स्वयं विशालां बदरीं गत्वा तेपे महत्तपः
He himself went to the vast Badarī and undertook great austerity.
पूजितो विष्टरार्घेण राज्ञा प्रियव्रतेन च
He was worshipped with abundant offerings by King Priyavrata as well.
इत्युक्तः कथयामास नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
Thus addressed, the sage Nārada, best of sages, began to speak.
सा च पृष्टा विशालाक्षी कस्माद्वससि निर्जने
And the wide-eyed one was asked, 'Why do you dwell in solitude?'
कर्त्तव्यं चारुसर्वांगि तन्ममाचक्ष्व शोभने
O beautiful one with lovely limbs, tell me what must be done.
स्मृत्वा तूष्णीं स्थिता यावत्तावन्मे ज्ञानमुत्तमम्
As I stood there silently, recalling, supreme knowledge suddenly arose in me.
ततोऽहं विस्मयाविष्टश्चिंतामोहसमन्वितः 5.2.58.
Then I, filled with astonishment and overcome by confusion and doubt—
तावद्दिव्यः पुमांस्तस्याः शरीरे समदृश्यत तस्यापि हृदये चान्यस्तृतीयस्तु व्यवस्थितः
At that moment, a divine man appeared in her body, and within her heart, another, a third, was present.
ततः पृष्टा मया देवी सा कुमारी कथंचन
Then I questioned the goddess, that maiden, in some way.
मां न जानासि येन त्वमतो वेदा हृतास्तव
Do you not know me, because of whom your Vedas have been taken away?
एवमुक्ते मया पृष्टा विस्मयेन महीपते
When I spoke thus and questioned her in amazement, O king,
त्वदीय हृदये देवि क एते पुरुषास्त्रयः
O goddess, who are these three men in your heart?
एष ऋग्वेदनामा तु यजुर्वेदो द्वितीयकः
This one is called the Ṛgveda, the second is the Yajurveda.
सामवेदस्तृतीयस्तु त्रयो वेदा मयि स्थिताः
The third is the Sāmaveda; the three Vedas reside within me.
इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा कन्या पश्यतो मम भूपते
Having said this, that maiden, as I watched, O king—
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि शरणं यामि कं प्रभुम्
What shall I do? Where shall I go? To which lord shall I seek refuge?
कामिकस्तीर्थराजस्तु प्रयागः श्रूयते श्रुतौ 5.2.58.
The king of holy places, Prayāga, is renowned in the scriptures as Kāmika.
नष्टवेदेन रैभ्येण प्राप्ता सिद्धिरनुत्तमा
By Raibhya, who had lost the Vedas, the highest perfection was attained.
एवं मनसि संध्याय गतोऽहं नृपसत्तम
Thinking thus in my mind, I departed, O best of kings.
तपस्तीव्रं मया तत्र तप्तं परमदुष्करम्
There I performed intense austerity, most difficult to accomplish.
उक्तोऽहं प्रणयात्तेन न मां तापय नारद
Out of affection, he said to me: 'Do not torment me, Nārada.'
भवतः पार्श्वमायातः प्रणयेन तपोधन
Out of affection, O treasure of austerity, I have come to your side.
मया सार्धं त्वया ब्रह्मन्गतिः कार्याऽविकल्पतः भविष्यति न संदेहो मम कीर्तिश्च सुस्थिरा
O Brahman, you must attain the state of Brahman together with me, without doubt; my fame too will remain firm.
एवं हि ब्रुवतस्तस्य प्रयागस्य नृपोत्तम
As he was thus speaking, O best of kings, at Prayaga—
शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिर्गरुडस्थो वियद्गतः
He appeared in the sky, mounted on Garuda, holding conch, discus, and mace in his hands.
एहि नारद गच्छामः प्रयागो यत्र यास्यति
"Come, Narada, let us go where Prayaga is going."
ज्ञानं मे देहि देवेश कथं यास्यामि तद्वनम् 5.2.58.
"O Lord of gods, grant me knowledge: how shall I go to that forest?"
इत्युक्तः श्रीधरेणाहं महाकालवनं नृप
Thus addressed by Sridhara, O king, I went to the great forest of Mahakala.
तत्र लिंगमनादि तु ज्योतीरूपं सनातनम्
There was the beginningless linga, eternal and radiant in form.
प्रयागः पूजयामास पश्यतो मम भूपते
Prayaga worshipped it while I was watching, O king.