तल्लिंगं पूजयामासुः श्रद्धया परया नृप
They worshipped that liṅga with supreme faith, O King.
सर्वपापहरं नॄणां रूपसौभण्यदायकम्
It removes all sins of people and bestows beauty of form.
तत्र पूर्वं वपुर्नाम्ना लोके ख्याता वराप्सराः
There, in former times, was a renowned celestial nymph named Vapu.
पुराऽऽसीत्काचिदाभीरी विरूपा विकृतानना
Once there was an Ābhīrī woman, deformed and with a misshapen face.
एकदा फलमादातुं भ्रममाणाऽर्बुदाचले
One day, wandering on Mount Arbuda to gather fruit,
दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरा दिव्यैरंगैः समन्विता
She became adorned with divine garlands and garments, endowed with celestial limbs.
सा संजाता महाराज तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः
She was transformed, O great king, by the power of this holy place.
क्रीडार्थं पर्वतश्रेष्ठे तां ददर्श शुभेक्षणाम्
For sport, on the highest peak, he saw her, beautiful of gaze.
देवी वा नागकन्या वा सिद्धा विद्याधरी तु वा
Was she a goddess, a nāga maiden, a siddhā, or a vidyādhari?
मनो मेऽपहृतं सुभ्रूस्त्वया च पद्मनेत्रया
My mind has been stolen by you, O lovely-browed, lotus-eyed one.
फलार्थं तु समायाता पतिता गिरिनिर्झरे ॥ 7.3.12.
She had come for fruit, but fell into the mountain stream.
स्नात्वा रूपमिदं प्राप्ता सुरूपं च शुभं मया
After bathing, I obtained this form—beautiful and auspicious—by me.
वशगास्ते सुराः सर्वे मयि किं क्रियते स्पृहा
All the gods are under my sway; what desire could remain for me?
निवृत्तमदनो भूत्वा तामुवाच सुमध्यमाम्
Having become free from passion, he spoke to her, slender-waisted as she was.
विनयात्तव तुष्टोऽहं दास्यामि वरमुत्तमम्
Pleased by your humility, I will grant you the highest boon.
स्नानं यः कुरुते भक्त्या प्रीताः स्युः सर्वदेवताः
Whoever bathes here with devotion will win the favor of all the gods.
सुरूपं जायतां तेषां दुर्ल्लभं त्रिदशैरपि
They will be born beautiful—such beauty as even the gods rarely attain.
विमाने च तया सार्द्धं जगाम त्रिदिवं प्रति
With her, he ascended in a celestial chariot towards heaven.
वपुः प्राप्तं तया यस्मात्तस्मात्पा र्थिवसत्तम
O best of kings, because she attained that form,
माघशुक्लतृतीयायां देवास्तस्मिञ्जलाशये
On the third day of the bright half of Māgha, the gods, in that water-reservoir,
तत्रान्या देवकन्याश्च सिद्धयक्षांगनास्तथा 7.3.12.
There, other divine maidens, as well as Siddha and Yakṣa women,
रूपं च लभते तादृग्यादृग्लब्धं तया पुरा
Also obtain a form like that, just as she once acquired.
तस्यैव पूर्वदिग्भागे बिलमस्ति सुशोभनम् ॥ यत्रागत्य प्रकुर्वंति स्नानं पातालकन्यकाः
To the east of that place, there is a beautiful cave, where the maidens of Pātāla come and bathe.
तत्र स्नात्वा गृहीत्वापो बिले तस्मिन्व्रजंति ताः
There, after bathing and taking water, they enter that cave.
तेनोदकेन संयुक्तः सिद्धो भवति मानवः
A person who is anointed with that water becomes accomplished.
स्वर्गे वा भूतले वापि न केनापि प्रधृष्यते
Whether in heaven or on earth, no one can overpower him.
तस्य पुष्पैः फलैश्चैव सर्वं कार्यं प्रसिद्ध्यति
By its flowers and fruits, all tasks are accomplished.
तस्मिन्बिले तु पाषाणाः समन्ताच्छंखसन्निभाः
In that cave, the stones all around resemble conch-shells.
वन्ध्या नारी जलं तत्र या पिबेत्तिलकान्वितम्
A barren woman who drinks that water, marked with sesame seeds,
व्याधिग्रस्तोऽपि यो मर्त्त्यः स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्
Even a mortal afflicted by disease, if he bathes there,