इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गालवस्य महात्मनः पप्रच्छ परया भक्त्या शापांतो हि कथं भवेत् ।। 5.2.21.
Hearing the words of the great-souled Gālava, she asked with utmost devotion, 'How may the curse come to an end?'
गालवः कथयामास ध्यानेनालोक्य यत्नतः
Gālava spoke, having perceived through meditation with great care.
महाकाल वने लिंगं पक्षियोनिविमोचनम् तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण शापस्यांतो भविष्यति
In the forest of Mahākāla, the liṅga called 'Liberator from the bird womb'—by merely seeing it, the curse will come to an end.
सा प्रणम्य मुनिश्रेष्ठमाजगाम त्वरान्विता
She, having bowed to the foremost sage, departed swiftly.
प्रफुल्लनयनाभ्यां सा दृष्टा लोलेक्षणा प्रिया
With eyes blooming, she was seen by her beloved, whose gaze was restless.
ततस्तेन तदा राज्ञा प्रोक्ता सा मृगलोचना
Then, at that time, the king spoke to her, she of deer-like eyes.
तया प्रोक्तं महाराज गम्यतेऽद्य मया सह
She said, 'O great king, today I will go with you.'
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वरमाणो मुदान्वितः
Hearing her words, he hurried, filled with joy.
पूजयित्वाथ तल्लिंगं पक्षियोनिविमोचनम्
Then, having worshipped that liṅga, the 'Liberator from the bird womb,'
तस्यां रात्रौ न संजातः कुक्कुटो यादृशः सदा
That night, the rooster did not appear as it always had.
रूपेण निर्जितः कामस्तेनाप्रतिमतेजसा कोऽयं प्रभावो येनाहं शापान्मुक्तः सुदुस्तरात् ।। 5.2.21.
Conquered by beauty and by incomparable radiance of desire, he wondered, 'What is this power by which I am freed from the curse, so difficult to cross?'
प्रियां पप्रच्छ नृपतिः पूर्णेन्दुवदनां भृशम्
The king questioned his beloved, whose face was like the full moon, intently.
अथ सा कथयामास वृत्तांतं विस्तरान्मुदा
Then she narrated the entire story in detail, with joy.
राजञ्छापाद्विमुक्तोऽसि लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः
'O king, you are freed from the curse by the power of this liṅga.'
तया सार्द्धं ययौ राजा स्वर्गं सुरगणैः स्तुतः
With her, the king went to heaven, praised by the hosts of gods.
विख्यातं देवि लोकेऽस्मिन्सर्वकामफलप्रदम् तिर्यग्योनिं न यास्यंति न वियोगो भविष्यति
'O goddess, this is renowned in the world as the bestower of all desired fruits; none will go to animal wombs, nor will separation occur.'
न चापि नरकावाप्तिर्न दुःखं न जरा भयम्
'Nor will there be attainment of hell, nor suffering, nor old age, nor fear.'
रूपसौभाग्यसंपन्ना भविष्यंति युगेयुगे तेषां कुले च ये केचित्पितरो निरयस्थिताः
'They will be endowed with beauty and good fortune in every age; and whatever ancestors are in their lineage, even those dwelling in hell,'
तिर्यग्योनिगता ये च पशुयोनिं तु ये गताः
Those who have entered the animal realm, and those who have attained the birth of beasts,
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण तिर्यग्योनिर्न दृश्यते
By merely seeing him, the animal birth is not perceived.
आसीत्पुरा बृहत्कल्पे धर्म मूर्तिर्जनाधिपः
Once, in the great kalpa, there was a king who embodied Dharma.
सोमसूर्यादयो यस्य तेजसा निष्प्रभाः कृताः
By whose radiance, Soma, Surya, and others were rendered devoid of brilliance.
यथेच्छारूपधारी च संग्रामेष्वपराजितः
He could assume any form at will, and was undefeated in battles.
राज्ञस्तस्याग्रमहिषी प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
The chief queen of that king was more precious than even his own life.
नृपो नृपसहस्रेण न कदाचित्प्रमुच्यते विस्मयेनावृतमना वशिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्
The king, among a thousand kings, was never released; his mind enveloped in wonder at the eminent sage Vashishtha.
भगवन्केन धर्मेण मम लक्ष्मीरनुत्तमा
O Lord, by what Dharma did I obtain my unsurpassed fortune?
वशिष्ठ उवाच पुरा त्वमवनीपाऽऽसीः शूद्रजातिसमुद्भवः
Vashishtha said: Formerly, you were a king, born from the Shudra caste.
निवसन्दुष्टहृदयो वर्षाणि सुबहून्यपि
You dwelt with an evil heart for many years.
सदा ब्रह्मस्वहारी त्वं सदा वेदविनिंदकः 5.2.22.
You always stole the property of Brahmins, and constantly reviled the Vedas.
अथ पंचत्वमापन्नः काले नरकमाप्तवान्
Then, having reached your end, you attained hell in due time.