या वृत्ता मलये पूर्वं कोशकारसुतस्य तु
That conduct which formerly occurred on Malaya, concerning the son of the weaver—
कथां पौराणिकीं पुण्यां महाकौतूहलं हि मे
I have a great curiosity for the ancient, meritorious tale.
पूर्वाभ्यासनिबद्धां हि सत्यां भृगुकुलोद्वह
Indeed, O best of Bhṛgu’s line, it is bound by previous practice and is true.
कोशकार इति ख्यात आसीद् ब्रह्मंस्तपोरतः
There was a Brāhmaṇa known as the weaver, devoted to austerity.
सती वात्स्यायनसुता धर्मशीला पतिव्रता
His wife, daughter of Vātsyāyana, was virtuous and devoted to her husband.
मूकवन्नालपति स न च पश्यति चान्धवत्
He speaks like one mute and sees like one blind.
मन्यमाना गृहद्वारि षष्ठे ऽहनि समुत्सृजत्
Thinking thus, on the sixth day, she abandoned him at the doorway of the house.
स्वं शिशुं कृशमादाय सूर्पाक्षी नाम नामतः
Taking her own emaciated child, she, named Sūrpākṣī, by name,
तमादाय जगामाथ भोक्तुं शालोदरे गिरौ
Having taken him, she went to eat on the mountain called Śālodara.
नेत्रहीनः प्रत्युवाच किमानीतस्त्वया प्रिये
The one without sight spoke: 'What have you brought, dear?'
कोशकारद्विजगृहे तस्यानीतः प्रभो सुतः
'The son of the basket-maker brāhmaṇa has been brought, lord.'
महाज्ञानी द्विजेन्द्रो ऽसौ ततः शप्स्यति कोपितः
'That foremost of brāhmaṇas is a great knower; angered, he will curse.'
अन्यस्य कस्यचित् पुत्रं शीघ्रमानय सुन्दरि
'Quickly bring the child of someone else, O beautiful one.'
समाजगाम त्वरिता समुत्पत्य विहायसम्
She came swiftly, leaping into the sky.
रुरोद सुस्वरं ब्रह्मन् प्रक्षिप्याङ्गुष्ठमानने
She cried out in a clear voice, O brāhmaṇa, placing her thumb on her face.
पश्य स्वयं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सशब्दस्तनयस्तव
'See for yourself, O best of sages: your son is making sound.'
स चापि ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठः समपश्यत तं शिशुम्
And that best of brāhmaṇas saw that child.
ततो विहस्य प्रोवाच कोशकारो निजां प्रियाम्
Then, smiling, the basket-maker spoke to his beloved:
को ऽप्यटस्माकं छलयितुं सुरूपी भुवि संस्थितः
'Someone handsome is present on earth to deceive us.'
बबन्धोल्लिख्य वसुधां सकुशेनाथ पाणिना
He bound (the child), marking the earth with sacred grass and his hand.
अन्तर्धानगता भूमौ चिक्षेप गृहदूरतः
When she became invisible, he threw (the child) far from the house onto the ground.
सा चाभ्येत्य ग्रहीतुं स्वं नाशकद् राक्षसी सुतम्
But when the rākṣasī came to seize her own son, she was unable.
कथयामासा यद् वृत्तं स्वद्विजात्मजहीरिणम्
She recounted what had happened—the taking of the brāhmaṇa’s son.
स राभसशिशुर्ब्रह्मन् भार्यायै विनिवेदितः
That rākṣasa child, O brāhmaṇa, was reported to his wife.
दध्ना संयोजितो ऽत्यर्थं क्षीरेणेक्षुरसेन च
He was thoroughly mixed with curd, milk, and sugarcane juice.
पित्रा च कृतनामानौ निशाकरदिवाकरौ
His father gave them names: Niśākara and Divākara.
तयोश्चकार विप्रो ऽसौ व्रतबन्धक्रियां क्रमात्
The Brahmin then performed the rite of initiation for both, in due order.
निशाकरो जडतया न पपाठेति नः श्रुतम्
Niśākara, due to dullness, did not recite; so we have heard.
पर्यनिन्दंस्तथा ये च जना मलयवासिनः
And thus, the people of Malaya did not reproach him.
महाशिलां चोपरि वै पिधानमवरोपयत्
He placed a great stone as a cover above.