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.
सा च्छाया दृश्यते देहे द्वितीया नृपसत्तम
There, O best of kings, the second shadow again appeared on his body.
ततो दुःखाभिसंतप्तो गतस्तत्रैव तत्क्षणात्
Afflicted by sorrow, he immediately returned there.
स ज्ञात्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं परं पार्थिवसत्तमः दानं दत्त्वा द्विजाग्रेभ्यः प्रविष्टो हव्यवाहनम्
Knowing the great sanctity of the holy place, the foremost of kings gave gifts to the best of brāhmaṇas and entered the sacred fire.
ततो विमानमारुह्य परित्यज्य कलेवरम्
Then, ascending a celestial chariot, he cast off his mortal body.
शिवलोकमनुप्राप्ते तस्मिन्पार्थिवसत्तमे
That best of kings attained the world of Śiva.
तीर्थेभ्यस्तु परं तीर्थमिदं वै पावनं परम् 7.3.31.
Among all holy places, this is the supreme and most purifying one.
ततः प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं ख्यातं च धरणीतले
From that time, this holy place became renowned on earth.
रक्तानुबन्धमित्येव तस्मात्तत्कीर्त्त्यते क्षितौ
Therefore, it is called Raktānubandha and is thus celebrated on earth.
तत्र संक्रमणे भानोर्यः स्नानं कुरुते नरः
Whoever bathes there at the sun’s crossing—
पितृक्षेत्रे गयायां च श्राद्धं यः कुरुते नरः
—or performs śrāddha in Gayā, the field of the ancestors—