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—
जलसर्पं समादाय सुदीर्घं भीषणाकृतिम्
He seized a water-snake, long and terrifying in appearance.
ततश्च क्षिप्तवांस्तत्र महाजनसमागमे
Then he threw it there, into the midst of the great gathering of people.
तत्रासीत्तापसो नाम्ना सुप्रभः शंसितव्रतः ६.२९.
There was an ascetic named Suprabha, renowned for his firm vows.
निष्कंपां सुदृढामृज्वीं नातिस्तब्धां न कुंचिताम्
He was unwavering, very steady, upright, neither too rigid nor bent.
संपश्यन्नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्
Gazing at the tip of his own nose, not glancing in any direction.
आवर्तपंकजांतःस्थमष्टपत्र मधोमुखम्
Within the whorl of the lotus, facing downward at the eight-petaled center.
पश्यन्पद्मासनस्थं च वैदनाथं महेश्वरम्
Beholding Vaidyanatha, the great Lord, seated in the lotus posture.
अनिंद्यं चाप्यभेद्यं च जरामरणवर्जितम्
Who is blameless and invulnerable, free from old age and death.
अंगुष्ठतर्जनीयोगं कृत्वा हृदयसंगतम्
Joining the thumb and forefinger together, placed at the heart.
वेष्टयामास भोगेन निश्चलस्य महात्मनः
He encircled the unmoving great soul with his coil.