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.
अथासौ कलिनाविष्टो द्यूतं चक्रे महीपतिः
Then, possessed by Kali, the king engaged in gambling.
ततः स व्यसनासक्तो वार्यमाणोऽपि सज्जनैः
Thereafter, addicted to misfortune, though restrained by good people, he did not desist.
अथ तां स समादाय प्रविष्टो गहनं वनम्
Then, taking her with him, he entered the dense forest.
ततः स चिंतयामास यद्येषा भीममंदिरे
Thereupon, he began to reflect: 'If she is in the house of Bhīma...'
न मया तत्र गंतव्यं कथंचिदपि मानिना
'I, proud as I am, must not go there under any circumstance.'
येन त्यक्ता मया साध्वी कुण्डिनं याति तत्पुरम् प्रजगाम वनं घोरं वन्यश्वापदसंकुलम्॥ ६.५४.
That virtuous woman, abandoned by me, went to the city of Kuṇḍina, while I entered the dreadful forest teeming with wild beasts.
प्रत्यूषे चापि सोत्थाय यावत्पश्यति भाभिनी
And at dawn, she rose and gazed as far as her sight could reach.
ततो विलप्य दुःखार्ता करुणं तत्र कानने
Then, stricken with sorrow, she lamented mournfully there in the forest.
नलोऽपि च वने तस्मिन्भ्रममाणो महीपतिः
King Nala too wandered in that forest.
ततस्तद्वनमुत्सृज्य जगामान्यन्महावनम्
Then, leaving that forest behind, he went to another great forest.