सुराश्च सर्वे त्रैलोक्यमवापुर्निरुपद्रवाः
And all the gods attained the three worlds, free from trouble.
कालिन्द्य रूपमाधाय तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Assuming the form of Kālindī, he vanished right there.
यस्मिन् स दैत्येन्द्रसुतो जगाम महाश्रमे पुण्ययुतो महर्षे
In that sacred hermitage, the son of the king of the Daityas approached the great sage, endowed with virtue.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां लिङ्गभेदं गिरिं ययौ
After observing a single night of fasting, he went to the mountain where the emblem was divided.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां तीर्थं केदारमाव्रजत्
After observing a single night of fasting, he proceeded to the holy place called Kedara.
उषित्वा वासरान् सप्त कुब्जाम्रं प्रजगाम ह
Having stayed for seven days, he then went to Kubjamra.
ततः सुतीर्थे स्नात्वा च सोपवासी जितेन्द्रियः. हृषीकेशं समभ्यर्च्य ययौ बदरिकाश्रमम्
Then, having bathed at the excellent holy place, fasting and with his senses controlled, he worshipped Hrishikesha and went to the hermitage of Badarika.
वराहतीर्थे गरुडासनं स दृष्ट्वाथ संपूज्य सुभक्तिमांश्च
At the holy place of Varaha, he saw the seat of Garuda; then, full of devotion, he worshipped it.
दृष्ट्वा संपूज्य च शिवं विपाशामभितो ययौ
He saw and worshipped Shiva, and then went near the river Vipasha.
उपवासी इरावत्यां ददर्श परमेश्वरम्
Fasting, he saw the supreme Lord on the banks of the Iravati.
समवाप परं रूपमैश्वर्य च सुदुर्लभम्
He attained the highest form and a rare lordly power.
आरोग्यमतुलं प्राप संतानमपि चाक्षयम्
He obtained incomparable health and unending progeny.
विरूपत्वं समुत्सृज्य रूपं प्राप श्रिया सह
Casting off deformity, he gained beauty along with prosperity.
पूर्वं त्रेतायुगस्यादौ यथावृत्तं तपोधन
O ascetic, as it happened at the beginning of the Treta age, formerly.
शाकलं नाम नगरं ख्यातं स्थानीयमुत्तमम्
There was a city named Shakala, renowned as an excellent place.
धनाढ्यो गुणवान् भोगी नानासास्त्रविशारदः
A wealthy, virtuous, and pleasure-loving man lived there, skilled in various scriptures.
सार्थेन महता युक्तो नानाविपणपण्यवान्
He was accompanied by a great caravan and possessed various market goods.
अभवद् दस्युतो रात्रौ अवस्कन्दो ऽतिदुःसहः
At night, a robber, exceedingly fierce, attacked him.
असहायो मरौ तस्मिंश् चचारोन्मत्तवद् वशी
Alone in that desert, he wandered, controlled yet as if mad.
आत्मा इव शमीवृक्षो मरावासादितः शुभः
Like his own self, a Shami tree, auspicious, was found in the desert.
समपश्यदथायान्तं प्रेतं प्रेतशतैर्वृतम्
Then he saw a departed spirit approaching, surrounded by hundreds of other spirits.
पिण्डाशिभिश्च पुरतो धावद्भी रूक्षविग्रहैः
In front of him rushed spirits with harsh forms, eating lumps of food.
उपागम्य शमीमूले वणिक्पुत्रं ददर्श सः
Coming near the base of a śamī tree, he saw the merchant’s son.
सुखोपविष्टश्छायायां पृष्ट्वा कुशलमाप्तवान्
Seated comfortably in the shade, he asked after his welfare and received a reply.
कुत आगम्यते ब्रूहि क्व साधो वा गमिष्यसि
Tell me, from where have you come, and where, O good man, do you intend to go?
समापन्नो ऽसि भद्रं ते सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि
You have arrived safely; you should tell me everything.
सर्वमाख्यातवान् ब्रह्मन् स्वदेशधनविच्युतिम्
The brahmin told everything—his loss of homeland and wealth.
वमिक्पुत्रं ततः प्राह प्रेतपालः स्वबन्धुवत्
Then the lord of the spirits spoke to the merchant’s son as if to his own kinsman.
भूयो ऽप्यर्थाः भविष्यन्ति यदि भाग्यबलं तव
You will again gain wealth, if fortune’s power is with you.
क्षीणस्यास्य शरीरस्य चिन्तया नोदयो भवेत्
For one whose body is weakened, there is no rise from anxiety.