कृपयाऽस्य प्रभावाच्च जातो जातिस्मरस्त्वहम्
By his compassion and power, I was born with the memory of my past birth.
न जाने किं फलं मेऽद्य देवस्यास्य प्रसादतः
I do not know what fruit I shall receive today from this god’s grace.
पुलस्त्य उवाच वेणुवाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा मुनयः शंसितव्रताः
Pulastya said: Then, having heard Veṇu’s words, the sages renowned for their vows—
ततः प्रदक्षिण पराः सर्वे तत्र महर्षयः
Thereupon, all those great sages performed circumambulation there.
सोऽपि राजा महाभागो वेणुः शंभोः प्रसादतः
That blessed king Veṇu too, by Śambhu’s grace—
त्रिनेत्राभाः शिला यत्र दृश्यंतेऽद्यापि भूरिशः
There, even today, many stones resembling the three-eyed one are seen.
तस्यैव पश्चिमे भागे लिंगमस्ति पिनाकिनः
On its western side is the liṅga of Pinākin.
भद्रकर्णगणोनाम पुरासीच्छिववल्लभः
In ancient times, Bhadrakarṇa Gaṇa, beloved of Śiva, was there.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन संग्रामे दानवैः सह
Then, at some time, in battle with the Dānavas—
नष्टे स्कंदे हते सैन्ये वीरभद्रे पराजिते
When Skanda was lost, the army slain, and Vīrabhadra defeated—
बलवान्नमुचिर्नाम दानवो बलवत्तरः
There was a powerful Dānava named Namuci, stronger still.
भद्रकर्णस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा दानवं तदनंतरम्
Bhadrakarṇa, seeing that Dānava immediately—
छित्त्वाऽसिमसिना तस्य चर्म चापि महाबलः
With his mighty sword, he struck and cut off that one’s armor.
अथासौ निहतस्तेन प्रविश्य विपुलं तमः वधं प्राप्तस्तु दैत्योऽसौ नत्वा हरमसौ स्थितः 7.3.8.
Then, struck down by him, that Daitya entered deep darkness; slain, he bowed to Hara and remained there.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो हृदये स्थितः
‘Choose a boon, good one, you who always dwell in my heart.’
अत्रास्तु तव सांनिध्यं ह्रदेऽस्मिंश्च स्थिरो भव
‘May your presence be here, and may you remain steadfast in this lake.’
सांनिध्यं च विशेषेण ह्रदे लिंगे भविष्यति
There will be a special presence in the lake and in the liṅga.
भद्रकर्णह्रदे स्नात्वा त्रिनेत्रं यः समाहितः
Whoever bathes in the Bhadrakarṇa lake with focused mind upon the Three-Eyed One—
तस्मात्सर्वत्र यत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, one should diligently perform bathing there above all other places.
केदारमिति विख्यातं सर्वपापहरं नृणाम्
It is renowned as Kedāra, the remover of all sins for people.
यत्र मन्दाकिनी पुण्या सरस्वत्या समागता
There, the sacred Mandākinī joins with Sarasvatī.
शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तमितिहास पुरातनम्
Hear, O King, the ancient story as it truly happened.
अजपालो नृपश्रेष्ठः सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः
Ajapāla, best of kings, was born of the Solar dynasty.
न हस्तिनो न पादाता न चाश्वास्तस्य भूपतेः
That king had neither elephants nor infantry nor cavalry.
न गृह्णाति करं राजन्प्रजाभ्योथाधिकं नृप
O King, he did not levy taxes upon his subjects.
जातापराधो भूपृष्ठे जायते चेत्कथंचन
If by any chance an offense arose among his people,
एवमस्य नरेन्द्रस्य वर्त्तमानस्य भूतले
Thus, while this king ruled upon the earth,
कामं वर्षति पर्जन्यः सस्यानि रसवंति च
The clouds rained as desired, and the crops were full of flavor.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः 7.3.9.
Then, after some time, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha—
तं दृष्ट्वा पूजयामास शास्त्रदृष्टेन वर्त्मना
Seeing him, he honored him according to the path prescribed by scripture.