शंभुरुवाच- एकैकनाममाहात्म्यं विस्तरान्न हि शक्यते । संक्षेपेण च ते वच्मि शृणु राघव सादरम्
Shambhu said: The greatness of each name cannot be described in detail; but I will tell you briefly—listen attentively, O Raghava.
पुरा त्रेतायुगे राजा विधृतो नाम वीर्यवान् । मृते पितरि बालोसौ भूमिराज्येभिषेचितः
Long ago, in the Treta Yuga, there was a powerful king named Vidhrita. When his father died, though still a boy, he was anointed as ruler of the earth.
समानवयसः सर्वान्समीपस्थांश्चकार सः । ये वृद्धा ये च विद्वांसस्ते च तस्य न संमताः
He made all those of his own age his close associates; but the elders and the learned were not favored by him.
युवानः संमता दुष्टा अकार्यकरणास्तथा । सुस्त्र्यानयनदक्षाश्च चोरकर्मविशारदाः
He favored the young, the wicked, those who performed improper acts, those skilled in enticing women, and those adept in theft.
भांडवार्तारता लास्यनिपुणास्तस्य संमताः । वशीकरणमंत्रज्ञा वस्त्रौषधविदस्तथा
Those who delighted in quarrels, skilled in dance, versed in spells of subjugation, knowledgeable in garments and herbs—these were his favorites.
गीतनर्तनशीलाश्च धूर्त्ता द्यूतविदः प्रियाः । पितृसंमतकर्तॄणां त्यागं चक्रे स पार्थिवः
Those fond of singing and dancing, the cunning, and gamblers were dear to him. He abandoned those who acted according to his father's approval.
विचार्य स च तैः सार्द्धं दुष्टैः कार्यमकारयत् । एतादृशांस्तथा चान्यान्दुष्टान्सह युयोज ह
He deliberated with those wicked ones and performed actions with them; and he associated with others of similar wickedness.
एतदुक्तिमुपालंब्य शिष्टं सुहृदमत्यजत् । उरोमुष्टिं च फेत्कारं ये कुर्युस्तस्य ते प्रियाः
Following such counsel, he abandoned the virtuous and his friends; those who struck their thighs or made derisive sounds were his favorites.
भगलक्षणतत्त्वज्ञा रतितंत्रविशारदाः । राजनीतिविहीनं तद्राज्यं समभवत्तदा
Those who knew the marks of the thighs, experts in the arts of pleasure, were favored; thus, his kingdom was without proper governance.
गजाश्वरथमुष्ट्राजं गोमहिष्यादिकं च यत् । तत्सर्वं नाशमापन्नमपहारायतस्ततः
All elephants, horses, chariots, camels, cows, buffaloes, and the like were lost, having been taken away.
रत्नानि वसुधान्यानि न दृश्यंते पुरे तदा । अथ भूपांतरेणासौ निर्जितः प्रपलायितः
Jewels and treasures of the land were not seen in the city at that time. Then, defeated by another king, he fled.
महारण्यमथो गत्वा गिरिदुर्गमकल्पयत् । तत्र चाल्पपरीवारश्चोरवृत्तिं समाश्रितः
He went to a great forest and established a mountain stronghold; there, with only a few followers, he resorted to a life of banditry.
सुवर्णवस्त्रधान्यादि रत्नगंधादिकं तथा । तत्रतत्र विनिर्दिश्य चोरानायानवंचकान्
Gold, cloth, grain, and the like, as well as jewels and perfumes—these he pointed out here and there to thieves, robbers, and deceivers.
बंधाद्यकारयत्तैस्तु द्रव्याहरणकर्मणि । यदाहारो न विद्येत तदाहारमकल्पयत्
With jailers and officials engaged in the act of seizing goods, when food was not available, he arranged for food.
गोमहिष्यादिमांसेन यद्यन्नं नोपलभ्यते । अश्वीय नरमांसेन भोजनं पर्य्यकल्पयत्
When food was not obtainable even with the meat of cows, buffaloes, and the like, he provided meals with horse meat and human flesh.
