भद्रोपवासव्रतवर्णनम् तदहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि प्राप्यते केन कर्मणा
Description of the auspicious fasting vow. I wish to know by what action it is obtained.
वरप्रदानाद्देवानामृषीणां सेवनेन वा
Is it by giving boons to the gods, or by serving the sages?
तत्प्रभावाद्भवेन्नूनं राजञ्जातिस्मरो नरः
By the power of that, O King, a man surely becomes one who remembers his past birth.
शुभोदयः पुरा वैश्यो बभूव यमुनातटे
In ancient times, Shubhodaya, a merchant, lived on the bank of the Yamuna.
संजयस्य सुतो जातः स्वर्णष्ठीवीति विश्रुतः
He was born as the son of Sanjaya, and became known as Svarnaṣṭhīvī.
नारदस्य प्रभावेण पुनरु जीव्यतेऽप्यसौ
By the power of Narada, he was revived again.
दस्युभिश्च कथं नीतो मृत्युं वै जीवितः कथम्
How was he taken by robbers to death, and how did he live?
. देवर्षी तस्य मित्रे च सदा नारदपर्वतौ
The divine sage and his friend were always Narada and Parvata.
एकदा संजयगृहं संप्राप्तौ तौ यदृच्छया
Once, by chance, those two arrived at Sanjaya's house.
तेषामथोपविष्टानां पूर्ववृत्तांतभाषिणौ 4.13.
As they were seated, they spoke of past events.
पर्वतः प्राह राजानं कन्येयं वरवर्णिनी
Parvata said to the king: 'This maiden is of excellent complexion.'
पद्मपत्रेक्षणनखा पद्मकिंजल्कसप्रभा
Her eyes and nails are like lotus petals, her radiance like the filaments of a lotus.
सविलासा गजगतिः सुनासा कोकिलस्वरा
She is graceful, walks like an elephant, has a beautiful nose, and a voice like a cuckoo.
तिलपुष्पस्फुटा नासा रूपं संपरिलक्ष्यते
Her nose is as delicate as a sesame flower, and her beauty is clearly seen.
एवं ब्रुवा णं तं विप्रं विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनम्
Thus speaking, he gazed at the Brahmin, his eyes wide with astonishment.
अथोवाच नृपं धीमान्नारदः क्षुभितेन्द्रियः १६ ईप्सितं तव दास्यामि वरं मर्त्येषु दुर्ल्लभम्
Then the wise Narada, his senses agitated, said to the king: 'I will grant you a boon among mortals that is difficult to obtain.'
कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदं प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनः
With hands joined in reverence, his eyes blossoming with delight, he spoke these words.
यस्य मूत्रं पुरीषं वा श्लेष्माणं क्षिपति क्षितौ
Whoever casts urine, feces, or phlegm upon the earth—
एवमस्त्विति तं राजन्नारदः प्रत्यभाषत 4.13.
So be it—thus, O King, Nārada replied to him.
एवमुक्त्वा स तां कन्यां सालङ्कारां सुमध्यमाम्
Having spoken thus, he gave that maiden, adorned and slender-waisted.
तत्तस्य चेष्टितं दृष्ट्वा पर्वतः क्रोधमूर्छितः
Seeing his actions, Parvata, overcome by anger,
मयेयं प्रार्थिता पूर्वं त्वया यस्माद्विवाहिता
This one was previously sought by me, but you have married her.
दत्तस्त्वयास्य यः पुत्रो वरदानेन नारद
The son whom you have given to him by boon, O Nārada,
एवमुक्तः पर्वतेन नारदः प्राह दुर्मनाः
Thus addressed by Parvata, Nārada, distressed, spoke:
सामान्यं सर्वभूतानां कन्या भवति सुव्रत
A maiden, O virtuous one, is common to all beings.
न सेवितास्त्वया वृद्धास्तेन मां शपसे रुषा
The elders were not served by you; for this you curse me in anger.
यस्मादेतदविज्ञाय शपसे मामनागसम्
Because, without knowing this, you curse me, though I am blameless—
संजयस्य सुतः शापाद्यदि पञ्चत्वमेष्यति
If, by your curse, the son of Saṃjaya should meet his end—
एवं शप्त्वा तदाऽ न्योन्यं देवर्षी तावुभौ पुनः 4.13.
Thus cursing each other, those two divine sages then—
अथास्य सप्तमे मासि जातः पुत्रो नृपस्य सः
Then, in the seventh month, a son was born to the king.