वदंति कारणं चास्य त्रैलोक्यस्य जनार्द्दनः
Janardana is said to be the cause of this entire threefold world.
वरार्थिभिश्च प्रवरैः पूज्यसे गरुडध्वज
You, Garuda-bannered one, are worshipped by the best of those who seek boons.
कपिलस्य च विप्रस्य हराल्लब्धवरस्य च
And to Kapila, the sage, who had obtained a boon from Hara,
अवध्यत्वमनुप्राप्तो ह्यजेयत्वं च संयुगे ५.२.८३.
He attained invulnerability and unconquerability in battle.
ब्रह्म च ब्रह्मणो मूलं त्वयैव प्राक्प्रतिश्रुतम्
Even Brahma and the root of Brahma were formerly promised by you alone.
इत्थं निशम्य देवेशो वाक्यं ब्रह्ममुखाच्च्युतम्
Hearing thus the words that fell from the mouth of Brahma, the Lord of the gods,
जगाम परमं लोकं पूज्यमानस्त्रिविष्टपैः
He went to the supreme world, being worshipped by the dwellers of heaven.
युद्धं सुदारुणं श्रुत्वा कृष्णस्य कपिलस्य च कस्याहं शरणं यामि को मे त्राता भविष्यति
Hearing of the terrible battle between Krishna and Kapila, I wondered: To whom shall I turn for refuge? Who will be my protector?
न जितः कपिलो युद्धे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Kapila was not defeated in battle by Vishnu, the mighty lord.
अजेया ब्राह्मणा युद्धे शापानुग्रहकारकाः
Brahmins are unconquerable in battle, being the agents of both curse and blessing.
ब्राह्मं हि परमं तेजो देवैरपि दुरासदम्
The supreme Brahmin power is difficult even for the gods to withstand.
विलपंतं कृशं बिल्वं वज्र हस्तमवेक्ष्य सः
Seeing Bilva, emaciated and lamenting, with the thunderbolt in his hand,
अलं शोकेन भूपाल शृणु मे वचनं परम् बलिष्ठेन सगर्वेण तदा पृष्टो मया गुरुः
Enough of grief, O king; listen to my supreme words. At that time, I questioned my guru, who was powerful and proud.
बृहस्पतिर्महातेजास्तेनोक्तं तु तदा नृप ५.२.८३.
Then, O king, the radiant Bṛhaspati spoke these words to me.
यत्र संति सुदिव्यानि लिंगानि विविधानि च
There are most divine liṅgas there, and of various kinds.
तेषां मध्ये लिंगमेकमाराधय शचीपते तस्य तद्वचनाद्बिल्व सम्यगाराधना कृता
Among them, O lord of Śacī, worship one liṅga; by his instruction, I performed proper worship of the bilva.
मया लिंगस्य हर्षेण जितो वै शंबरस्तदा
With joy for the liṅga, I then conquered Śambara.
तस्मात्त्वं पश्चिमामाशां गत्वा क्षेत्रस्य तस्य वै
Therefore, you should go to the western direction, to that sacred field.
तल्लिंगं त्रिषु लोकेषु त्वन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमेष्यति तस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यान्मित्रभावं गमिष्यति
That liṅga will become renowned in the three worlds by your name; by the greatness of that liṅga, friendship will be attained.
इत्युक्त्वा तु गते शक्रे देवलोकं यशस्विनि
Having said this, when Śakra departed for the world of the gods, O illustrious one,
जगाम बिल्वो भूपालो महाकालवनं शुभम्
Bilva, the king, went to the auspicious Mahākālavana.
मुक्ताफलैश्च रत्नैश्च वासोभिर्भूषणैस्तथा
With pearls, jewels, garments, and ornaments as well,
ददर्श बिल्वं भूपालं पूजयंतं पुनःपुनः दृष्ट्वा मत्वा महादेवं जितोऽस्मीति द्विजोऽब्रवीत्
He saw King Bilva worshipping again and again; seeing and considering him as Mahādeva, the brāhmaṇa said, 'I am victorious.'
प्रार्थयामि त्वया सख्यमनंतं शिवसंनिधौ ५.२.८३.
I ask you for eternal friendship in the presence of Śiva.
प्रसन्नः प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा कपिलं द्विजसत्तमम्
Pleased, with joined palms, he addressed Kapila, the best of brāhmaṇas.
सख्यं तदेव भवतु शश्वद्वदसि मन्यसे
Let this very friendship be everlasting, as you say and think.
चिकीडतुश्चिरं कालं परं हर्षमुपागतौ
Rejoicing for a long time, they both attained supreme happiness.
स हि मित्रेण भूपालो बिल्वो देवि मुदान्वितः बिल्वेनाराधितो लोके वांछितार्थफलप्रदः
Indeed, O goddess, King Bilva, with his friend, was filled with joy; worshipped by Bilva, he grants the desired fruits in the world.
ये पश्यंति विशालाक्षि देवं बिल्वेश्वरं परम्
Those who see the supreme god Bilveśvara, O wide-eyed one,
येऽनुमोदंति देवस्य दर्शनं पर्वतात्मजे
Those who rejoice in the vision of the god, O daughter of the mountain,