नमस्कृत्य प्रतिगृहं तस्य भिक्षां न्यषेधयत्
Having bowed, she forbade him from receiving alms at each house.
वेलातिक्रममालोक्य पुनर्बभ्राम तां पुरीम्
Seeing that the time had passed, he again wandered through that city.
तदह्निनालभद्भिक्षां सशिष्यः स मुनिः क्वचित्
That day, the sage, along with his disciples, received alms of blue lotus somewhere.
उपोषणपरो भूत्वा तथैवासीदहर्निशम्
Devoted to fasting, he remained thus day and night.
ययौ भिक्षाटनं कर्तुं सशिष्यः परितः पुरीम्
He went around the city with his disciples to beg for alms.
न क्वापि लब्धवान्भिक्षां भाग्यहीनो धनं यथा
He did not obtain alms anywhere, lacking fortune as one without wealth.
को हेतुर्यन्न लभ्येत भिक्षा यत्नेन रक्षिता 4.2.96.
What is the reason that alms are not obtained, even when effort is made to protect them?
भवद्भिरपि नो भिक्षा परिप्राप्तेति गम्यते
Even you all have not received alms, it is said.
द्वितीयेह्न्यपि यद्भिक्षा न लभ्येतातियत्नतः
If, on the second day as well, alms are not obtained despite great effort,
अन्नक्षयो वा सर्वस्यां नगर्यामभवत्क्षणात्
Perhaps there was a sudden shortage of food throughout the city.
अथवा वारिता भिक्षा केनाप्यस्मासु चेर्ष्यया
Or perhaps someone, out of jealousy, has prevented alms from reaching us.
किमेतदखिलमज्ञात्वा समागच्छत सत्वरम् समाचख्युः समागम्य दृष्ट्वर्द्धि तत्पुरौकसाम्
Why do you all come together so quickly without knowing all this? They gathered and, having assembled, reported the prosperity of the city's inhabitants.
नान्नक्षयो वा सर्वस्यां नगर्यामिह कुत्रचित्
There is no shortage of food anywhere in this city.
यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षाद्यत्राऽमरधुनी स्वयम्
Where Lord of the Universe is present in person, and where the celestial river herself flows,
समृद्धिर्या गृहस्थानामिह विश्वेशितुः पुरि
The prosperity of householders here is due to the Lord of the Universe's city.
रत्नाकरेषु रत्नानि न तावंति महामुने
Even in the treasure oceans, the jewels are not as numerous, O great sage,
गृहेगृहेत्र धान्यानां राशयो यादृशः पुनः 4.2.96.
As the heaps of grain found in every house here.
श्रीकंठाः सर्व एवात्र सर्वे मृत्युंजया ध्रुवम् 4.2.96.
All here are blessed by Śrīkaṇṭha, all are certainly conquerors of death.
सरस्वती सरिद्रूपा ह्यतः शास्त्रनिकेतनम्
Sarasvatī, in the form of a river, is therefore the abode of scriptures.
सर्वे सुरनिकायाश्च सर्व एव महर्षयः 4.2.96.
All the hosts of gods and all the great sages are here.
गर्वः परोत्र विद्यानां धनगर्वोत्र वै महान्
Pride of learning is found elsewhere, but here pride of wealth is indeed great.
अथ गच्छन्महादेव्या गृहद्वारि निषण्णया 4.2.96.
Then, as he was going, he saw Mahādevī seated at the doorway of a house.
असत्कृत्यातिथिं नाथो न मे भोक्ष्यति कर्हिचित्
The lord will never partake of food if a guest has been dishonored.
मन्ये धर्ममयी मूर्तिः कापि त्वं शुचिमानसा
I think you are some embodiment of righteousness, O pure-hearted one.
किंवा नु करुणामूर्तिरिह काशिनिवासिनाम् 4.2.96.
Or perhaps, here, compassion itself has taken form among the dwellers of Kāśī?
अत्रत्यस्यैव हि मुने गृहिणी गृहमेधिनः 4.2.96.
O sage, the wife of the householder here belongs to this very place.
यावतार्थिजनस्तृप्तिमेति सर्वोपि सर्वशः 4.2.96.
As long as every person is fully satisfied in every way—
अतितृप्तिं समापन्नास्ते तदन्ननिषेवणात् 4.2.96.
They attained supreme satisfaction from partaking of that food.
विचार्य कारिता नित्यं स्वधिष्ण्योदय चिंतनम् 4.2.96.
After careful consideration, constant reflection on the rise of one's own household was undertaken.
अद्य प्रभृति न क्षेत्रे मदीये शापवर्जिते ।। 4.2.96.
From today onward, in my field, which is free from curses—