मानवैश्च कुतः कांत भुज्यते हरिवासरे । यदि त्वं भोक्ष्यसे कांत ततो गर्हां प्रयास्यसि
'How then, dear one, could humans eat on the day of Hari? If you eat, beloved, you will incur reproach.'
एवं विचार्य मनसा सुदृढं मानसं कुरु । शोभन उवाच- सत्यमेतत्प्रिये वाक्यं करिष्येऽहमुपोषणम्
'Thus, after considering in your mind, make a firm resolve.' Śobhana said: 'Truly, dear, your words are right; I will undertake the fast.'
दैवेन विहितं यद्धि तत्तथैव भविष्यति । इति दृढां मतिं कृत्वा चकार नियमं व्रते
Whatever is ordained by fate will surely come to pass; with this firm resolve, he undertook the vow with discipline.
क्षुधया पीडिततनुः स बभूवातिदुःखितः । इति चिंतयतस्तस्य आदित्योऽस्तमगाद्गिरिम्
Afflicted by hunger, his body tormented, he became exceedingly miserable; while he was thus reflecting, the sun set behind the mountain.
वैष्णवानां नराणां सा निशा हर्षविवर्द्धनी । हरिपूजारतानां च जागरासक्तचेतसाम्
That night brought joy to those men devoted to Viṣṇu, to those absorbed in worship of Hari and intent on keeping vigil.
बभूव नृपशार्दूल शोभनस्यातिदुःखदा । रवेरुदयवेलायां शोभनः पंचतां गतः
But for Śobhana, O best of kings, that beautiful night brought great suffering; at sunrise, Śobhana passed away.
दाहयामास राजा तं राजयोग्यैश्च दारुभिः । चंद्रभागा नात्मदेहं ददाह पतिना सह
The king burned his body with royal funeral wood; Candrabhāgā entered the fire with her husband, burning herself as well.
कृत्वौर्द्ध्वदैहिकं तस्य तस्थौ जनकवेश्मनि । शोभनश्च नृपश्रेष्ठ रमाव्रतप्रभावतः
After performing the funeral rites for him, she remained in her father's house; but Śobhana, O foremost of kings, by the power of the Ramā vow,
प्राप्तो देवपुरं रम्यं मंदराचलसानुनि । अनुत्तममनाधृष्यमसंख्येयगुणान्वितम्
Reached a beautiful divine city on the slopes of Mount Mandara, unrivaled, unassailable, endowed with countless virtues.
हेमस्तंभमयैसौधै रत्नवैडूर्यमंडितैः । स्फाटिकैर्विविधाकारैर्विचित्रैरुपशोभितैः
Adorned with palaces of golden pillars, decorated with jewels and beryl, and embellished with wondrous crystal structures of various forms.
सिंहासनसमारूढः सुश्वेतच्छत्रचामरः । किरीटकुंडलयुतो हारकेयूरभूषितः । स्तूयमानश्च गंधर्वैरप्सरोगणसेवितः
Seated upon a throne, shaded by a pure white parasol and yak-tail fan, adorned with crown and earrings, with necklaces and armlets, he was praised by Gandharvas and attended by hosts of Apsarases.
शोभनः शोभते यत्र राजराजोपरो यथा । सोमशर्मेति विख्यातो मुचुकुंदपुरेऽभवत्
There Śobhana shone, surpassing even the king of kings; he became renowned as Somaśarman in the city of Mucukunda.
तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन भ्रमन्विप्रो ददर्श तम् । नृपजामातरं ज्ञात्वा तत्समीपं जगाम सः
While journeying on pilgrimage, a brāhmaṇa saw him; recognizing him as the king's son-in-law, he approached him.
शोभनोऽपि तदा ज्ञात्वा सोमशर्माणमागतम् । आसनादुत्थितः शीघ्रं नमश्चक्रे द्विजोत्तमम्
Śobhana, realizing that Somaśarman had arrived, quickly rose from his seat and respectfully greeted the eminent brāhmaṇa.
चकार कुशलप्रश्नं श्वशुरस्य नृपस्य च । कांतायाश्चंद्रभागायास्तथैव नगरस्य च
He inquired about the welfare of his father-in-law the king, of his beloved Candrabhāgā, and likewise of the city.
सोमशर्मोवाच- कुशलं वर्त्तते राजन्श्वशुरस्य गृहे तव । चंद्रभागा कुशलिनी सर्वतः कुशलं पुरे
Somaśarman said: 'All is well, O king, in your father-in-law’s house; Candrabhāgā is well, and everywhere in the city there is prosperity.'
