ततो मां प्रणिधानेनाभ्यासेन दृढभूमिना ९.
Then, through devotion and steadfast practice, with firm resolve,
कुशध्वजाहं तुष्टोद्य वरं वरय वांछितम् ९.
Kuśadhvaja, I am pleased—choose a boon, whatever you desire.
श्रुत्वेत्युक्तो मया शम्भुर्भूयासं ते गंणो ह्यहम् ९.
Hearing this, I said: 'O Śambhu, may I become one of your attendants.'
ततः कैलासमानीय विमानं मम चादिशत् ९.
Then he summoned my celestial chariot to Kailāsa and instructed me.
विचरामि प्रतीतोऽहं तदारूढो यदृच्छया ९.
Mounted upon it, I traveled freely as I wished, filled with delight.
गवाक्षाधिष्ठितोऽपश्यं वसंते मुनिकन्यकाम् ९.
From the window, I saw in spring a sage’s daughter.
अग्निवेश्यसुतां भद्र विवस्त्रां जलमध्यगाम् ९.
O blessed one, it was Agniveśya’s daughter, unclothed, in the water.
विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगां रंभोरुं संहतस्तनीम् ९.
Her hips were broad, her thighs shapely as plantain stems, her breasts full and close-set.
प्रोन्निद्रपंकजमुखीं वर्णनीयतमाकृतिम् ९.
Her face was like a blooming lotus, her form most worthy of description.
प्रोद्यत्कटाक्षविक्षेपैः शरव्रातैरिव स्मरः ९.
With sidelong glances darting forth, Love seemed to assail me with volleys of arrows.
वयस्यासंवृचामेवं खेलमानां यदृच्छया ९.
She, unaware of her companions, played about as she pleased.
सा गृहीता मया दीर्घं प्रकुर्वाणा महास्वनम् ९.
I seized her, and she cried out loudly for a long time.
ततो वयस्यास्ता दीना मुनिमाहुः प्रधाविताः ९.
Then her companions, distressed, ran to the sage and spoke.
रुदन्तीं भगवन्नेतां त्राह्युत्तिष्ठेति सर्वतः ९.
They cried out everywhere: 'O blessed one, save her, rise up!'
अग्निवेश्योऽभ्यगात्तस्या व्योमन्युपपदं त्वरन् ९.
Agniveśya quickly came to her, arriving in the sky.
ततः प्रकुपितः प्राह मुनिमामति दुःसहम् अग्निवेश्य उवाच ९.
Then, enraged, Agniveśya spoke to me harsh words, unbearable.
गृध्रेणेवाऽधुना व्योम्नि तस्माद्गध्रो भव द्रुतम् ९.
Just as a vulture now in the sky—therefore, become a vulture at once!
त्वया हृताधुनास्यैतत्फलमाप्नुहि दुर्मते ९.
Since you have taken her, wicked-minded one, now receive this result.
पादौ प्रगृह्य न्यपतं रुदन्नतितरां तदा ९.
Grasping his feet, he fell down, weeping exceedingly at that moment.
प्रसादं कुरु ते शापं व्यावर्तय तपोनिधे ९.
Show mercy; withdraw your curse, O treasure of austerity.
भवंति संतस्तद्गृध्रो मा भवेयं प्रसीद मे ९.
Those who are afflicted become greedy; let me not become so—be gracious to me.
प्रसन्नः प्राह नो मिथ्या मम वाक्यं भवेत्क्वचित् ९.
Pacified, he spoke: Never shall my words be false anywhere.
यदा यास्यसि शापस्य तदा मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि॥ ९.
When the period of the curse ends, then you will attain liberation.
इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिः प्रायाद्गृहीत्वा निजकन्यकाम् ९.
Having spoken thus, the sage departed, taking his own daughter.
एवं तदा दमनकोत्सव ईश्वरस्य आंदोलनेन नृपवेश्मनि मेऽवतारः ९.
Thus, at that time, the festival of Damanaka occurred by the Lord's movement, and my descent took place in the palace of the king.
गृध्रस्यैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा दुःखविस्मयसंयुतः १०.
Hearing these words of the vulture, he was filled with sorrow and astonishment.
ततस्तमालोक्य तथा मुमूर्षुं कौशिकादिभिः १०.
Then, seeing him thus, about to die, along with Kauśika and others—
मैवं कार्षीः श्रुणु गिरं भद्रक त्वं चिरंतनः १०.
Do not act thus; listen to my words, O blessed one, you are ancient.
मानसे सरसि ख्यातः कूर्मोमंथरकाख्यया १०.
In the lake of the mind, I am known as the turtle called Maṃtharaka.
ततः प्रतीतास्ते भूपमुनिगृध्रबकास्तथा १०.
Then, the king, the sage, the vulture, and the crane all became convinced.