स्थापनां ते प्रवक्ष्यामि नरादित्यस्य यादृशी
I shall now tell you about the installation of Nara-Āditya.
नरनारायणौ देवाववतीर्णौ धरातले
The divine Nara and Nārāyaṇa descended to earth.
एवं तौ वर्तितौ लोके कांतौ वृद्धिं परां गतौ
Thus did those two dwell in the world, beautiful, attaining supreme growth.
कंसादीन्दानवान्सर्वान्निजघान रणे हि सः
He slew all the demons beginning with Kaṃsa in battle.
कृतास्त्रेण तु वीरेण देवराजस्य दक्षिणा
Having received weapons from the heroic king of the gods as a gift,
निवातकवचा ह्युग्रा हिरण्यपुरवासिनः
the fierce Nivātakavacas, dwellers of Hiraṇyapura,
अर्जुनेन प्रतिज्ञातो वधस्तेषां दुरात्मनाम्
were vowed by Arjuna to be slain, those evil-hearted ones.
निहत्य तांस्ततः पार्थः कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्
Having slain them, then Pārtha performed a most difficult deed.
कृतकार्यं तदा शक्रस्त्वर्जुनं वाक्यमब्रवीत् 5.1.32.
Having accomplished his task, then Indra spoke these words to Arjuna:
मनसा कांक्षितं पार्थ वरं त्वं वरयोत्तमम्
‘Choose the highest boon you desire in your heart, O Pārtha.’
ब्रह्मणा प्रीतियुक्तेन दक्षाय प्रतिपादिते
When Dakṣa was granted by Brahmā, who was full of affection,
सुराणामसुराणां च विग्रहे समुपस्थिते
when the conflict between the gods and the asuras arose,
तपश्चचार दुर्धर्षमेकपादः शतक्रतुः
Indra, the wielder of a hundred sacrifices, performed formidable austerities standing on one foot.
दृष्ट्वा तु देवराजं तं बृहस्पतिरुवाच ह
Seeing the king of the gods in that state, Bṛhaspati spoke to him.
एकाकिना वनस्थेन न साध्याः शत्रवस्त्वया
Alone, dwelling in the forest, you will not be able to overcome your enemies.
पूजार्थे ब्रह्मणा दत्ते पारिजातसमुद्भवे
The Pārijāta, which arose for the sake of worship, was given by Brahmā.
शत्रूणां च क्षयो भावी प्रसादादर्चयो स्तयोः
By worshipping those two, the destruction of your enemies will surely come through their grace.
जगाम सत्वरस्तत्र यत्र दक्षः प्रजापतिः १९ पूजिते प्रतिमे व्यास शक्रेण शरदां शतम् 5.1.32.
He quickly went there where Dakṣa, the lord of creatures, was being worshipped in effigy by Śakra for a hundred years, O Vyāsa.
भक्त्यानया परं तुष्टावावां जानीहि वासव
With this devotion, he greatly pleased us—know this, O Vāsava.
वरं वव्रे तदा शक्रः प्रसन्नात्मा द्विजोत्म
Then Śakra, his mind satisfied, chose a boon, O best of twice-born.
सर्वे ते नाशमृच्छंतु वर एष मतो मम
Let all of them meet their destruction—this is the boon I desire.
तथेति चोक्त्वा प्रतिमे ते नाकं प्रति जग्मतुः
Saying 'So be it,' they departed for heaven from the effigy.
इमे च प्रतिमे पार्थ शंकरेण महात्मना
And these effigies, O Pārtha, were worshipped by the great-souled Śaṃkara.
सुरक्तैः शतपत्रैश्च पूजिते ब्रह्मणो दिनम्
They were worshipped for a day of Brahmā with intensely red hundred-petaled lotuses.
नीलोत्पलैः सुगंधैश्च सहस्रपरिवत्सरान्
With blue lotuses, fragrant and lovely, they were worshipped for thousands of years.
पूजयामास प्रतिमे पद्मै रक्तोत्पलैः शुभैः
He worshipped the effigies with lotuses and auspicious red water-lilies.
एताभ्यां रहितः स्वर्गो मृत्युतुल्यो भविष्यति
If deprived of these two, heaven will become like death.
उवाच नाहमर्थ्यस्मिन्वरेणानेन वै प्रभो 5.1.32.
He said, 'O Lord, I have no desire for this boon.'
गृहीत्वा त्वमिमे वीर कुशस्थल्यां निवेशय
Take these, O hero, and establish them at Kuśasthalī.
प्रति तिष्ठति वै यत्र सर्वपापप्रणाशनः भविष्यति तदा यात्रा आषाढी चाथ कौमुदी
Wherever they are installed, all sins will be destroyed; then, the pilgrimage during Āṣāḍhī and Kaumudī will be auspicious.