ख्यातिं यातु धरापृष्ठे युष्माकं हि प्रसादतः
Let your fame spread upon the earth, by your favor.
अत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यगग्निलोकं प्रयास्यति
Whoever bathes here properly will go to the world of Agni.
यस्तिलान्दास्यति नरस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्सुसमाहितः
Any man who gives sesame here at this holy place with full concentration—
वह्निश्च भगवान्राजन्यथापूर्वमवर्तत
And the blessed Fire-god resumed his activity as before.
यश्चैत्पठते नित्यं प्रातरुत्थाय चोत्तमम्
Whoever recites this daily, rising in the morning, attains the highest.
अहोरात्रकृतात्पापात्स शृण्वन्नपि मुच्यते
Even by hearing it, one is freed from sins committed day and night.
यत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यङ्मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
Where a man bathes properly, he is released from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
पुराऽऽसीत्पार्थिवोनाम इंद्रसेनो महीपतिः पतिव्रता पतिप्राणा सदा पत्युः प्रिये स्थिता
Once there was a king named Indrasena, a ruler of the earth; his wife was devoted, living always for her husband, steadfast in affection.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स राजा सपरिग्रहः
Then, after some time, that king, along with his family, met his fate.
तं निहत्य धनं भूरि गृहीत्वा प्रस्थितो गृहम्
Having slain him and seized much wealth, the victor departed for his home.
सुनन्दां ब्रूहि गत्वा त्वमिन्द्रसेनो हतो रणे
Go and tell Sunanda that Indrasena has been killed in battle.
यदि सा निश्चयं गच्छेन्मरणं प्रति भामिनी
If she, the radiant one, resolves firmly to go to death,
एवमुक्तो गतो दूतस्तत्क्षणान्नृपसत्तम
Thus addressed, the messenger departed at that very moment, O best of kings.
अथ तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुनंदा चारुहासिनी
Then, hearing his words, Sunanda, with a beautiful smile,
यस्मिन्काले मृता सा तु सुनन्दा शीलमंडना
At the time when Sunanda, adorned with virtue, died,
अथापश्यद्द्वितीयां स च्छायां गात्रस्य चोपरि 7.3.31.
He then saw a second shadow above her body.
तेजोहीनं सुदुर्गंधि विवर्णं नृपसत्तम
It was devoid of radiance, foul-smelling, discolored, O best of kings.
विनाशं दुःखशोकार्तः करुणं पर्यदेवयत्
Afflicted by destruction, grief, and sorrow, he lamented pitifully.
ब्राह्मणानां समादेशात्तथा यात्रापरोऽभवत् वाराणस्यां गतः पूर्वं तत्र दानं ददौ बहु
On the instruction of the Brahmins, another journey was undertaken; he went to Varanasi and gave much charity there.
कपालमोचने तीर्थे सर्वपापप्रणाशने
At the Kapalamocana tirtha, which destroys all sins,
तस्य च्छाया द्वितीया सा न नष्टा तत्र भूपते
There, O king, his second shadow was not lost.
तथैव पुष्करारण्यं तस्मादमरकण्टकम्
In the same way, he went to the Pushkara forest and then to Amarakantaka.
प्रभासं सोमतीर्थं च ततस्तु कृमिजांगले
Then he went to Prabhāsa, to Soma’s holy place, and to Kṛmijāṅgala.
रुद्रकोटिं विरूपाक्षं ततः पंचनदं नृप परिभ्रमन्महीपाल परिश्रांतो नराधिपः
He wandered to Rudrakoṭi, to Virūpākṣa, and then to Pañcanada, O king; roaming the earth, the lord of men became weary.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते संप्राप्तोऽर्बुदपर्वते
After a thousand years had passed, he reached Mount Arbuda.
तपस्विसंघान्विविधान्ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान् 7.3.31.
There he saw various groups of ascetics and brāhmaṇas accomplished in the Vedas.
प्राप्तो रक्तानुबंधं च तीर्थं तत्रैव पर्वते
He arrived at the holy place called Raktānubandha on that very mountain.
तावन्न दृश्यते च्छाया द्वितीया स्त्रीवधोद्भवा
There, no second shadow was seen, which arises from the killing of a woman.
विगन्धता प्रणष्टा च तेजोवृद्धिः पराभवत् स्तूयमानश्चतुर्दिक्षु बंदिभिः प्रस्थितो गृहम्
The foul smell vanished, his radiance increased greatly, and, praised in all directions by bards, he set out for home.
ततो रक्तानुबंधस्य सोमातिक्रमणं नृप
Then, O king, he crossed beyond Raktānubandha and Soma’s holy place.