चक्रतीर्थे विशालाक्षि मरणे कृतकृत्यतः
O wide-eyed one, at the holy place of the discus, one who dies there has fulfilled his purpose.
शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय श्लक्ष्णमेतदुवाच ह
Placing his joined hands upon his head, he spoke these gentle words.
एतदाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन परं कौतूहलं हि मे
Tell me this truly; for I have great curiosity about it.
उवाच वाक्यं मेदिन्याः मेषदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनः
He spoke words, resounding like the drum of a ram, to the Earth.
तस्य वै कारणं येन तेन चाराधितोस्म्यहम्
The reason for this, by which I have been worshipped, is indeed by him.
दर्शितश्च मया ह्यात्मा यो हि देवेषु दुर्लभः १३७.
And I have revealed my very self, which is hard to attain even for the gods.
मां स द्रष्टुं न शक्नोति मम तेजःप्रमोहितः
He is unable to see me, bewildered by my radiance.
न शक्नोति तथा वक्तुं भीरुः सन्त्रस्तलोचनः
Likewise, he cannot speak, his eyes trembling in fear.
वाणीं सूक्ष्मां समादाय स सोमो चोदितो मया
Taking up subtle speech, that Soma, prompted by me—
ब्रूहि तत्वेन मे सोम यत्ते मनति वर्त्तते
Speak to me truly, Soma, whatever is in your mind.
मम वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा ग्रहाणां प्रवरेश्वरः
Then, having heard my words, the lord of the foremost of planets—
भगवन् यदि तुष्टोऽसि मम चात्र गतः प्रभो
O Lord, if you are pleased and have come here for me—
यावल्लोका धरिष्यन्ति तावत्त्वयि जनार्दन
As long as the worlds endure, so long, O Janardana, may I abide in you.
यच्चापि मम तद्रूपं त्वया संस्थापितं प्रभो
And whatever my form, O Lord, you have established—
सोम इत्येव यज्ञेषु पिबन्तु मम ब्राह्मणाः
Let my Brāhmaṇas drink Soma only in sacrifices.
क्षीणस्तत्र त्वमावस्यां तत्र पिण्डपितृक्रियाः १३७.
When you wane there at the new moon, then the rites for ancestors with balls of food are performed there.
अधर्मे च न मे बुद्धिर्भवेद्विष्णो कदाचन। पतित्वं चाथ गच्छेयमोषधीनां तथा कुरु
O Viṣṇu, may my mind never incline toward unrighteousness at any time; and if it does, then let us fall to the state of plants—so be it.
यदि तुष्टो महादेव आदिमध्यान्त वर्जितः
If you, O Great Lord, who are beyond beginning, middle, and end, are pleased,
ततः सोमवचः श्रुत्वा तत्रैवान्तर्हितोऽभवम्
Then, having heard Soma’s words, I became invisible right there.
प्राप्ता च परमा सिद्धिः सोमतीर्थेऽन्यदुर्ल्लभा
And the supreme attainment was gained at the Soma-tīrtha, which is otherwise hard to obtain.
अष्टमेन तु भक्तेन मम कर्मविधौ स्थितः
By the eighth devotee, steadfast in performing my rites,
यत्र तप्तं तपस्तेन सोमेन सुमहात्मना
Where that great-souled Soma performed severe austerity,
पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि तथैवोर्द्ध्वमुखः स्थितः
He stood upright, facing upward, for five thousand years.
ममापराधान्मुक्तश्च ब्राह्मणानां पतिस्तथा
Freed from my offense, he became the lord of the brāhmaṇas.
त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि त्रिंशद्वर्षशतानि च
For thirty thousand years, and for thirty hundred years as well,
द्रव्यवान्गुणवांश्चैव संविभागी यशस्विनि १३७.
He was endowed with wealth, virtues, and generosity, O illustrious one.
स एष ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा संसाराद्विप्रमुच्यते
Having become a brāhmaṇa, he is thus liberated from worldly existence.
तत्तीर्थं येन विज्ञेयं मम मार्गानुसारिणा
That tīrtha should be known by one who follows my path.
प्रवृत्ते चान्धकारे तु यत्र कश्चिन्न दृश्यते
When darkness prevails and no one can be seen,
आलोकश्चैव दृश्येत सोमस्तत्र न दृश्यते ।। एवं त्वां वच्मि हे भद्रे एष ३ विस्मयः परः
Light alone is visible there, but Soma is not seen. Thus I tell you, O blessed one—this is indeed a great wonder.