुमर्हसि
By whom the gods are well-pleased and enjoy happiness, O Śaṃkara, they attain supreme bliss; O master, you ought to accomplish that.
देव उवाच-। एतत्सर्वं करिष्यामि मा विषादं करिष्यथ । अचिरेणैव कालेन कुर्यां युष्मत्सुखावहम्
The god said: I will do all this; do not be distressed. In a short time, I shall bring you happiness.
आश्वासयित्वा तान्सर्वान्नर्मदातटमास्थितः । चिंतयामास सर्वेशस्तद्वधं प्रति पांडव
Having reassured them all, he took his place on the bank of the Narmadā; the Lord of all pondered the killing, O Pāṇḍava.
कथं केन प्रकारेण हंतव्यस्त्रिपुरो मया । एवं संचिंत्य भगवान्नारदं स्मरते तदा । स्मरणादेव संप्राप्तो नारदः समुपस्थितः
How, by what means, and in what manner should I slay Tripura? Thus reflecting, the blessed one remembered Nārada; by remembrance alone, Nārada arrived and stood before him.
नारद उवाच-। आज्ञापय महादेव किमर्थं संस्मृतो ह्यहम् । किं कार्यं तु मया देव कर्तव्यं कथयस्व मे
Nārada said: Command me, O great god; for what purpose have I been remembered? What task should I perform, O god? Tell me.
ईश्वर उवाच-। गच्छ नारद तत्रैव यत्र तत्त्रिपुरं पुरम् । बाणस्य दानवेन्द्रस्य शीघ्रं गच्छाथ तत्कुरु
Īśvara said: Go, Nārada, right there where that city of Tripura is; quickly go and do that for Bāṇa, the king of demons.
भर्तारो देवताभाश्च स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः । तासां वै तेजसा विप्र भ्रमते त्रिपुरं दिवि
The husbands are like gods, and the women are like apsarases; O sage, by their radiance, Tripura moves in the sky.
तत्र गत्वा तु विप्रेंद्र मंत्रमन्यं प्रचोदय । देवस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिस्त्वरितविक्रमः
Go there, O best of sages, and inspire another mantra; hearing the god's words, the sage acted swiftly.
स्त्रीणां हृदयनाशाय प्रविष्टस्तं पुरं प्रति । शोभते तत्पुरं दिव्यं नानारत्नोपशोभितम्
Entering that city for the destruction of the women's hearts, he beheld that divine city, adorned with various jewels.
शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं ततो द्विगुणमायतम् । ततः पश्यति तत्रैव बाणं तु बलदर्पितम्
It was a hundred yojanas wide and twice as long; there, he saw Bāṇa, proud of his strength.
मालाकुंडलकेयूरैर्मुकुटेन विराजितम् । हाररत्नैश्च संछन्नं चंद्रकांतिविभूषितम्
Adorned with garlands, earrings, armlets, and a crown, covered with necklaces of gems, and embellished with the radiance of the moon.
ललनास्तस्य रत्नाढ्याः नराः कनकमंडिताः । उत्थितो नारदं दृष्ट्वा दानवेंद्रो महाबलः
His women were rich in jewels, and his men were adorned with gold; seeing Nārada, the mighty king of demons arose.
बाण उवाच-। स देवर्षिः स्वयं प्राप्तो मद्गृहं प्रति संप्रति । अर्घं पाद्यं यथान्यायं क्रियतां द्विजसत्तम
Bāṇa said: The divine sage himself has now arrived at my house; let the proper offerings and foot-washing be performed, O best of twice-born.
चिरात्समागतो विप्र स्थीयतामिदमासनम् । एवं संभावयित्वा तु नारदं समुपस्थितम्
You have come after a long time, O sage; let this seat be prepared. Thus, having honored Nārada, he welcomed him.
तस्य भार्या महादेवी अनौपम्या तु नामतः
His wife, the great goddess, was named Anaupamyā.
अनौपम्योवाच-। भगवन्मानुषे लोके देवास्तुष्यंति केन वै । व्रतेन नियमेनापि दानेन तपसाथवा
Anaupamya said: O venerable one, by what means are the gods pleased in the world of humans—by a vow, by discipline, by giving, or by austerity?
नारद उवाच-। तिलधेनुं च यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे । ससागरा नवद्वीपा दत्ता भवति मेदिनी
Nārada said: Whoever gives a sesame-cow to a brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas, it is as if he has given the earth with its nine continents and oceans.
सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशैर्विमानैः सर्वकामिकैः । मोदते चाक्षयं कालं सुचिरं कृतशासनः
He enjoys for a long, unending time in palaces shining like ten million suns, fulfilling every desire, having accomplished this act.
आम्रातककपित्थानि कदलीवनमेव च । कदंब चंपकाशोका अनेक विविधद्रुमाः
There are mango, wood-apple, and banana groves, as well as kadamba, campaka, and ashoka trees, and many other various trees.
अष्टमी च चतुर्थी च द्वादशी च तथा उभे । संक्रांतिर्विषुवं चैव दिनच्छिद्रमुखं तथा
The eighth, the fourth, and the twelfth days, as well as both transitions, the solstice, the equinox, and the opening of the day—
पुण्यान्येतानि सर्वाणि उपवासंति याः स्त्रियः । तासां तु धर्म्मयुक्तानां स्वर्गे वासो न संशयः
All these are auspicious; women who observe fasts on them, being devoted to righteousness, undoubtedly dwell in heaven.
कलिकालात्तु निर्मुक्ताः सर्वपापविवर्जिताः । उपवासरता नार्यो नोपसर्पंति तापसाः
Freed from the age of Kali and devoid of all sin, women devoted to fasting are not approached by ascetics.
एवं श्रुत्वा तु सुश्रोणि यथेष्टं कर्तुमर्हसि । नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञी वचनमब्रवीत्
Having heard thus, O fair-hipped one, you should act as you wish. Hearing Nārada's words, the queen spoke.
प्रसादं कुरु विप्रेंद्र दानं गृह्ण यथेप्सितम् । सुवर्णमणिरत्नानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च
Grant your favor, O best of brāhmaṇas, and accept whatever gift you desire—gold, jewels, gems, garments, and ornaments.
तत्ते दास्याम्यहं विप्र यच्चान्यदपि दुर्ल्लभम् । प्रतिगृह्ण द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रीयेतां हरिशंकरौ
I will give you that, O brāhmaṇa, and anything else rare as well. Accept it, best of twice-born, may Hari and Śaṅkara be pleased.