वर्षायुतं तत्र भुक्त्वा भोगान्सर्वमनोहरान् । भारते जन्म संप्राप्य समाराध्य जगद्गुरुम्
'There, after enjoying all delightful pleasures for ten thousand years, he will be born in Bharata, and worship the teacher of the world.'
प्राप्स्यते परमं स्थानं सुरासुरसुदुर्ल्लभम् । न ज्ञातो महिमा सम्यक्छिलायाः परमेष्ठिनः
'He will attain the supreme abode, exceedingly rare for gods and demons; the true greatness of the stone of the Supreme Lord is not fully known.'
दृष्टा स्पृष्टार्चिता वापि सर्वपापहरा क्षणात् । इत्युक्त्वा विरताः सर्वे महाविष्णोर्गणा मुदा
'Seen, touched, or worshipped, it removes all sin in an instant.' Having spoken thus, all the hosts of Mahavishnu withdrew joyfully.
याम्यास्ते किंकरा राज्ञे कथयामासुरद्भुतम् । वैष्णवो हर्षमापेदे रघुनाथपरायणः
The servants of Yama then reported this wondrous event to their king; the Vaishnava, devoted to Raghunatha, experienced great joy.
मुक्तोऽसौ यमपाशाच्च गमिष्यति परं पदम् । तदाजगाम विमलं किंकिणीजालमंडितम्
He is freed from the bonds of Yama and will attain the supreme state; at that moment, he arrived at the spotless place adorned with a network of tinkling bells.
विमानं देवलोकात्तु मनोहारि महाद्भुतम् । तत्रारुह्य गतः स्वर्गं महापुण्यैर्निषेवितम्
A wondrous, captivating celestial vehicle came from the realm of the gods; ascending it, he reached heaven, which is served by those of great merit.
भोगान्भुक्त्वा स विपुलानाजगाम महीतलम् । काश्यां जन्म समासाद्य शुचिवाडवसत्कुले
After enjoying abundant pleasures, he returned to the earth; he obtained birth in Kāśī, in a pure and noble family of the Śucivāḍava lineage.
आराध्य जगतामीशं गतवान्परमं पदम् । स पापी साधुसंगत्या शालग्रामशिलां स्पृशन्
Having worshipped the Lord of all worlds, he attained the supreme state; that sinner, through association with the virtuous and touching the Śālagrāma stone,
महापीडाविनिर्मुक्तो गतवान्परमं पदम् । मया तेऽभिहितं राजन्गंडकीचरितं महत्
Freed from great suffering, he attained the supreme state; I have told you, O king, the great story of the Gaṇḍakī.
श्रुत्वा विमुच्यते पापैर्भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विंदति
Upon hearing it, one is freed from sins and attains both enjoyment and liberation.
सुमतिरुवाच। एतन्माहात्म्यमतुलं गंडक्याः कर्णगोचरम् । कृत्वा कृतार्थमात्मानममन्यत नृपोत्तमः
Sumati said: Having brought the incomparable glory of the Gaṇḍakī to his ears, the noble king considered himself fulfilled.
स्नात्वा तीर्थे पितॄन्सर्वान्संतर्प्य जहृषे महान् । शालग्रामशिलापूजां कुर्वन्वाडववाक्यतः
After bathing at the holy site and satisfying all his ancestors, he rejoiced greatly, performing worship of the Śālagrāma stone according to the words of the Śucivāḍava.
चतुर्विंशच्छिलास्तत्र गृहीत्वा स नृपोत्तमः । पूजयामास प्रेम्णा च चंदनाद्युपचारकैः
There, the noble king took twenty-four stones and worshipped them with love, using sandalwood and other offerings.
तत्र दानानि दत्त्वा च दीनांधेभ्यो विशेषतः । गंतुं प्रचक्रमे राजा पुरुषोत्तममंदिरम्
There, he gave gifts, especially to the poor and the blind; the king then set out to go to the temple of Puruṣottama.
एवं क्रमेण संप्राप्तो गंगासागरसंगमम् । कृत्वाक्षिगोचरं तं च ब्राह्मणं पृष्टवान्मुदा
Thus, proceeding step by step, he reached the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean; making that place visible to his eyes, he joyfully questioned the brāhmaṇa.
