पुनः पुनस् तद् एवोचुः सुरसंघा द्विजोत्तमम् कृताञ्जलिपुटः पूर्वं नत्वा शंभुसुरान् इदम् उवाच पिप्पलादश् च उमां नत्वा च पिप्पलान्
Again and again, the hosts of gods addressed the best of Brahmins, who, with joined palms, first bowed to Shambhu and the gods. Then Pippalada, bowing to Uma and the Pippalas, spoke these words.
पितरौ द्रष्टुकामो ऽस्मि सदा मे शब्दगोचरौ ते धन्याः प्राणिनो लोके मातापित्रोर् वशे स्थिताः
I wish always to see my parents, to have them within the range of my hearing. Blessed are those beings in the world who remain under the authority of their mother and father.
शुश्रूषणपरा नित्यं तत्पादाज्ञाप्रतीक्षकाः इन्द्रियाणि शरीरं च कुलं शक्तिं धियं वपुः
Always devoted to service, awaiting the command at their feet—one should dedicate the senses, the body, the family, strength, intellect, and beauty.
परिलभ्य तयोः कृत्ये कृतकृत्यो भवेत् स्वयम् पशूनां पक्षिणां चापि सुलभं मातृदर्शनम्
Having accomplished their duties toward both, one becomes fulfilled; for animals and birds, seeing their mothers is easy.
दुर्लभं मम तच् चापि पृच्छे पापफलं नु किम् दुर्लभं च तथा चेत् स्यात् सर्वेषां यस्य कस्यचित्
But for me, that is difficult—tell me, is this the result of sin? If it is so difficult, then would it not be so for everyone?
नोपपद्येत सुलभं मत्तो नान्यो ऽस्ति पापकृत् तयोर् दर्शनमात्रं च यदि प्राप्स्ये सुरोत्तमाः
It cannot be easily attained; there is no one more sinful than I. If I were to gain even a mere sight of them, O best of gods—
मनोवाक्कायकर्मभ्यः फलं प्राप्तं भविष्यति पितरौ ये न पश्यन्ति समुत्पन्ना न संसृतौ तेषां महापातकानां कः संख्यां कर्तुम् ईश्वरः
The fruit of actions by mind, speech, and body will be obtained. Those who do not see their parents after birth in this world—who can count the great sins of such people?
तद् ऋषेर् वचनं श्रुत्वा मिथः संमन्त्र्य ते सुराः विमानवरम् आरूढौ पितरौ दंपती शुभौ
Hearing the sage’s words, the gods consulted among themselves; then, mounting a splendid celestial chariot, the auspicious couple—his parents—
तव संदर्शनाकाङ्क्षौ द्रक्ष्यसे वाद्य निश्चितम् विषादं लोभमोहौ च त्यक्त्वा चित्तं शमं नय
Longing to see you, you will surely see them today. Cast off sorrow, greed, and delusion, and bring your mind to tranquility.
पश्य पश्येति तं प्राहुर् दाधीचं सुरसत्तमाः विमानवरम् आरूढौ स्वर्गिणौ स्वर्णभूषणौ
‘Look, look!’ said the best of the gods to Dadhīca, as the two, adorned with gold, ascended the splendid celestial chariot.
तव संदर्शनाकाङ्क्षौ पितरौ दंपती शुभौ वीज्यमानौ सुरस्त्रीभिः स्तूयमानौ च किंनरैः
Your auspicious parents, the noble couple, longing to see you, were fanned by divine women and praised by Kinnaras.
दृष्ट्वा स मातापितरौ ननाम शिवसंनिधौ हर्षबाष्पाश्रुनयनौ स कथंचिद् उवाच तौ
Seeing his mother and father, he bowed in the presence of Śiva, his eyes filled with tears of joy, and somehow spoke to them.
तारयन्त्य् एव पितराव् अन्ये पुत्राः कुलोद्वहाः अहं तु मातुर् उदरे केवलं भेदकारणम् एवंभूतो ऽपि तौ मोहात् पश्येयम् अतिदुर्मतिः
Other sons, upholding the family, deliver their parents; but I, in my mother’s womb, was only a cause of pain. Even so, through delusion, I now see them, though of such poor understanding.
ताव् आलोक्य ततो दुःखाद् वक्तुं नैव शशाक सः देवाश् च मातापितरौ पिप्पलादम् अथाब्रुवन्
Seeing them, he was so overcome with sorrow that he could not speak; and the gods addressed Pippalāda’s mother and father.
धन्यस् त्वं पुत्र लोकेषु यस्य कीर्तिर् गता दिवम् साक्षात्कृतस् त्वया त्र्यक्षो देवाश् चाश्वासितास् त्वया त्वया पुत्रेण सल्लोका न क्षीयन्ते कदाचन
Blessed are you, child, in all the worlds, whose fame has reached the heavens. Śiva has been directly realized by you, and the gods have been comforted by you. Through such a son, a lineage is never diminished.
