विशेषाद्धर्षसंयुक्ता विविधैर्गीतवादनैः तदारभ्य नृपाः सर्वे प्रचक्रुर्विस्मयान्विताः
With special enthusiasm, accompanied by various songs and instruments, all the kings began this, filled with wonder.
ततः प्रभाते विमले समुत्थाय स भूपतिः अनुज्ञाप्य ययौ हृष्टः ससैन्यः स्वपुरं प्रति ॥ ६.४७.
Then, at dawn, when the sky was clear, the king arose, took leave, and joyfully set out with his army for his own city.
ततः कालेन संप्राप्य देहान्तं स महीपतिः
After some time, that king reached the end of his life.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं महाकालसमुद्भवम्
All this concerning the origin of Mahākāla has been told to you.
आश्रमो ऽस्ति सुविख्यातो नानाद्रुमसमावृतः
There is a hermitage, well-known, surrounded by many kinds of trees.
यत्र तेन तपस्तप्तं संस्थाप्योमामहेश्वरौ
There, he performed austerities, establishing Umā and Maheśvara.
आसीद्राजा हरिश्चंद्रस्त्रिशंकुतनयः पुरा
Once there was a king named Hariśchandra, son of Triśaṅku.
न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं ध्रुवम्
There was no famine, no disease, and certainly no untimely death.
कालवर्षी सदा मेघः सस्यानि प्रचुराणि च
The clouds always rained in season, and the crops were abundant.
२ दंडस्तत्राभवद्वास्तौ गृहरोधोऽक्षदेवने
There, the punishment was only for theft, house arrest, or gambling with dice.
स्नेहक्षयश्च दीपेषु विवाहे च करग्रहः
There was loss of affection in lamps, and in marriage, the holding of hands.
तस्यैवं गुणयुक्तस्य सार्वभौमस्य भूपतेः
Thus, for that virtuous, sovereign king endowed with such qualities—
ततः पुत्रकृते गत्वा चकार सुमहत्तपः
Then, for the sake of a son, he went and performed intense austerity.
पंचाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे वर्षास्वाकाशसंस्थितः ६.४८.
He practiced the discipline of the five fires in summer, and during the rains he remained exposed to the sky.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तस्य तुष्टो महेश्वरः
Then, at the end of a thousand years, the great Lord Śiva was pleased with him.
ततस्तं प्रणिपत्योच्चैः स्तुत्वा सूक्तैः श्रुतैरपि
Then, bowing down to him with great reverence, he praised him with Vedic hymns.
त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरश्रेष्ठ यत्किंचिद्धरणीतले
By your grace, O best of gods, whatever exists on the earth—
यस्मात्त्वया महामूर्ख न प्रणामः कृतो मम
Because you, great fool, did not bow down to me,
तव संलप्स्यते पुत्रो यथोक्तः शूलपाणिना ६.४८.
Your son will speak with you as declared by the wielder of the trident.
एवमुक्त्वा भगवती सार्धं देवेन शंभुना
Having spoken thus, the goddess together with Lord Śambhu—
सोऽपि राजा वरं लब्ध्वा शापं च तदनंतरम्
That king, having obtained a boon and then a curse,
एकासनं समारूढौ कृत्वा गौरी महेश्वरौ
Gaurī and Maheśvara, seated together on one seat,
विशेषेण ददौ दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महीपतिः
The king gave special gifts to the brāhmaṇas.
ततः संवत्सरस्यांते भगवान्वृषभध्वजः
Then, at the end of the year, the blessed Lord Vṛṣabhadhvaja—
ततः स नृपतिस्ताभ्यां युगपद्विधिपूर्वकम्
Then that king, with both of them, performed the prescribed rites simultaneously.
पुरा देवि मयानंदपूरे व्याकुल चेतसा
Once, O goddess, in Ānanda city, with a troubled mind,
देहार्धधारिणी देवि सदा त्वं शूलधारिणः
O goddess, you who always bear half the body of the trident-holder—
यस्तं नमति देवेशं तेन त्वं सर्वदा नता ॥ नतायां त्वयि देवेशो नतः स्यादिति मे मतिः
Whoever bows to that Lord of gods, by him you are always bowed to; when you are bowed to, the Lord of gods is also bowed to—this is my conviction.
तथापि च पृथक्त्वेन मया त्वं तु नता सह ६.४८.
Nevertheless, I have also bowed to you separately.
तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे यः पुरोक्तः पुरारिणा
Therefore, grant me the favor that was previously mentioned by the enemy of Tripura.