दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तश्च दिव्यालंकारभूषितः । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जायते विपुले कुले
Anointed with divine fragrances, adorned with celestial ornaments, then, after falling from heaven, he is born in a great family.
धनवान्दानशीलश्च धार्मिकश्चैव जायते । पुनः स्मरति तत्तीर्थं गमनं तत्र कुर्वते
He is born wealthy, generous, and righteous; he remembers again his pilgrimage to that holy place.
तारयित्वा कुलशतं रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति । योजनानां शतं साग्रं श्रूयते सरिदुत्तमा
After delivering a hundred families, he goes to the world of Rudra; this best of rivers is said to extend a little over a hundred yojanas.
विस्तारेण तु राजेन्द्र योजनद्वयमंतरम् । षष्टितीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथैव च
In breadth, O king of kings, it spans two yojanas; there are sixty thousand holy places, and likewise sixty crores.
पर्वतस्य समंतात्तु तिष्ठंत्यमरकंटके । ब्रह्मचारी शुचिर्भूत्वा जितक्रोधो जितेंद्रियः
On all sides of the mountain, at Amarakantaka, one should remain as a celibate, pure, with anger subdued and senses controlled.
सर्वहिंसानिवृत्तश्च सर्वभूतहिते रतः । एवं सर्वसमाचारः क्षेत्रपालान्परिव्रजेत्
Having renounced all violence and devoted to the welfare of all beings, thus conducting oneself in every way, one should approach the guardians of the region.
तस्य पुण्यफलं राजन्शृणुष्वावहितो हि मे । शतं वर्षसहस्राणां स्वर्गे मोदेत पांडव
Hear from me, O King, with attention, the merit obtained by such a person: for a hundred thousand years, O Pandava, he enjoys happiness in heaven.
अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णे दिव्यस्त्रीपरिचारिते । दिव्यगंधानुलिप्तश्च दिव्यालंकारभूषितः
Surrounded by groups of Apsarases, attended by celestial women, anointed with divine fragrances and adorned with celestial ornaments,
क्रीडते देवलोके तु दैवतैः सह मोदते । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो राजा भवति वीर्यवान्
He sports in the world of the gods and delights together with the deities; then, when he falls from heaven, he is born as a powerful king.
नारद उवाच- नर्मदा तु नदीश्रेष्ठा पुण्या पुण्यतमा त्रिषु । मुनिभिस्तु महाभागैर्विभक्ता धर्मकांक्षिभिः
Narada said: The Narmada is the foremost of rivers, most holy among the three, divided by great sages who desire righteousness.
यज्ञोपवीतमात्राणि प्रविभक्तानि पांडव । तेषु स्नात्वा तु राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
The sacred divisions are measured by the length of a sacred thread, O Pandava; bathing in them, O king, one is freed from all sins.
जलेश्वरं च यत्तीर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तस्योत्पत्तिं कथयतः शृणु पांडवनंदन
The holy place called Jaleshvara, renowned in the three worlds—hear, O delight of the Pandavas, the account of its origin as I relate it.
पुरा मुनिगणाः सर्वे सेन्द्राश्चैव मरुद्गणाः । स्तुवंति ते महात्मानं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
Once, all the hosts of sages, along with Indra and the Maruts, praised that great soul, the god of gods, Maheshvara.
स्तुवमानास्तु संप्राप्ता यत्र देवो महेश्वरः । विज्ञापयंति देवेशं सेंद्राश्चैव मरुद्गणाः । भयोद्विग्नान्विरूपाक्ष परित्रायस्व नः प्रभो
While praising him, they arrived where the god Maheshvara was; Indra and the Maruts made their request to the Lord of the gods: 'O wide-eyed one, we are distressed by fear—protect us, O Lord.'
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 what fear has arisen?'
कथयध्वं महाभागा एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् । एवमुक्तास्तु रुद्रेणाकथयन्नमितव्रताः
'Speak, O greatly fortunate ones, for 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: 'Indeed, there is a terrible and mighty demon, famed as Bana, proud of his strength, whose city is Tripura.'
गगने तु वसद्दिव्यं भ्रमते तस्य तेजसा । तस्माद्भीता विरूपाक्ष त्वामेव शरणं गताः
'Dwelling in the sky, he moves about with his brilliance; because of him, O wide-eyed one, we are afraid and have sought refuge in you.'
त्रायस्व महतो दुःखाद्देवत्वं हि परा गतिः । एवं प्रसादं देवेश सर्वेषां कर्तुमर्हसि
'Rescue us from this great distress, for divinity is the highest refuge; thus, O Lord of gods, you should grant favor to all.'
येन देवाः सुप्रसन्नाः सुखमेधंति शंकर । परां निर्वृतिमायांति तत्प्रभो कर्तुमर्हसि
'By whom the gods are well pleased and dwell in happiness, O Shankara, you should grant that supreme bliss, O Lord.'
देव उवाच-। एतत्सर्वं करिष्यामि मा विषादं करिष्यथ । अचिरेणैव कालेन कुर्यां युष्मत्सुखावहम्
The god said: 'I shall do all this; do not be disheartened. In a short time, I will bring you happiness.'
आश्वासयित्वा तान्सर्वान्नर्मदातटमास्थितः । चिंतयामास सर्वेशस्तद्वधं प्रति पांडव
Having reassured them all, he took his place on the bank of the Narmada; the Lord of all pondered, O Pandava, on the means to slay him.
कथं केन प्रकारेण हंतव्यस्त्रिपुरो मया । एवं संचिंत्य भगवान्नारदं स्मरते तदा । स्मरणादेव संप्राप्तो नारदः समुपस्थितः
How, and by what means, should I destroy Tripura? Thus reflecting, the Blessed Lord then remembers Nārada. By the very act of remembrance, Nārada immediately appears and stands 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 must I accomplish, O Lord? Tell me.
ईश्वर उवाच-। गच्छ नारद तत्रैव यत्र तत्त्रिपुरं पुरम् । बाणस्य दानवेन्द्रस्य शीघ्रं गच्छाथ तत्कुरु
Īśvara said: Go, Nārada, to that very place where the city of Tripura is. Go swiftly to Bāṇa, the lord of the demons, and do what must be done.
भर्तारो देवताभाश्च स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः । तासां वै तेजसा विप्र भ्रमते त्रिपुरं दिवि
Its lords are like the gods, and its women resemble celestial nymphs; by their radiance, O brāhmaṇa, Tripura shines in the heavens.
तत्र गत्वा तु विप्रेंद्र मंत्रमन्यं प्रचोदय । देवस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिस्त्वरितविक्रमः
Go there, O foremost of brāhmaṇas, and inspire another mantra. Hearing the god's words, the sage, swift and resolute, set out.
स्त्रीणां हृदयनाशाय प्रविष्टस्तं पुरं प्रति । शोभते तत्पुरं दिव्यं नानारत्नोपशोभितम्
To bring ruin to the hearts of the women, he entered that city. That divine city shone, adorned with various precious gems.
शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं ततो द्विगुणमायतम् । ततः पश्यति तत्रैव बाणं तु बलदर्पितम्
It stretched a hundred yojanas wide and twice as long. There, he saw Bāṇa, proud of his strength.
मालाकुंडलकेयूरैर्मुकुटेन विराजितम् । हाररत्नैश्च संछन्नं चंद्रकांतिविभूषितम्
He was resplendent with garlands, earrings, armlets, and a crown, covered with jeweled necklaces and adorned with the radiance of the moon.