तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा अत्रिर्वचनमब्रवीत् वयं तपस्विनो भूत्वा तीर्थयात्राकृतोद्यमाः
Hearing those words, Atri spoke: 'We have become ascetics, intent on pilgrimage to holy places.'
पोषयामि सदा तांस्तु एतन्मे हृदि संस्थितम्
I always sustain them; this is firmly established in my heart.
यद्युष्मदर्थं क्रियते पापं तत्कस्य कथ्यताम्
If a sin is committed for your sake, tell me whose it is.
यदि ते कथयंति स्म मा मृषा प्राणिनो वधीः
If they speak, let them not lie; do not kill living beings.
युष्माकं वचसा मेऽद्य प्रतिबोधः प्रवर्तते
Today, your words awaken understanding in me.
गत्वा पृच्छामि तान्सर्वान्कस्य भावश्च कीदृशः
I will go and ask them all whose disposition is like what.
इत्युक्त्वा ताञ्जगामाशु पितरं स्वमुवाच ह
Having said this, he quickly went to his father and spoke to him.
सुमहद्दृश्यते पापं कस्य तत्कथ्यतां मम
A great sin is seen—whose is it? Tell me about it.
त्वं जानासि यत्कुरुषे कृतं भाव्यं पुनस्त्वया
You know what you have done; what has been done must again be done by you.
तयाप्युक्तं न मे पापं पापमेतत्तवैव हि 5.1.24.
She too said, 'The sin is not mine; truly, this sin is yours alone.'
तज्ज्ञात्वा हृदयं तेषां चेष्टितं चैव तत्त्वतः
Knowing their hearts and their actions in truth,
क्षिप्त्वाथ लगुडं कृष्णं येन वै जंतवो हताः
Then, having cast aside the black club by which creatures were slain,
प्रणम्य दंडपातेन ततो वचनमव्रवीत्
He bowed down with his body to the ground, and then spoke these words:
सर्वैस्तैः परिमुक्तौऽहं भवतां शरणं गतः
Freed by all of them, I have come to you for refuge.
एवं तं वादिनं दृष्ट्वा ऋषयोऽत्रिमथाब्रुवन्
Seeing him speaking thus, the sages then spoke to Atri:
भवताऽयमनुग्राह्यः शिष्यो भवतु ते मुने
This one should be accepted by you; let him be your disciple, O sage.
अनेन ध्यानयोगेन महामंत्रजपेन च संस्थितो वृक्ष मूले त्वं परा सिद्धिं गमिष्यसि
By this meditation-yoga and the recitation of the great mantra, established at the root of the tree, you will attain supreme accomplishment.
इत्युक्त्वा ते ययुः सर्वे संकामं सोऽपि तत्र वै
Having said this, they all departed as they wished, and he too remained there.
तस्योपर्यभवत्तत्र वल्मीकोऽविचलस्य च
There, above him, a termite mound formed as he remained unmoving.
उदीरितं ध्वनिं तेन वल्मीके विस्मयान्विताः 5.1.24.
A sound was uttered by him from within the mound, and they were filled with wonder.
तं दृष्ट्वोत्थापयामासुर्मुनयो नयसंयुतम्
Seeing him, the sages, endowed with wisdom, raised him up.
तान्प्राह प्रणतो भूत्वा तपसा दीप्ततेजसः
Having bowed down, he addressed them—those sages blazing with ascetic power:
दीनोऽहमुद्धृतः सर्वैर्मग्नोऽहं पापकर्दमे
I am wretched, lifted up by all of you; I was sunk in the mire of sin.
वल्मीकेऽस्मिन्स्थितः पुत्र यतस्त्वमेकचित्ततः
O son, since you remained with single-pointed mind in this termite mound—
इत्युक्त्वा मुनयो जग्मुः स्वां दिशां तपसान्विताः कुशस्थल्यामथागम्य समाराध्य महेश्वरम्
Having spoken thus, the sages, endowed with austerity, went to their own directions; then, coming to Kuśasthalī, they worshipped the great Lord.
तस्मात्कवित्वमासाद्य चक्रे काव्यं मनोरमम्
From him, having attained poetic inspiration, he composed delightful poetry.
ततः प्रभृति देवेशो वाल्मीकेश्वरसंज्ञकः
From that time onward, the Lord of gods was known by the name Vālmīkeśvara.
इति ते कथितं लिंगं वाल्मीकेश्वरमुत्तमम्
Thus, the excellent liṅga called Vālmīkeśvara has been described to you.
प्रणिपत्य ततो भक्त्या रुद्रलोके महीयते
Then, bowing with devotion, one is honored in the world of Rudra.
भीमेश्वरं नरो दृष्ट्वा भक्त्या संपूज्य यत्नतः
Having seen Bhīmeśvara, a man, worshipping with devotion and care,