एकात्मजा मे जननी योषिन्मूढा च किङ्करी । मय्यात्मजेऽनन्यगतौ चक्रे स्नेहानुबंधनम्
My mother, born of one self, a woman and yet bewildered, acted as a servant; because she focused exclusively on my person, a bond of affection was formed.
सास्वतंत्रा न कल्पासीद् योगक्षेमं ममेच्छती । ईशस्य हि वशे लोको योषा दारुमयी यथा
She would not remain forever free, desiring my welfare; for the world lies under the Lord’s sway, just as a woman is subject to a man.
अहं च तद्ब्रह्मकुले ऊषिवांस्तदपेक्षया । दिग्देशकालाव्युत्पन्नो बालकः पञ्चहायनः
I, born into that brahmin household and lacking other desires, appeared as a child, shaped by direction, region and time, the fifth in line.
एकदा निर्गतां गेहाद् दुहन्तीं निशि गां पथि । सर्पोऽदशत्पदा स्पृष्टः कृपणां कालचोदितः
Once, leaving the house at night along a cow-track to milk the cows, I was touched by a snake with ten steps and, driven by fear, became miserly.
तदा तदहमीशस्य भक्तानां शमभीप्सतः । अनुग्रहं मन्यमानः प्रातिष्ठं दिशमुत्तराम्
Then, hoping to pacify the devotees of that lord, I thought myself graced and took my stand toward the northern direction at dawn.
स्फीताञ्जनपदांस्तत्र पुरग्रामव्रजाकरान् । खेटखर्वटवाटीश्च वनान्युपवनानि च
There I saw wide-open sanctified places, villages and cow-encircling paths, threshing floors and peasant cottages, and groves and gardens.
चित्रधातुविचित्राद्रीन् इभभग्नभुजद्रुमान् । जलाशयान् शिवजलान् नलिनीः सुरसेविताः
Hills of diverse minerals and variety, trees with broken arms, water-bodies with auspicious waters, lotus-pools tended by reeds and aromatic plants.
चित्रस्वनैः पत्ररथैः विभ्रमद् भ्रमरश्रियः । नलवेणुशरस्तम्ब कुशकीचकगह्वरम्
Leaves like colourful chariots and roving bees in abundance, the sound of a flute and stalks, huts of grass, blades of kusa grass and caverns.
एक एवातियातोऽहं अद्राक्षं विपिनं महत् । घोरं प्रतिभयाकारं व्यालोलूकशिवाजिरम्
I alone advanced into that vast forest, seeing a dreadful sight that inspired horror: serpents, frogs, and other fearful creatures.
परिश्रान्तेन्द्रियात्माहं तृट्परीतो बुभुक्षितः । स्नात्वा पीत्वा ह्रदे नद्या उपस्पृष्टो गतश्रमः
Exhausted in body and senses, hungry and deprived, I bathed and drank in the lake and river; weariness touched me as I went on.
तस्मिन्निर्मनुजेऽरण्ये पिप्पलोपस्थ आश्रितः । आत्मनात्मानमात्मस्थं यथाश्रुतमचिन्तयम्
In that wild place, sheltered under a pipal tree, I contemplated self and Self within the self exactly as I had heard.
ध्यायतश्चरणांभोजं भावनिर्जितचेतसा । औत्कण्ठ्याश्रुकलाक्षस्य हृद्यासीन्मे शनैर्हरिः
Fixing my gaze on the master of my feet and lips, with a mind victorious over emotion, tears welling from my eyes, slowly may Hari dwell in my heart.
प्रेमातिभरनिर्भिन्न पुलकाङ्गोऽतिनिर्वृतः । आनंदसंप्लवे लीनो नापश्यमुभयं मुने
Overwhelmed by love, my limbs trembled and collapsed; immersed in a flood of bliss, O sage, I could not perceive any danger.
रूपं भगवतो यत्तन् मनःकान्तं शुचापहम् । अपश्यन् सहसोत्तस्थे वैक्लव्याद् दुर्मना इव
When I suddenly beheld that auspicious, pure‑removing form of the Lord, my heart sank as if seized by faintness and despair.
दिदृक्षुस्तदहं भूयः प्रणिधाय मनो हृदि । वीक्षमाणोऽपि नापश्यं अवितृप्त इवातुरः
Again and again I wished to see it, fixing my heart and mind upon it; though I strove to look, I could not — like one insatiably sick.
एवं यतन्तं विजने मामाहागोचरो गिराम् । गंभीरश्लक्ष्णया वाचा शुचः प्रशमयन्निव
Thus striving, I spoke words beyond hearing: with deep, soft speech as if pacifying the pure‑hearted I uttered it aloud.
हन्तास्मिन् जन्मनि भवान् मा मां द्रष्टुमिहार्हति । अविपक्वकषायाणां दुर्दर्शोऽहं कुयोगिनाम्
Alas, in this birth you are not fit to behold me; among those of immature temperament I am hard to see, O ascetic.
सकृद् यद् दर्शितं रूपं एतत्कामाय तेऽनघ । मत्कामः शनकैः साधु सर्वान् मुञ्चति हृच्छयान्
Once the form was shown for your sake, faultless one; gradually, as you rightly long for it, the desire for me frees all attachments in the heart.
सत्सेवयाऽदीर्घया ते जाता मयि दृढा मतिः । हित्वावद्यमिमं लोकं गन्ता मज्जनतामसि
By long, faithful service your mind toward me has become firm; having abandoned the impermanent world, go — you are sinking into darkness.
मतिर्मयि निबद्धेयं न विपद्येत कर्हिचित् । प्रजासर्गनिरोधेऽपि स्मृतिश्च मदनुग्रहात्
Bind your mind to me so it never falls into peril; even to prevent the creation of beings, remember me by my grace.