स्थानं नो ब्रूहि देवेश स्थातव्यं च सदैव हि
O Lord of the gods, tell us a place where we should always remain.
अतस्तत्र च गंतव्यं तीर्थैरायतनैः सह
Therefore, it is necessary to go there, together with the sacred fords and shrines.
अपि कृत्वा महत्पापमर्बुदं प्रेक्षते तु यः
Even one who has committed great sin, if he beholds Arbuda,
ततः सर्वाणि तीर्थानि गतानि च कलौ युगे
Therefore, all the sacred fords departed in the Kali age,
भूमावर्बुदशैलेन्द्रे संस्थितानि कलेर्भयात्
And took their place on Mount Arbuda, the lord of mountains, out of fear of Kali.
कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रभासं च ब्रह्मावर्तं तथैव च
Kurukshetra, Prabhasa, and likewise Brahmavarta,
तेषां वासश्च सञ्जातः पर्वतेऽर्बुदसंज्ञिके
Their residence was established on the mountain called Arbuda.
तत्र शांता नराः सम्यक्परं निर्वाणमाप्नुयुः
There, peaceful men will truly attain supreme liberation.
शृणु तत्राभवत्पूर्वं यदाश्चर्यं महामते 7.3.10.
Listen, O wise one, to the wondrous event that happened there in ancient times.
तपस्तेपे सुधर्मात्मा कामक्रोधविवर्जितः
A man of righteous nature performed austerity there, free from desire and anger.
पित्तं प्रपतितं तत्र तच्च रक्तमयं बभौ
There, his bile fell, and it shone with a reddish hue.
सिद्धोऽहमिति विज्ञाय ततो नृत्यं चकार सः
Realizing, 'I am accomplished,' he then began to dance.
तत्र संक्षोभमापन्नं सागरा अपि चुक्षुभुः
At that time, even the oceans were agitated and disturbed.
तस्यैवं नृत्यमानस्य सर्वे लोका नृपोत्तम
O best of kings, as he was thus dancing, all the worlds—
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे गत्वा कामनिषूदनम्
Then all the hosts of gods went to the destroyer of desire.
अथ ब्राह्मणरूपेण शंभुनोक्तो द्विजोत्तमः
Then, in the form of a Brahmin, the best of twice-born was addressed by Shambhu.
संजातं सिद्धिमापन्नो रक्तं पित्तं यतो मम
A power has arisen and been attained, from which my blood has become bile.
एतस्मात्कारणाद्धर्षाद्द्विज नृत्यं करोम्यहम्
For this reason, O twice-born, out of excitement I am dancing.
तर्जन्या ताडयामास स्वांगुष्ठं नृपसत्तम 7.3.10.
With his forefinger, O best of kings, he struck his own thumb.
ततो मंकणकं प्राह पश्य विप्र करान्मम
Then he said to Mankanaka, 'Look, Brahmin, at my hand.'
पुलस्त्य उवाच तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो विप्रो ज्ञात्वा तं वृषभध्वजम्
Pulastya said: Seeing that, the Brahmin was astonished, and recognizing him as the bull-bannered one—
निश्चितं त्वं मया ज्ञात एतन्मे हृदि वर्तते
Certainly, I have recognized you; this abides in my heart.
नान्यस्यायं प्रभावश्च त्वया यो मे प्रदर्शितः
This power you have shown me belongs to no one else but you.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नृत्याधिक्यं यतः कृतम्
Choose a boon, good fortune to you, for you have excelled in dance.
त्वत्प्रसादात्फलं तेषां राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः
By your favor, they shall obtain the fruit of the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
ते यास्यंति परं स्थानं जरामरणवर्जितम्
They will attain the highest state, free from old age and death.
अत्र गंगासरस्वत्योः संगमे लोकविश्रुते
Here, at the famous confluence of the Ganga and Sarasvati—
सुवर्णं येऽत्र दास्यंति यथाशक्त्या द्विजोत्तमे
Those who give gold here, according to their ability, to the best of Brahmins—
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे राजन्देवदेवो महेश्वरः ॥ 7.3.10.
Having spoken thus, O king, the god of gods, Maheshvara, vanished.
यं दृष्ट्वा मानवः सम्यक्परां सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्
By seeing whom, a man may truly attain supreme accomplishment—