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.
ततस्ते मंत्रिणो वृद्धाः स च राजा मुनीश्वरः
Thereupon, the aged ministers and the king, O best of sages,
भ्रूणगर्तां समासाद्य तामेव द्विजसत्तमाः
Having reached Bhrūṇagartā, those excellent twice-born ones (Brahmins) (did likewise).
गताश्च परमां सिद्धिं कालेनाल्पेन दुर्लभाम्
And they attained the highest accomplishment, which is rarely gained in a short time.
ततःप्रभृति सा गर्ता प्रख्याता धरणीतले ६.५३.
From that time onward, that pit became renowned upon the earth.
तत्र कृष्णचतुर्दश्यां यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नरः
Whoever performs the śrāddha rite there on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight,
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तत्र श्राद्धं समाचरेत्
Therefore, with every effort, one should perform the śrāddha there.
नलेन स्थापिता पूर्वं स्वयमेव महात्मना
Formerly, it was established by Nala himself, the great-souled one.
अभ्यर्चयति तां भक्त्या यो महानवमी दिने
Whoever worships her with devotion on the day of Mahānavamī,
वीरसेनसुतः पूर्वं नलोनाम महीपतिः
Nala, the son of Vīrasena, was formerly a king.
भार्या तस्याभवत्साध्वी प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसी
His wife was virtuous, dearer to him than life itself.