त्वत्संगे धनलोभेन विट्पते चलिता यतः । विगता न धनाकांक्षा मरणावसरेप्यतः
Because of greed for wealth, O lord of merchants, we strayed in your company; but now, even at the moment of death, all desire for wealth has left us.
तीर्थराजजलस्यास्य तिष्ठतो जठरे हि नः । मरणे ह्यनुभावात्तु मैत्री प्राप्ता धनेशितुः
As the water of this king of sacred fords remained in our bellies, at death, by its power, we have gained friendship with the lord of wealth.
नमामस्त्वां वयं यामो धनेश नगरीं प्रभो । विमानैस्तद्गणानीतैर्नानामणिविभूषितैः
We bow to you and now go, O lord of wealth, to your city, O master, in aerial chariots brought by his attendants, adorned with various jewels.
प्रयाहि मा विलंबस्व तीर्थे निगमबोधके । त्वमनेनसमं साधो तारयैनमपि द्रुतम्
Proceed, do not delay at the sacred ford that reveals the Veda; you, O noble one, cross over together with him, and quickly bring him across as well.
शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्त्वा ते गतास्तात दिश्युदीच्यां समंततः । विमानकिंकिणीनादैर्नादयंतोऽथ रोदसी
Śivaśarman said: Having spoken thus, they departed, O dear one, in the northern direction, resounding through the heavens with the jingling of their aerial chariots.
अथ वैश्यो मम पिता तमाह रजनीचरम् । शरभ उवाच- उत्तिष्ठ नय मामाशु तीर्थे निगमबोधके
Then my father, the merchant, spoke to the night-wandering demon: Śarabha said: Arise, quickly take me to the sacred ford that reveals the Veda.
ज्वरार्त्तेन मया पद्भ्यां तत्र गंतुं न शक्यते । यो मां नयति तत्तीर्थं त्वदन्यो नास्ति कश्चन
Afflicted by fever, I am unable to go there on foot; there is no one but you who can take me to that sacred ford.
शिवशर्मोवाच- तथेति तमथाश्वास्य वैश्यं स रजनीचरः । स्कंधमारोप्य वेगेन तत्तीर्थं पावनं ययौ
Śivaśarman said: 'So be it,' said the night-wanderer, comforting the merchant; lifting him onto his shoulder, he swiftly went to that holy ford.
ऊषतुस्तावुभौ तत्र विश्पतिः स च राक्षसः । कुर्वंतौ स्नानमात्रं तु सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमे
There both of them, the lord of men and the demon, stayed, performing only the ritual bath at that most excellent of all sacred fords.
अथाऽहं पितुराकर्ण्य महतीं गुरुवेदनाम् । तं प्रति प्रेरितो मात्रा चलितो निजसद्मतः
Then, hearing of my father's great and severe suffering, I was sent by my mother and left my own house.
अत्रागत्य मया दृष्टः स महाज्वरपीडितः । मूर्ध्ना च वंदितस्तेन दत्ताशीर्मेऽभ्यभाषि च
Arriving there, I saw him greatly afflicted by fever; I bowed my head to him, received his blessing, and he spoke to me.
शरभ उवाच- किमर्थमिह भो तात दूरमार्गे समागतः । दिनानि कतिचित्तिष्ठन्कुर्वन्नत्र निजक्रियाम्
Śarabha said: Why have you come here, dear son, on this long road? Stay here for a few days, performing your own duties.
विकटो नाम मे मित्रः राक्षसः समुपैति वै । उत्तिष्ठ वपुषामुष्य दंडवत्पत पादयोः
A friend of mine named Vikaṭa, a demon, is coming here; rise, and with your body, fall at his feet in salutation.
न भेतव्यं त्वयामुष्मात्त्यक्तहिंसादि कर्मणः । अधुना तीर्थमासाद्य सन्निधौ मम तिष्ठति
You need not fear him, for he has abandoned violent deeds; now, having reached the sacred ford, he stands here in my presence.
शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा पित्रा शरभेण महात्मना । उत्थाय पतितस्तस्य पादयोर्दंडवद्भुवि
Śivaśarman said: Thus addressed by my father, the great-souled Śarabha, I rose and fell to the ground at his feet in full prostration.
