ततश्च स्वपुरं प्राप्तः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः
After that, he returned to his own city, his body bristling with joy.
ततस्तं तेजसा हीनं दुर्गंधेन समावृतम्
Then, seeing him deprived of brilliance and covered with a foul odor—
दृष्ट्वा ते मंत्रिणस्तस्य पुत्र पौत्रास्तथा परे
His ministers, sons, grandsons, and others saw him—
ऊचुश्च पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ न त्वमर्हसि संगमम् ६.५३.
And they said, 'O best of kings, you should not mingle (with us).'
तस्माद्वसिष्ठमाहूय प्रायश्चित्तं समाचर
Therefore, summon Vasiṣṭha and perform atonement.
ततः स पार्थिवस्तूर्णं वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्
Then that king quickly approached Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage.
तव प्रसादतो विप्र स हतो राक्षसो मया
'By your grace, O Brāhmaṇa, that Rākṣasa was slain by me.'
मम गात्रात्सुदुर्गंधः समुद्गच्छति सर्वतः
'A terrible stench is emanating from my body on all sides.'
तत्किमेतद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ तेजो हानिरतीव मे
'What is this, O best of twice-born? My brilliance is greatly diminished.'
ब्राह्मणा बहवो ध्वस्तास्तथा विध्वंसिता मखाः
'Many Brāhmaṇas have been destroyed, and sacrifices ruined as well.'
येन निर्मुक्तपापोऽहं राज्यं प्राप्नोमि चात्मनः
By whom I am freed from sin and attain my own kingdom.
निर्ममो निरहंकारस्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि
Free from possessiveness and ego, then you will attain perfection.
ततः स पार्थिवश्रेष्ठः संयतात्मा जितेंद्रियः
Then that best of kings, self-controlled and with senses subdued,
न नश्यति स दुर्गंधो न च तेजः प्रवर्धते ६.५३.
He does not perish, nor does foul odor remain, nor does his radiance diminish.
ततः संभ्रममाणश्च कदाचि द्द्विजसत्तमाः
Then, being anxious at times, O best of twice-born,
सुश्रांतः क्षुत्पिपासार्तो निशीथे तमसावृते
Exhausted, afflicted by hunger and thirst, in the midnight shrouded in darkness,
कृच्छ्रात्ततो विनिष्क्रांतस्तीर्थात्तस्मान्महीपतिः
With great difficulty, the king emerged from that holy place.
दुर्गंधेन परित्यक्तं सोद्यमं लघुतां गतम्
Abandoned because of its foul odor, with effort, it had become light.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke aloud:
विमुक्तोऽसि महाराज सांप्रतं पूर्वपातकैः
You are freed now, O great king, from former sins.
अत्र संनिहितो नित्यं भ्रूणरूपेण शंकरः
Here, ever present, is Śaṃkara in the form of an embryo.
यदा प्रपतितं लिंगं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः
When the liṅga of the trident-bearing Lord of gods fell down,
लज्जितेन स्ववासार्थं महद्दुःखयुतेन च
Ashamed, seeking his own abode, and filled with great sorrow,
सर्वपापहरा तेन गर्तेयं पृथि वीपते ६.५३.
By that, this pit, O king of the earth, removes all sins.
सोऽपि पार्थिवशार्दूलः प्रहृष्टः स्वपुरं ययौ
That tiger among kings, delighted, returned to his own city.
ततस्तं पापनिर्मुक्तं तेजसा भास्करोपमम्
Then, freed from sin, he shone with radiance like the sun.
सोऽपि ब्राह्मणशार्दूलो वसिष्ठस्तं महीपतिम्
That tiger among brāhmaṇas, Vasiṣṭha, saw that king,
दिष्ट्या मुक्तोसि राजेंद्र पापाद्ब्रह्मवधोद्भवात्
By fortune, O king of kings, you are freed from the sin arising from brahma-murder.
तस्मात्कीर्तय भूपाल कस्मिंस्तीर्थे समागतः
Therefore, O king, recite (the story) when you have gathered at any sacred place.
ततः स कथयामास भ्रूणगर्तासमुद्भवम्
Then he narrated the origin of the Bhrūṇagartā.