विश्वरूपाय शुद्धाय नमस्तुभ्यं महात्मने
Salutations to you, of universal form, pure one, great soul.
परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते भद्रं वरं वरय सुव्रत
I am pleased with you; may good fortune be yours—choose a boon, O steadfast one.
इत्युक्त्वा पर्वतं भित्त्वा तत्पुरो लिंगमुत्थितम्
Having spoken thus, breaking through the mountain, a liṅga arose before him.
मया पूर्वं प्रतिज्ञातं नगस्येह महात्मने
I had previously promised this to the great-souled mountain.
त्वद्वाक्याद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ सर्वं सत्यं भविष्यति
By your words, O best of Brāhmaṇas, all will indeed come true.
स्तोत्रेणानेन यो मर्त्यो मां स्तविष्यति भक्तितः
Whoever among mortals recites this hymn to me with devotion—
मत्प्रियार्थं तु शक्रेण प्रेषिता मुनिसत्तम
O best of sages, I was sent by Indra for the sake of what is dear to me.
देवस्योत्तरदिग्भागे कुंडं तिष्ठति नित्यशः स याति परमं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्
In the northern direction of the god, there is always a sacred pool; whoever goes there attains the supreme state, free from old age and death.
अचलं भेदयित्वा तु यस्मान्मे लिंगमुद्गतम् 7.3.4.
By splitting the mountain, my liṅga emerged from there.
अस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यान्न कदाचिच्चलिष्यति
Because of the greatness of this liṅga, it will never move from its place.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं विरराम महेश्वरः
Having spoken thus, the great Lord Maheśvara became silent.
शक्रादयस्ततो देवास्तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Then Indra and the other gods visited the sacred fords and shrines.
ततस्तुष्टः सुरश्रेष्ठस्तत्र वासमथाकरोत्
Then, pleased, the best of the gods made his abode there.
कौतुकं सूत नो जातं कथयस्व यथा शुभम्
Sūta, curiosity has arisen in us; tell us the auspicious story as it happened.
ययातेश्च गृहे यातस्तं नत्वा चाब्रवीन्नृपः
He went to the house of Yayāti, bowed to him, and the king spoke.
ययातिरुवाच स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ सफलं मेऽद्यजीवितम्
Yayāti said: Welcome to you, best of sages; today my life has become fruitful.
अर्बुदाख्यो नगो नाम विख्यातो यो धरातले
There is a mountain named Arbuda, renowned upon the earth.
सर्वं विस्तरतो ब्रूहि तीर्थयात्रापरायण
Tell me everything in detail, O devotee of pilgrimage.
अशक्तो विस्तराद्वक्तुमपि वर्षशतैरपि
Even in a hundred years, I am unable to speak of it in full detail.
संक्षेपादेव वक्ष्यामि तीर्थमुख्यानि ते तथा
I will tell you briefly the principal holy places.
नारीणां च विशेषेण पुत्रसौभाग्यदायकम्
Especially for women, it bestows the good fortune of sons.
गौतमी ब्राह्मणी नाम्ना सती साध्वी पतिव्रता
There was a Brahmin woman named Gautamī, virtuous, chaste, and devoted to her husband.
अर्बुदं सा च संप्राप्ता नागतीर्थं विवेश ह 7.3.5.
She reached Arbuda and entered the Nāga-tīrtha.
नायका पुत्रसंयुक्ता तत्तीर्थं समुपागता
Accompanied by her sons, the leader arrived at that holy place.
सर्वोपकरणैर्दर्भैः सुमनोभिः पृथग्विधैः
With all the necessary implements, darbha grass, and various kinds of flowers,
धन्योऽयं तनयो ह्यस्याः शुश्रूषां कुरुते सदा
Blessed is this son of hers, for he always serves her.
अहं भर्त्रा वियुक्ता च पुत्रहीना सुदुःखिता
I am separated from my husband and bereft of a son, deeply afflicted with sorrow.
विनाऽपि भर्तृसंयोगात्सद्यो गर्भवती ह्यभूत्
Even without union with her husband, she suddenly became pregnant.
चकार मरणे बुद्धिं ज्वालयामास पावकम्
She resolved upon death and kindled a fire.
दोषो नास्ति तवात्रार्थे तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः
There is no fault of yours in this matter, due to the power of this sacred place.