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?'
एनसो मुच्यते चोरः शूलारोपणमात्रतः । एवमाभाष्य मृत्युं तं शूलप्रोतमकल्पयत्
A thief is freed from sin merely by being impaled on the stake; having spoken thus, he prepared to impale Death upon the stake.
शूलं स्कंधगतं कृत्वा दूतान्संग्रथ्य रज्जुना । पादशृंखलविन्यस्तानादाय नृपमध्यगात्
Placing the stake upon his shoulder, gathering the messengers and binding them with rope, he took those whose feet were chained and went before the king.
विमानवरमारोप्य गीतवाद्यसुशोभितम् । वीरांतिकमथो गत्वा सर्वमस्मै न्यवेदयत्
Then, placing him in a splendid aerial chariot adorned with song and music, he went to Vīrāntika and reported everything to him.
वीरभद्रोपि तत्सर्वं शंकरायामितात्मने । नानामुनिगणैर्देवैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरः सुरैः
Vīrabhadra, together with various groups of sages, gods, and the foremost among Brahmā and Viṣṇu, conveyed all this to Śaṅkara, the boundless soul.
सेव्यमानाय देवाय पार्वतीसहिताय च । प्रणिपत्य निवेद्याथ शूलस्थंमृत्युमेव च
To the god being served by the gods, accompanied by Pārvatī, he bowed down, reported everything, and also presented Death, who was on the stake.
तूष्णीं बभूव विश्वात्मा वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् । अग्न्याननं वीक्ष्य शिवो विगर्हयन्कथं त्वयैतद्गणसाहसं कृतम् । बिभेषि मृत्योर्न कथं यमाधिकाद्वदस्व सर्वं परमार्थतो मे
Vīrabhadra, the mighty soul of the universe, became silent; Śiva, seeing Agni-faced Death, reproached him: 'How have you dared such an act among my attendants? Why do you not fear Death or Yama's authority? Tell me everything truthfully.'
प्रणम्य तं वह्निमुखोऽतिरोषो मृत्युं समालोक्य ननर्त हर्षात् । उवाच चौर्यं कृतमेव मृत्युना तदेष शूलेऽपि मया प्ररोहितः
Bowing to him, Death, with a fiery face and great anger, looked at Śiva and danced with joy. He said, 'Indeed, theft was committed by Death, and for that I have been impaled on the stake by you.'
विमोचयामास शिवोपि मृत्युं दूतानशेषान्निरुजश्चकार । मृत्युं समालोक्य शिवो बभाषे मन्नाम एषां मरणे समास्ते
Śiva released Death and all the messengers, making them free from pain. Looking at Death, Śiva spoke: 'In the matter of their death, my name prevails over all.'
मच्चेतसामन्यधियां च नामहीनाक्षरं वाधिकवर्णयुक्तम् । ममैव लोकं प्रददामि सत्यं ह्यनेन नाम प्रहरेति भाषितम्
For those whose minds are fixed on me, or who utter my name—even if only a syllable more or less—I truly grant them my own realm; this is my declared word.
प्रशब्दमात्रं त्वधिकं हरेतिपदप्रदं वै पदमीरयंति । आरादमूंस्त्वं जपतो नमस्व मदीयवाक्यं च यमं वदस्व
Even the mere utterance of my name, or the word 'Hara', grants the supreme state. Those who recite it from afar, bow to me, and follow my command—tell this to Yama.