अद्यापि जायते सिद्धिः सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
Even today, success arises; this is truth, as I have spoken.
यं दृष्ट्वा मानवः सद्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Upon seeing whom, a man is instantly freed from all sins.
दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान्पुरा देवैर्निर्जितान्नृपसत्तम
Having seen, the gods once defeated the Daityas, O best of kings.
कथं दैत्याः सुराञ्जित्वा प्राप्स्यंति च महायशः
How did the Daityas, after conquering the gods, attain great fame?
एवं स निश्चयं कृत्वा गतोऽर्बुदमथाचलम्
Thus, having made up his mind, he went to Arbuda mountain.
शिवलिंगं प्रतिष्ठाप्य धूपगंधानुलेपनैः
He established a Śiva-liṅga, with incense, fragrance, and ointments.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तुतोष भगवाञ्छिवः
Then, at the end of a thousand years, the blessed Shiva was satisfied.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
Choose a boon, auspicious one, even if it should be exceedingly difficult to obtain.
यया जीवंति संप्राप्ता मृत्युं संख्येपि जंतवः
By which, those beings who have attained it live on, even when death is counted among them.
अब्रवीच्च पुनः शुक्रं वरमन्यं वृणीष्व मे
And again he said to Shukra, 'Choose another boon from me.'
ततो लिंगं पूजयेच्च यः पुमाञ्छ्रद्धयान्वितः॥ 7.3.15.
Then, any man who worships the linga with faith—
अल्पमृत्युभयं तस्य मा भूत्तव प्रसादतः
By your grace, let him have little fear of death.
शुक्रोपि दानवान्संख्ये हतान्देवैरनेकशः
Even when the gods slew the Danavas many times in battle,
विद्यायाश्च प्रभावेन जीवयामास तान्मुनिः
By the power of his knowledge, the sage revived them.
तत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यक्पातकैश्च प्रमुच्यते
There, a man who bathes properly is freed from sins.
तर्पिताः सलिलेनैव किं पुनः पिंडदानतः
If they are satisfied with water alone, how much more so by the offering of rice-balls?
मणिकर्णिकसंज्ञं तु सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्
Indeed, the place called Manikarnika is renowned in all the worlds.
यत्र सिद्धिं गता राजन्वालखिल्या महर्षयः
There, O King, the great sages called the Valakhilyas attained perfection.
तेषां तत्रोपविष्टानां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
As those sages of purified minds sat there,
किरातवनिता काचिन्नाम्ना च मणिकर्णिका
A certain Kirata woman named Manikarnika,
तृषार्त्ता तत्र संप्राप्ता मध्यंदिनगते रवौ
Afflicted by thirst, arrived there at midday.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु दिव्यरूपवपुर्धरा
At that very moment, one bearing a divine form appeared.
अथ तस्याः पतिः प्राप्तस्तदन्वेषणतत्परः
Then her husband arrived, intent on searching for her.
मम भार्यात्र संप्राप्ता यदि दृष्टा सुमध्यमे
"If my wife, O slender-waisted one, has come here and been seen—"
तृषार्त्तश्च क्षुधाविष्टो रुदते च मुहुर्मुहुः
Tormented by thirst, overcome by hunger, and weeping again and again,
दिव्यरूपमिदं प्राप्ता देवैरपि सुदुर्लभम् ॥ 7.3.16.
This divine form has been attained, which is exceedingly rare even for the gods.
त्वं चापि सलिले ह्यस्मिन्कुरु स्नानं त्वरान्वितः
And you too, quickly bathe here in this water.
अथासौ सह पुत्रेण प्रविष्टस्तत्र निर्झरे
Then he, along with his son, entered that waterfall.
दुःखेन मृत्युमापन्नस्तस्मिन्नेव जलाशये
There in that pool of water, he suffered and met his death.
चितिं कृत्वा समं तेन ज्वालयामास पावकम्
Having built a funeral pyre together with him, she kindled the fire.