य एकांततयात्यंतमंतर्गततमोपहः १३.
He who is wholly devoted, utterly removes the darkness within.
सर्वे वराः सुधाकाराः शर्करामधुषड्रसाः १३.
All the best offerings—like nectar, sugar, honey, and six kinds of sweet juices—
आरेभिरे क्रियायोगं मार्कंडनृपपूर्वकाः तीर्थयात्रानुषंगेन लोमशालोकनोत्सुकः॥ १३.
Led by Mārkaṇḍa and the king, they began the ritual practice, eager to see Lomaśa, in the course of their pilgrimage.
मुख्या पुरुषयात्रा हि तीर्थयात्रानुषंगतः १३.
The chief journey of a person is indeed that which is accompanied by pilgrimage.
कृतार्हणातिथ्यविधिं विश्रांतं मां च फाल्गुन १३.
Having performed the proper rites of hospitality, I, too, rested, O Phālguna.
शापभ्रष्टा वयं ब्रह्मंश्चत्वारोऽपि स्वकर्मणा १३.
We four, O brāhmaṇa, have fallen from grace by a curse, each by our own actions.
इयं हि निष्फला भूमिः शपलं भारतं मुने॥ १३.
This land is indeed fruitless; O sage, Bhārata is fickle.
तत्रापि क्वचिदेकत्र सर्वतीर्थफलं वद १३.
Even there, in some one place, tell me where the fruit of all holy places is found.
संवर्तं परिपृच्छध्वं स वो वक्ष्यति तत्त्वतः १३.
Ask Saṃvarta; he will tell you the truth.
कुत्रासौ विद्यते योगी नाज्ञासिष्म वयं च तम् १३.
Where is that yogi? We did not know him.
यदि जानासि तं ब्रूहि सुहृत्संगो न निष्फलः १३.
If you know him, tell us; the company of friends is not fruitless.
वाराणस्यामसावास्ते संवर्तो गुप्तलिंगभृत् १३.
Saṃvarta dwells in Vārāṇasī, bearing a hidden appearance.
करपात्रकृताहारः सर्वथा निष्परिग्रहः १३.
He takes food in a hand-bowl and is entirely without possessions.
भुक्त्वा निर्याति सायाह्ने वनं न ज्ञायते जनैः १३.
After eating, he goes out to the forest in the evening, unnoticed by people.
वक्ष्यामि लक्षणं तस्य ज्ञास्यथ तं मुनिम् १३.
I will describe his marks; you will recognize that sage.
अविज्ञातं स्थापनीयं स्थेयं तदविदूरतः १३.
He should be approached without being recognized, and you should remain not far from him.
स संवर्तो न चाक्रामत्येष शल्यमसंशयम् १३.
That Saṃvarta does not step on thorns, without doubt.
यदि पृच्छति केनाहमाख्यात इति मां ततः १३.
If someone asks who told me, say it was me.
तच्छ्रुत्वा ते तथा चक्रुः सर्वेपि वचनं मम १३.
Hearing this, they all did exactly as I said.
शवं दृष्ट्वा च तैर्न्यस्तं संवर्तो वै न्यवर्तत १३.
When Saṃvarta saw the corpse placed by them, he turned back.
तिष्ठ ब्रह्मन्क्षणमिति जल्पंतो राजमार्गगम् १३.
They called out, 'Wait a moment, Brahmin!' as he walked along the royal road.
समया मामरे भोऽद्य नागंतव्यं न वो हितम् कुपितः प्राह तान्सर्वान्केनाख्यातोऽहमित्युत॥ १३.
He angrily said to them all, 'I have told you before, do not come to me today; it is not good for you. Who told you about me?'
निवेदयत शीघ्रं मे यथा भस्म करोमि तम् १३.
Tell me quickly, so I may turn him to ashes.
अथ प्रकंपिताः प्राहुर्नारदेनेति तं मुनिम् १३.
Frightened, they said to that sage, 'It was Nārada.'
लोकानां येन सापाग्नौ भस्मशेषं करोमि तम् १३.
By whom I make the worlds, along with their curses, remain as nothing but ashes.
त्वं निवेद्य स चास्माकं प्रविष्टो हव्यवाहनम् १३.
You informed him, and he entered the sacrificial fire for us.
अहमप्येवमेवास्य कर्ता तेन स्वयं कृतम् १३.
In the same way, I too am the doer of this; therefore, it has been done by me myself.
यदि नारद देवर्षे प्रविष्टोऽसि हुताशनम् १३.
If, O sage among the gods Nārada, you have entered the fire,
न हुताशः समुद्रो वा वायुर्वा वृक्षपर्वतः १३.
Neither the fire, nor the ocean, nor the wind, nor tree, nor mountain—
पुनरेतत्कृतं चापि संवर्तो मन्यते यथा १३.
Again, this act is considered by Saṃvarta as he thinks fit.