किं दानैर्विविधैर्दत्तैः किं यज्ञैश्च सुविस्तरैः 7.3.39.
What is the use of various other gifts, or of elaborate sacrifices?
फाल्गुनान्तचतुर्द्दश्यां सुमहेश्वरसन्निधौ
On the fourteenth day at the end of Phalguna, in the presence of the great Lord Shiva,
शृणु राजन्पुरा वृत्तं तत्राश्चर्यं यदुत्तमम्
Hear, O King, what happened there before—an excellent and wondrous event.
भिक्षार्थमागतस्तत्र लोकैरन्यैः समन्वितः
There, someone arrived for alms, accompanied by other people.
ततो रोग परिक्लेशाद्भोजनं न चकार सः सक्तून्कृत्वोपधाने तान्स च सुप्तो निशागमे
Then, due to the affliction of disease, he did not eat the food; having prepared barley meal and placing it as a cushion, he fell asleep as night came.
ततो निद्राभिभूतस्य सारमेयो जहार च
Then, as he was overcome by sleep, a dog carried it away.
अथासौ विस्मयाद्राजन्पंचत्वं समुपस्थितः
Then, O King, out of amazement, he approached death.
भीमोनाम नृपश्रेष्ठ दमयन्तीपिता हि यः
He was Bhima by name, O best of kings, the father of Damayanti.
फाल्गुनांतचतुर्दश्यां वर्षे वर्षे जगाम सः
On the fourteenth day at the end of Phalguna, year after year, he went there.
अचलेश्वरसान्निध्ये ददौ सक्तूंस्ततो बहून्
In the presence of Lord Achaleshvara, he then gave much barley meal.
अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे गालवप्रमुखा नृप 7.3.39.
Then all those sages, with Galava at their head, O King,
कस्मात्सक्तून्प्रमुक्त्वा त्वं नान्यद्दातुमिहेच्छसि
Why do you, having given barley meal, not wish to give anything else?
सक्तुदानस्य माहात्म्यं मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
The greatness of giving barley meal is known among sages of purified minds.
पूर्वं भक्त्या विहीनस्य शुना वै सक्तवो हृताः
Formerly, when lacking devotion, his barley meal was taken away by a dog.
सांप्रतं भक्तिद त्तानां किं स्याज्जानामि नो फलम् तीर्थेऽस्मिन्भक्तिसंयुक्तः सत्येनात्मानमालभे
At present, I do not know what the result may be for those who have given with devotion; yet, in this sacred place, joined with devotion, I attain my own self through truth.
पुलस्त्य उवाच ततस्ते मुनयो हृष्टाः साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्
Pulastya said: Then those sages, delighted, exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'
एष प्रभावो राजर्षे सक्तुदानस्य कीर्त्तितः
This, O royal sage, is the power of offering parched grain, as has been described.
यश्चैतच्छृणुयाद्भक्त्या कथ्यमानं द्विजाननात्
And whoever listens to this, as it is narrated by a twice-born with devotion,
यस्मिन्दृष्टे सदा मर्त्यः सुरूपः सुप्रभो भवेत्
Upon seeing which, a mortal always becomes handsome and radiant,
वालखिल्याश्रमं प्राप्तो यत्र लिंगं पपात ह
He reached the hermitage of the Vālakhilyas, where the liṅga had fallen.
स कथं पूजितस्तेन शंभुर्मे कौतुकं महत्
How was Śambhu worshipped there by him? I have great curiosity about this.
दर्शयन्नात्मनो बाणं तस्यासौ पृष्ठतः स्थितः
Showing his own arrow, he stood behind him.
ततो वाराणसीं प्राप्तस्तद्भयात्त्रिपुरांतकः
Then, out of fear, the destroyer of Tripura reached Vārāṇasī.
ततः प्रयागमापन्नः केदारं च ततः परम्
From there he went to Prayāga, and then further to Kedāra.
गोकर्णं च प्रभासं च पुण्यं च कृमिजांगलम्
And to Gokarṇa and Prabhāsa, and the holy Kṛmijāṅgala.
किं वा तेन बहूक्तेन तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
What is the use of recounting at length the holy places and shrines?
यत्रयत्र महादेवस्तद्भयान्नृप गच्छति
Wherever the great god, out of fear, goes, O king,
कस्यचित्त्वथकालस्य पुनः प्राप्तोऽर्बुदं प्रति आकुंचितैकपादं च स्थिरदृष्टिं नृपो त्तम ॥ 7.3.40.
Then, after some time, he again arrived near Arbuda, standing with one foot drawn up, with steady gaze, O best of kings.
अथाऽसौ भगवाञ्छांतः प्रियादुःखसमन्वितः
Then that blessed one, silent, filled with both joy and sorrow for his beloved,
तस्य कोपाभिभूतस्य तृतीयान्नयनान्नृप
For him, overcome by anger, from his third eye, O king,