पुष्पवृष्टिस् तदा स्वर्गात् पपात तस्य मूर्धनि जयशब्दः सुरैर् उक्तः प्रादुर्भूतो महामुने
Then a shower of flowers fell from heaven upon his head, and the gods proclaimed victory, as the great sage appeared.
आशिषं तु सुते दत्त्वा दधीचिः सह भार्यया शंभुं गङ्गां सुरान् नत्वा पुत्रं वाक्यम् अथाब्रवीत्
Having given his blessing to his son, Dadhīci, together with his wife, bowed to Śambhu, Gaṅgā, and the gods, and then spoke to his son.
प्राप्य भार्यां शिवे भक्तिं कुरु गङ्गां च सेवय पुत्रान् उत्पाद्य विधिवद् यज्ञान् इष्ट्वा सदक्षिणान् कृतकृत्यस् ततो वत्स आक्रमस्व चिरं दिवम्
Having obtained a wife, be devoted to Śiva, and serve Gaṅgā. Beget sons according to the proper rites, perform sacrifices with due gifts; then, having fulfilled your duties, my child, ascend to heaven for a long time.
करोम्य् एवम् इति प्राह दधीचिं पिप्पलाशनः दधीचिः पुत्रम् आश्वास्य भार्यया च पुनः पुनः
‘I will do so,’ said Pippalāda to Dadhīci. Dadhīci, reassuring his son and wife again and again—
अनुज्ञातः सुरगणैः पुनः स दिवम् आक्रमत् देवा अप्य् ऊचिरे सर्वे पिप्पलादं ससंभ्रमाः
Having been permitted by the hosts of gods, he again ascended to heaven; and all the gods, with reverence, addressed Pippalāda.
कृत्यां शमय भद्रं ते तद् उत्पन्नं महानलम्
Pacify the sorcery, may good fortune be yours; that great fire which has arisen.
पिप्पलादस् तु तान् आह न शक्तो ऽहं निवारणे असत्यं नैव वक्ताहं यूयं कृत्यां तु ब्रूत ताम्
Pippalāda said to them: I am not able to restrain it; I do not speak untruth. You yourselves should address that sorcery.
मां दृष्ट्वा सा महारौद्रा विपरीतं करिष्यति ताम् एव गत्वा विबुधाः प्रोचुस् ते शान्तिकारणम्
Seeing me, that exceedingly fierce one will act contrary; so the gods went to her and spoke words for appeasement.
अनलं च यथाप्रीति ते उभे नेत्य् अवोचताम् सर्वेषां भक्षणायैव सृष्टा चाहं द्विजन्मना
And as for the fire, according to your wish, let both be brought; I am created only for the consumption of all, O twice-born ones.
तथा च मत्प्रसूतो ऽग्निर् अन्यथा तत् कथं भवेत् महाभूतानि पञ्चापि स्थावरं जङ्गमं तथा
Thus, fire is born from me; otherwise, how could it be so? The five great elements, both immobile and mobile beings likewise.
सर्वम् अस्मन्मुखे विद्याद् वक्तव्यं नावशिष्यते मया संमन्त्र्य ते देवाः पुनर् ऊचुर् उभाव् अपि
Let all be known as entering my mouth; nothing will remain unsaid. Having deliberated, the gods again addressed both.
भक्षयेताम् उभौ सर्वं यथानुक्रमतस् तथा वडवापि सुरान् एवम् उवाच शृणु नारद
Let both consume everything in due order; likewise, O Nārada, the submarine fire spoke to the gods in this way.
भवताम् इच्छया सर्वं भक्ष्यं मे सुरसत्तमाः
By your wish, O best of gods, everything is food for me.
वडवा सा नदी जाता गङ्गया संगता मुने तद्भवस् तु महान् अग्निर् य आसीद् अतिभीषणः तम् आहुर् अमरा वह्निं भूतानाम् आदितो विदुः
That submarine fire became a river, joined with the Ganges, O sage. That great and exceedingly terrifying fire which existed, the immortals called it Vahni, and knew it as the original fire of beings.
आपो ज्येष्ठतमा ज्ञेयास् तथैव प्रथमं भवान् तत्राप्य् अपांपतिं ज्येष्ठं समुद्रम् अशनं कुरु यथैव तु वयं ब्रूमो गच्छ भुङ्क्ष्व यथासुखम्
The waters are to be known as the eldest, and likewise, you are the first. There, make the ocean, lord of the waters, the eldest, your food. Just as we say, go and enjoy as you wish.