तदासाद्य सुसंतुष्टो विवेशाभ्यान्तरं ततः
Having attained that, fully satisfied, he then entered within.
प्लक्षजां ब्रह्मणः पुत्रीं हरिजिह्वां सरस्वतीम्
He approached Sarasvatī, daughter of Brahmā, born of the Plakṣa tree, whose tongue is dear to Hari.
स्थितां भगवतीं कूले तीर्थकोटिभिराप्लुताम्
The blessed goddess stood on the bank, bathed by countless sacred fords.
समाजगाम च पुनः ब्रह्मणो वेदिमुत्तराम्
And again he came to the northern altar of Brahmā.
आकमन्ताद् योजनानि पञ्च च सर्वतः
He approached from all sides, five yojanas in extent.
येनोत्तरतया वेदिर्गादिता सर्वपञ्चका
By which, because it is to the north, the altar is called 'the northern altar' by all the learned.
यासु यष्टं सुरेशेन लोकनाथेन शंभुना
In which sacrifices were performed by Śaṃbhu, the lord of the gods and protector of the worlds,
विरजा दक्षिणा वेदिरनन्तफलदायिनी
Virajā is the southern altar, bestower of endless fruits.
समन्तपञ्चका चोक्ता वेदिरेवोत्तराव्यया
The Samantapañcaka is also said to be an altar, the supreme and imperishable northern one.
करिष्यामि कृषिष्यामि सर्वान् कामान् यथेप्सितान्
I shall do, I shall cultivate, all desires as you wish.
चक्रे कीर्त्यर्थमतुलं संस्थानं पार्थिवर्षभः पौण्ड्रकं याम्यमहिषं स्वयं कर्षितुमुद्यतः
For the sake of fame, the bull among kings created the unparalleled Pauṇḍraka Yāmyamahiṣa, preparing himself to plough it.
प्रोवाच राजन् किमिदं भवान् कर्तुमिहोद्यतः
He said, 'O king, what is it that you are preparing to do here?'
प्रोवाच राजन् किमिदं भवान् कर्तुमिहोद्यतः
He said, 'O king, what is it that you are preparing to do here?'
कृषामि शौचं दानं च योगं च ब्रह्मचारिताम्
I cultivate purity, charity, yoga, and celibacy.
लब्धो ऽष्टाङ्गेति सहसा अवहस्य गतस्ततः
Having suddenly obtained the eightfold (yoga), he laughed and departed from there.
कृषते ऽन्यान् समन्ताच्च सप्तक्रोशान् महीपतिः
The king ploughed the surrounding land for seven krośas on all sides.
तदाष्टाङ्गं महाधर्मं समाख्यातं नृपेण हि
Then the great eightfold dharma was declared by the king.
देह्यहं वापयिष्यामि सीरं कृषतु वै भवान्
Give (the land); I will cause the furrow to be made, let you plough the field.
प्रसृतं तं भुजं दृष्ट्वा मया चक्रेण वेगतः
Seeing that outstretched arm, I struck it swiftly with my discus.
ततः सव्यो भुजो राज्ञा दत्तश् छिन्नो ऽप्यसौ मया
Then, though the king's left arm was given and cut off, still it was by me.
वरदो ऽस्मीत्यथेत्युक्ते कुरुर्वरमयाचत
When it was said, 'I am the granter of boons,' then the best of the Kurus requested a boon.
स्नातानां च मृतानां च महापुण्यफलं त्विह
For those who have bathed and for the dead, here is the fruit of great merit.
होमयज्ञादिकं चान्यच्छुभं वाप्यशुभं विभो
Other acts such as homa and sacrifice, whether auspicious or inauspicious, O mighty one,
अक्षयं प्रवरे क्षेत्रे भवत्वत्र महाफलम्
May the great fruit here be imperishable in this excellent field.
इत्येवमुक्तस्तेनाहं राज्ञा बाढमुवाच तम्
Thus addressed by him, I replied to the king, 'So be it,' and spoke to him.
तथान्तकाले मामेव लयटमेष्यसि सुव्रत
At the end of your life, O steadfast one, you will attain dissolution in me alone.
तत्रैव याजका यज्ञान् यजिष्यन्ति सहस्रशः
There, priests will perform thousands of sacrifices.
यक्षं च चन्द्रनामानं वासुकिं चापि पन्नगम्
The yakṣa named Candra and the serpent Vāsuki,
अजावनं च नृपतिं महोदेवं च पावकम्
The king Ajāvana and the great god Pāvaka (Fire),
अमीषां बलिनो ऽन्ये च भृत्याश्चैवानुयायिनः
Their powerful attendants and other followers as well,