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.
गत्वारण्यं फलान्यंबुसमित्कुशमृदो ऽन्वहम्
Going to the forest, we daily gathered fruits, water, firewood, sacred grass, and clay.
एकदा तु वयं सर्वे संप्राप्ता पर्वते वने
One day, all of us arrived in the forest on a mountain.
सर्वे स्नात्वा महानद्यामुषसि प्रीतमानसाः
All, having bathed in the great river at dawn, were joyful in mind.
शालस्तमालैः प्रियकैः पनसैः कोविदारकैः
With sal, tamala, priya, jackfruit, and kovidara trees,
जंबूभिः सहकारैश्च कट्फलैर्बृहतीद्रुमैः
With jambu, sahakara, katphala, and mighty trees,
स्निग्धच्छायैः समाहृष्टनानापक्षिनिनादितैः
With dense shade, delighted, and filled with the cries of various birds,
गचैन्द्रैः शारभाद्यैश्च सेवितं कन्दरागतैः
Frequented by elephants, sharabhas, and others dwelling in caves,
सुगन्धिभिर्वृतं चान्यैर्वातोद्धूतपरगिभिः
Covered with fragrant flowers and others, their pollen scattered by the wind,
शृङ्गैः समुल्लिखन्तं च व्योम कौतुकसं युतम्
With peaks scraping the sky, full of wonder,
गर्ज्जतमिव संसक्तं व्यालाद्यैर्मृगपक्षिभिः
Resounding as if with thunder, mingled with wild beasts and birds,