अयं तु देशो निखिलः सर्व एव महातपः।
अशरण्यः शरण्योऽभूद्यथैव विनिवेशितः।
तथाख्याह्यर्थतत्त्वेन परं कौतूहलं मम॥
ayaṁ tu deśo nikhilaḥ sarva eva mahā-tapaḥ
aśaraṇyaḥ śaraṇyo ’bhūd yathaiva viniveśitaḥ
tathākhyāhy artha-tattvena paraṁ kautūhalaṁ mama
ayam tu = this; deśaḥ = place; nikhilaḥ = in its entirety; sarvaḥ eva = all of; mahā-tapaḥ = O greatly austere sage; aśaraṇyaḥ = was unfit for residence; śaraṇyaḥ = [and made into] a place fit for residence; abhūt = it was; yathā eva = regarding how; viniveśitaḥ = built; tathā ākhyāhi = tell [Me]; artha-tattvena = the facts; param kautūhalam mama = I am very curious.
O greatly austere sage, all of this place in its entirety was unfit for residence. Tell [Me] the facts regarding how it was built [and made into] a place fit for residence. I am very curious.