तदा निष्क्रामति श्रेष्ठं कमलं जलमध्यतः
Then, the finest lotus emerges from the midst of the water.
तन्मध्येंऽगुष्ठमात्रस्तु पुरुषो दृश्यते जनैः
Within it, a person the size of a thumb is seen by people.
एतस्मात्कारणात्स्नात्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
For this reason, the great sage Viśvāmitra bathed.
तस्यैवं वीक्षमाणस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ६.४५.
As the wise Viśvāmitra was observing thus,
अत्यंतं मृगयाश्रांतो हत्वा मृगगणान्बहून्
Utterly exhausted from hunting, having slain many groups of deer,
सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्वृकांश्चैव हिंसानारण्यचारिणः
as well as lions, tigers, and wolves—ferocious creatures roaming the forest—
अथापश्यद्द्रुमोपांते विश्वामित्रं मुनीश्वरम्
then, at the foot of a tree, he saw Viśvāmitra, the lord among sages.
ततस्तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैरवतीर्य तुरंगमात्
Then, dismounting from his horse, he bowed deeply to him.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तोयात्कमलं तद्विनिर्गतम्
At that very moment, the lotus emerged from the water.
तद्दृष्ट्वा स महीपालः पद्ममत्यद्भुतं महत्
Seeing that lotus—vast and utterly wondrous—the king was amazed.
स्पृष्टमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन्कमले द्विजसत्तमाः
As soon as he touched that lotus, O best of twice-born,
तं शब्दं स महीपालः श्रुत्वा मूर्छामुपाविशत्
Upon hearing that sound, the king fell into a faint.
ततः कृच्छ्रेण महता कर्षितः सलिलाद्बहिः
Then, with great difficulty, he was dragged out of the water.
ततस्तीरं समासाद्य कृच्छ्रात्प्राप्याथ चेतनाम् ६.४५.
After reaching the bank, he regained consciousness with effort.
ततो विषादमापन्नो दृष्ट्वा तादृङ्निजं वपुः
Then, seeing his body in such a state, he became despondent.
अथ गत्वा मुनेः पार्श्वे विश्वामित्रस्य भूमिपः
Afterwards, the king went to the side of the sage Viśvāmitra.
भगवन्पश्य मे जातं यादृशं वपुरेव हि
"Revered one, look at what has happened to my body!"
तत्किं पानीयदोषो वा किं वा भूमेर्मुनी श्वर
"Is this due to some fault in the water, or is it from the earth, O lord of sages?"
उच्छिष्टेन रविर्मध्ये स्वयं यस्य व्यवस्थितः
When the Sun himself stands in the middle, with the remnants of food,
यदा स्यात्कृत्तिकायोगः कार्तिके मासि पार्थिव
When, O King, there is the conjunction of Kṛttikā in the month of Kārtika,
तदिदं पुष्करं ज्येष्ठं भवान्यत्र श्रमातुरः
Then this Puṣkara is supreme; here, one who is weary from exertion,
एतद्वीक्ष्य नरो ह्यत्र स्नानं कुर्याज्जलाशये
Seeing this, a man should bathe here in the reservoir of water.
उच्छिष्टेन त्वया राजन्हरणाय हि केवलम्
With the remnants, O King, you must do this solely for the sake of removal.
बृहद्बल उवाच कथं मे स्यान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुष्ठव्याधिपरिक्षयः ६.४५.
Bṛhadbala said: O best of sages, how may I be freed from the affliction of leprosy?
ततः प्राप्स्यसि संसिद्धिं कुष्ठनाशसमुद्भवाम्
Then you will attain perfection, arising from the destruction of leprosy.
तच्छ्रुत्वा स मुनेर्वाक्यं भूमिपालो बृहद्बलः
Hearing these words of the sage, King Bṛhadbala,
अर्चयामास विधिवत्पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः
Worshipped according to rule with flowers, incense, and ointments.
उपवासपरो भूत्वा रक्तचन्दनसंयुतैः
Becoming devoted to fasting, with red sandalwood,
ततः संवत्सरस्यांते स बभूव महीपतिः
Then, at the end of the year, that king became
ततः स्वं राज्यमासाद्य भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकशः
Then, having regained his kingdom, he enjoyed many pleasures.