वितते यज्ञवाटे तु स्वागतेषु द्विजादिषु। पुण्याहघोषैर्विततैर्देवानां नियमैस्तथा
When the sacrificial enclosure was prepared, and the Brahmins and others had arrived, the auspicious day was proclaimed, and the rules of the gods were observed.
देवेषु चैव व्यग्रेषु तस्मिन्यज्ञविधौ तथा। तत्र चैव महाराज दीक्षिते च पितामहे
And as the gods were engaged in that sacrificial rite, O great king, and Brahma himself had been initiated there.
यजतस्तस्य सत्रेण सर्वकामसमृद्धिना। मनसा चिंतिता ह्यर्था धर्मार्थकुशलास्तथा
As he performed the sacrifice, all his desires were fulfilled; the things he contemplated in his mind, skilled in righteousness and wealth, indeed appeared.
उपतिष्ठंति राजेंद्र द्विजातींस्तत्र तत्र ह। जगुश्च देवगंधर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः
O king, the twice-born attended him here and there; the gods and Gandharvas sang, and the groups of Apsaras danced.
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि वादयामासुरंजसा। तस्य यज्ञस्य संपत्या तुतुषुदेर्वता अपि
Divine instruments were played splendidly; by the success of that sacrifice, even the gods were satisfied.
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः किमु मानुषयोनयः। वर्तमाने तथा यज्ञे पुष्करस्थे पितामहे
They were filled with the utmost wonder—what then of human beings? While the sacrifice continued at Pushkara with Brahma present.
अब्रुवन्नृषयो भीष्म तदा तुष्टास्सरस्वतीम्। सुप्रभां नाम राजेंद्र नाम्ना चैव सरस्वतीम्
Then, O Bhishma, the sages, being pleased, addressed Sarasvati as Suprabha by name, and also as Sarasvati.
ते दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे वेगयुक्तां सरस्वतीम्। पितामहं भासयंतीं क्रतुं ते बहु मेनिरे
Seeing Sarasvati, swift-flowing and shining upon Brahma's sacrifice, all the sages regarded her as exceedingly great.
एवमेषा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा पुष्करेषु सरस्वती। पितामहार्थं सम्भूता तुष्ट्यर्थं च मनीषिणाम्
Thus, this best of rivers, Sarasvati, at Pushkara, arose for the sake of Brahma and for the satisfaction of the wise.
पुण्यस्य पुण्यताकारि पंचस्रोतास्सरस्वती। सुप्रभा नाम राजेंन्द्र नाम्ना चैव सरस्वती
Sarasvati, with five streams, made the holy even holier; O king, she is called Suprabha by name, and also Sarasvati.
यत्र ते मुनयश्शान्ता नानास्वाध्यायवादिनः। ते समागत्य ऋषयस्सस्मरुर्वै सरस्वतीम्
There, the peaceful sages, each expounding different teachings, gathered together and remembered Sarasvatī.
साभिध्याता महाभागा ऋषिभिः सत्रयाजिभिः। समास्थिता दिशं पूर्वां भक्तिप्रीता महानदी
Invoked by those great, sacrificial seers, the blessed river Sarasvatī, filled with devotion and love, appeared in the eastern direction.
प्राची पूर्वावहा नाम्ना मुनिवंद्या सरस्वती। इदमन्यन्महाराज शृण्वाश्चर्यवरं भुवि
The Sarasvatī, honored by sages, is called the Eastern-flowing One; now, O King, hear another wondrous tale on earth.
क्षतो मंकणको विप्रः कुशाग्रेणेति नः श्रुतम्। क्षतात्किल करे तस्य राजन्शाकरसोस्रवत्
We have heard that the brāhmaṇa Maṅkaṇaka was wounded by a blade of kuśa grass; from the wound on his hand, O King, sugarcane juice flowed.
स वै शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टः प्रनृत्तवान्। ततस्तस्मिन्प्रनृत्ते तु स्थावरं जंगमं च यत्
Seeing the sugarcane juice, he was overcome with joy and began to dance; then, as he danced, all that was movable and immovable there—
प्रानृत्यत जगत्सर्वं तेजसा तस्य मोहितम्। शक्रादिभिस्सुरै राजन्नृषिभिश्च तपोधनैः
—the entire world—danced as well, bewildered by his radiance; O King, the gods led by Indra and the ascetic sages were astonished.
