तेनर्षिणा वसिष्ठेन दृष्टमात्रः स भूपतिः
That king was seen at once by the sage Vasiṣṭha.
ज्ञात्वा तपःप्रभावेन सूर्यवंशोद्भवं नृपम्
Knowing by the power of his austerity that the king was born of the solar dynasty,
स नृपः कथयामास वसिष्ठाय सुदुःखितः
That king, greatly distressed, spoke to Vasiṣṭha.
त्वामहं शरणं प्राप्तो दुःखैकायतनो यतः उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
I have come to you for refuge, for I am the very abode of suffering; by giving me instruction, you ought to show me your favor.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
Hearing those words of his, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha
महाकालवनं भूप व्रज त्वं कार्यसिद्धये
O king, go to the great Kāla forest for the accomplishment of your purpose.
तस्यास्तीरे शुभं लिंगं पृथुकेश्वर दक्षिणे अस्थिचर्मावशेषं तु चीरवल्कलधारिणम् ।। 5.2.54.
On its bank is the auspicious liṅga called Pṛthukeśvara to the south, remaining with only bones and skin, wearing bark and rags.
वचनात्तस्य विप्रस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः
By the words of that great-souled sage Vasiṣṭha,
ददर्श तापसं तत्र चिरंजीविनमव्ययम्
He saw there an ascetic, long-lived and imperishable.
तापसेन नृपो दृष्टो मित्रोऽयं मम वल्लभः
The ascetic, seeing the king, thought: 'This is my dear friend.'
एह्येहि नृपशार्दूल दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मेंऽतिके
'Come, come, O tiger among kings! By good fortune you have come near me.'
तद्धुंकारात्तु पातालं भित्त्वा पंच च कन्यकाः
Then, from his loud utterance, piercing the netherworld, five maidens—
भृंगारं तु गृहीत्वान्या निःसृता जलसंभृतम्
Another woman, taking a vessel, went out filled with water.
अन्ये द्वे व्यजने गृह्य पार्श्वाभ्यां च व्यवस्थिते
Others took two fans and stood on either side.
तेन हुंकारशब्देन देवलोकात्समागतम्
By that sound of 'hum', it was as if something had come from the realm of the gods.
अनंतरं ददर्शाथ लिंगं ज्योतिष्करं परम्
Immediately after, he saw a supreme linga, radiant with light.
तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टो बभूव नृपसत्तमः 5.2.54.
Upon seeing that, the best of kings was overcome with amazement.
एवं पृष्टो नृपेणाथ स विप्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, when questioned by the king, the sage spoke these words:
अतस्ते दर्शिता माया तपसा दुष्करेण तु
Thus, this illusion has been shown to you, achieved through difficult austerity.
हुंकारेण कृता पृथ्वी जलपूर्णा तु तत्क्षणात्
By the utterance of 'hum', the earth was instantly filled with water.
हुंकारात्पृथिवी सर्वा जाता वह्निमयी तदा
Then, by the sound 'hum', the whole earth became made of fire.
हुंकारेण कृतं सर्वं तत्क्षणादेव पार्वति
All this was accomplished by the sound 'hum' in that very instant, O Pārvatī.
ततो बभ्राम तन्नास्ति स नृपो विस्मयान्वितः
Then the king wandered about, filled with wonder, finding nothing there.
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य ततः शब्दो महानभूत्
As he was thinking thus, a great sound arose.
सुहर्म्यकक्ष्यारचितं विशालं विशुद्धजांबूनदभूषितं च
It was vast, adorned with pure gold, and arranged with harmonious divisions.
भूयोभवन्महाशब्दस्तस्मात्स्त्रीयुगलं वभौ
Again there was a great sound, and from it appeared a pair of women.
पुनः शब्दो बभूवाथ तस्मात्पुरुषसत्तमः 5.2.54.
Once more a sound arose, and from it came an excellent man.
पुनः शब्दाच्च संजज्ञे पुरुषः सप्तधा गतः प्रोक्तमित्थं विशालाक्षि जातकंटकितं नृपम्
Again, from that sound, a man was born, divided into seven parts, as has been told, O wide-eyed one, making the king's hair stand on end.
पश्य लोकमिमं मह्यं तपसा निर्मितं नृप
Behold this world, O king, created for me by austerity.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन तापसेन नराधिपः
Thus addressed at that time by the ascetic, the king...