अपश्यद्धृदये दीपं दीर्घाकारमतिप्रभम् । हरिराह शिवं साक्षाद्दीपो दृष्टो मयेति च
He saw in his heart a lamp, long in shape and exceedingly bright. Hari said directly to Shiva, 'I have seen the lamp.'
शिवः प्राह न ते ज्ञानं परिपक्वमथो हरे । भस्म भक्षय ते ज्ञानं समग्रं संभविष्यति
Shiva said, 'Your knowledge is not yet fully matured, O Hari. Eat the ash, and your knowledge will become complete.'
हरिरुवाच- भक्षयिष्ये शुभं भस्म स्नातोऽहं भस्मना पुरा । दृष्ट्वेश्वरं भक्तिगम्यं भस्माभक्षयदच्युतः
Hari said: 'I will eat the auspicious ash. I have already bathed with ash. Having seen the Lord, the unwavering one ate the ash.'
तत्राश्चर्यमतीवासीत्पक्वबिंबसमद्युतिः । वासुदेवः शुद्धमुक्ताफलवर्णोऽभवत्क्षणात्
There occurred a great wonder: his body shone with the radiance of a ripe bimba fruit. In a moment, Vasudeva became of pure pearl-like color.
ततःप्रभृति शुक्लोऽसौ वासुदेवः प्रसन्नवान् । पुनर्ध्यानपरो भूत्वा दीपमध्ये च पूरुषम्
From that time, Vasudeva became white and serene. Again absorbed in meditation, he saw within the lamp a Person.
शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं त्रिनेत्रं द्विभुजं शिवम् । वरदं दक्षिणे हस्ते वामे चाभयदं विभुम्
He saw Shiva, resembling pure crystal, three-eyed, two-armed, granting boons with his right hand and protection with his left, the Lord.
पंचवर्षीयवपुषं शरच्चंद्रायुतद्युतिम् । माणिक्यकुंडलं हेम दामजालविभूषितम्
He saw him as a five-year-old child, radiant as ten million autumn moons, adorned with ruby earrings and golden garlands.
रत्नांगुलीयसुभगं बाहुकोष्ठसुभूषणम् । तनुरक्तोष्ठमाकर्ण दीर्घायतविलोचनम्
Charming with jeweled rings, beautifully adorned arms and chest, with red lips, ears reaching to the shoulders, and long, wide eyes.
बाणलोचनसंकाशं भाललोचनमव्ययम् । कंदर्पकार्मुकभ्रांतिजनकभ्रुवमीश्वरम्
He saw the imperishable Lord with eyes like arrows, a forehead-eye, brows causing the illusion of Cupid's bow.
स्निग्धोन्नत सुचार्वंग नासमच्छकपोलकम् । मंदस्मितं प्रसन्नास्यं बालेंदुदर्शनं विभुम्
With smooth, high, well-formed limbs, a nose and cheeks like a lotus, a gentle smile, a serene face, and the beauty of a crescent moon, the Lord appeared.
विज्ञानरक्तवसनं वेदकल्पितनूपुरम् । वामांगुलीयमध्यस्थमतिप्रणवमव्ययम्
Clad in garments dyed with knowledge, adorned with anklets fashioned from the Vedas, with the supreme, imperishable syllable placed upon the middle finger of the left hand.
दृष्टवानथ तं विष्णुः कृतकृत्योऽभवत्तदा । अथाह शंभुर्भो विष्णो हृदि दृष्टं त्वया किमु
Then, upon seeing him, Viṣṇu felt fulfilled; at that moment, Śaṃbhu spoke: 'O Viṣṇu, what have you perceived within your heart?'
हरिराह पुरा दृष्टः पुरुषः शांतविग्रहः । इत्युदीर्य महाविष्णुः शिवपादे पपात ह
Hari replied, 'Previously, I beheld the Person whose form is tranquil.' Having spoken thus, Mahāviṣṇu fell at Śiva's feet.
हरिरुवाच- न शक्तिं भस्मनो जाने प्रभावं वा कुतस्तव । नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु त्वामेव शरणं गतः
Hari said: 'I do not know the power of the ash, nor its influence; from where does it arise? Salutations to you, salutations to you; I have sought refuge in you alone.'
सदाशिव उवाच- वरं वृणु महाभाग मनसा यं त्वमिच्छसि । शिववाचमथाकर्ण्य हरिर्वव्रे वरोत्तमम्
Sadāśiva said: 'Choose a boon, O greatly fortunate one, whatever you desire in your mind.' Hearing Śiva's words, Hari requested the supreme boon.
