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.
रौरवे कुम्भिपाके च महारौरवसंज्ञके
In Raurava, Kumbhipaka, and the place called Maharaurava,
मूषायां धीमतो राजन्नसिपत्रे च दारितः
In the crucible, O wise king, and torn upon the sword-leaf,
विधाय कार्कटं रूपं यमेन त्वयि पार्थिव
Yama assigned you the form of a crab, O ruler of the earth.
दत्तं जप्तं कृतं यच्च हुतं देवार्चनादि यत्
Whatever was given, recited, performed, or offered, and all acts of worship to the gods,
निक्षिप्तस्त्वं तदा तेन भाविपुण्येन कर्मणा
You were then placed by that future merit, by that karma.
कदाचित्तीरभूम्यां त्वं गतः संक्रीडितुं शनैः
Once, you slowly went to the riverbank to play.
आकाशमार्गं चोड्डीनः स त्वया ताडितो भृशम्
Hurled along the path of the sky, you were struck forcefully by him.
मुक्तस्त्वं चंचुपुटतो वायसेनाकुलेन तु
Released from the bird’s beak by the agitated wind,
शिवस्य क्षिप्तस्त्वं शीघ्रं चञ्च्वाक्षेपप्रपीडितः 5.2.22.
You were swiftly cast down by Shiva, afflicted by the bird’s beak and its violent shaking.
विमुच्य देहं तज्जीर्णं यावत्तं कार्कटं पुरा
Abandoning that worn-out body, as long ago did that crab,