समादाय च तत्तैलं स्वगृहे पूज्य केशवम् । दीपं भक्त्या च परया बोधयेद्धरितुष्टये
Having brought that oil to his own house, he worshipped Keśava and, with supreme devotion, kindled a lamp for the satisfaction of Hari.
एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः । मार्जारस्तीक्ष्णंदंष्ट्रस्तु मूषकान्भक्षयेत्सदा
Thus, as the great-souled Kapila continued in this way, a cat with sharp teeth always ate the mice.
तत्रागच्छति भक्ष्यार्थं मूषकानामहर्निशम् । कृत्वा ध्यानं स भक्ष्यार्थं नित्यं नारायणाग्रतः
There, for the sake of food, it came day and night for the mice; having fixed its mind on food, it always sat before Nārāyaṇa.
भक्षिता बहवस्तेन मूषका द्विजवेश्मनि । ये ये तैलार्थमायांति वर्त्यपाहरणाय च
Many mice were eaten by it in the Brahmin’s house—those who came for oil or to steal the wicks.
तांस्तांस्तु भक्षयत्येव मूषकान्ध्यानतत्परः । एवं प्रवर्तमानस्य कदाचित्कालपर्ययात्
Absorbed in meditation, he would continually eat those various mice; thus, as he continued in this way, after some time had passed—
एकादश्यां स कपिलो ब्राह्मणः स्वगृहे शुचिः । सोपवासः सपत्नीकः पूजयामास चाच्युतम्
On the day of Ekadashi, that tawny Brahmin, pure in his own house, together with his wife, observed a fast and worshipped Achyuta.
ततो जागरणं चक्रे स्तुतिनृत्यपरायणः । अर्द्धरात्रे तु संप्राप्ते निद्रया मोहितो द्विजः
Then he performed a vigil, devoted to singing hymns and dancing; but when midnight arrived, the twice-born was overcome by sleep and delusion.
मार्जारश्चागतस्तत्र तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो लघुक्रमः । लक्षयामास नैवेद्यं गृहकोणे स्थितः सदा
A cat also came there, with sharp teeth and swift steps; always standing in the corner of the house, it watched the offering.
अद्राक्षीन्मूषिकां क्षुद्रा तैलपानार्थमागताम् । मंदतेजसि दीपे तु वर्त्यपाहरणोचिताम्
It saw a small mouse that had come to drink oil, accustomed to stealing the wick from the dimly burning lamp.
समुत्पत्य पदाक्रम्य तदा सा बिलमाविशत् । तस्याः पादेन वै वर्त्या दीपः संबोधितो भृशम्
Leaping up and stepping forward, the mouse then entered its hole; with its foot, the wick was struck, and the lamp was greatly rekindled.
तैलपात्रं च नमितं सुप्रकाशोऽभवत्तदा । ब्राह्मणोऽपि जजागार त्यक्त्वा निद्रां विमोहिनीम्
The oil vessel was tipped, and at that moment there was bright illumination; the Brahmin also awoke, casting off the sleep that deludes.
मार्जारोऽपि च तां रात्रीमजाग्रच्चाखुभक्षकः । ततः प्रभाते विमले कृत्वा नित्यक्रियां द्विजः
The cat, too, remained awake that night, intent on eating mice; then, at the clear dawn, the twice-born performed his daily rites.
ततश्च पारणं चक्रे विप्रो बंधुजनैः सह । एवं प्रवर्त्तमानस्य कपिलस्य महात्मनः
After that, the Brahmin broke his fast together with his relatives; thus, as the great-souled Kapila continued in this way—
बभूवुः पुत्रपौत्राश्च धनधान्यमनुत्तमम् । आरोग्यं परमामृद्धिमवाप महतीं श्रियम्
He obtained sons and grandsons, unsurpassed wealth and grain; he attained perfect health, supreme prosperity, and great fortune.
