एवं चिंतयतां तेषां वागुवाचाऽशरीरिणी
As they were thinking thus, a bodiless voice spoke.
अस्य वै स्मरणादेव लभेद्गोदानजं फलम्
Merely by remembering this, one obtains the merit of giving a cow.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेव्या आमर्दकी सदा 2.4.12.
Therefore, with every effort, the āmalakī tree should always be served.
तस्या मूले स्थितो विष्णुस्तदूर्ध्वं च पितामहः
At its root stands Viṣṇu, and above that, the Grandfather (Brahmā).
शाखासु सवितारश्च प्रशाखासु च देवताः
In its branches is the Sun, and in the smaller branches are the deities.
प्रजानां पतयः सर्वे फलेष्वेवं व्यवस्थिताः
All the lords of beings are established in its fruits in this way.
अतः सा पूजनीया च सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये नमस्कृत्वा जगन्नाथं पप्रच्छातीव विस्मितः
Therefore, it is to be worshipped for the attainment of all desires and aims; having bowed to the Lord of the universe, he asked, greatly astonished.
तथा धात्रीवनं मासे कार्तिके श्रीहरिप्रियम्
In the month of Kārtika, the dhātrī grove is dear to Śrī Hari.
कार्तिके मासि यः कुर्यात्तस्य पापं विनश्यति
Whoever performs (worship) in the month of Kārtika, his sin is destroyed.
तीर्थानि मुनयो देवा यज्ञाः सर्वेऽपि कार्तिके
In Kārtika, all the holy places, sages, gods, and sacrifices are present.
यत्किंचित्कुरुते पुण्यं धात्रीछायासु मानवः
Whatever meritorious act a person performs in the shade of the dhātrī tree,
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Here they recount an ancient legend as an example.
अयोध्यानगरे कश्चिद्वैश्यश्चासीद्विजोत्तम 2.4.12.
In the city of Ayodhyā, O best of the twice-born, there was a certain merchant.
भिक्षया चोदराग्निं स शमयामास नारद
By alms, he appeased the fire of his hunger, O Nārada.
भिक्षाप्तचणकान्गृह्य धात्रीछायामगात्किल
Having obtained chickpeas as alms, he went to the shade of the dhātrī tree, it is said.
केचिदुर्वरितास्तेपु चणकास्तत्र नारद
Some of those chickpeas were unripe, O Nārada.
तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन राजाऽऽसीद्धनिकः क्षितौ
By the power of that merit, he became a wealthy king on earth.
धात्रीवने मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये यः शृणोति स पापेभ्यो मुच्यते द्विजसूनुवत्
O best of sages, whoever listens to this in the dhātrī grove for the attainment of all desires and aims is freed from sins, like the son of a twice-born.
नारद उवाच कोऽभूद्द्विजसुतो ब्रह्मन्किं पापं कृतवान्पुरा
Nārada said: Who was the son of a twice-born, O Brahman? What sin did he commit before?
देवशर्मेति विख्यातो वेदवेदांगपारगः
He was renowned as Devaśarman, accomplished in the Vedas and their auxiliaries.
इदानीं कार्तिको मासो वर्तते हरिवल्लभः
Now the month of Kārtika, beloved of Hari, is present.
तुलसीपुष्पसहितां कुरुपूजां हरेः सुत 2.4.12.
Perform worship of Hari accompanied by Tulasī flowers, O son of Kuru.
एवं पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा पुत्रः क्रोधसमन्वितः
Hearing his father's words in this way, the son became filled with anger.
इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा सक्रोधः प्राह तं सुतम्
Hearing his son's words, he too spoke to his son with anger.
मूषको भव दुर्बुद्धे वने वृक्षस्य कोटरे
Become a mouse, O wicked-minded one, in the hollow of a tree in the forest.
दुर्योनेर्मम मुक्तिः स्यात्कथं तद्वद मे गुरो
How can there be liberation for me, born in a low womb? Tell me that, O teacher.
यदोर्ज्जव्रतजं पुण्यं शृणोषि हरिवल्लभम्
Listen to the merit arising from Urjja-vrata, beloved of Hari.
स पित्रा चैवमुक्तस्तु तत्क्षणान्मूषकोऽभवत्
Thus addressed by his father, he immediately became a mouse.
एकदा कार्तिके मासि विश्वामित्रः सशिष्यकः
Once, in the month of Kārtika, Viśvāmitra, together with his disciples,
कथयामास माहात्म्यं शिष्येभ्यश्चोर्ज्जसंभवम्
began to recount to his disciples the greatness that arises from Urjja.