वसिष्ठ उवाच शृणु सर्वं महीपाल विस्तरेण च कथ्यते
Vasiṣṭha said: Hear everything, O king, as it is explained in detail.
अन्यदेहांतरे राजञ्छूद्रजातिसमुद्भवः
In another body, O king, you were born in the Śūdra caste.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन दुर्भिक्षे समुपस्थिते
Then, after some time, when a famine arose,
ततस्त्वं भार्यया सार्द्धमन्यदेशांतरे गतः
You went, together with your wife, to another land.
त्वया दृष्टं मनोहारि शुभं पंकजकाननम्
There you saw a beautiful and delightful lotus forest.
मनसा चिंतितं ह्येतत्पद्मान्यादाय करोम्यहम्
You thought in your mind: 'I will gather these lotuses.'
ततः पद्मानि भूरीणि गृहीत्वा भार्यया सह
Then, taking many lotuses together with your wife,
न केऽपि प्रति गृह्णंति लोका दुर्भिक्षपीडिताः
No one among the people, afflicted by famine, would accept them.
ततो दिनावसाने तु गुहामेकां समाश्रितः 7.3.9.
Then, at the end of the day, you took refuge in a solitary cave.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु कर्णयोस्ते समागतः
At that very moment, a sound reached your ears.
तं श्रुत्वा सहसोत्थाय ज्ञात्वा जागरणं ततः
Hearing that, you immediately rose up, realizing it was a vigil.
तत्र नागवती वेश्या शिवरात्रिपरायणा
There, a courtesan named Nāgavatī was devoted to the observance of Śiva's night.
तस्याः पार्श्वे स्थिता दासी त्वया पृष्टा नरेश्वर
O king, a maidservant standing at her side was questioned by you.
तयोक्तं शिवरात्र्यां वै वेश्येयं वरवर्णिनी
She said: 'On the night of Śivarātri, this beautiful courtesan—'
यः श्रद्धाभक्तिसंयुक्तः कुरुते रात्रिजागरम्
Whoever, endowed with faith and devotion, keeps vigil through the night—
कृत्वोपवासं पद्मैर्य्यः पूजयेत्त्र्यंबकं नरः
And, having fasted, worships Tryambaka with lotuses—
सकामो लभते कामान्देवैरपि सुदुर्ल्लभान् एतेषां मूल्यमादाय प्राणाधारं समाचर
He attains his desires, even those most difficult for the gods to obtain. Having received their price, perform the act that sustains life.
ततस्त्वं भार्यया चोक्तो गृह्यमाणे च कांचने
Then you were addressed by your wife as the gold was being taken.
उपवासो बलाज्जातो ह्यन्नाभावाद्वयोरपि 7.3.9.
The fast occurred by force, for both of you, due to the absence of food.
इदं त्वयाऽद्य कर्त्तव्यं त्याज्यमस्यास्तु कांचनम्
Today you must do this: let this gold be given up by her.
श्रद्धया च सभार्येण जागरं च शिवाग्रतः
With faith, together with your wife, keep vigil before Śiva.
पुराणश्रवणं जातं तत्र पार्थिवसत्तम
Listening to the Purāṇa took place there, O best of kings.
केदारस्याग्रतो भक्त्या रात्रौ जागरणं तथा
With devotion, you kept vigil at night before Kedāra as well.
ततः कालांतरेणैव कालधर्मं गतो भवान्
Then, after some time, you reached the law of time (death).
ततो जाता महाराज दशार्णाधिपतेः सुता
After that, O great king, you were born as the daughter of the lord of Daśārṇa.
अजपाल इति ख्यातो नाम्ना च धरणीतले
On earth, you became known by the name Ajapāla.
एतस्मात्कारणाज्जाता भार्येयं प्राणसंमता
For this reason, this wife—dear as life—was born.
तस्य देवस्य माहात्म्यात्केदारस्य महीपतेः 7.3.9.
By the greatness of that god, of Kedāra, O king—
प्राप्तं त्वया महाराज केदारस्य प्रसादतः
You obtained, O great king, by the grace of Kedāra—
गमनाय मतिं चक्रे केदारं प्रति भूमिपः
The king made up his mind to go to Kedāra.