एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा हरिवत्सलः
At that very moment, that king, dear to Hari, was present.
ततस्तुष्टो जगन्नाथ साक्षात्प्रत्यक्षतां गतः
Then, pleased, the Lord of the universe appeared directly before him.
तमुवाच हृषीकेशो मेघगंभीरया गिरा
Hṛṣīkeśa addressed him with a voice deep as the clouds.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
Choose a boon, good fortune to you, even if it is extremely difficult to obtain.
अंबरीष उवाच यदि प्रसन्नो भगवन्यदि देयो वरो मम
Ambarīṣa said: If you are pleased, Lord, and if a boon is to be granted to me—
ज्ञानयोगं सुविस्तीर्णं संसारक्षयकारणम्
Grant me the vast knowledge of yoga, the means for the destruction of worldly existence.
यस्मिञ्जाते नरः सद्यः संसारान्मुच्यते नृप
O king, by which, when attained, a man is immediately freed from saṃsāra.
दुर्ज्ञेयः स नृणां देव विशेषाच्च कलौ युगे
O God, that is difficult for people to know, especially in the Kali age.
अपि चेत्सुप्रसन्नोऽसि क्रियायोगं ब्रवीहि मे
And if you are truly pleased, tell me the yoga of action.
यथायोग्यं नृपश्रेष्ठ कथयामास केशवः ॥ 7.3.13.
Then Keśava spoke to the best of kings, explaining as was appropriate.
तं श्रुत्वा तुष्टहृदयोंऽबरीषो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing that, Ambarīṣa, his heart gladdened, spoke these words.
ममाश्रमे त्वं देवेश सदा सन्निहितो भव
O Lord of the gods, always be present in my hermitage.
यतस्त्वत्प्रतिमामेकामर्चयामि विधानतः
Therefore, I worship a single image of you according to the prescribed method.
प्रतिमां पूजयामास गन्धपुष्पानुलेपनैः
He worshipped the image with fragrant substances, flowers, and ointments.
ततः कालेन महता भगवान्विष्णुमंदिरे
Then, after a long time, the Blessed Lord resided in the temple of Vishnu.
अद्यापि भगवान्विष्णुः सत्यवाक्येन भूपतेः
Even today, O King, the Blessed Vishnu abides by the truthful words of the king.
तदारभ्य महाराज क्रियायोगो धरातले
From that time onward, O great king, the practice of ritual action began on earth.
यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या हृषीकेशे नृपार्बुदे
Whoever worships him with devotion—Hrishikesha—in the city of Nṛpārbuda,
एकादश्यां महाराज जागरं यः सदा नृप स यास्यति परं स्थानं दुर्ल्लभं त्रिदशैरपि
O great king, whoever always keeps vigil on the Ekadashi night will attain the supreme abode, difficult even for the gods to reach.
यत्पुण्यं कपिलादाने कार्तिक्यां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे 7.3.13.
The merit gained by giving a Kapila cow at Jyestha Pushkara during Kartika—
शुक्ले वा यदि वा कृष्णे संप्राप्ते हरिवासरे
Whether on the bright or dark fortnight, when the day of Hari arrives—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूजयेत्तु विधानतः अभ्यर्चयेद्धृषीकेशं न स भूयोऽभिजायते
Therefore, with all effort, one should worship according to the prescribed method; whoever worships Hrishikesha will not be born again.
एकः सर्वाणि तीर्थानि करोति नृपसत्तम
One person performs all the sacred pilgrimages, O best of kings.
एको दानानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति
One person gives all kinds of gifts to the Brahmins.
एकः कन्यासहस्रं तु प्रदद्याच्च यथाविधि
One person gives away a thousand maidens in marriage, as prescribed.
सूर्यग्रहे कुरुक्षेत्रे दद्याद्दानमनुत्तमम्
One gives the highest gift at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse.
अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैर्यजत्येकः सदक्षिणैः
One performs sacrifices like Agnistoma and others, complete with proper gifts.
एको हिमालयं गत्वा त्यजति स्व कलेवरम्
One goes to the Himalayas and abandons his body there.
एकस्तु भृगुपातेन त्यजेद्देहं सुतीर्थके
One abandons his body at the holy place of Sutirtha by the descent of Bhrigu.
एकः प्रायोपवेशेन प्राणांस्त्यजति मानवः 7.3.13.
One man gives up his life through fasting unto death.