तदंबुपानतो भूयात्सुपार्वण शशिप्रभः
Then, after drinking the water, O Supārvana, your radiance became like the moon.
जाताश्चर्येण भवता पुनरेवाभ्यभाषि सः
Amazed by this, you again spoke to him.
परित्यज्यात्र जरसं न वो भ्राजसि सांप्रतम्
Having cast off old age here, you no longer shine as before.
तपोधन उवाच वृद्धकालक्षितिपते जाने त्वां सुमहामते
The ascetic said: O king, marked by old age, I know you, O one of great wisdom.
जन्मनोऽस्मादियं राजन्नासीद्विप्रस्य कन्यका
O king, in a former birth, there was a brahmin's daughter.
तेन दत्ता विवाहार्थं नैध्रुवाय महात्मने 4.1.24.
She was given in marriage by him to the great-souled Naidhruva.
वैधव्यं पालयंत्येषा मृताऽवंत्यां शुभव्रता
She maintained her widowhood, that virtuous woman, after dying in Avanti.
परिणीता त्वया राजन्पतिव्रतरता सदा
But she was married by you, O king, always devoted to her husband.
अयोध्यायामथावंत्यां मथुरायामथापि वा
In Ayodhya, or in Avantika, or in Mathura, or even elsewhere—
अपि पातकिनो ये च कालेन निधनं गताः
Even those who were sinners and met their end in due course of time—
अवैमि त्वामपि नृपद्विजोऽभूः पूर्वजन्मनि
I know that you too were a king or a Brahmin in a previous birth.
तत्पुण्यात्प्राप्य वैकुंठं भुक्त्वा भोगान्मनोरमान्
By that merit, having attained Vaikuntha and enjoyed delightful pleasures—
वृद्धकालावनीपाल तेनैव सुकृतेन च
You became a king in old age, by that very good deed.
अन्यच्च शृणु राजेंद्र त्वया यत्समुदीरितम्
And now, O king of kings, listen further to what you have asked.
सुकृतं नैव सततमाख्यातव्यं कदाचन
Good deeds should never be constantly proclaimed.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गोपनीयं निधानवत् 4.1.24.
Therefore, by every effort, they should be guarded like a treasure.
निश्चितं विश्वनाथेन प्रेरितेन त्वयाऽनघ
Certainly, by the prompting of Viśvanātha, you have acted, O sinless one.
वृद्धकालेश्वरं नाम लिंगमेतन्महीपते
This liṅga is called Vṛddhakāleśvara, O king.
दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्तस्य पूजनाच्छ्रवणान्नतेः
By seeing, touching, worshipping, hearing of, or bowing to it—
कूपः कालोदको नाम जराव्याधिविघातकृत्
There is a well named Kālodaka, which destroys old age, disease, and obstacles.
कृतकूपोदकस्नानः कृतैतल्लिंगपूजनः
One who bathes with the water from that well, and worships that liṅga—
न कुष्ठं न च विस्फोटा नरंघा न विचर्चिका
Will not suffer from leprosy, boils, abscesses, or skin diseases.
नाग्निमांद्यं नैव शूलं न मेहो न प्रवाहिका
Nor will there be sluggishness of digestion, colic, diabetes, or dysentery.
भूतज्वराश्च ये केचिद्ये केचिद्विषमज्वराः
Any fevers caused by spirits, or any kind of irregular fever—
तवाग्रतो मम जरा पलितं च यथाविधि
In your presence, my old age and gray hair are as they should be.
वृद्धकालेश्वरे लिंगे सेवितेन दरिद्रता 4.1.24.
By serving the liṅga of Vṛddhakāleśvara, poverty is removed.
उत्तरे कृत्तिवासस्य वाराणस्यां प्रयत्नतः
In the northern part of Krittivasa's city, in Varanasi, with great devotion—
इत्युक्त्वा तं महीपालं हस्ते धृत्वा तपोधनः
Having spoken thus, the sage, rich in austerity, took the king by the hand—
महाकाल महाकाल महाकालेति कीर्तनात्
By the repeated chanting of 'Mahakala, Mahakala, Mahakala'—
इत्थं भवित्री ते मुक्तिः कैटभारातिदर्शनात्
In this way, liberation will be yours, through the vision of the great destroyer of the demon Kaitabha.