ब्रह्मणा च कृतं नाम बिल्व इत्यभिविश्रुतम्
And the name given by Brahmā, renowned everywhere, is 'Bilva.'
त्रिविष्टपस्य भूमिस्थः सखाभूतो मम प्रियः
Dwelling on earth but belonging to the heavenly realm, he became my dear friend.
यस्याः प्रभावतः शस्त्रं रणे न प्रभविष्यति
By her power, no weapon in battle will be effective.
तत्स्यां पृथिव्यां राजाहं नान्यथा रोचते मम ५.२.८३.
On that earth, I wish to be king; otherwise, it does not please me.
इंद्र उवाच एवं भवतु भद्रं ते भव राजा प्रजाहितः
Indra said: So be it—may good fortune be yours. Be a king devoted to the welfare of your people.
स एवमुक्तस्तेजस्वी बिल्वो राजा बभूव ह
Thus addressed, the radiant Bilva indeed became king.
सखा बभूव बिल्वस्य तस्य विप्रर्षिसत्तमः
The best among sage-seers became Bilva's friend.
चक्रे कथा विचित्रार्थाः प्रीयमाणः पुनःपुनः
He repeatedly recounted stories of wondrous meaning, rejoicing in them.
दानं प्रधानं तीर्थं तु बिल्वेनोक्तं पुनःपुनः
Bilva repeatedly declared that giving gifts and visiting holy places are foremost.
बिल्व उवाच प्राप्यते द्विजशार्दूल कथं ब्रह्म प्रशंसससि
Bilva said: How, O best of twice-born, is Brahman attained, which you praise?
कपिल उवाच प्रवर्त्तंते क्रिया वेदाद्वेदमूलमिदं जगत्
Kapila said: All rites proceed from the Veda; this world has the Veda as its root.
बिल्व उवाच संसारे पार्थिवाः श्रेष्ठाः समर्था लोकपालने
Bilva said: In the world, kings are the foremost, capable of protecting the people.
पितरः पार्थिवानां तु किं त्वं बिल्व न मन्यसे
Are not the ancestors of kings important to you, O Bilva?
एवं कौतूहले जाते कपिलो द्विजसत्तमः ५.२.८३.
When such curiosity arose, Kapila, the best of Brahmins—
वज्रेण स द्विधा छिन्नः कपिलो ब्रह्मविद्यया
Kapila, with the knowledge of Brahman, was split in two by the thunderbolt.
स्तुतोऽहं विविधैः स्तोत्रैः सम्यगाराधितो ह्यहम्
I have been praised with various hymns and have been properly worshipped.
द्विजः समागतो बिल्वं पुनः सख्यमभूत्तयोः
The twice-born arrived; Bilva and he became friends once more.
वामपादेन चाप्येनं बिल्वो विप्रमताडयत्
Then Bilva struck the Brahmin with his left foot.
न मृतिं न व्यथां तस्य तद्वज्रमकरोत्पुनः
That blow, like a thunderbolt, caused him neither death nor pain.
नारायणमथासाद्य प्रार्थयामास चेप्सितम् प्रोवाच प्रणतो विष्णुमिदं देवि महामनाः
Then, approaching Nārāyaṇa, he earnestly sought his desire, and, bowing, the noble goddess spoke these words to Viṣṇu:
सखा मम हृषीकेश स च मामाह नित्यशः
"O Hṛṣīkeśa, he is my friend, and he always says the same to me."
पिशाचस्यापि यक्षस्य न चैवान्यस्य कस्यचित्
"Not even a piśāca, a yakṣa, nor anyone else at all—"
एवमुक्तस्तु बिल्वेन स देवः पुरुषोत्तमः
Thus addressed by Bilva, that supreme god—Puruṣottama—
स प्रविश्याश्रमं देवं कपिलेन प्रपूजितः ।। ५.२.८३.
He entered the hermitage and was honored by Kapila.
भगवन्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ वेदवेदांगपारग
"O venerable one, best of Brahmins, master of the Vedas and their branches—"
प्रसादितोऽहं बिल्वेन नृपेंद्रेण पुनःपुनः
"I have been repeatedly gratified by Bilva, the foremost of kings."
त्वया प्रोक्तं बिभेमीति ब्रूहि तस्मादनुग्रहात्
"You have said, 'I am afraid.' Speak this, by your favor."
कपिलस्त्वेवमुक्तो वै विष्णुना मधुरं वचः
Thus addressed by Viṣṇu, Kapila spoke sweet words:
नाहं वक्ष्ये बिभेमीति तेनोक्तं नोच्यते मया उवाच चक्रमुद्यम्य भयं विप्रस्य दर्शयन्
"I will not say, 'I am afraid.' Therefore, I do not utter it." So saying, he raised his discus, showing fear to the Brahmin.
न चेद्वक्ष्यसि भीतोऽहं चक्रं ते प्रहरामि वै
"If you do not say it, I, being afraid, will strike you with my discus!"