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.
श्रीवर्धनइतिख्यातो नानाशास्त्रकृतश्रमः ६.२९.
Known as Śrīvardhana, worn out by the study of many scriptures.
नातिदूरस्थितं मां च ज्ञात्वा तत्कर्मकारिणम्
Recognizing me, not far away, as the doer of that deed.
स्फुरताधरयुग्मेन बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा
With trembling lips and a voice choked with tears.
निर्विकल्पेन चित्तेन यदि ध्यातो महेश्वरः ईदृक्कायो भवत्वाशु गुरुर्मे येन धर्षितः
If Maheśvara is meditated upon with unwavering mind, may such a body quickly be mine, by which my teacher was harmed.
अथाहं सर्पतां प्राप्तस्तत्क्षणादेव दारुणाम्
Then, at that very moment, I attained the harsh form of a serpent.
अथ गत्वा समाधेः स पर्यंतं संयतो मुनिः
Then the restrained sage, having reached the end of his meditation.
अथ सर्पाकृतिं मां च दुःखेन महतान्वितम् तटस्थं भयसंत्रस्तं तथा सर्वजनं तदा
Then, seeing me in the form of a serpent, afflicted with great suffering, standing at the edge, terrified, as were all the people there.
शपता ब्राह्मणं दीनं नैष धर्मस्तपस्विनाम्
Cursing the distressed brāhmaṇa, 'This is not the way of ascetics.'
समो मानेऽपमाने च समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः
He is equal in honor and dishonor, the same toward clod, stone, and gold.
तस्मादजानता वत्स शप्तोऽयं ब्राह्मणस्त्वया ६.२९.
Therefore, O child, not knowing, you have cursed this brāhmaṇa.