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—
भक्त्या तवाद्य तुष्टोस्मि त्वं मे सायुज्यतां व्रज
Today, because of your devotion, I am pleased; you shall attain union with me.
कर्कोटकेश्वरः ख्यातस्ततो देवो महेश्वरः
From then on, the god Maheśvara became known as Karkoṭakeśvara.
यस्तं पूजयते देवं भक्त्या युक्तो हि मानवः
Whoever, endowed with devotion, worships that god—
व्याधितो व्याधितो मुक्तो दुःखी दुःखात्प्रमुच्यते
The afflicted are freed from disease, the sorrowful are released from sorrow.
नियमेन प्रपश्यंति ये च कर्कोटकेश्वरम्
Those who regularly behold Karkoṭakeśvara,
पंचम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां ये पश्यंति रवेर्दिने 5.2.10.
And those who see him on the fifth or fourteenth day, on the day of the sun,
या नारी दुर्भगा सापि सौभाग्यं लभते सदा शिशुग्रहाश्च नश्यंति नापमृत्युभयं भवेत्
Even a woman who is unfortunate always attains good fortune; childhood afflictions are destroyed, and there is no fear of untimely death.
यंयं काममभिध्यायेन्मन सा भक्तिमान्नरः
Whatever desire a devoted man contemplates in his mind,
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O Goddess, this power of his, which destroys sin, has been told to you.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच लिंगमेकादशं विद्धि देवि सिद्धेश्वरं शुभम्
Śrī Mahādeva said: Know, O Goddess, the eleventh liṅga as Siddheśvara, the auspicious one.
देव दारुवने पूर्वं विप्रा योगसमन्विताः
Formerly, in the Daru forest, there were Brāhmaṇas endowed with yoga.
शाकाहारा निराहाराः पर्णाहारास्तथापरे
Some subsisted on vegetables, some on nothing, and others on leaves.
केचिद्वीरासनरता धूम्रपानरताः परे
Some delighted in the hero's posture, others in drinking smoke.
कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणादीनि कुर्वन्त्यन्ये समाहिताः
Others, composed, performed rigorous vows like Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa.
दुःखार्त्ताश्चिंतयामासुः कथं सिद्धिर्भविष्यति
Afflicted by suffering, they pondered, 'How will perfection be attained?'
व्यर्था श्रुतिस्तथा जाता या गीता मुनिभिः पुरा
Thus, the scripture once sung by the sages became fruitless.
अंजनं गुटिका चैव पादुकागमनं तथा
Collyrium, pills, and also walking with sandals,
एवं तेऽचिंतयसिद्धाः परमामर्षपूरिताः
In this way, they, accomplished in thought, were filled with intense indignation.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी 5.2.11.
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke.
माऽवमन्यध्वमार्या हि श्रुतिर्व्यर्था महीतले
Do not disregard, O noble ones, that the scripture is fruitless on earth.