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.
विमानस्थेन या प्रोक्ता तूष्ट्रेण मधुरस्वरा
The words spoken by the one in the chariot, with a sweet voice, who was formerly a camel—
दर्शनादस्य लिंगस्य प्राप्ता मे परमा गतिः समीपमस्य लिंगस्य त्वं मे बंधुः परो यतः
By the sight of this liṅga, I have attained the highest state; because you are near this liṅga, you are my supreme kinsman.
इत्युक्त्वा स नृपं देवि वचः समधुराक्षरम्
Having spoken thus, O goddess, he addressed the king with words most sweetly uttered.
ततो देवगणा व्योम्नि सकिंनरमहोरगाः
Then the hosts of gods in the sky, along with kinnaras and great serpents—
ब्रह्मेंद्रहरिमुख्याश्च विमानैर्देवि संस्थिताः
Brahmā, Indra, Hari, and the foremost, O goddess, stood in their celestial chariots.
विलोक्य करभं मुक्तं विमानस्थं विराजितम्
Seeing the elephant, freed, resplendent, dwelling in the chariot—
अच्छरत्नसमूहेन मुकुटेनोज्वलत्विषा 5.2.73.
With a crown shining with a multitude of celestial jewels—
नाम चक्रुस्ततो देवा दृष्ट्वा माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Then the gods gave him a name, having seen his supreme greatness.
तस्मात्त्रिष्वपि लोकेषु विख्यातः करभेश्वरः
Therefore, in all three worlds, he became renowned as Karabheśvara.
इत्युक्त्वा त्रिदशाः सर्वे गताः स्वं धिष्ण्यमुत्तमम् समृद्धं निःसपत्नं च ततो राज्यं चकार सः
Having spoken thus, all the gods returned to their own excellent abodes; then he ruled the kingdom, prosperous and without enemies.