नन्वसौ दूरमानीय शेते मामिह साधुवत्। इति मत्वाच्युतं मूढस्तं पदा समताडयत्
Thinking, 'Surely this one has been brought far away and is lying here like a saint,' that foolish Yavana struck Achyuta, who was lying there, with his foot.
स उत्थाय चिरं सुप्तः शनैरुन्मील्य लोचने। दिशो विलोकयन्पार्श्वे तमद्राक्षीदवस्थितम्
He, having slept for a long time, rose and slowly opened his eyes; looking around in all directions, he saw that person standing beside him.
स तावत्तस्य रुष्टस्य दृष्टिपातेन भारत। देहजेनाग्निना दग्धो भस्मसादभवत्क्षणात्
O descendant of Bharata, at that moment, by the angry gaze of that man, the Yavana was instantly burned to ashes by the fire born of his own body.
श्रीराजोवाच। को नाम स पुमान्ब्रह्मन्कस्य किं वीर्य एव च। कस्माद्गुहां गतः शिष्ये किं तेजो यवनार्दनः
The king said: O brāhmaṇa, who was that man, of what lineage and power? For what reason did he go into the cave and sleep there? What was the brilliance of the destroyer of the Yavana?
श्रीशुक उवाच। स इक्ष्वाकुकुले जातो मान्धातृतनयो महान्। मुचुकुन्द इति ख्यातो ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसङ्गरः
Śrī Śuka said: He was born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, the great son of Māndhātṛ, renowned as Mucukunda, devoted to the brāhmaṇas and steadfast in truth.
स याचितः सुरगणैरिन्द्राद्यैरात्मरक्षणे। असुरेभ्यः परित्रस्तैस्तद्रक्षां सोऽकरोच्चिरम्
He was requested by the hosts of gods, including Indra, to protect them from the asuras who were terrified; he performed that protection for a long time.
लब्ध्वा गुहं ते स्वःपालं मुचुकुन्दमथाब्रुवन्। राजन्विरमतां कृच्छ्राद्भवान्नः परिपालनात्
Having found Mucukunda, their protector, in the cave, the gods then said: 'O king, please desist from these hardships of protecting us.'
नरलोकं परित्यज्य राज्यं निहतकण्टकम्। अस्मान्पालयतो वीर कामास्ते सर्व उज्झिताः
O hero, having abandoned the world of men and a kingdom free from enemies, all your desires have been forsaken while you protected us.
सुता महिष्यो भवतो ज्ञातयोऽमात्यमन्त्रिणः। प्रजाश्च तुल्यकालीना नाधुना सन्ति कालिताः
Your sons, wives, relatives, ministers, and counselors, as well as your subjects of the same age, are no longer alive now.
कालो बलीयान्बलिनां भगवानीश्वरोऽव्ययः। प्रजाः कालयते क्रीडन्पशुपालो यथा पशून्
Time, the almighty and imperishable Lord, is stronger than the strong; playing, He brings all beings to their end, just as a herdsman does with cattle.
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते ऋते कैवल्यमद्य नः। एक एवेश्वरस्तस्य भगवान्विष्णुरव्ययः
Choose a boon, good fortune to you, except for liberation, for today that is not ours to give; there is only one Lord, and He is the imperishable Bhagavān Viṣṇu.
एवमुक्तः स वै देवानभिवन्द्य महायशाः। अशयिष्ट गुहाविष्टो निद्रया देवदत्तया
Thus addressed, that illustrious one, having bowed to the gods, entered the cave and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep.
यवने भस्मसान्नीते भगवान्सात्वतर्षभः। आत्मानं दर्शयामास मुचुकुन्दाय धीमते
When the Yavana had been reduced to ashes, the Blessed Lord, the best of the Sātvatas, revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda.
तमालोक्य घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम्। श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभेन विराजितम्
Seeing Him, dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, with the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, shining with the Kaustubha gem,
चतुर्भुजं रोचमानं वैजयन्त्या च मालया। चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम्
With four radiant arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, a beautiful, gracious face, and sparkling makara earrings,
प्रेक्षणीयं नृलोकस्य सानुरागस्मितेक्षणम्। अपीच्यवयसं मत्तमृगेन्द्रोदारविक्रमम्
He was a sight to behold for all mankind, with eyes smiling affectionately, appearing ever youthful, majestic like a proud lion, and possessing noble prowess.
