भविष्यति न सन्देहो यस्या गर्भे भविष्यति
There will be no doubt that in whose womb it will be,
अहं ब्रह्मा च देवाश्च ऋषिभिः सह केशव
I, Brahmā, the gods, and the sages together, O Keśava,
वसिष्यामः सदैवात्र गण्डक्यां जगतां पते
Will always remain here, O Lord of the world, in the Gaṇḍakī.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मुक्तिभागी न संशयः
Freed from all sins, one attains liberation here, without doubt.
यत्र स्नानेन लभ्येत गंगास्नानफलं नरैः
Where, by bathing, people obtain the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā,
यस्यास्तत्समतां कान्या लभेद्गंगां विना नदीम्
Which other river, apart from the Gaṅgā, could equal its merit?
अपरा देविका नाम्ना गण्डक्या सह संगता
Another river named Devikā joined together with the Gaṇḍakī.
यत्र सृष्टिविधानार्थं कृत्वाश्रमपदं पृथक् १४४.
Where, for the purpose of creation, having made a separate hermitage,
ततोऽभूद्ब्रह्मतनया पुण्या सा सरितां वरा
Then arose Brahmā’s daughter, holy and foremost among rivers.
त्रिवेणी सा महापुण्या देवानामपि दुर्ल्लभा
That Triveṇī is supremely holy, rare even for the gods.
पुरा वेदनिधेः पुत्रौ जयो विजय एव च
Long ago, from the ocean of Vedas, two sons were born: Jaya and Vijaya.
तृणबिन्दोः सुतौ पापौ जातौ दृष्ट्यैव सुव्रतौ
From Tṛṇabindu, two sons, sinful but virtuous in sight, were born.
पूजयन्तौ हरिं भक्त्या तन्निष्ठेन्द्रियमानसौ
Worshipping Hari with devotion, their senses and minds fixed on him,
ददाति पूजावसरे भक्त्या किल वशीकृतः
At the occasion of worship, Hari, captivated by their devotion, grants (them).
राज्ञा समाप्तयज्ञेन पूजयित्वा पुरस्कृतौ
Having been honored by the king after the completion of the sacrifice, they were set forward.
विभागं कर्त्तुमारब्धौ पस्पर्द्धाते परस्परम्
They began to divide (the offerings), and competed with each other.
विजयश्चाब्रवीच्चैनं येन लब्धं हि तस्य तत्
And Vijaya said to him, 'That which you have obtained belongs to him.'
न ददासि गृहीत्वा यत्तस्माद्ग्राहत्वमाप्नुहि १४४.
'You do not give back what you have taken; therefore, become a crocodile.'
गजो भव मदान्धस्त्वं यो मामेवं प्रभाषसे
'Become an elephant, blinded by pride, since you speak to me in this way.'
गण्डक्यामेव सञ्जातो ग्राहः पूर्वस्मृतिर्द्विजः
In the Gaṇḍakī river, he was born as a crocodile, the twice-born who remembered his former life.
करिशावैर्गजीभिश्च क्रीडमानो वने वसन्
Dwelling in the forest, he played with young elephants and elephant keepers.
वने विहरतोर्भूमे शापमोहितयोः सतोः
While both, deluded by the curse, roamed the earth together in the forest,
त्रिवेणीमभितो यातोऽवगाहनपरायणः
He approached the Triveṇī, intent on bathing there.
स्वयं च पाययंस्ताश्च चिक्रीड प्रीतमानसः
He himself made them drink and played joyfully with them.
ग्राहः सम्प्रेरितः पूर्वं वैरयोगमनुस्मरन्
The crocodile, previously incited and recalling their old enmity,
ग्राहं विव्याध सोऽप्येनमाकर्षयत तज्जले
Attacked the elephant, and dragged him into those waters.
आकर्षणैश्च बहुभिर्द्दन्तभेदैः परस्परम्
With many tuggings and breaking of tusks, they struggled against each other.
तत्त्वानि पीडितान्यासन्ननेकानि क्षयं ययुः १४४.
Many beings, afflicted by them, perished there.
तेन विज्ञापितो देवो भगवान्भक्तवत्सलः
Then, the god, the blessed one, compassionate to devotees, was appealed to by him.
क्षिप्तं पुनः पुनस्तत्तु शिलाः सङ्घट्टयद्धरे
Again and again, he hurled stones, striking them together in the presence of Hari.