स्ववृत्तं कथ्यतां राजन्नाश्चर्यं विद्यतेऽद्भुतम् । पुरं विचित्रं रुचिरं न दृष्टं केनचित्क्वचित्
'Tell me your story, O king—there is something marvelous and astonishing here. This city is wondrous and beautiful, such as no one has ever seen.'
एतदाचक्ष्व नृपते कुतः प्राप्तमिदं त्वया । शोभन उवाच- कार्तिकस्यासिते पक्षे या नामैकादशी रमा
'Tell me, O king, how you obtained this; Śobhana said: In the dark fortnight of Kārtika, there is a day called the Ramā Ekādaśī.'
तामुपोष्य मया प्राप्तं द्विजेंद्र पुरमध्रुवम् । ध्रुवं भवति येनैव तत्कुरुष्व द्विजोत्तमः
'By observing that, I attained this impermanent city, O best of brāhmaṇas. That by which it becomes permanent, do that, O eminent brāhmaṇa.'
द्विज उवाच- कथमध्रुवमेतद्धि कथं हि भवति ध्रुवम् । तत्त्वं कथय राजेंद्र तत्करिष्यामि नान्यथा
The brāhmaṇa said: 'How is this impermanent, and how can it become permanent? Tell me the truth, O king; I will do it, and nothing else.'
शोभन उवाच- मयैतद्विहितं विप्र श्रद्धाहीनं व्रतोत्तमम् । तेनाहमध्रुवं मन्ये ध्रुवं भवति तच्छृणु
Śobhana said: This excellent vow was performed by me, O Brahmin, without faith. Therefore, I consider it impermanent; listen, for it can become permanent.
मुचुकुंदस्य दुहिता चंद्रभागा सुशोभना । तस्यै कथय वृत्तांतं ध्रुवमेतद्भविष्यति
The daughter of Mucukuṇḍa, Candra-bhāgā, beautiful in form—tell her the account; this will surely become permanent.
कृष्ण उवाच- स श्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मुचुकुंदपुरं गतः । उवाच सर्वं वृत्तांत्तं चंद्रभागाग्रतो द्विजः
Kṛṣṇa said: Hearing his words, he went to the city of Mucukuṇḍa. The Brahmin narrated the entire story before Candra-bhāgā.
सोमशर्मोवाच - प्रत्यक्षं दयितः कांतस्तव दृष्टो मया शुभे । इंद्रतुल्यमनाधृष्यं दृष्टं तस्य पुरं मया । अध्रुवं तेन तत्प्रोक्तं ध्रुवं भवति तत्कुरु
Somaśarman said: Your beloved husband, O auspicious one, has been seen by me directly. His city, equal to Indra’s and unassailable, was seen by me. He declared it impermanent; make it permanent by your actions.
चंद्रभागोवाच- तत्र मां नय विप्रर्षे पतिदर्शनलालसाम् । आत्मनो व्रतपुण्येन करिष्यामि पुरं ध्रुवम्
Candra-bhāgā said: Lead me there, O sage among Brahmins, for I long to see my husband. By the merit of my vow, I will make that city permanent.
आवयोर्द्विजसंयोगो यथा भवति तत्कुरु । प्राप्यते हि महत्पुण्यं कृत्वा योगं वियुक्तयोः
Let our union, O Brahmin, be accomplished as it should. Great merit is attained by joining those who are separated.
इति श्रुत्वा सह तया सोमशर्मा जगाम ह । आश्रमं वामदेवस्य मंदराचलसंनिधौ
Having heard this, Somaśarman went together with her to the hermitage of Vāmadeva, near Mount Mandara.
वामदेवोऽशृणोत्सर्वं वृत्तांतं कथितं तयोः । अभ्यषिञ्चच्चन्द्रभागां वेदमंत्रैरथोज्ज्वलाम्
Vāmadeva listened to the entire account told by them, and then anointed Candra-bhāgā with Vedic mantras, making her radiant.
ऋषिमंत्रप्रभावेन विष्णुवासरसेवनात् । दिव्यदेहा बभूवासौ दिव्यां गतिमवाप ह
By the power of the sage’s mantras and service to Viṣṇu on the sacred day, she obtained a divine body and attained a divine state.
पत्युः समीपमगमत्प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचना । जहर्ष शोभनोऽतीव दृष्ट्वा कांतां समागताम्
She approached her husband, her eyes blossoming with joy. Śobhana was exceedingly delighted upon seeing his beloved united with him.