स्वर्गद्वार परं लिंगं विद्यते तत्तु वासव तमाराधयत क्षिप्रं स वः कामं प्रदास्यति
At the gate of heaven there is a supreme liṅga, O Vāsava; worship it swiftly, for he will grant you your desire.
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा त्रिदशा मुदिता भृशम्
Hearing Brahmā’s words, the gods became exceedingly joyful.
स्वर्गद्वारप्रदं पुण्यं ददृशुर्लिंगमुत्तमम्
They saw the supreme liṅga, bestower of heaven’s gate and merit.
स्वर्गलोकं गताः सर्वे यथापूर्वं यशस्विनि
All of them, illustrious one, reached heaven as before.
मयाज्ञप्ताश्च ते सर्वे निवर्त्तध्वं गणोत्तमाः ।। 5.2.9.
All of you, excellent Gaṇas, whom I have instructed, now return.
स्वर्गद्वारप्रदो देवो दृष्टो देवैर्न संशयः
The god who grants the gate of heaven has been seen by the gods, without doubt.
स्वर्गद्वारं गताः सद्यः शक्राद्यास्त्रिदशा गणाः
At once, Indra and the other gods and hosts reached the gate of heaven.
ख्यातिं यास्यति भूलोके स्वर्गलोकप्रदायकः
He who bestows the heavenly world will become renowned on earth.
ये पश्यंति नरा लोके स्वर्गद्वारेश्वरं शिवम्
Those men who see Śiva, Lord of the Gate of Heaven, in this world—
स्वर्गद्वारेश्वरं देवं ये पश्यंति प्रसंगतः
Those who see the god, Lord of the Gate of Heaven, even by chance—
अश्वमेधसहस्रेण यत्पुण्यं समुदाहृतम्
The merit declared to arise from a thousand horse sacrifices—
जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यत्पापं पूर्व संचितम्
The sin accumulated in a thousand previous births—
अष्टम्यां वा चतुर्दश्यामथवा चंद्रवासरे ते देवि मे शरीरं तु प्रविष्टास्त्वपुनर्भवाः
On the eighth, or the fourteenth, or on the day of the moon, O goddess, those who enter my body shall not be born again.
दशकोटिसहस्राणि तस्मिँल्लिंगे तु पूजिते
When that liṅga is worshipped, ten billion thousands—
स्पर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य कीर्त्तनाद्यजनात्तथा 5.2.9.
By touching that liṅga, by praising, or by worshipping it—
अकामावा सकामा वा ये पश्यंति दिने दिने
Whether without desire or with desire, those who see it day by day—
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण विषैर्नैवाभिभूयते
By merely seeing him, one is not overcome by poisons.
मात्रा च भुजगाः शप्ताः स्ववचोभंगकारणात्
And the serpents were cursed by their mother for breaking her word.
वह्निर्हि धक्ष्यते युष्मान्सत्रे जन्मेजयस्य हि
Indeed, in the sacrifice of Janamejaya, fire will consume you.
गताः सर्वे यथास्थानं जीवनार्थं यशस्विनि
All departed to their respective places for the sake of preserving their lives, O illustrious one.
सर्पश्च कंबलोनाम लोकं पैतामहं गतः
And the serpent named Kambala went to the ancestral realm.
यमुनांभसि संलीनः कालियो भयविह्वलः
Kaliya, overwhelmed by fear, hid himself in the waters of the Yamuna.
एवं ते सर्परा जानो नागाः सुस्मितशोभने धृतराष्ट्रस्तथा नागः प्रयागमगमत्प्रिये
Thus, O beautiful one with a lovely smile, all those serpent-kings and Nāgas, including Dhṛtarāṣṭra, went to Prayāga.
प्रणम्य तमथोवाच मातुरुत्संगसंस्थिताः
Then, standing in her mother's lap, she bowed to him and spoke.
मात्रा शप्ता वयं देव क्रुद्धया तव संनिधौ
O god, we were cursed by our angry mother in your presence.
सर्पसत्रो हि भविता राज्ञो जन्मेजयस्य च ।। 5.2.10.
For there will be a serpent-sacrifice by King Janamejaya.
त्वं च वत्स ममादेशान्महाकालवनं व्रज
And you, my child, by my command, go to the great Kāla forest.
समाराधय देवेशं महामायासमीपतः
Worship the Lord of the gods near the great Māyā.
तत्र गत्वाथ कर्कोटः स्वयं देवि समाहितः तस्य तुष्टोथ देवेशो वरं प्रादाद्य शस्विनि
Then, O goddess, Karkoṭa went there with concentration; the Lord of the gods, being pleased, granted him a boon.
ये दंदशूकाः क्रूराश्च पापाचारा विषोल्बणाः
Those cruel Daṃdaśūka serpents, wicked in conduct and filled with poison—