रूक्षस्फुटितकेशाग्रं महालंब शिरोधरम्
Its hair was rough and split at the ends, its neck greatly elongated and hanging down.
महाविशालमौलिं च प्रोर्ध्वीभूतशिरोरुहम्
Its head was massive and broad, with hair standing upright.
प्रलंबित ललज्जिह्वमत्युत्कट कृकाटिकम्
Its tongue hung down, quivering, and its jaw was extremely protruding.
निमग्नकक्षाकुहरं शुष्कह्रस्व भुजद्वयम्
Its armpits were sunken, and both arms were dry and shrunken.
विशुष्क पांसुलोत्क्रोडं पृष्ठलग्नोदरत्वचम्
Its chest was emaciated and dusty, with the skin of its belly clinging to its back.
प्रलंब स्फिग्युगयुतं शुष्कमुष्काल्पमेहनम्
Its buttocks hung down in a pair, its genitals were shriveled, and its urinary organ was small.
अस्थिचर्मावशेषं च शिराजालितविग्रहम्
Its body consisted only of bones and skin, with veins standing out.
अतिविस्तृत पादं च दीर्घवक्रकृशांगुलिम् 4.2.54.
Its feet were exceedingly broad, with long, crooked, and thin toes.
विकटं भीषणाकारं क्षुत्क्षाममतिलोमशम्
It was monstrous, terrifying in form, gaunt with hunger, and excessively hairy.
मूर्तं भयानकमिव सर्वप्राणिभयप्रदम् अतिदीनाननं कस्त्वमिति धैर्येण पृष्टवान्
It appeared as a living embodiment of terror, causing fear to all beings; with a most wretched face, he bravely asked, 'Who are you?'
कुतस्त्वमिह संप्राप्तः कस्मात्ते गतिरीदृशी
How have you come here, and what has brought you to such a state?
अस्माकं तापसानां च न भयं त्वद्विधान्मनाक्
For ascetics like us, there is no fear at all from someone like you.
तापसोदीरितमिति तद्रक्षः प्रीतिपूवर्कम्
Hearing these words spoken by the ascetic, that spirit became pleased.
अनुक्रोशोस्ति यदि ते भगवंस्तापसोत्तम
If you have compassion, O venerable and foremost ascetic,
प्रतिष्ठानाभिधानोस्ति देशो गोदावरी तटे
There is a place called Pratiṣṭhāna on the bank of the Godāvarī.
तेन कर्मविपाकेन प्राप्तोस्मि गतिमीदृशीम्
By the result of my actions, I have attained this condition.
गतो बहुतरः कालस्तत्र मे वसतो मुने
A long time passed there while I was living, O sage.
वर्षत्यपि महामेघे धारासारैर्दिवानिशम् 4.2.54.
Even when great clouds poured heavy rain day and night,
पर्वण्यदत्तदाना ये कृततीर्थप्रतिग्रहाः
Those who gave gifts on festival days and accepted holy bathing places—
गते बहुतिथे काले मरुभूमौ मुने मया
After much time had passed there in the desert, O sage, by me,
सूर्योदयमनुप्राप्य संध्याविधिविवर्जितः
At sunrise, without performing the rites of twilight,
मुक्तकच्छमशौचं च संध्याकर्मविवर्जितम्
With loosened garments, without purification, and neglecting the twilight duties,
स द्विजो मंदभाग्यान्मे केनचिद्वणिजा सह
That twice-born man, of little fortune for me, together with a merchant,
अंतःपुरि प्रविष्टोभूत्स द्विजो मुनिसत्तम
That twice-born man entered the inner quarters, O best of sages.
प्रवेशो नास्ति चास्माकं प्रेतानां तपसां निधे
We, O treasure of ascetics, have no entry there, being spirits.
अद्यापि तानि पापानि तद्बहिर्निर्गमेच्छया
Even now, those sins remain because of the desire to go outside.
अद्य श्वो वा परश्वो वा स बहिर्निर्गमिष्यति
Today, or tomorrow, or the day after, he will go outside.
नाद्यापि स बहिर्गच्छेन्नाद्याप्याशा प्रयाति नः 4.2.54.
Even today he has not gone outside, nor has our hope yet departed.
चित्रमद्यतनं वच्मि तपस्विंस्तन्निशामय
I will tell you a remarkable event of today; O ascetic, listen to it.
आप्रयागं प्रतिदिनं प्रयामः क्षुधिता वयम्
Every day we travel to Prayāga, hungry as we are.