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!
अंबरीषमथ वीक्ष्य दुःखितं विप्रशापहतसर्वमङ्गलम् । धारयन्निजकरे सुदर्शनं संररक्ष जठराधिवासतः
Beholding Ambarīṣa, afflicted and deprived of all auspiciousness by a brāhmaṇa's curse, you, holding the Sudarśana in your own hand, protected him, dwelling within his very being.
दैत्यराज पितृकारितव्यथः शूलपाशजलवह्निपातनैः । श्रीनृसिंहतनुधारिणा त्वया रक्षितः सपदि पश्यतः पितुः
The king of the Daityas, suffering the pain inflicted by his father through trident, noose, water, and fire, was instantly protected by you, O bearer of Nṛsiṃha's form, before his father's very eyes.
ग्राहवक्त्रपतितांघ्रिमुद्भटं वारणेंद्रमतिदुःखपीडितम् । वीक्ष्य साधुकरुणार्द्रमानसस्त्वं गरुत्मति कृतारुहक्रियः
Seeing the mighty elephant, fallen into the jaws of the crocodile and tormented by great suffering, your heart was moved with true compassion, O Garuḍa-mounted one, and you made him ascend.
त्यक्तपक्षिपतिरात्तचक्रको वेगकंपयुतमालिकांबरः । गीयसे सुभिरमुष्य न क्रतो मोचकः सपदि तद्विनाशकः
Abandoning your winged mount, taking up the discus, with your garland trembling from your swift movement, you are sung by the good; for him, O Lord, you were the immediate liberator and destroyer of his distress.
यत्रयत्र तव सेवकार्दनं तत्र तत्र बत देहधारिणा । पाल्यते च भवता निजः प्रभो पापहारिचरितैर्मनोहरैः
Wherever there is harm to your servants, there, O Lord, you, embodied, surely protect your own with your sin-destroying and enchanting deeds.
दीननाथ सुरमौलिहीरकाघृष्टपादतल भक्तवल्लभ । पापकोटिपरिदाहक प्रभो दर्शयस्व निजदर्शनं मम
O Lord of the humble, whose feet are polished by the jewels of the gods' crowns, beloved of devotees, burner of millions of sins—show me your own form.
पापकृद्यदि जनोयमागतो मानसे तव तथा हि दर्शय । तावका वयमघौघनाशनं विस्मृतं नहि सुरासुरार्चित
If this person who has come is a sinner, O Lord, then reveal yourself in my mind; we are yours, destroyer of the multitude of sins, never forgotten, worshipped by gods and demons.
ये वदंति तव नाम निर्मलं ते तरंति सकलाघसागरम् । संस्मृतिर्यदि कृता तदा मया प्राप्यतां सकलदुःखवारक
Those who utter your pure name cross the ocean of all sins; if I have remembered you, O remover of all suffering, may I attain you.
सुमतिरुवाच। एवं गायन्गुणान्रात्रौ दिवा वापि महीपतिः । क्षणमात्रं न विश्रांतो निद्रामाप न वै सुखम्
Sumati said: Thus, singing his virtues night and day, the king did not rest even for a moment, nor did he find sleep or happiness.
गायन्गच्छन्गृणंस्तिष्ठन्वदत्येतदहर्निशम् । दर्शयस्व कृपानाथ स्वतनुं पुरुषोत्तम
Singing, going, bowing, standing—he recited this day and night: 'Show me your form, O Lord of compassion, O Puruṣottama.'