स युद्धकामो नृपतिः पर्यपृच्छद्विजोत्तमान्
That king, desiring battle, questioned the foremost of twice-born men.
अथ केनापि कथितमाश्रमे सामगो द्विजः
Then, in an āśrama, a certain chanting Brahmin told him something.
ततः स प्रस्थितो राजा म्लेच्छैः सार्द्धं सहस्रशः
Thereupon, the king set out, together with thousands of mlecchas.
दस्युभिः संवृतः क्रूरैः क्रोधेनाकुलितेंद्रियः
Surrounded by fierce bandits, his senses agitated by anger,
मुनिना पूजितस्तेन मधुपर्कादिविष्टरैः
He was honored by the sage with offerings such as madhuparka.
प्रार्थयामास सहसा न दत्ता मुनिना तदा वनं बभंज सकलं तस्य विप्रस्य पश्यतः
He suddenly made a request, but the sage did not grant it; then, before the sage’s eyes, he destroyed the entire forest.
काल्यमानां च गां दृष्ट्वा वत्सं चातीव दुःखितम् 5.2.41.
Seeing the cow being tormented, and the calf extremely distressed,
एवं वदंतं विप्रेंद्रं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्जघान ह
As the chief of Brahmins spoke thus, he struck him with sharp arrows.
असकृत्पुत्रपुत्रेति विलपंतमनाथवत्
Again and again, like one bereft, he lamented, 'My son, my son!'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे पुत्रः समित्पाणिरुपागतः अनागसं महात्मानं विललाप सुदुःखितः
Meanwhile, the son approached, carrying sacrificial fuel; seeing the great-souled, innocent one, he wept in deep sorrow.
केनेदं कुत्सितं कर्म कृतं पापेन मे पिता
By whom has this vile deed been done, that my father, though blameless, has perished?
विलप्यैवं सकरुणं बहुना नाविधं तथा
Lamenting thus, with many kinds of pitiful cries,
ददाह पितरं चाग्नौ तोयमादाय सत्वरम्
He quickly took water and performed the funeral rites for his father in the fire.
स्वधर्मनिरतो विद्वान्येन मे निहतः पिता
My father was slain by someone learned and devoted to his own duty.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजा कुष्ठरोगेण पीडितः
Meanwhile, the king was afflicted with leprosy.
औषधैरधिकोऽभ्येति ब्रह्मशापप्रभावतः
Despite using many medicines, his condition worsened due to the power of a Brahmin’s curse.
चितां कर्तुं समारेभे समायातोऽथ नारदः 5.2.41.
As he was preparing to build the funeral pyre, the sage Nārada arrived.
अथ पप्रच्छ लुंपोऽसौ नारदं मुनिसत्तमम् तेनाहं पीडितोऽतीव न च शांतिं व्रजत्यसौ
Then that king, Luṃpa, questioned the eminent sage Nārada: 'I am greatly afflicted by this, and he does not find peace.'
औषधैर्वर्द्धते कस्मादेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि
'Why does his disease increase with medicines? You ought to explain this.'
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा लुंपाधीशस्य नारदः
Hearing these words of King Luṃpa, Nārada replied.
ततः सभार्यो नृपतिः प्रार्थयामास नारदम्
Then the king, together with his wife, earnestly requested Nārada.
एवमुक्तस्तु लुम्पेन नारदो भगवानृषिः
Thus addressed by Luṃpa, the venerable sage Nārada spoke.
महाकालवने राजँल्लिंगं कुष्ठहरं परम्
In the great Kāla forest, O king, there is a supreme liṅga that removes leprosy.
शिप्रायाश्च तटे रम्ये केशवार्कस्य पूर्वतः
It is situated on the beautiful bank of the Śiprā, to the east of Keśavārka.
एवमुक्तस्तु लुंपोऽसौ ह्याजगाम त्वरान्वितः
Thus instructed, Luṃpa hastened there with great speed.
प्राप्तः स्वर्गोपमं भूपः शिप्रया परिशोभितम्
The king arrived at that place, resplendent like heaven, adorned by the river Śiprā.
स्नात्वा शिप्राजले पुण्ये महापातकनाशने 5.2.41.
After bathing in the holy waters of the Śiprā, which destroy great sins,
कुष्ठरोगेण मुक्तस्तु मुक्तो वै ब्रह्महत्यया
He was freed from leprosy and also released from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
स तत्र तामुषित्वैकां रजनीं पृथिवीपतिः
There, the king spent a single night.
ततः कृतस्वस्त्वयनस्तापसैस्तैर्महात्मभिः
Then, having been blessed by those great ascetics, he performed the rites of auspicious departure.