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.
मुनयः सर्व एवैते यूयं शृणुत मद्वचः
All these sages, and you as well, listen to my words.
सांप्रतं मामको यज्ञो युक्तः स्यान्मुनिसत्तमाः
O best of sages, now my sacrifice is ready.
सांप्रतं कुरु तं यत्नान्मा विलंबं वृथा कृथाः
Now, perform it with effort; do not delay in vain.
अगस्त्य उवाच नानासंभारमधुरं कृतसर्वस्वदक्षिणम्
Agastya said: It was prepared with various ingredients, delightful, and all fees were duly given.
नानाविधेन दानेन मुनिसंतोषहर्षकृत्
By giving various kinds of gifts, he brought joy and satisfaction to the sages.
तेषु विश्वेषु यातेषु पूजितेषु गृहान्स्वकान् 2.8.4.
When all those deities had departed, having been duly worshipped, they returned to their own abodes.
तेन यज्ञेन विधिवद्विहितेन नरेश्वरः
With that sacrifice, performed according to proper rites, the king—lord of men—
तत्रांतरे समभ्यायान्मुनिर्यमवतां वरः
At that moment, the best among ascetics, Yama, arrived there.
दक्षिणार्थं गुरोर्द्धीमान्पावितुं तं नरेश्वरम्
Wise and intent on purifying the king, he came to receive the sacrificial fee for the preceptor.
मद्दक्षिणेति गुरुणा निर्बन्धाद्याचितो रुषा रघुं भूपालतिलकं दत्तसर्वस्वदक्षिणम्
Pressed insistently by the preceptor, who said, 'Give me my fee,' Raghu, the jewel among kings, gave away all his possessions as the sacrificial gift.