दोर्भ्यामुत्थाप्य मां सोऽथ गाढमालिंग्य राक्षसः । स्वागतं मित्रपुत्रेति जगादाशिषमीरयन्
Then the demon lifted me up with his arms, embraced me tightly, and said, 'Welcome, friend’s son,' bestowing his blessings.
राक्षस उवाच- भाग्यवानसि भो तात यत्त्वमत्र समागतः । पितुर्धर्मात्मनः श्रुत्वा ज्वरपीडां सुदारुणाम्
The rākṣasa said: O dear one, you are indeed fortunate to have arrived here, having heard of your righteous father's severe affliction with fever.
पितुराण्यमाप्नोषि तीर्थे कृत्वा तिलोदकम् । स्नात्वा कुरु क्रियां स्वीयाः पूर्वजन्मस्मरिष्यसि
You obtain merit for your father by offering sesame water at this sacred place; after bathing, perform your own rites, and you will remember your previous birth.
शिवशर्मोवाच- एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन स्नातुं तीर्थे वरांभसि । प्रविष्टोऽहं स्मरंस्तात पूर्वजन्मशुभाशुभम्
Śivaśarma said: Thus addressed by him, I entered the excellent waters of the holy place to bathe, recalling, O father, the auspicious and inauspicious deeds of my previous birth.
स्नात्वा विधिवदत्रैव पितुरंतिकमागतः । अपृच्छं रक्षसो वृत्तं कुतोऽयं धर्मधीरिति
Having bathed properly there, I came to my father's presence and asked the rākṣasa about his story, wondering how he possessed such righteousness.
पित्रोक्तं रक्षसो वृत्तं वाहानां पथिकस्य च । श्रुत्वाऽहं तीर्थराजस्य स्तुतिमस्य चकार वै
Hearing from my father about the rākṣasa's story and that of the traveler and his steeds, I then composed a hymn of praise to the lord of the holy place.
पिता मे रोगनिर्मुक्तो भविष्यति यदा तदा । यास्यामि गृहमित्यत्र दशोषितमहानि मे
My father will be freed from disease; when that happens, I will return home. Here, I have stayed for ten days.
दशाहाभ्यंतरे तात तातस्य मरणं मम । अभूदर्धजले ह्यस्य तीर्थराजस्य पश्यतः
Within those ten days, O father, my father's death occurred, as he stood in the half-submerged waters of this lordly holy place.
अथो गरुडमारुह्य वक्षसो धारयन्श्रियम् । आजगाम स्वयं विष्णुर्नवीन घनविग्रहः
Then, mounting Garuḍa and bearing splendor upon his chest, Viṣṇu himself arrived, his form like a fresh rain cloud.
पीतवासा चतुर्बाहुः पंकजारुणलोचनः । ब्रह्मेंद्रादिभिरादिव्यैः सनाथैरंधकारिणा
Clad in yellow garments, with four arms and lotus-reddened eyes, accompanied by Brahmā, Indra, and other ancient deities, all with their attendants.
सेव्यमानो गुणग्रामान्गायद्भिः किन्नरैः सह । हाहाहूहूप्रभृतिभिः स्तूयमानश्च सर्वतः
He was served by hosts of virtues, sung by Kinnaras, and praised everywhere by Hāhā, Hūhū, and others.
दत्त्वा स्वकीय सारूप्यमारोप्य गरुडं तदा । पितरं मम ब्रह्माद्यैर्वृतो वैकुंठमारुहत्
Having granted his own likeness and placed my father upon Garuḍa, surrounded by Brahmā and others, he ascended to Vaikuṇṭha.
पितुः सारूप्यमालोक्य विष्णोरहमचिंतयम् । इति चित्ते तदालोक्य जाततत्वोदये तदा
Seeing my father attain the likeness of Viṣṇu, I reflected deeply; witnessing this, realization arose within me.
न हि वर्णयितुं शक्यो ह्यस्य तीर्थशिरोमणेः । महिमा यज्जलार्द्धे स्यान्मृतो जंतुश्चतुर्भुजः
Indeed, the greatness of this supreme holy place cannot be described; one who dies in its waters becomes four-armed.
न मया सर्वथा त्याज्यं तीर्थराजमिदं ननु । अंजसा दृढमाहात्म्यं धनरोगादितृष्ण्या
I must never abandon this lord of holy places; its greatness is firm and direct, dispelling desires for wealth, disease, and other cravings.