नित्यं प्रेषणकर्तॄणां यत्पापं मधुजीविनाम्
The sin of those who constantly send others on errands and of those who live by selling honey—
अदृष्टदेववक्त्राणां यत्पापं मत्स्यजीविनाम्
The sin of those who have never seen the face of a deity and of those who make their living by fishing—
विवादे पृच्छमानानां पक्षपातेन जल्पताम्
Of those who, when questioned in disputes, speak with partiality—
यत्पापं तु भवेत्तेषां निर्दयानां दुरात्मनाम्
The sin that arises for those cruel and wicked-hearted ones—
कन्याविक्रयकर्तृणां यत्पापं पापसंगिनाम्
The sin of those who sell maidens and of those who associate with the sinful—
विद्याविक्रयकर्तॄणां यत्पापं समुदाहृतम् ६.२९.
The sin declared for those who sell knowledge—
एवं मया प्रतिज्ञाय कोपाविष्टेन सूतज
Thus, having vowed in anger, O son of Suta—
ततःप्रभृत्यहं भूमौ भ्रमामि लगुडायुधः
From that time onward, I have wandered the earth, armed with a club—
मया कोपपरीतेन बहवः पन्नगा हताः
Many serpents have been slain by me, overcome with wrath—
एकदाहं वनं प्राप्तो गहनं लगुडायुधः
Once, I entered a dense forest, armed with a club—
ततोऽहं दंडमुद्यम्य कालदंडोपमं रुषा
Then, raising my staff in anger, like the rod of Time—
नापराध्यामि ते किंचिदहं ब्राह्मणसत्तम
I have not wronged you in any way, O best of Brahmins—
ततो मया स संप्रोक्तः कोपात्सलिलपन्नगः मम भार्या प्रिया पूर्वं सर्पेणासीद्विनाशिता
Then, in anger, I spoke to that water-dwelling serpent: 'Once, my beloved wife was destroyed by a serpent.'
ततोऽहं तेन वैरेण सूदयामि महो रगान् हत्वा दंडप्रहारेण तस्मादिष्टतमं स्मर
Therefore, out of that enmity, I slay great serpents; striking with my staff, remember the one you hold most dear.
ततः स मां पुनः प्राह भयेन महतावृतः
Then, overwhelmed by great fear, he spoke to me again—
अन्ये ते पन्नगा विप्र ये दशंतीह मानवान् ६.२९.
There are other serpents, O Brahmin, who bite humans here—
एवं प्रजल्पमानोऽपि स दंडेन मया हतः
Even as he was speaking in this way, I struck him down with my staff.
अथासौ लगुडस्पर्शात्तत्क्षणादेव पन्नगः
Then, at the very moment the club touched him, that serpent—
तदाश्चर्यं समालोक्य ततोऽहं विस्मयान्वितः
Seeing that astonishing event, I was filled with wonder.
को भवान्किमिदं रूपं कृतं सर्पमयं विभो
Who are you? What is this form you have taken, fashioned entirely as a serpent, O Lord?
ततः प्रोवाच मां हृष्टः स नरः प्रश्रयान्वितः
Then that man, delighted and full of humility, spoke to me:
अहमासं पुरा विप्र चमत्कारपुरोत्तमे
Once, O Brahmin, I was in Camatkārapura, the foremost city.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तत्र यात्रा व्यजायत
Then, after some time had passed, a journey arose there.
अथ तत्र समायाता मुनयः संशितव्रताः
And then, ascetics of firm vows arrived there.
शैवाः पाशुपताश्चैव तथा कापालिकाश्च ये ६.२९.
Those devoted to Śiva, the Pāśupatas, and also the Kāpālikas—
एकाहारा निराहारा वायुभक्षास्तथापरे
Some ate only once a day, some fasted completely, and others subsisted on air.
तेऽभिवन्द्य यथान्यायं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
They duly offered their respects to the great god, Maheśvara, Lord of gods.
राजर्षीणां पुराणानां देवेन्द्राणां च हर्षिताः
Rejoicing, as did the royal sages of old and the lords of the gods.
एवं महोत्सवे तत्र वर्तमाने महोदये
Thus, as that great festival of supreme prosperity was taking place there—
शिवदर्शनविद्वेषी तमसा संवृताशयः
One whose heart was shrouded in darkness, hostile to the vision of Śiva—