ऋतुकालेऽपि संप्राप्ते सुता मम समुद्भवाः
Even when the proper season arrived, daughters were born to me.
ऋतु स्नातां तु यो भार्यां संनिधौ नोपगच्छति
But if a man does not approach his wife, who has bathed after her period, when she is present,
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सलज्जो रात्रिनायकः प्रोवाचाधोमुखो दक्षं प्रकरिष्ये वचस्तव
Hearing those words, the lord of the night, embarrassed, with head bowed, said to Daksha, 'I will do as you say.'
ततो हृष्टमना दक्षः सुताः सर्वा हिमद्युते ६.६३.
Then Daksha, his mind gladdened, gave all his daughters to Himadyuti.
३ चन्द्रोऽपि पूर्ववत्सर्वास्ताः परित्यज्य दक्षजाः
But the Moon, as before, abandoned all the daughters of Daksha.
अथ ता दुःखिता भूयो जग्मुर्यत्र पिता स्थितः
Then those daughters, distressed, again went to where their father was.
एतत्तात महद्दुःखमस्माकं वर्तते हृदि
'Father, this great sorrow abides in our hearts,'
यत्पुनस्त्वं कृतस्तेन कामुकेन दुरात्मना
'because of what you have done, compelled by that lustful, wicked one.'
तद्दुःखं न वयं शक्ता हृदि धर्तुं कथंचन
'We are not able to bear this pain in our hearts at all.'
विशेषात्तव वाक्येन निषिद्धो रात्रिनायकः दौर्भाग्यदुःखसंतप्तास्त्यजामो येन जीवितम्
'Especially because the lord of the night, forbidden by your words, has scorched us with the pain of misfortune, we wish to abandon our lives.'
शशाप शर्वरीनाथं गत्वा तत्संनिधौ ततः
Then, going into his presence, Daksha cursed the lord of the night.
यस्मात्पाप न मे वाक्यं त्वया धर्मसमन्वितम्
'Because, O sinner, you did not heed my words, which were in accord with righteousness,'
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ दक्षश्चन्द्रोऽपि द्विजसत्तमाः
Having spoken thus, Daksha departed, and so did the Moon, O best of twice-born.
ततोऽसौ कृशतां प्राप्तः संपरित्यज्य रोहिणीम् ६.६३.
Thereafter, abandoning Rohini, he became emaciated.
क्षयव्याधिप्रणाशाय पृच्छ मानश्चिकित्सकान्
To cure his wasting disease, he consulted physicians.
तथापि मुच्यते नैव यक्ष्मणा स निशापतिः
Yet even so, the lord of the night was not freed from consumption.
ततो वैराग्यमापन्नस्तीर्थयात्रापरायणः
Then, having become detached, he devoted himself to pilgrimage.
अथासौ भ्रममाणस्तु तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Thus, he wandered among sacred fords and shrines.
तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा प्रभासं वीक्ष्य रात्रिपः
There, having bathed and become pure, he gazed upon Prabhāsa during the night.
अपश्यद्रोमकंनाम स मुनि संशितव्रतम्
He saw the sage named Romaka, steadfast in his vows.
तं दृष्ट्वा स प्रणम्योच्चै स्ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्
Seeing him, he bowed deeply and then spoke to him with respect.
परिक्षीणोऽस्मि विप्रेंद्र क्षयव्याधिप्रभावतः
I am depleted, O foremost of Brāhmins, due to the influence of a wasting disease.
मया चिकित्सकाः पृष्टास्तैरुक्तं भेषजं कृतम्
I have consulted physicians; they prescribed medicine, which I have taken.
यदि नैवोपदेशं मे कञ्चित्त्वं संप्रदास्यसि ६.६३.
If you do not now impart some instruction to me—
शक्यते किं पुनस्तस्य दक्षस्यामिततेजसः
What remedy is possible for that mighty Dakṣa, whose energy is boundless?
तस्मादत्रोपदेशं ते प्रयच्छामि सुसंमतम्
Therefore, I will give you here a well-considered teaching.
नादेयं किंचिदस्तीह देवदेवस्य शूलिनः
There is nothing unattainable here for the trident-bearing Lord of the gods.
अष्टषष्टिषु तीर्थेषु सत्यं वासः सदा क्षितौ
Among the sixty-eight tīrthas, dwelling always on earth is true.
आराधय ततो नित्यं श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
Therefore, worship Him daily with a mind purified by faith.
तस्मिन्प्रभासके क्षेत्रे दिव्यलिंगानि शूलिनः
In that field of Prabhāsa are divine liṅgas of the trident-holder.