“Now where can I go in this pitiable condition, all beaten up, naked and covered in dust and grime? What would my father and my relatives and friends say of me, if they saw me this way?”
“So it is better that I stay here awhile, and wait for the sun to set, so that I can go in search of some food to satisfy my hunger…”
तावच् च भूतिदिग्धाङ्गस् तत्रायाति स्म तापसः ।
महाव्रती जटाशूलधरो हर इवापरः ॥ १२,२५.३१ ॥
स चन्द्रस्वामिनं दृष्ट्वा को ऽसीति परिपृच्छ्य च ।
स्रुत्वा तस्माच् च वृत्तान्तं प्रह्वं तं तापसो ऽब्रवीत् ॥ १२,२५.३२ ॥
त्वं ममेहाश्रमं प्राप्तः क्षुत्क्लान्तो ऽचिन्तितो ऽतिथिः ।
तद् उत्तिष्ठ कृतस्नानो भिक्षाभागं ममाहर ॥ १२,२५.३३ ॥
इत्य् उक्तो व्रतिना सो ऽथ चन्द्रस्वामी जगाद तम् ।
विप्रो ऽहं भगवन् भोक्ष्ये भिक्षाभागं कथं तव ॥ १२,२५.३४ ॥
तच् छ्रुत्वा स व्रती सिद्धः प्रविश्य मठिकां निजाम् ।
इष्टसंपादिनीं विद्यां सस्मारातिथिवल्लभः ॥ १२,२५.३५ ॥
संस्मृतोपस्थितां तां च किं करोमीति वादिनीम् ।
अमुष्यातिथ्यम् अतिथेः कुरुष्वेति शशास ताम् ॥ १२,२५.३६ ॥
As this Digambara (person who is naked) was lost in these thoughts, the Sun cast off it’s Ambara (the sky), and set out to the Western mountains.
And on the scene appeared a Pāśupata sanyasi, his body smeared in ashes, with matted hair and a trishul in hand, looking like the Śiva personified.
He saw Candrasvāmin and asked who he was. Candrasvāmin told him the story, and prostrated before the sanyasi, who made him stand up, and then said…
“You have come to my kutīr, as a guest, but unexpected. You are exhausted and hungry. Go have a bath and then you can have a share of the food I obtained as dāna (alms).”
Candrasvāmin replied – “Oh revered one, how can I have a part of your alms? I am a Brahmin myself…”
The sanyasi understood his predicament, and so entered his hut, and meditated on his Ishta Devi, one who could fulfill anything that was wished for.
She appeared before him, and said “What can I do for you?”
The sanyasi joined his palms together and replied “I have a guest. Please take care of him and help him feel comfortable.”
तथेत्य् उक्ते तया तत्र सोद्यानं साङ्गनाजनम् ।
पुरं सौवर्णम् उत्पन्नं चन्द्रस्वामी ददर्श सः ॥ १२,२५.३७ ॥
विस्मितं च तम् अभ्येत्य तस्माद् वाराङ्गनाः पुरात् ।
ऊचुर् उत्तिष्ठ भद्रैहि स्नाहि भुङ्क्ष्व त्यज श्रमम् ॥ १२,२५.३८ ॥
इत्य् उक्त्वाभ्यन्तरं नीत्वा स्नापयित्वानुलिप्य च ।
ताभिः स दत्तसद्वस्त्रो निन्ये ऽन्यद् वासकोत्तमम् ॥ १२,२५.३९ ॥
तत्रान्तः स ददर्शैकां प्रधानयुवतिं युवा ।
सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरीं धात्रा कौतुकाद् इव निर्मिताम् ॥ १२,२५.४० ॥
तया स सोत्कयोत्थाय स्वासनार्धोपवेशितः ।
बुभुजे दिव्यम् आहारं तयैवात्र समं ततः ॥ १२,२५.४१ ॥
भुक्तपक्वफलस्वादुताम्बूलः स्वरसेन च ।
पर्यङ्कशयने भेजे तत्संभोगसुखं निशि ॥ १२,२५.४२ ॥
The Ishta Devi said “Tathāstu. It will be done.”
And then miraculously, Candrasvāmin saw a city of gold rise up in front of him, with a huge garden at it’s centre and female attendants waiting with flowers and scents.
They then approached Candrasvāmin and said “Master, come with us, let us feed you and help you relax for the rest of the day!”
The attendants led him inside, made him bathe and applied sandalwood paste to his body, and then clothed him in splendid garments, and once he was ready, took him to a beautiful palace.
There, he saw a maiden who seemed to be their mistress. She was exceedingly beautiful, and it was as if she had been made by the Devas out of the curiosity of finding out what best they could make of a human being.
She rose up, eager to welcome him, and made him sit beside her, feeding him delicious food, and then offering him a betel leaf to chew at leisure, as he relaxed on a luxurious bed. She then came beside him, and they spent the night in each others arms…
The next day…
to be continued…