अथारण्यं महारौद्रं प्रविष्टः करभस्तदा
Then, at that moment, the buffalo entered a fierce wilderness.
प्रविश्य च महारण्यं तापसानामथाश्रमम्
Entering the great forest, he reached the hermitage of ascetics.
तं कार्मुककरं दृष्ट्वा श्रमार्त्तं क्षुधितं तदा
Seeing him, bow in hand, weary and hungry,
स पूजामृषिभिर्दत्तां प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि
He received the worship offered by the sages, as prescribed.
ते तस्य राज्ञो वचनं प्रतिगृह्य तपोधनाः
Those ascetics, rich in austerity, accepted the king's words.
केन भद्र सुखार्थेन संप्राप्तोऽसि तपोवनम्
O noble one, for what purpose of happiness have you come to this hermitage?
एतदिच्छामहे श्रोतुं कुतः प्राप्तोऽसि मानद 5.2.73.
We wish to hear this: from where have you arrived, O giver of honor?
ततः स राजा सर्वेभ्यो द्विजेभ्यः पुरुषर्षभः
Then the king, foremost among men, spoke to all the twice-born.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातो वीरकेतुर्द्विजर्षभाः
O best of twice-born, Vīraketu was born in the lineage of Ikṣvāku.
बलेन महता युक्तः सामात्यः सपरिच्छदः
He was endowed with great strength, accompanied by ministers and attendants.
महिषश्चित्तलो वापि शशो वा शंबरो वने
Whether it was a buffalo, a deer, or a hare, or even Śambara in the forest—
स प्रणष्टः क्षणेनैव सबाणो मम पश्यतः
That one vanished in a moment, along with the arrow, before my very eyes.
भवत्सकाशं नष्टश्रीर्हताशः श्रमकर्शितः भवंतः सुमहाभागास्तस्मात्पृच्छाभि संशयम्
Deprived of fortune, his hopes destroyed, worn out by fatigue, he came to you; you are supremely fortunate, so I ask you this question out of doubt.
क्व गतः करभो विद्धो मया बाणेन सांप्रतम्
Where has the karabha, struck by my arrow, gone now?
ततस्तेषां समस्तानामृषीणामृषिसत्तमः
Then, among all those sages, the foremost sage spoke—
गतः स करभो भूप महाकालवने शुभे
O king, that karabha has gone to the auspicious Mahākāla forest.
यत्र देवो महादेवः कारभं रूपमास्थितः 5.2.73.
There, the great god Mahādeva assumed the form of a karabha.
पश्चिमे क्षेत्रपालस्य कैलासस्य महीपते
In the western part of Kailāsa, O king, at the domain of the guardian of the field,
ब्रह्मणा पूजितो राजन्देवानामर्थसिद्धये
He was worshipped by Brahmā, O king, for the accomplishment of the gods' purposes.
तुरगेण कदाचित्तु नीतो बदरिकाश्रमम्
Once, he was taken on a horse to the hermitage of Badarikā.
तत्र वीराजिनधरं कृशं विप्रं ददर्श ह दृष्ट्वा च हसितो विप्रस्तेन राज्ञा प्रमादतः
There, he saw a thin brāhmaṇa clad in a hero's garment; seeing him, the king laughed out of pride.
यस्माद्धससि मां दृष्ट्वा तस्मादुष्ट्रो भविष्यसि
Because you laughed at me upon seeing me, therefore you shall become a camel.
इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण शप्तोपि नृपसत्तमः
Thus addressed by that brāhmaṇa, the best of kings was cursed.
न मे वागनृता भूप कदा चिदपि विद्यते
O king, my words are never false at any time.
यदा त्वं करभो जातो विद्धो वै वीरकेतुना
When you are born as a karabha and struck by Vīraketu,
महाकालवनं दिव्यं तत्र त्वं लिंगदर्शनात्
In the divine Mahākāla forest, there, by the sight of the liṅga—
स चेक्ष्वाकुकुलद्भूतो वीरकेतुर्महाबलः 5.2.73.
He, born in the Ikshvaku lineage, was Vīraketu, of great strength.
इत्युक्तो नृप भूपालः करभत्वं समागतः द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं विमानस्थं विमुक्तं लिंगदर्शनात्
Thus addressed, O king, the ruler came into the form of an elephant; you will see him, freed, dwelling in a celestial chariot, by the sight of the liṅga.
इत्युक्तो नृपतिस्तेन ऋषभेण द्विजेन तु
Thus spoken to by that ṛṣabha, the twice-born one, the king—
ददर्श तत्र तल्लिंगं पूजितं त्रिदशैः सदा
There he saw that liṅga, always worshipped by the gods.