सूत उवाच एवं तत्र द्विजश्रेष्ठा विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
Sūta said: In this way, O best of twice-born, by the wise Viśvāmitra,
यस्तत्र कार्तिके मासे कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकासु च
Whoever, in the month of Kārtika, on the Kārttikī day and among the Kṛttikās,
तथा यो भास्करं पश्येद्बृहद्वलप्रतिष्ठितम् स मुच्यते नरो रोगैर्यदि स्याद्रोगसंयुतः
And whoever sees the Sun established as by Bṛhadbala—if a man is afflicted with disease, he is freed from diseases.
नीरोगो वा नरः सद्यो लभते मनसेप्सितम् ६.४५.
Or, if he is free from disease, he immediately obtains what his mind desires.
कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे वृषोत्सर्गं करोति यः
Whoever, at the conjunction of Kṛttikā on Kārttikī, performs the release of a bull,
एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोपि गयां व्रजेत्
Many sons are to be desired; even if only one goes to Gayā.
एकतः सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वदानानि चैकतः
On one side are all the sacred waters, and on the other, all the gifts.
यश्चैतच्छुणुयान्नित्यं पठेद्वा श्रद्धयान्वितः
Whoever listens to this daily, or recites it with faith,
तानि कीर्तय सर्वाणि परं कौतूहलं हि नः
Tell us of them all, for we have the utmost curiosity.
यत्र स्नातोऽतिमूकोऽपि भवेद्वाक्यविचक्षणः
Where even one who is mute, after bathing, becomes skilled in speech,
लभते चेप्सितान्कामान्मानुषान्दैविकानपि
And obtains the desired wishes, both human and divine.
पुरासीत्पार्थिवो ना्ना विख्यातो बलवर्धनः
Long ago there was a king, renowned as Balavardhana.
तस्य पुत्रः समुत्पन्नः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः अम्बुवीचिरिति स्पष्टं समाहूय द्विजोत्तमान्
A son was born to him, possessing all marks of excellence, clearly named Ambuvīci, after summoning the foremost twice-born.
ततः स ववृधे बालो लालितस्तेन भूभुजा
Then that child grew up, cherished by the king.
ततोऽस्य सप्तमे वर्षे संप्राप्ते बलवर्धनः
When his seventh year arrived, Balavardhana—
ततो मूकोऽपि बालोपि मंत्रिभिस्तस्य भूपतेः
Then, though the boy was mute, the ministers of that king—
एवं तस्य महीपस्य राज्यस्थस्य जडात्मनः
Thus, while that dull-minded king remained on the throne,
ततो जलचरन्यायः संप्रवृत्तो महीतले ६.४६.
Then the law of the water-dwellers prevailed upon the earth.
ततस्ते मंत्रिणः प्रोचुर्वसिष्ठं स्वपुरोहितम्
Then the ministers addressed Vasiṣṭha, their family priest:
पश्य कृत्स्नं धरापृष्ठे शून्यतां समुपस्थितम्
Behold the utter emptiness that has come upon the face of the earth.
ततस्तु सुचिरं ध्यात्वा दीनान्प्रोवाच मंत्रिणः
Then, after meditating for a long time, he spoke to the distressed ministers:
अस्ति सारस्वतं तीर्थं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम्
There is the Sārasvata tīrtha, which grants all desires to people.
अथ तद्वचनात्सद्यः स गत्वा तत्र सत्वरम्
Then, at those words, he immediately went there in haste.
तत्प्रभावं सरस्वत्याः स विज्ञाय महीपतिः
Having learned of the power of Sarasvatī, the king—
ततस्तूर्णं समादाय मृत्तिकां स नदीतटात्
Then, swiftly taking clay from the riverbank,
दधतीं दक्षिणे हस्ते कमलं सुमनोहरम्
holding a most beautiful lotus in his right hand,
कमण्डलुं तथान्यस्मिन्दिव्यवारिप्रपूरितम्
and a water-pot filled with divine water in the other,
ततो मेध्ये शिलापृष्ठे तां निवेश्य प्रयत्नतः ६.४६.
he carefully placed it upon a stone slab in the sacred enclosure.
चकार च स्तुतिं पश्चाच्छ्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
Then, with a mind purified by faith, he offered praise.
सदसद्देवि यत्किञ्चिद्बन्धमोक्षात्मकं पदम्
O Goddess, whatever exists, real or unreal, that which is the essence of bondage and liberation—