इति पृष्टस्तदा तेन प्रार्थितेन यशस्विना
Thus questioned at that time by the illustrious one who had made the request,
क एष प्रोच्यते राजंस्त्वया नारायणोऽधुना
Who is this, O King, whom you now call Nārāyaṇa?
युवां नारायणौ कस्मादिति वाक्यमुवाच सः
He spoke this word: 'Why do you and Nārāyaṇa (both) exist?'
शंखचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जनार्द्दनः
Janārddana, holding the conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow garments,
तस्य राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा संसिद्धौ योगकोविदौ
Hearing the king's words, those two accomplished and skilled in yoga,
कपिलो मंत्रमाहात्म्यात्स्वयं विष्णुर्बभूव ह
Kapila, by the greatness of the mantra, himself became Viṣṇu.
जैगीषव्यश्च गरुडस्तत्क्षणात्समजायत 5.2.59.
And Jaigīṣavya became Garuḍa at that very moment.
दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं गरुडस्थं सनातनम् उवाच क्षाम्यतां सिद्धौ नायं विष्णुरथेदृशः
Seeing the eternal god Nārāyaṇa seated upon Garuḍa, he spoke: 'Forgive me, O accomplished one; this is not Viṣṇu in such a form.'
इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा तदा तौ सिद्धसत्तमौ
Thus, hearing the king's words, those two eminent siddhas at that time,
कपिलः पद्मनाभस्तु पद्ममध्ये प्रजापतिः
Kapila became Padmanābha, and Prajāpati appeared in the lotus's center.
जैगीषव्योऽथ रुद्रस्तु तस्यैवांके व्यवस्थितः
Then Jaigīṣavya became Rudra, positioned upon his lap.
कौतुकात्प्रत्युवाचेदं भीतः कंपितकन्धरः सर्वरूपी हरिः श्रीमान्सर्वगः सर्वदः स्मृतः
Out of curiosity, trembling and frightened, he replied: 'Hari, the glorious, all-formed, all-pervading, giver of all, is remembered.'
ततो वाक्यावसाने तु तस्य राज्ञश्च संसदि
Then, at the end of the speech, in the king's assembly,
अश्वा गावो हयाः सिंहा व्याघ्रा गोमहिषास्तथा
Horses, cows, steeds, lions, tigers, and buffaloes likewise,
दृश्यंते राजभवने कोटिशः पर्वतात्मजे
Were seen by the daughter of the mountain in the royal palace by the millions.
यावच्चिंतयते किं स्यात्तावज्ज्ञातं नृपेण हि 5.2.59.
As long as he pondered what might happen, it was known by the king.
कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा स राजाऽश्वशिरास्तदा
Then that king, Ashvashiras, with hands joined in reverence, stood before them.
सामर्थ्यमीदृशं लब्धं कस्माद्वै तपसो बलात्
He said, 'By the power of austerity, how has such ability been attained?'
सफला मे मनोवृत्तिर्युवयोर्दर्शनेन वै
Indeed, my heart's desire has been fulfilled by seeing you both.
महाकालवने राजन्विद्यते लिंगमुत्तमम्
O king, in the great Kālavan forest there exists a supreme liṅga.
सौभाग्येश्वरपूर्वे तु सौभाग्यारोग्यदायकम्
Formerly presided over by Saubhāgyeśvara, it bestows good fortune and health.
जैगीषव्येन सिद्धेन मया वैं नृपसत्तम
By Jaigīṣavya, the accomplished sage, and by me, O best of kings,
तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि सर्वेशं शंखचक्रगदाधरम
There you will see the Lord of all, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.
संसिद्धा बहवस्तत्र सनकाद्या नरेश्वर
Many perfected beings are there, O lord of men, including Sanaka and others.
जगाम सहसा तत्र स राजाश्वशिरास्तदा
Then that king, Ashvashiras, went there at once.
अन्ये च बहवः सिद्धाः सिद्धनाथास्तथा परे 5.2.59.
And many other accomplished ones, as well as lords of the perfected, were also present.
लिंगमध्ये स्थित विष्णुं ज्ञात्वा स नृपसत्तमः
Recognizing Viṣṇu within the liṅga, that best of kings,
ततस्तुष्टोऽब्रवीद्देवो वरं वरय सुव्रत
Then the pleased god spoke: 'Choose a boon, O steadfast one.'
लिंगस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा नृपेणोक्तं च तच्छृणु
Hearing the words of the liṅga, the king replied—listen to this.
यत्ते रूपं परं नाथ तद्दर्शय ममाच्युत
'O imperishable Lord, show me that supreme form of yours.'