यावत्पश्यामि देहं स्वं कुष्ठव्याधिपरिच्युतम्
As long as I see my own body, afflicted and abandoned by the disease of leprosy,
तस्मात्त्वमपि विप्रेंद्र भक्त्या तद्भास्करत्रयम्
Therefore, you too, O foremost of Brahmins, with devotion, should worship that trio of solar deities.
किमौषधैः किमाहांरैः कटुकैरपि योजितैः
What use are medicines, what use are rituals, even those compounded with bitter substances?
स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि सांप्रतं तां पुरीं प्रति ६.७६.
May blessings be upon you; I shall now depart towards that city.
एवमुक्तः स पांथेन तेन विप्रः स कुष्ठभाक्
Thus addressed by the traveler, the Brahmin afflicted with leprosy,
साऽब्रवीद्युक्तमुक्तं ते पांथेनानेन वल्लभ
She spoke: 'What he said to you, O beloved, is indeed appropriate.'
अहं त्वया समं तत्र शुश्रूषानिरता सती
I, together with you, shall there be constantly engaged in service.
एवमुक्तस्तया सोऽथ वित्तमादाय भूरिशः
Thus addressed by her, he then took abundant wealth,
प्रतिज्ञया गमिष्यामि द्रष्टुं तद्देवतात्रयम्
With a vow, I shall go to see that trio of deities.
ततः कृच्छ्रेण महता कुष्ठव्याधिसमाकुलः
Then, with great difficulty, afflicted by the disease of leprosy,
तद्दृष्ट्वा सुमहत्क्षेत्रं तापसौघनिषेवितम्
Seeing that vast sacred field, frequented by groups of ascetics,
अहं निर्वेदमापन्नो रोगेणाथ बुभुक्षया
I became despondent, due to the disease and hunger.
तस्मादत्रैव देहं स्वं विहास्यामि न संशयः
Therefore, right here, I shall abandon my body—there is no doubt.
एकांतेऽपि महाभाग न सुप्तं जाग्रति त्वयि ॥ ६.७६.
Even in solitude, O greatly fortunate one, you do not sleep nor remain awake.
तस्मादेतन्महाक्षेत्रं संप्राप्य त्वां व्यवस्थितम्
Therefore, having reached this great sacred field and seeing you settled here,
दर्शयिष्ये मुखं तेषां त्वया हीना अहं कथम्
I shall show you the faces of those deities; how can I, deprived of you, do so?
तस्मात्त्वया समं नाथ प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्
Therefore, together with you, O lord, I shall enter the fire.
यावतस्तव संजाता उपवासा महामते
As long as your fasts have been observed, O wise one,
एवं तस्या विदित्वा स निश्चयं ब्राह्मणस्तदा
Thus, having understood her resolve, the Brahmin at that time—
भास्करं मनसि ध्यात्वा यावदग्निं समाददे
Meditating upon the Sun in his mind, he took up the fire.
तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयाविष्टः क एते पुरुषास्त्रयः
Seeing that, filled with astonishment, he wondered: Who are these three men?
व्यावृत्य स्वगृहं गच्छ स्व भार्यासहितो द्विज
Turn back and go to your own house, O twice-born, together with your wife.
मुण्डीरस्वामिनं दृष्ट्वा तथाऽन्यं कालवल्लभम्
Having seen the lord of Muṇḍīra and likewise Kālavallabha—
मूलस्थानं च कर्तव्यं ततः सस्यप्रभक्षणम् भक्षयामि तथा सस्यं तेन त्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम्॥ ६.७६.
The root-place must be established, then the destruction of the crops; I will eat the crops, and by that, I will abandon my life.
त्वद्भक्त्याकृष्टमनसो ब्रूहि किं करवामहे
With our minds drawn by devotion to you, tell us, what shall we do?
ब्राह्मण उवाच यदि यूयं समायाताः स्वयमेव ममांतिकम्
The Brahmin said: If you have come to me of your own accord—
तथाऽत्रैव सदा स्थेयं क्षेत्रे युष्माभिरेव हि
Then you must always remain here in this field.
त्वं चापि रोगनिर्मुक्तः सुखं प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमम्
And you too shall be freed from disease and attain supreme happiness.
प्रासादत्रितयं तस्मादस्मदर्थं निरूपय
Therefore, construct three temples for our sake.
एवमुक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे गताश्चाद्दर्शनं ततः
Having spoken thus, they all departed from sight.