हरिरुवाच- त्वत्पादयुगले शंभो भक्तिरस्तु सदा मम । अथ दत्वा वरं शंभुरिदमाह वचो हरिम्
Hari said: 'May devotion to your pair of feet, O Śaṃbhu, always be mine.' Then, granting the boon, Śaṃbhu spoke these words to Hari.
भस्मधारणसंपन्नो मम भक्तो भविष्यसि । दधीच उवाच- इत्थमुक्तं महाज्ञानं भस्मसंभवमादितः
'You shall become my devotee, endowed with the wearing of ash.' Dadhīca said: 'Thus was imparted the great knowledge concerning the origin of ash.'
तस्माद्यूयं सुराः सर्वे धारयध्वं तदादरात् । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना देवाश्चासंस्तदस्त्विति
Therefore, all you gods, bear it with reverence; the gods, their eyes widened in wonder, said, 'Let it be so.'
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम् । विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो यात्यसौ शांकरं पदम्
Whoever hears this most excellent, sacred account daily, is freed from all sins and attains the abode of Śaṃkara.
शुचिस्मितोवाच- आयुष्यवर्द्धनं भस्माशनं दृष्टं महामुने । परलोकगतिं दातुं शक्तमेतं वदस्व मे
Śucismita spoke: 'O great sage, I have seen the ash-eating that increases longevity; tell me, is it capable of granting passage to the next world?'
दधीच उवाच- अत्र ते कथयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । चित्रगुप्तयमाभ्यां च यद्विख्यातं बभूव ह
Dadhīca said: 'Here I will tell you an ancient story, renowned among Citragupta and Yama.'
मिथिलायां पुरा कश्चिच्छुनः पर्यटते क्षुधा । पुरा जन्मशतात्पूर्वं ब्राह्मणः पापनिश्चयः
Once, in Mithilā, a dog wandered about in hunger; long ago, a hundred lifetimes before, there was a Brahmin intent on sin.
पूर्वेवयसि वेदाढ्यः शास्त्राढ्यश्च सुबुद्धिमान् । स स्नातुं जाह्नवीं गत्वा स्नानं कृत्वा पितॄनपि
In his earlier youth, he was rich in Vedic knowledge, learned in scriptures, and possessed of good intellect; he went to the Jāhnavī to bathe, performed his ablutions, and honored his ancestors.
देवानृषीन्समभ्यर्च्य ययौ प्रात्तलिकापुरम् । प्रतिश्रयमथो चक्रे ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने
After worshipping the gods and sages, he proceeded to Prāttalikā city; there he sought shelter in the house of a Brahmin.
तत्रैका क्षत्रियसुता यौवनस्था हतप्रिया । भ्रष्टराज्या च षट्कोटि निष्कद्रव्येण संयुता
There was a young Kṣatriya maiden, bereft of her beloved, deprived of her kingdom, possessing sixty million coins without value.
भुक्त्वाथ शयितं विप्रं सर्वावयवसुंदरम् । रात्रौ चंद्रोदये शुद्धे ज्योत्स्नाहसितदिङ्मुखे
Having eaten, the Brahmin, beautiful in every limb, lay down; at night, when the moon had risen, with pure moonlight whitening the directions.
ब्राह्मणाभ्याशमागत्य तमुदीक्ष्येदमब्रवीत् । कुतस्त्वमागतो विप्र कं वा देशं गमिष्यसि
Approaching the Brahmin, she gazed at him and spoke: 'From where have you come, O Brahmin? To which land will you go?'
ब्राह्मण उवाच- अकालचर्या सर्वेषां शंकामुत्पादयेद्ध्रुवम् । वयःस्थयोर्मिथोवादो रहस्ये हास्यमंदिरे
The Brahmin said: 'Untimely wandering surely arouses suspicion in all; conversation between those advanced in age, in secret, within the hall of laughter.'
क्षत्रियोवाच- कथाप्रसंगे यात्रायां तीर्थे देशादि विप्लवे । दुर्भिक्षे ग्रामदहने रहोवादो न दूषितः
The Kshatriya said: In the course of conversation, on a journey, at a sacred place, during upheaval in the land, in famine, or when a village is burned, speaking privately is not considered improper.
प्रतिश्रयस्तु मद्गेहे भवतैव पुरा कृतः । मद्गेहवासिनी चाहं न शंका त्विह कस्यचित्
Previously, you yourself granted me shelter in your house; and I am a resident of your house—there is no cause for suspicion here from anyone.