महालयेश्वरे पुण्ये पूजिते परमेश्वरे भवंतीह महाभागे यतस्तैरपि पूज्यते
When the Lord of the Great Source, the Supreme Lord, is worshipped in that holy place, O highly fortunate one, then even those are worshipped by them—
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण मुक्तिर्भवति पार्वति
By whose mere sight, liberation is attained, O Pārvatī—
पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे बभूव द्विजसत्तमः
In former times, in the Rāthaṃtara epoch, there was an excellent twice-born—
महाकालसमीपे तु मुक्तिलिंगमनुत्तमम्
Near Mahākāla, indeed, was the supreme liṅga of liberation—
ततस्तेपे जिताहारो वत्सराणि त्रयोदश
He performed austerity, having conquered his appetite, for thirteen years—
शिप्रां विप्रप्रियां पुण्यां महापातकना शिनीम्
The sacred river Śiprā, dear to the Brāhmaṇas, which removes great sins—
व्याधं महाधनुष्पाणिं रक्तनेत्रं सुभीषणम्
He saw a hunter, bearing a great bow, with blood-red eyes, most terrifying.
तं दृष्ट्वा क्षुभितो विप्रो ब्रह्मघ्नस्य भयादिति
Seeing him, the brahmin was agitated, fearing the slayer of a brahmin.
तं दृष्ट्वांतर्गतहरिर्व्याधो भीत इवाग्रतः
Seeing him, Hari concealed within, the hunter stood before him as if afraid.
इदानीं स्वगता बुद्धिस्त्वां दृष्ट्वैव महाप्रभम्
Now, my mind has turned inward, seeing you, so radiant.
ब्राह्मणानां सहस्राणि स्त्रीणामयुतशस्तथा 5.2.25.
Thousands of brahmins, and tens of thousands of women likewise—
न च मे व्यथितं चित्तं कदाचिदपि जायते
Yet my mind has never once become disturbed.
उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
By giving instruction, you ought to show your favor.
ब्रह्महा पापकर्मेति मत्वा ब्राह्मणपुंगवः
Thinking, 'He is a brahmin-slayer, a doer of evil deeds,' the eminent brahmin—
स्नात्वा सद्यः समायातो मुक्ति लिंगसमीपतः
Having bathed, he immediately approached the liṅga of liberation.
तत्क्षणाद्दिव्यदेहस्तु तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं गतः चिंतयामास सहसा मुक्तिः प्राप्ता वरानने
At that very moment, his divine body dissolved into that liṅga; he thought suddenly, 'Liberation has been attained, O beautiful-faced one.'
व्याधेन पापयुक्तेन समाधिरहितेन च
By the hunter, bound by sin and lacking concentration—
न प्राप्ता परमा मूर्त्तिर्मुक्तिर्नैव च लभ्यते अन्तर्जलगतो भूत्वा चचार विपुलं तपः
The supreme form was not attained, nor was liberation obtained; having entered the water, he performed great austerity.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तां नदीमगमत्किल
Then, after some time, he came to that river.
अंतर्जलचरं विप्रं यावद्व्याघ्रो जिघृक्षति
As the tiger sought to seize the brahmin who was moving within the water—
व्याघ्रेणापि श्रुतो मंत्रोऽजहात्प्राणांश्च तत्क्षणात् दिव्यालंकारशोभाढ्यः पुरुषश्चाभवच्छुभः ।। 5.2.25.
Even as the tiger attacked, the mantra was remembered; at that very moment, his life departed, and he became a blessed man, adorned with divine ornaments.
सोऽब्रवीद्यामि तं देशं यत्र विष्णुः सनातनः
He said, 'I am going to that place where Viṣṇu, the eternal, abides.'
इत्युक्ते ब्राह्मणः प्राह कोऽसि त्वं पुरुषर्षभ
When this was said, the brahmin asked, 'Who are you, O best of men?'
दीर्घबाहुरिति ख्यातः सर्वधर्मविशारदः
'I am known as Dīrghabāhu, expert in all dharmas.'
शुभाशुभमहं वेद्मि सर्वज्ञोऽहं महीतले
I know what is auspicious and inauspicious; I am omniscient upon the earth.
तस्यैकस्मिन्दिने विप्राः सर्वे क्रोधसमन्विताः
On one particular day, O Brahmins, all were filled with anger.
अपमानेन विप्राणां मांसाहारी भयावहः
Because of the disrespect shown to the Brahmins, I became a meat-eater, bringing fear.
इत्युक्तोऽहं पुरा तैस्तु ब्राह्म णैर्वेदपारगैः
Thus, in former times, I was addressed by those Brahmins who were accomplished in the Vedas.
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे प्रणिपत्य मया मुने
Then all those Brahmins, having bowed to me, O sage, spoke thus.
जानामि तेजो विप्राणां महाभाग्यं च धीमताम्
I know the power of the Brahmins and the great fortune of the wise.