एतादृशमभूद्वृत्तं संध्योपासादिवर्जितम् । एकस्तु सचिवस्तस्य सुरापो नाम राक्षसः
Such was his conduct, devoid of twilight worship and the like; only one minister was his companion, a Rākṣasa named Surāpa.
नियुंक्ते सर्वकालं तमाहरप्रहरेति च । एवं रक्षोमते स्थित्वा नानादेशगतान्नरान्
He appointed him at all times, saying, 'Bring (food) at each watch of the day.' Thus, following the ways of the Rākṣasas, he dwelt, gathering people from various regions.
नृसहस्रपरीवारो ह्यादद्यादकृपालयः । स्वस्याभिमतयोषास्तु ज्ञात्वा ज्ञात्वा समाहरत्
Surrounded by a thousand men, merciless, he seized them; and, having ascertained his desired women, he gathered them again and again.
किंचित्कालं च ता भुक्त्वा तासां मांसमभक्षयत् । एवं हत्वा नरान्नारी राज्यं चक्रे सुदुःसहम्
After enjoying them for a while, he ate their flesh; thus, having slain men and women, he ruled the kingdom with unbearable cruelty.
एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु राज्यं कृत्वा नराधमः । जराशिथिलसर्वांगो वलीपलितदूषितः
In this way, having ruled the kingdom for a thousand years, that most wicked man became feeble in all his limbs, afflicted by old age, wrinkled and gray-haired.
निर्जीवमभवत्स्थानं समंताद्दशयोजनम् । अथ मृत्युदिनं प्राप्तं राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः
His dwelling became lifeless for ten yojanas all around; then the day of death arrived for that king, the great-souled one.
मृत्युकालेथ संप्राप्ते स्नातं भूमिगतं नृपम् । तस्य चानुचराः सर्वे परिवार्योपतस्थिरे
When the time of death came, the king, having bathed, lay upon the ground; all his attendants gathered around him.
सुरापः सचिवः प्राह किं कार्यं मम चादिश । अथ राजा तथा शक्तो निर्गतायुस्तदार्दितः
Surāpa, the minister, spoke: 'What should I do? Command me.' Then the king, his strength gone, his life departing, afflicted thus,
नाभेरधस्तु क्षीणासुः कथंचिद्वाक्यमुक्तवान् । त्वं सर्वकाले दैत्येंद्र प्रहरप्राहराहर
With his breath failing, below the navel, he somehow uttered these words: 'At all times, O lord of Daityas, bring (food) at each watch.'
इत्यथोक्त्वा ममारासौ यमदूताः समाययुः । विचित्रं बंधने यत्नं चक्रुस्ताडनतत्पराः
Having said this, he died; the messengers of Yama arrived. They made various efforts at binding, intent on striking.
चूर्णिता बंधपाशाश्च हेतिदंडाश्च चूर्णिताः । तद्गात्रस्पर्शमात्रे च तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
The nooses and fetters were shattered, and the rods and weapons were also broken; merely by touching his body, a wonder occurred.
अथायातः स्वयं मृत्युः पाशेनैनमयोजयत् । मृत्युपाशमपिच्छिन्नं वीक्ष्य मृत्युरचिंतयत्
Then Death himself arrived and bound him with his noose; seeing even the noose of Death broken, Death was astonished.
सर्वमर्त्यमृतिर्दृष्टा दृष्टा नैतादृशी क्वचित् । इति चिंतापरे मृत्यौ ज्वालावक्त्रः प्रतापवान्
All mortals have been seen to die, but never has such a thing been seen anywhere; thus, while Death was absorbed in thought, the one with a flaming mouth, full of might,
वीरभद्रेण निर्दिष्टः सहसायाच्च शूलभृत् । ज्वालावक्त्रमथालोक्य मृत्युस्तूर्णं पलाययौ
Was suddenly pointed out by Vīrabhadra, the trident-bearer, who arrived; seeing the one with a flaming mouth, Death quickly fled.
पलायमानं तं दृष्ट्वा मृत्युं वह्निमुखस्तदा । अरे रे चोर चोर त्वं तिष्ठतिष्ठ क्व यास्यसि
Seeing Death fleeing at that time, the one with a fiery mouth called out: 'Hey, thief, thief, you! Stop, stop! Where will you go?'