तं दृष्ट्वा चिंतयामास किमेतदिति पार्थिवः
Seeing that, the king pondered, 'What is this?'
चिंतयन्निव तत्रासौ ददर्श विजने वने
While pondering thus, he saw in that lonely forest—
स तं पप्रच्छ नृपतिः किमेतदिति भो द्विज
The king asked him, 'O brāhmaṇa, what is this?'
कुजंभोनाम विख्यातो भिनत्ति वसुधामिमाम्
'Kujaṃbha by name, renowned, is breaking this earth apart.'
तमजित्वा कथं राज्यं भोक्ष्यसे वसुधाधिप
How will you rule the kingdom, O lord of the earth, without defeating him?
उपद्रुतास्तथा देशा ध्वस्ताश्चैव तथाश्रमाः
The lands have thus been afflicted, and the hermitages likewise destroyed.
यदि त्वं घातयस्येनं पातालांतरगोचरम् 5.2.63.
If you kill him, who moves within the depths of the underworld—
इति विप्र वचः श्रुत्वा मंत्रयामास पार्थिवः
Hearing these words of the Brahmin, the king deliberated.
तं मंत्रं क्रियमाणं तु सूनुभ्यां सह मंत्रिभिः
That counsel was undertaken together with his sons and ministers.
ततः कतिपयाहे तु तां कन्यां जलजेक्षणाम्
Then, after a few days, that lotus-eyed maiden—
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महीपालः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः
Hearing this, the king's gaze became agitated with anger.
दृष्ट्वा भूमौ पुरा गत्तें तत्र संशयिते मयि
Having seen the body lying on the ground before, while I was in doubt there—
स हन्यतां सोऽपहर्त्ता मुदावत्याः सुदुर्मतिः
Let him be slain, that evil-minded abductor of Mudavati!
तौ सुतौ तत्र संप्राप्तौ पाताले पितृशासनात्
Then those two sons arrived there in the netherworld, by their father's command.
ततः परिघनिस्त्रिंशशक्तिशूलपरश्वधैः
Then, with iron clubs, swords, spears, tridents, and axes—
ततो मायाबलवता तेन दैत्येन तत्क्षणात्
Then, by the power of illusion of that demon, at that very moment—
हत सैन्यौ रणे बद्धौ राजपुत्रौ महाबलौ ।। 5.2.63.
The two mighty princes, their armies slain in battle, were captured.
ततः श्रुत्वा महीपालो विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्
Then, upon hearing this, the king became pale-faced.
रुरोद बहुधात्यर्थं पुत्रस्नेहेन पार्थिवः अनेकसृष्टिसंहारदृष्टकार्यपरावरः
The king wept greatly in many ways, overwhelmed by love for his sons, though he had witnessed many creations and dissolutions, and knew the highest and lowest things.
उदितादित्यसंकाशः सप्तकल्पानुगो वशी राजानं कथयामास त्रिकालज्ञो महामुनिः
Then, shining like the risen sun, following seven cycles, the great sage, knower of the three times, spoke to the king.
मा शुचस्त्वं महीपाल क्षत्त्रियोऽसि दृढव्रतः
Do not grieve, O king; you are a kshatriya, steadfast in your vow.
शोकं कुपुरुषाचीर्णं त्यज त्वं राजसत्तम
Abandon the sorrow born of the deeds of a wicked man, O best of kings.
नात्युच्चं मेरुशिखरं नातिनीचं रसातलम्
Neither the summit of Meru is too high, nor the netherworld too low.
महाकालवने लिंगमाराधय समाहितः
In the great Kāla forest, worship the liṅga with focused mind.
धनुःसाहस्रतुल्यं तु मुशलस्य निवारणम्
Equal to a thousand bows is the power to restrain the club.
धनुःसाहस्रहस्तैस्तु रक्षितं योधसत्तमैः इंद्रेण च धनुर्लब्धं जंभो वै येन पातितः
Guarded by warriors of great valor, each with the strength of a thousand bows, and by Indra, who obtained the bow by which Jambha was struck down.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स राजाथ विदूरथः 5.2.63.
Hearing those words, King Vidūratha then—
ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं पूजयामास भक्तितः
There he saw that liṅga and worshipped it with devotion.
धनुःसाहस्रतुल्यं च मुशलस्य निवारणम् जगाम धीरः पातालं तेन गर्तेन सत्वरम्
With the power equal to a thousand bows, restraining the club, the steadfast one quickly went to the netherworld through that pit.
ततो ज्यास्वनमत्युग्रं स चक्रे पार्थिवस्तदा
Then the king made a very fierce twang of the bowstring.