स कदाचित्प्रजापालो मंत्त्रिविन्यस्तभूतलः
He, at some time, the protector of subjects, with ministers established the land.
स राजा पूर्वजन्मोत्थपापैरशुभसूचकैः
That king, due to sins arising from previous births, marked by inauspicious signs—
मृगयायामभूदेकः कदाचित्पर्यटन्वने
Once, while wandering in the forest during a hunt, there was one.
तृषाक्रान्तो म्लानतनुः सरोऽपश्यत्पुरो नृपः
Overcome by thirst and with a weakened body, the king saw a lake ahead.
ततो विधिवदाचम्य स्नानं चक्रे नरेश्वरः 2.8.7.
Then, having performed the proper purification, the king bathed.
मुनिभिस्तीर्थमाज्ञाय चक्रे सूर्य्यस्तुतिं प्रियाम्
Having learned from the sages that it was a sacred place, he offered a beloved hymn to the Sun.
राजोवाच भगवन्देवदेवेश नमस्तुभ्यं चिदात्मने
The king said: O Lord, God of gods, I bow to you, the consciousness-self.
प्रभागेहाय देवाय त्रयीभूताय ते नमः
Salutations to you, O god whose abode is light, who has become the three Vedas.
पराय परमेशाय त्रिलोकीतिमिरच्छिदे
To the supreme, to the highest Lord, to the remover of darkness in the three worlds.
योगप्रियाय योगाय योगज्ञाय सदा नमः
Always salutations to the one who loves yoga, who is yoga, who knows yoga.
यज्ञाय यज्ञमानाय हविषे ऋत्विजे नमः
Salutations to the sacrifice, to the sacrificer, to the oblation, to the priest.
अतिसौम्यातितीक्ष्णाय सुराणां पतये नमः
Salutations to the exceedingly gentle, exceedingly fierce, the lord of the gods.
प्रकाशकाय सततं लोकानां हितकारिणे
Always to the illuminator, the benefactor of the worlds.
आविर्बभूव सहसा भक्तस्य प्रियकाम्यया
Suddenly, he appeared, desiring to please his devotee.
रविरुवाच वरं वरय राजेंद्र प्रसन्नोऽस्मि तवाग्रतः 2.8.7.
The Sun said: Choose a boon, O king; I am pleased and stand before you.
मन्नाम्ना कृतमूर्त्तिस्ते तिष्ठत्वत्र सदा विभो
Let the image made in my name remain here always, O mighty one.
एतत्स्तोत्रं त्वयोक्तं मे ये पठिष्यंति मानवाः
Those people who recite this hymn spoken by you to me,
तेभ्यस्तुष्टः प्रदास्यामि सर्वान्कामान्नरेश्वर
Being pleased with them, O king, I will grant all desires.
सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति योऽत्र स्नानं समाचरेत्
Whoever performs bathing here attains all desires.
यंयं काममिहेच्छेत तंतं काममवाप्नुयात्
Whatever desire one wishes for here, that very desire he shall attain.
भास्वान्सहस्रकिरणस्तदान्तर्द्धानमाययौ
The radiant one, with a thousand rays, then disappeared from sight.
राजा भास्करदेहोत्थां रविमूर्त्तिमनुत्तमाम्
The king obtained an unsurpassed form of the Sun, arising from the body of Bhāskara.
घोषार्ककुण्डं तन्नाम्ना तत्र ख्यातिं जगाम ह
That place became renowned by the name Ghoṣārka-kuṇḍa.
इति रुचिरविधानैस्तूर्णमादित्यमूर्त्तिं विमलपरमभक्त्या पूजयित्वाऽऽदरेण
Thus, with beautiful arrangements, he swiftly worshipped the form of the Sun with pure and supreme devotion and reverence.
रतिकुण्डमिति ख्यातं सर्वपापहरं सदा
It is always known as Ratikuṇḍa, the remover of all sins.
यत्र स्नानेन दानेन परां कांतिमवाप्नुयात्
By bathing and giving gifts there, one attains supreme brilliance.
कुंडं प्रसिद्धमतुलं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये लभते ना विधानेन मुने नास्त्यत्र संशयः
The kuṇḍa, famed and unrivaled, grants the fulfillment of all desires and aims—one attains this without doubt, O sage, by proper observance.
रतिकुंडे तथा विप्र कुसुमायुधकुण्डके
In Ratikuṇḍa, O brāhmaṇa, and likewise in Kusumāyudha-kuṇḍa,
कुण्डद्वयेऽत्र मिथुनं यत्स्नानं कुरुते किल
If a couple bathes in these two kuṇḍas here,
तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नातव्यं धर्मकांक्षिभिः
Therefore, those who desire righteousness should bathe here according to the prescribed method.