वसिष्ठादिमुनीशानां मन्वादीनां शुभेक्षणे
Of Vasiṣṭha and other great sages, and of the Manus, who are auspicious to behold.
मध्यभक्तिरयं रामो नित्यं यमपरायणः
This is the middle devotion—Rāma, ever devoted to self-restraint.
इत्युक्ता त्वरितं कान्तं सा मृगी हृष्टमानसा
Thus addressed, the doe, her heart delighted, swiftly approached her beloved.
र्हदृग् ज्ञानं तव कथं संजातं तद्वदाधुना
How did knowledge of the Self arise in you? Tell that now.
शृणु प्रिये महाभागे ज्ञानं पुण्येन जायते
Listen, dear one, greatly fortunate; knowledge is born from merit.
पुण्यात्मा भार्गवश्चायं कृष्णाभक्तो जितेन्द्रियः
This Bhārgava is virtuous, devoted to Kṛṣṇa, and master of his senses.
अद्यैव विदितं मे ऽभूद्रासस्यास्य महात्मनः
Today, I have come to know the intent of this great soul.
यद्यत्करिष्यते चैव तदपि ज्ञानगोचरम्
Whatever he will do is also within the scope of knowledge.
कवचं मन्त्रसहितं ह्यपि वर्षायुतायुतैः
Even the armor, together with the mantra, for tens of thousands of years,
कृष्णप्रेमामृतं नाम स्तोत्रमुत्तमभक्तिदम्
The hymn called 'The Nectar of Love for Kṛṣṇa' bestows supreme devotion.
स मुनिर्ज्ञाततत्त्वार्थः सानुकंपो ऽभयप्रदः
That sage, knowing the true meaning, compassionate, bestows fearlessness.
श्रीकृष्णचारितं सर्वं नामभिर्ग्रथितं यतः
Because all the deeds of Śrī Kṛṣṇa are woven together with names.
ततः संसिद्ध कवचौ राजनं हैहयाधिपम्
Then, with the perfected armor, to the king, lord of the Haihayas,
त्रिः सप्तकृत्वो निर्भूपां करिष्यत्यवनीं प्रिय
He will make the earth free of kings three times seven times, dear one.
आत्मनो मृगभावस्य कारणं ज्ञातवांश्च ह
He understood the cause of his own condition as a deer.
उपोद्धातपादे भार्गवचरिते चतुस्त्रिंशत्तमो ऽध्यायः
Chapter Thirty-Four of the Bhārgava narrative, in the introductory section.
भगवद्भक्तिसंलीनमानसानुग्रहः कुतः
How can there be grace for one whose mind is not absorbed in devotion to the Blessed Lord?
श्रुत्वा मृगमुखात्सर्वं भार्गवस्य विचेष्टितम्
Having heard from the mouth of the deer all that Bhārgava had done,
पुनः प्रपच्छ किं नाथ तन्मे वद सविस्तरम्
Again she asked, 'O master, tell me this in detail.'
यथा पृष्टं तया सो ऽस्यै वर्णयामास तत्त्ववित्
As she had questioned, he, who knew the truth, described it to her.
भूयः प्रपच्छ तं कान्तं ज्ञानतत्त्वार्थमादरात्
Again, she earnestly questioned her beloved about the true meaning of knowledge.
यदस्य दर्शनात्ते ऽद्य जातं ज्ञानमतीद्रियम्
Because of seeing him today, a knowledge beyond measure has arisen in her.
कर्मणा येन संप्राप्तावावां तिर्यग्जनिं प्रभो
By what action, O Lord, have we both attained birth among animals?
वर्णयामास चरितं मृग्यश्चैवात्मनस्तदा
Then he described the story of himself and the deer.
संसारे ऽस्मिन्नमहाभागे भावो ऽस्य भवकारणम्
In this world, O greatly fortunate one, his state is the cause of his rebirth.
पुरा द्रविडदेशे तु नानाऋद्धिसमाकुले
Long ago, in the land of Draviḍa, filled with various miraculous powers,
पिता मे शिवदत्तो ऽभून्नाम्ना शास्त्रविशारदः
My father was named Śivadatta, learned in the scriptures.
ज्येष्ठो रामो ऽनुजस्तस्य धमस्तस्यानु जः पृथुः
His eldest son was Rāma, his younger brother was Dharma, and after him was Pṛthu.
उपनीय क्रमात्सर्वाञ्छिवदत्तो महायशाः
Śivadatta, of great fame, initiated all of us in due order.
चत्वारो ऽपि वयं तत्र वेदाध्ययनतत्पराः
All four of us there were devoted to the study of the Vedas.