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.
प्रयाग प्रयतो भूत्वा प्रसन्नोऽहं सदा तव
"O Prayaga, having become pure, I am always pleased with you."
इत्युक्तस्तेन लिंगेन मदर्थं प्रार्थितस्तदा
Thus addressed by that linga, he then prayed for my sake.
नष्टा वेदाश्च शास्त्राणि सावित्र्या दर्शनात्प्रभो
The Vedas and the scriptures had disappeared, O Lord, after the vision of Savitri.
ततो लिंगात्समुत्तस्थौ ब्रह्मा वेदैर्वृतस्तदा
Then Brahma arose from the linga, surrounded by the Vedas.
इत्युक्तोऽहं तदा देव्या सावित्र्या नृपसत्तम
Thus I was addressed at that time by the goddess Savitri, O best of kings.
प्रतिभास्यंति ते वेदा धर्मशास्त्राणि नारद
"The Vedas and the Dharma-shastras will appear to you, O Narada."
ज्ञानं षडंगसहितं शास्त्राणि विविधानि च 5.2.58.
"Knowledge together with the six limbs, and various scriptures as well."
प्रयागेनार्चितो देवो मम ज्ञानस्य कारणात्
The god was worshipped at Prayaga for the sake of my knowledge.
तदाप्रभृति तल्लिंगं तीर्थकोटिशतैर्वृतम्
From that time, that linga has been surrounded by hundreds of crores of sacred fords.
किमनेनाश्वमेधेन इष्टेन नृपसत्तम
"What is the use of this Ashvamedha sacrifice that has been performed, O best of kings?"