धर्मदत्त उवाच आराधयंति सर्वेऽपि विष्णुं भक्ताऽर्तिनाशनम्
Dharmadatta said: All devotees worship Viṣṇu, the remover of suffering.
विष्णुप्रीतिकरं तेषां किंचित्सान्निध्यकारकम्
That which brings pleasure to Viṣṇu and causes His presence among them—
सेतिहासकथां पुण्यां कथ्यमानां पुराभवाम्
—is the narration of sacred ancient stories, which I shall now recount.
कांचिपुर्यां पुरा चोलश्चक्रवर्ती नृपोऽभवत्
Once, in Kāñcīpura, there was a king of the Chola dynasty, a universal sovereign.
यस्मिञ्छासति भूचक्रं दरिद्रो वाऽपि दुःखितः
During his reign, no one on earth was poor or afflicted.
यस्याप्युन्नतयज्ञस्य ताम्रपर्ण्यास्तटावुभौ
On the banks of the Tāmraparṇī, both the great sacrifices he performed—
तत्र श्रीरमणं देवं संपूज्य विधिवन्नृपः
There, the king duly worshipped the blessed Lord Ramaṇa.
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमावुपविष्टः स तत्र वै 2.4.26.
Having bowed down with his body stretched on the ground, he sat there.
देवार्चनार्थं पाणौ तु तुलस्युदकधारिणम्
For the purpose of worshipping the deity, he held water with tulasī leaves in his hand.
स तत्राभ्येत्य विप्रर्षिर्देवदेवमपूजयत्
There, a Brahmin sage approached and worshipped the God of gods.
तुलसीपूजया तस्य रत्नपूजां पुरा कृताम्
By worshipping with tulasī, he surpassed the king’s former worship with jewels.
विष्णुदास कथं सेयमाच्छन्ना तुलसीदलैः
Viṣṇudāsa, how is it that this worship is concealed by tulasī leaves?
विष्णुभक्तिं न जानासि वराकोऽसि मतो मम
You do not know devotion to Viṣṇu; in my view, you are a wretch.
इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सक्रोधः स द्विजोत्तमः
Hearing these words, that best of Brahmins became angry.
कियद्विष्णुव्रतं पूर्वं त्वया चीर्णं वदस्व तत्
Tell me, how many Viṣṇu vows have you observed before?
तद्ब्राह्मणवचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य स नृपोत्तमः
Hearing the Brahmin’s words, the best of kings laughed.
इत्थं चेद्वदसे विप्र विष्णुभक्त्याऽतिगर्वितः
If you speak thus, O Brahmin, so excessively proud because of your devotion to Vishnu,
यज्ञदानादिकं नैव विष्णोस्तुष्टिकरं कृतम् 2.4.26.
then sacrifices, gifts, and the like do not truly bring satisfaction to Vishnu.
ईदृशस्याऽपि ते गर्व एष तिष्ठति भक्तितः
Even so, this pride of yours persists, arising from your devotion.
साक्षात्कारमहं विष्णोरेष वादो गमिष्यति
I shall bring about a direct vision of Vishnu; this dispute will be resolved.
आरभद्वैष्णवं सत्रं कृत्वाऽऽचार्यं तु मुद्गलम्
He began a great Vaishnava sacrifice, appointing Mudgala as the chief priest.
ऋषिसंघसमाजुष्टं बह्वन्नं बहुदक्षिणम्
It was attended by assemblies of sages, with abundant food and many gifts.
विष्णुदासोऽपि तत्रैव तस्थौ देवालये व्रती
Vishnudasa too remained there, observing his vows in the temple.
माघोर्जयोर्व्रतं सम्यक्तुलसीवनपालनम्
He perfectly observed the vow of Magha and Kartika, and tended the grove of sacred tulasi.
उपचारैः षोडशभिर्नृत्यगीतादिमंगलैः
With sixteen kinds of offerings, with dance, song, and auspicious rites,
नित्यं संस्मरणं विष्णोर्गच्छन्भुवि स्वपन्नपि
He constantly remembered Vishnu, whether walking on earth or even while asleep.
माघकार्तिकयोर्नित्यं विशेषनियमानपि
During the months of Magha and Kartika, he observed special disciplines as well.
एवं समाराधयतोः श्रियः पतिं तयोश्च चोलेश्वरविष्णुदासयोः 2.4.26.
Thus, as both Coleshvara and Vishnudasa worshipped the Lord of Shri,
स पाकमकरोत्तावदहरत्कोऽप्यलक्षितः
He prepared the offering, but someone unseen carried it away.
तमदृष्ट्वाऽप्यसौ पाकं पुनर्नैवाऽकरोत्तदा
Though he did not see who it was, he did not prepare the offering again at that time.