मैनाकस्तनयोऽस्माकं प्रविष्टः सागरे भयात् किं कृत्यमधुनाऽस्माकं कथं श्रेयो भविष्यति
Maināka, our son, has entered the ocean out of fear; what should we do now, and how will our welfare be secured?
इतः शापभयं तीव्रमितो दुःखं च पुत्रजम् 7.3.3.
Here there is intense fear of a curse, and here also the suffering caused by our son.
स एवं निश्चयं कृत्वा नंदिवर्धनमुक्तवान्
Having thus made up his mind, he spoke to Nandivardhana.
तत्रास्ति विवरो रौद्रस्तं प्रपूरय सत्वरम्
There is a dreadful chasm there—fill it quickly.
पालाशैः खादिरैराढ्यो धवैः शाल्मलिभिस्तथा
Fill it with branches of palāśa, khadira, dhava, and śālmalī trees.
सुनिष्ठुरैर्नृपशुभिर्भिल्लैश्च विविधैरपि नार्होऽहं पर्वतश्रेष्ठ तत्र गंतुं कथंचन
It is filled with fierce men, beasts, and various kinds of Bhillas; O best of mountains, I am not fit to go there in any way.
अथोवाच वसिष्ठस्तं संत्रस्तं नंदिवर्द्धनम्
Then Vasiṣṭha spoke to the frightened Nandivardhana.
तव मूर्ध्नि सदा वासो मम तत्र भविष्यति
My dwelling will always be upon your head there.
वृक्षाश्च विविधाकाराः पत्रपुष्पफलान्विताः
There are trees of various forms, adorned with leaves, flowers, and fruits.
अहमेवानयिष्यामि तवार्थे च महेश्वरम्
I myself will bring Maheśvara here for your sake.
अर्बुदं नागमासाद्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Having approached Arbuda, the serpent, he spoke these words.
तत्र यावोऽद्य भद्रं ते वयस्य विनयान्वित 7.3.3.
May you prosper there today, friend, endowed with humility.
तत्रैव च वसिष्यामि त्वया सार्द्धमसंशयम्
There itself I will remain with you, without doubt.
किं त्वहं प्रणयाद्भ्रातर्वक्ष्यामि यद्वचः शृषु
But out of affection, brother, I will say something—listen to my words.
मन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमायातु नान्यत्किंचिद्वृणोम्यहम् प्रणम्य पितरौ चैव प्रतस्थे मुनिना सह
Let fame come by my name; I choose nothing else. Having bowed to his parents, he set out together with the sage.
दिव्यैर्वृक्षैः शुभैः पूर्णैर्नदीनिर्झरसंकुलैः
With divine, auspicious trees in abundance, and filled with rivers and waterfalls.
मुक्तोऽर्बुदेन तत्रैव विवरे मुनिवाक्यतः
There, by the words of the sage, he was released from the chasm by Arbuda.
विमुक्तो विवरे तस्मिन्नर्बुदेन महात्मना
Freed in that chasm by the great-souled Arbuda.
ब्रवीच्चार्बुदं नागं वरं वरय सुव्रत
He spoke to Arbuda, the serpent: 'Choose a boon, O steadfast one.'
अवश्यं यदि दातव्यं तच्छृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम
If something must indeed be given, then listen, best of twice-born.
यच्चैतच्छिखरे ह्यस्मिन्निर्झरं निर्मलोदकम्
And this pure stream of water that flows on this very peak—
अत्रैवाहं वसिष्यामि मित्रस्नेहात्सदा मुने 7.3.3.
Here itself I shall reside always, O sage, out of friendship and affection.
अपि वंध्या च या नारी स्नानमात्रं समाचरेत्
Even a barren woman who merely bathes here—
सापि पुत्रमवाप्नोति सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्
She too obtains a son endowed with all auspicious marks.
नभसः शुक्लपंचम्यां फलैः पूजां करोति च
On the bright fifth day of the lunar fortnight, if one performs worship here with fruits—
येऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यंति ह्यस्मिंस्तीर्थे च भक्तितः
Those who bathe here at this holy place with devotion—
श्राद्धं चात्र करिष्यंति पंचम्यां ये समाहिताः
And those who perform śrāddha here on the fifth day with concentration—
नंदिवर्द्धनमभ्येत्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Approaching Nandivardhana, he spoke these words—
वरं च व्रियतां वत्स परितुष्टोऽस्मि तेऽनघ
Choose a boon, child; I am pleased with you, O sinless one.
सांनिध्यं जायतामत्र अवश्यं तव सर्वदा
May your presence here always remain, without fail.