स्वामिन्वद कियद्दूरे नीलाख्यः पर्वतो महान् । पुरुषोत्तमसंवासः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः
Master, tell me: how far is the great mountain called Nīla, the abode of Puruṣottama, revered by gods and demons?
तदा श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं रत्नग्रीवस्य भूपतेः । उवाच विस्मयाविष्टो राजानं प्रति सादरम्
Then, hearing the great words of Ratnagrīva, the king was struck with wonder; he respectfully spoke to him.
राजन्नेतत्स्थलं नीलपर्वतस्य नमस्कृतम् । किमर्थं दृश्यते नैव महापुण्यफलप्रदम्
O king, this place is revered by the Nīla mountain; why is it not seen, though it bestows the fruits of great merit?
पुनःपुनरुवाचेदं स्थलं नीलस्य भूभृतः । कथं न दृश्यते राजन्पुरुषोत्तमवासभृत्
Again and again he said: This place belongs to Nīla, the lord of the earth; why is it not seen, O king, though it is the abode of Puruṣottama?
अत्र स्नातं मया सम्यगत्र भिल्लाक्षिगोचराः । अनेनैव पथा राजन्नारूढं पर्वतोपरि
Here I have bathed properly, and here are the Bhilla people visible; by this very path, O king, none has ascended to the top of the mountain.
इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य विव्यथे मानसे नृपः । नीलभूधरदर्शाय कुर्वन्नुत्कंठितं मनः
Hearing those words, the king was troubled in his mind; he longed to see the Nīla mountain, his heart yearning.
उवाच तत्कथं विप्र दृश्येत पुरुषोत्तमः । कथं वा दृश्यते नीलस्तदुपायं वदस्व नः
He said: Tell me, O brāhmaṇa, how can Puruṣottama be seen? How can Nīla be seen? Tell us the means.
तदा वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य रत्नग्रीवस्य भूपतेः । तापसो ब्राह्मणो वाक्यमुवाच नृप विस्मितः
Then, having heard the words of King Ratnagrīva, the ascetic brāhmaṇa, astonished, spoke these words, O King.
गंगासागरसंयोगे स्नात्वास्माभिर्महीपते । स्थातव्यं तावदेवात्र यावन्नीलो न दृश्यते
Having bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and the ocean, O King, we must remain here until Nīla is seen.
गीयते पापहा देवः पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञितः । करिष्यते कृपामाशु भक्तवत्सलनामधृक्
The sin-destroying Lord, known as Puruṣottama, is praised; bearing the name 'Lover of Devotees,' he will swiftly show mercy.
त्यजत्यसौ न वै भक्तान्देवदेवशिरोमणिः । अनेके रक्षिता भक्तास्तद्गायस्व महामते
That crest-jewel of the gods does not abandon his devotees; many devotees have been protected by him—therefore, O wise one, sing of him.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राजा व्यथितचेतसा । स्नात्वा गंगाब्धिसंयोगे ततोनशनमादधात्
Hearing these words, the king, his heart troubled, bathed at the meeting of the Ganges and the ocean, and then undertook a fast.
करिष्यति कृपां यर्हि दर्शने पुरुषोत्तमः । पूजां कृत्वाशनं कुर्यामन्यथानशनं व्रतम्
When Puruṣottama, upon being seen, bestows his grace, then, having performed worship, I shall eat; otherwise, fasting shall be my vow.
इति कृत्वा स नियमं गंगासागररोधसि । गायन्हरिगुणग्राममुपवासमथाचरत्
Thus having made this resolve on the shore where the Ganges meets the ocean, singing the multitude of Hari's virtues, he practiced fasting.
राजोवाच। जय दीनदयाकरप्रभो जय दुःखापह मङ्गलाह्वय । जय भक्तजनार्तिनाशन कृतवर्ष्मञ्जयदुष्टघातक
The king said: Victory to you, O Lord, giver of compassion to the distressed! Victory to you, remover of suffering, auspicious one! Victory to you, destroyer of the afflictions of your devotees, granter of boons, destroyer of the wicked!