सुबाहवे नमस्तुभ्यं चारुजंघाय ते नमः
To you with handsome arms, I bow; to you with graceful thighs, I offer my salutations.
केशवाय च शांताय वामनाय नमोनमः
Repeated homage to Keśava, the peaceful one, the dwarf.
उवाच स हृषीकेशः प्रीतो धर्ममुदारधीः
Then Hṛṣīkeśa, pleased and noble-minded, spoke about dharma.
वरं वरय धर्मज्ञ यस्ते स्यान्मनसः प्रियः
Ask for a boon, O knower of dharma, whatever would be dear to your heart.
स्तोत्रेणानेन यः स्तौति मानवो मामतन्द्रितः
Whoever, without sloth, praises me with this hymn,
त्वामहं स्थापयाम्यत्र निजनाम्ना जगद्गुरो ।। 2.8.4.
I establish you here, O teacher of the world, by your own name.
स्मरणादेव मुच्येत नरो धर्महरेर्विभोः
By mere remembrance, a man is freed from the sins of Dharma Hari, the mighty.
सरयूसलिले स्नात्वा सुचिंताकुलमानसः
Having bathed in the waters of the Sarayu, with a mind free from impure thoughts,
अत्र दानं तथा होमं जपो ब्राह्मणभोजनम्
Here, giving gifts, performing homa, reciting japa, and feeding Brahmins—
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि यत्किंचिद्दुष्कृतं भवेत्
Whatever sin may arise, whether knowingly or unknowingly,
प्रायश्चित्तेन विधिना पापं तस्य प्रणश्यति
By the prescribed expiation, that sin is destroyed.
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि राजादेर्निग्रहात्तथा तेनाप्यत्र विधातव्यं प्रायश्चित्तं प्रयत्नतः
Whether through ignorance or knowledge, or by the punishment of a king and others, here too, expiation must be performed with effort.
अत्र साक्षात्स्वयं देवो विष्णुर्वसति सादरः
Here, the god Viṣṇu himself dwells directly, with devotion.
आषाढे शुक्ल पक्षस्य एकादश्यां द्विजोत्तम
On the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha, O best of the twice-born,
स्वर्गद्वारे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा धर्महरिं विभुम्
Having bathed at the gate of heaven and seen Dharma Hari, the mighty,
तस्माद्दक्षिणदिग्भागे स्वर्णस्य खनिरुत्तमा 2.8.4.
Therefore, in the southern direction, is the best mine of gold.
व्यास उवाच भगवन्ब्रूहि तत्त्वज्ञ स्वर्णवृष्टिरभूत्कथम्
Vyāsa said: O blessed one, knower of truth, tell me—how did the shower of gold occur?
एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व विस्तरान्मम सुव्रत
Please recount all this to me in detail, O virtuous one.
यस्य श्रवणतो नृणां जायते विस्मयो महान्
Hearing of this brings great wonder to people.
आसीत्पुरा रघुपतिरिक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्द्धनः
Long ago, there was a king from the lineage of Raghu, an enhancer of the Ikṣvāku dynasty.
प्रतापतापितारातिवर्गव्याख्यातसद्यशाः
His fame was instantly proclaimed by the defeat of hostile forces scorched by his valor.
यशःपूरेण समलिप्ता दिशो दश सितत्विषा
The ten directions were covered with the radiance of his spotless glory.
नानादेशान्समाक्रम्य चतुरंगबलान्वितः
He subdued various lands, accompanied by a fourfold army.
उत्कृष्टान्नृपतीन्वीरो दंडयित्वा बलाधिकान्
That hero punished the foremost kings, powerful in strength, and surpassed them.
स विजित्य दिशः सर्वा गृहीत्वा रत्नसंचयम्
Having conquered all directions and gathered a treasury of jewels,
तत्रागत्य च काकुत्स्थो यज्ञायोत्सुकमानसः 2.8.4.
Kākutstha then arrived there, his mind eager for sacrifice.
वसिष्ठं मुनिमाज्ञाय वामदेवं च कश्यपम्
He honored the sage Vasiṣṭha, as well as Vāmadeva and Kaśyapa.
अन्यानपि मुनिश्रेष्ठान्नानातीर्थसमाश्रितान्
He also saw other foremost sages, gathered from various sacred places.
दृष्ट्वा स्थितान्स तान्सर्वान्प्रदीप्तानिव पावकान् निश्चक्राम यथान्यायं स्वयमेव महायशाः
Seeing all those sages assembled, shining like blazing fires, the illustrious one approached them properly himself.
ततो विनीतवत्सर्वान्काकुत्स्थो द्विजसत्तमान्
Then Kākutstha respectfully greeted all the excellent twice-born sages.