इतश्चेतश्च गच्छद्भिर्निर्झरांभोभिरावृतः
Enveloped on every side by streams flowing here and there,
यस्य स्पर्द्धा समुत्पन्ना पूर्वं सह सुमेरुणा
With whom, in ancient times, rivalry arose with Mount Meru,
कस्माद्भास्कर मेरोस्त्वं प्रकरोषि प्रदक्षिणाम्
O Sun, why do you circle around Meru and not this mountain?
एष मे विहितः पन्था येनेदं विहितं जगत्
This is the path ordained for me, by which the world is maintained.
तस्य तुंगानि शृंगाणि व्याप्य खं संश्रितानि च
His lofty peaks stretch wide, reaching into the sky,
एतच्छ्रुत्वा विशेषेण संक्रुद्धो विंध्यपर्वतः रुरोधाथ नभोमार्गं येन गच्छति भास्करः
Hearing this in particular, Mount Vindhya became enraged and blocked the path through which the Sun travels in the sky.
अथ रुद्धं समालोक्य मार्गं वासरनायकः
Then, seeing his path obstructed, the Lord of Day,
करोमि यद्यहं चास्य पर्वतस्य प्रदक्षिणाम् ६.३३.
If I now circle this mountain,
मासर्तुभुवनानां च तथा भावी विपर्ययः नष्टयज्ञोत्सवे लोके देवानां स्यान्महाव्यथा
Then the order of months, seasons, and worlds would be disrupted; with the festivals and sacrifices lost, great distress would come to the gods.
एवं संचिन्त्य चित्तेन बहुधा तीक्ष्णदीधितिः
Thus reflecting deeply in his mind, the radiant one,
नान्योस्ति वारणे शक्तो विंधस्यास्य हि तं विना
No one but Agastya is able to restrain this Vindhya,
ततो द्विजमयं रूपं स कृत्वा तीक्ष्णदीधितिः
Then, the radiant one assumed the form of a brahmin,
ततस्तु वैश्वदेवांते वेदोच्चारपरायणः
Thereafter, at the Vaiśvadeva time, he devoted himself to reciting the Vedas,
ततोऽगस्त्यः कृतानन्दः स्वागतं ते महामुने
Then Agastya, delighted, said: 'Welcome to you, great sage!'
तत्त्वं ब्रूहि मुनिश्रेष्ठ यद्ददामि तवेप्सितम्
O best of sages, tell me the truth—what is it that you desire me to grant you?
सर्वकार्यक्षमं मत्वा त्वामेकं भुवनत्रये
Considering you alone as capable of all tasks in the three worlds,
त्वया पूर्वं सुरार्थाय प्रपीतः पयसांनिधिः
Formerly, for the sake of the gods, you drank up the ocean of milk.
तस्माद्गतिर्भवास्माकं सांप्रतं मुनिसत्तम ६.३३.
Therefore, O excellent sage, you are now our refuge.
अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा दिनेशाय ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्
After offering arghya to the Sun, he then spoke respectfully.
धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि यन्मे त्वं गृहमागतः
I am blessed and favored that you have come to my house.
स्पर्द्धया गिरिमुख्यस्य सुमेरोर्मुनिसतम
O best of sages, out of rivalry with the chief of mountains, Sumeru,
सामाद्यैर्विविधोपायैस्तस्मादेनं निवारय
By various means, beginning with conciliation, restrain him.
अगस्त्य उवाच अहं ते वारयिष्यामि वर्धमानं कुलाचलम्
Agastya said: I will restrain for you the growing mountain.
ततः स प्रेषितस्ते न भास्करस्तीक्ष्णदीधितिः
Then, at your bidding, the Sun with his fierce rays did not proceed.
अगस्त्योऽपि द्रुतं गत्वा विंध्यं प्रोवाच सादरम्
Agastya too, going swiftly, spoke respectfully to Vindhya.
दाक्षिणात्येषु तीर्थेषु स्नाने जाताद्य मे मतिः
Now my mind is set on bathing at the southern holy places.
स तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विंध्यः पर्वतसत्तमः
Hearing his words, Vindhya, the best of mountains,
अगस्त्योऽपि समासाद्य तस्यांतं दक्षिणं द्विजाः ६.३३.
And Agastya, having reached its southern end, O twice-born,
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय शापाद्भीतो नगोत्तमः
He, the best of mountains, promised thus, being afraid of a curse.
सोऽपि तेनैवमार्गेण निवृत्तिं न करोति च
Yet, even so, by that very path, he does not turn back.