विज्ञप्तस्तत्र वै ब्रह्मा नायं नृत्येत्तथा कुरु। आदिष्टो ब्रह्मणा रुद्र ऋषेरर्थे नराधिप
There, Brahmā was informed: 'He should not dance in this way.' At Brahmā’s command, Rudra was sent for the sake of the sage, O King.
नायं नृत्येद्यथा भीम तथा त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि। गत्वा रुद्रो मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टमतीव हि
'He must not dance so fiercely; you should tell him this.' Rudra went and, seeing the sage overwhelmed with joy—
भो भो विप्रर्षभ त्वं हि नृत्यसे केन हेतुना। नृत्यमानेन भवता जगत्सर्वं च नृत्यति
—said, 'O best of brāhmaṇas, for what reason are you dancing? As you dance, the whole world dances with you.'
तेनायं वारितः प्राह नृत्यन्वै मुनिसत्तमः। मुनिरुवाच। किं न पश्यसि मे देव कराच्छाकरसोस्रवत्
Thus restrained, the excellent sage continued dancing and replied: 'Do you not see, O god, that sugarcane juice flows from my hand?'
तं तु दृष्ट्वाप्र नृत्तोहं हर्षेण महतावृतः। तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद्देवो मुनिं रागेण मोहितम्
Seeing that, I danced, filled with great joy; the god, smiling, spoke to the sage, who was deluded by passion.
अहं न विस्मयं विप्र गच्छामीह प्रपश्य मां। एवमुक्तो मुनिश्रेष्ठो महादेवेन कौरव
'O brāhmaṇa, I am not amazed by this; look at me here.' Thus addressed by Mahādeva, O Kaurava—
ध्यायमानस्तदा कोयं प्रतिषिद्धोस्मि येन हि। अंगुल्यग्रेण राजेंद्र स्वांगुष्ठस्ताडितस्तथा
The sage, meditating, wondered, 'Who is this who has stopped me?' Then, O King, he struck his own thumb with his fingertip.
ततो भस्मक्षताद्राजन्निर्गतं हिमपांडुरं। तद्दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितश्चासौ प्राह तत्पादयोः पतन्
From the wound, O King, ash—white as snow—emerged; seeing that, he became ashamed and, falling at his feet, said—
नान्यद्देवादहं मन्ये रुद्रात्परतरं महत्। चराचरस्य जगतो गतिस्त्वमसि शूलधृत्
'I consider no one greater than Rudra, O god; you, O wielder of the trident, are the refuge of the moving and unmoving universe.'
त्वया सृष्टमिदं सर्वं वदंतीह मनीषिणः। त्वामेव सर्वं विशति पुनरेव युगक्षये
'The wise declare that all this was created by you; at the end of the age, everything again enters into you.'
देवैरपि न शक्यस्त्वं परिज्ञातुं मया कुतः। त्वयि सर्वे च दृश्यन्ते सुरा ब्रह्मादयोपि ये
Even the gods cannot fully comprehend you—how could I? In you are seen all the gods, even Brahmā and the others.
सर्वस्त्वमसि देवानां कर्ता कारयिता च यः। त्वत्प्रसादात्सुराः सर्वे भवंतीहाकुतोभयाः
You alone are the creator and cause of all the gods; by your grace, all the gods here become fearless.'
एवं स्तुत्वा महादेवमृषिश्च प्रणतोब्रवीत्। भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन तपो न क्षीयते त्विह
Having thus praised the great god, the sage, bowing, spoke: 'O Lord, by your grace, my austerity is not diminished here.'
ततो देवः प्रीतमनास्तमृषिं पुनरब्रवीत्। तपस्ते वर्द्धतां विप्र मत्प्रसादात्सहस्रधा
Then the god, pleased in mind, again spoke to the sage: 'May your austerity increase a thousandfold, O Brahmin, by my grace.'