दीपव्रतप्रभावेन कपिलो मोक्षमागतः । संभेद्य मंडलं पुण्यं सवितुः शशिनस्तथा
By the power of the lamp vow, Kapila attained liberation; having traversed the sacred orbits of the sun and the moon—
दीपज्योतिःस्वरूपेण परमात्मा नियुक्तवान् । मूषिकापि च कालेन ममार बिलमध्यतः
The Supreme Self, in the form of the lamp's light, appointed him; and in time, the mouse also died within its hole.
विमानवरमारुह्य देवगंधर्वसेवितम् । अप्सरोभिः परिवृतो विद्याधरगणैर्युतः
Ascending a splendid celestial chariot, attended by gods and gandharvas, surrounded by apsarases and accompanied by hosts of vidyadharas—
स्तूयमानो महातेजा जयशब्दादि मंगलैः । स्तूयमानः स वै नागैर्विष्णुलोकं जगाम सः
Praised with auspicious cries of victory and other blessings, honored by the nagas, he went to the world of Vishnu.
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च । भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्ततो राजाभवद्भुवि
For thousands of millions of aeons, and hundreds of millions more, enjoying abundant pleasures, he was finally born as a king on earth.
सुधर्मा नाम धर्मात्मा देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । रूपवान्सुभगश्चैव महाबलपराक्रमः
He was named Sudharma, righteous in soul, worshipper of gods and Brahmins, handsome, fortunate, and endowed with great strength and valor.
तस्य प्रियतमा भार्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता । भर्तृभक्ता तथा शीला नाम्ना सा रूपसुंदरी
His dearest wife, possessing all auspicious marks, devoted to her husband and virtuous, was named Rupasundari.
सर्वासां चैव नारीणां मध्ये सा सुभगाभवत् । पुत्राश्च बहवो जातास्तथा दुहितरो घनाः
Among all women, she was the most fortunate; many sons were born to them, as well as noble daughters.
एवं विहरतोस्तद्वद्दंपत्योः प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । आगतः कार्त्तिको मासो हरिनेत्रावबोधकृत्
Thus, as that couple joyfully spent their days together, the month of Kārttika arrived, which awakens the eyes of Hari.
तस्मिन्दीपाः प्रबोध्यंते नारायणपरायणैः । कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणादीनि व्रतानि नियमास्तथा
In that month, lamps are kindled by those devoted to Nārāyaṇa; and vows such as Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa, along with other disciplines, are observed.
क्रियंते विष्णुभक्तैश्च संसारभयभीरुभिः । अथ प्रबोधिनीं प्राप्य राजा राज्ञीमथाब्रवीत्
These are performed by devotees of Viṣṇu and by those who fear the dangers of worldly existence. Then, upon the arrival of Prabodhinī, the king spoke to the queen.
भद्रे प्रबोधिनी पुण्या विष्णोर्नाभिसरोरुहे । करिष्याम्यद्य पूजां च सोपवासो जितेंद्रियः
"O fortunate one, today is the holy Prabodhinī, arising from the lotus-navel of Viṣṇu. I will perform worship today, fasting and with my senses restrained."
स्नात्वा च पुष्करे तीर्थे पुंडरीकाक्षमच्युतम् । पूजयिष्यामि देवेशं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम्
"After bathing at the sacred Puṣkara, I will worship the lotus-eyed, imperishable Lord, the Lord of gods, Janārdana, together with Lakṣmī."
इति सा वांछितं श्रुत्वा भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता । उवाच वचनं गुह्यं भर्त्तारं चारुहासिनी
Hearing her husband's cherished wish, she who delighted in his happiness spoke secret words to him, her face adorned with a lovely smile.
रूपसुंदर्युवाच- ममापि हृदये कामः समुत्पन्नो नराधिप । रूपसौंदर्यवांछा च हृदये मम वर्त्तते
Rūpasundarī said: "A desire has also arisen in my heart, O king, and a longing for beauty and charm abides within me."
पुष्करं प्रथमं तीर्थं गंतुमिच्छे त्वया सह । ततो राजा तया सार्द्धमागतः पुष्करं तदा
"I wish to go with you to the foremost holy place, Puṣkara." Then the king, together with her, went to Puṣkara at that time.