कोऽपुत्रः पुत्रवानस्तु मन्मंत्रबलमाश्रितः
Whoever was childless became one with children, relying on the power of my mantra—
तस्य वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कौतूहलसमन्वितः
Hearing his words, filled with curiosity—
तेषां स नाशयामास व्याधिं दुर्जयमप्यति हेमरत्नांबरधनैर्धान्यग्रामपुरादिभिः
He dispelled their most formidable disease by means of gold, jewels, fine garments, and with gifts of grain, villages, towns, and the like.
एवं स न्यवसत्तत्र वर्षाणि च चतुर्द्दश
In this way, he dwelled there for fourteen years.
अहोऽतिदुष्करो राजा अहो लोकपरायणः
Ah, what a supremely difficult task for a king! Ah, how devoted he is to the welfare of his people!
एवं स चिंतयंस्तत्र भिक्षु रूपी शिवो गणः
Thus, as he was reflecting there, Śiva, in the form of a mendicant, together with his attendants, appeared.
अत्रांतरे तु नृपतेस्तस्य लोकव्रतस्य तु
Meanwhile, concerning that king who was devoted to the people's welfare,
रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके सा चापुत्रा सुतार्थिनी 5.2.37.
A woman of incomparable beauty, yet childless and longing for a son, was present in the world.
सर्वकामप्रदं ज्ञात्वा नाग राणां सकौतुकम्
Knowing that he was able to grant all desires, the nāga women approached with curiosity.
भिक्षोरायतने गुप्तमंतःपुरमतंद्रिता उवाच चिंतापरमं भिक्षुं भिक्षासमन्वितम्
Within the mendicant’s dwelling, the queen, attentive and undistracted, spoke to the mendicant, who was absorbed in thought and engaged in alms.
प्रणम्य प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा कार्यार्थं विगतव्यथा वंध्या पुत्रार्थिनी देवी गुप्तं त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति
Having bowed with joined palms, free from anxiety and intent on her purpose, the queen, longing for a son though barren, wishes to see you in secret.
भवान्कृपाकरः प्रायः प्रजानामीहितप्रदः
You are indeed a source of compassion, generally bestowing the desired ends upon the people.
अविज्ञातो नरपतेर्गृहमेहीति भाषसे
You say you enter the king’s house unknown.
एवं मत्वा व्रज क्षिप्रं स्वमेवांतःपुरं शुभे
Therefore, considering this, quickly go to your own inner chambers, O auspicious one.
सा तु तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भिक्षोः क्षुभितमानसा
But upon hearing the words of the mendicant, her mind became agitated.
सखीवचस्तु सा श्रुत्वा देवी दीना उवाच ताम् भिक्षोरानयने क्षिप्रं यावन्नासौ व्रजेत्क्वचित्
Hearing the words of her companion, the distressed queen said to her, 'Quickly bring the mendicant before he departs elsewhere.'
उवाच सा तां युक्त्यैव सुनंदा युक्तभाषिणी
Then Sunandā, who spoke fittingly, addressed her accordingly.
तस्मादस्वस्थचित्तत्वं राज्ञः स्वं संप्रदर्शय 5.2.37.
Therefore, reveal your troubled state of mind to the king.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देव्या दर्शनलालसः तामपृच्छत्ततो राजा स्नेहार्द्रीकृतमानसः
At that very moment, as the queen longed for an audience, the king, his heart softened with affection, asked her.
राजोवाच किमिदं देवि ते रूपं विमनस्केव भाषसे
The king said: 'What is this, O queen? Why do you appear so, and why do you speak as if your mind is disturbed?'
नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राज्ञी वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing the king’s words, the queen spoke as follows.
क्रीडनं पीडनायैव तेषां ये पुत्रवर्जिताः अपुत्रे च गतिर्नास्ति सुतापुत्रविवर्जिते
For those who are without sons, play is only suffering; and for one without a child, there is no refuge, especially when deprived of both son and grandson.
सुखिनस्ते जना लोके ये बालं पांसुभूषितम्
Happy are those people in the world who have a child adorned with dust.
अनेन कारणेनास्मि निर्वेदं परमं गता
Because of this reason, I have reached the highest despondency.
इह भिक्षुः समायातो देवरूपी सनातनः
Here, a mendicant has arrived, appearing as an eternal god.
सस्त्रीबालो जनश्चात्र शरणं यस्य गच्छति भविष्यामोऽत्र संदेहो न मे मनसि वर्त्तते
Here, women, children, and people seek refuge with him; I have no doubt that we too shall do so.
तस्याः स वचनं श्रुत्वा जीर्णोद्यानं जगाम ह
Hearing her words, he went to the old garden.
दृष्टमात्रो नृपतिना भिक्षुर्लिगत्वमागतः पूजयामास विधिवत्तल्लिंगं भिक्षु रूपकम् ।। 5.2.37.
As soon as the king saw the mendicant, he assumed the form of a mendicant; he duly worshipped that emblem, the image of the mendicant.
अपुत्रोऽस्मीत्युवाचेदं धन्येयं महिषी मम
He said, 'I am without a son; blessed is my queen.'
इत्युक्तो राजसिंहेन भिक्षुर्लिंगा कृतिस्तदा
Thus addressed by Rājasiṃha, the mendicant, in the form of a liṅga, then acted.