पर्यपृच्छन्महाबुद्धिस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षितः। शङ्कितः शनकै राजा दुर्धर्षमिव तेजसा
Overwhelmed by His brilliance, the wise king, suspecting and cautious, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power.
श्रीमुचुकुन्द उवाच। को भवानिह सम्प्राप्तो विपिने गिरिगह्वरे। पद्भ्यां पद्मपलाशाभ्यां विचरस्युरुकण्टके
Śrī Mucukunda said: Who are you who have come here into this forest, into the mountain cave, wandering with your lotus-petal-like feet among the thorny undergrowth?
किं स्वित्तेजस्विनां तेजो भगवान्वा विभावसुः। सूर्यः सोमो महेन्द्रो वा लोकपालो परोऽपि वा
What is the brilliance of the radiant ones—whether the Lord, fire, sun, moon, Indra, guardian of the worlds, or any other—compared to yours?
मन्ये त्वां देवदेवानां त्रयाणां पुरुषर्षभम्। यद्बाधसे गुहाध्वान्तं प्रदीपः प्रभया यथा
I consider you the foremost among the gods of gods, for you dispel the darkness of the cave as a lamp does with its light.
शुश्रूषतामव्यलीकमस्माकं नरपुङ्गव। स्वजन्म कर्म गोत्रं वा कथ्यतां यदि रोचते
O best of men, if it pleases you, please tell us, who are eager to serve without fault, about your birth, deeds, and lineage.
वयं तु पुरुषव्याघ्र ऐक्ष्वाकाः क्षत्रबन्धवः। मुचुकुन्द इति प्रोक्तो यौवनाश्वात्मजः प्रभो
As for us, O tiger among men, we are the Ikshvaku clan, kshatriya kin; I am called Mucukunda, son of Yuvanashva, O Lord.
चिरप्रजागरश्रान्तो निद्रयापहतेन्द्रियः। शयेऽस्मिन्विजने कामं केनाप्युत्थापितोऽधुना
Exhausted from long wakefulness, my senses dulled by sleep, I lay here alone, until someone awakened me just now.
सोऽपि भस्मीकृतो नूनमात्मीयेनैव पाप्मना। अनन्तरं भवान्श्रीमांल्लक्षितोऽमित्रशासनः
He too was surely reduced to ashes by his own wickedness; immediately after, you, glorious and renowned for subduing enemies, appeared.
तेजसा तेऽविषह्येण भूरि द्रष्टुं न शक्नुमः। हतौजसा महाभाग माननीयोऽसि देहिनाम्
Your unbearable radiance is so great that we cannot gaze upon you; O illustrious one, you are worthy of honor among embodied beings.
एवं सम्भाषितो राज्ञा भगवान्भूतभावनः। प्रत्याह प्रहसन्वाण्या मेघनादगभीरया
Thus addressed by the king, the Lord, creator of beings, replied with a smile, his voice deep as thunderclouds.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। जन्मकर्माभिधानानि सन्ति मेऽङ्ग सहस्रशः। न शक्यन्तेऽनुसङ्ख्यातुमनन्तत्वान्मयापि हि
The Blessed Lord said: My births, deeds, and names are countless, O friend; even I cannot enumerate them, for they are infinite.
क्वचिद्रजांसि विममे पार्थिवान्युरुजन्मभिः। गुणकर्माभिधानानि न मे जन्मानि कर्हिचित्
Sometimes I have examined earthly births with great beings, but my births are never defined by qualities, deeds, or names.
कालत्रयोपपन्नानि जन्मकर्माणि मे नृप। अनुक्रमन्तो नैवान्तं गच्छन्ति परमर्षयः
O king, my births and deeds span all three times; even the greatest sages, tracing them in order, never reach their end.
तथाप्यद्यतनान्यङ्ग शृणुष्व गदतो मम। विज्ञापितो विरिञ्चेन पुराहं धर्मगुप्तये
Yet, O friend, listen now as I speak of my present birth, for I was requested by Brahma long ago to protect dharma.