अन्तर्वत्न्यस्मि ते भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्यास्य च भामिनी
She was pregnant by her brother, the elder one, O beautiful lady.
अजस्रं ब्रह्म चाभ्यस्य षडङ्गं वेदमुद्गिरन्
He recited the endless Brahman, uttering the six-limbed Veda.
अस्मिन्नेव यथाकाले यथा वा मन्यसे विभो
At that very time, as you wish, O mighty one,
कामात्मानं महात्मापि नात्मानं सो ऽभ्यधारयत्
Though he was a great soul, overcome by desire, he did not restrain himself.
उत्सृजन्तं तदा रेतो गर्भस्थः सो ऽस्य भाषत
As he was releasing his seed, the one in the womb then spoke to him.
अमोघरेतास्त्वं वापि पूर्वं चाहमिहागतः
You may be one whose seed is not wasted, but I have come here before you.
उशिजस्य सुतं भ्रातुर्गर्भस्थं भगवानृषिः
The blessed sage, while still in the womb, was the son of Ushija’s brother.
मामेवमुक्तवान्मोहात्तमो दीर्घं ग्रवेक्ष्यसि
He spoke to me thus, out of delusion: 'You will see a long darkness in the grave.'
अथौशिजो बृहत्कीर्तिर्बृहस्पतिरिबौजसा
Then Ushija, renowned and mighty, became Bṛhaspati by his strength.
गोधर्मं सौरभेयात्तु वृषभाच्छतवान्प्रभोः
He received the dharma of cows from Saurabheya, the bull, O Lord.
तस्मिन्हि तत्र वसति यदृच्छाभ्यागतो वृषः
There, in that place, the bull arrived by chance and dwelled.
जग्राह तं दीर्घ तमा विस्फुरन्तं तु शृङ्गयोः
He seized that long darkness, which was flickering between the bull’s horns.
ततो ऽब्रवीद् वृषस्तं वै सुंच मां बलिनां वर
Then the bull spoke to him: 'Release me, O best of the strong.'
त्र्यंबकं वहता देवं यतो जातो ऽस्मि भूतले
'I was born on earth from carrying the god Tryambaka.'
एवमुक्तो ऽब्रवीदेनं जीवंस्त्वं मे क्व यास्यसि
Thus addressed, he said to him: 'You are alive; where will you go from me?'
ततस्तं दीर्घतमसं स वृषः प्रत्युवाच ह
Then the bull replied to that long darkness.
भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं न जानीमः पेयापेयं च सर्वशः
'We do not know what is edible or inedible, nor what is drinkable or undrinkable, in every way.'
न पाप्मानो वयं विप्र धर्मो ह्येष गवां श्रुतः
'We are not sinful, O Brahmin; this is the dharma of cows, as heard.'
भक्त्या चानुश्रविकया गोसुतं वै प्रसादयन्
With devotion and by tradition, he sought to please the son of the cow.
मनसैव तदा दध्रे तद्विधस्तत्परायणः
Then, with his mind alone, he resolved, being devoted to that knowledge.
विचेष्टमानां रुदतीं दैवात्संमूढचेतनः
She, moving about and weeping, was bewildered in mind by fate.
गोधर्म वै बलं कृत्वा स्नुषां स ह्यभ्यमन्यत
He, having taken the dharma of cows as strength, indeed approached his daughter-in-law.
भविष्यमर्थं ज्ञात्वा च महात्मा त्ववमत्य तम्
Knowing the future matter, the great soul disregarded her.
गम्यागम्यं न जानीषे गोधर्मात्प्रार्थयन्स्रुषाम्
'You do not know what is to be approached or avoided; seeking a daughter-in-law from the dharma of cows.'
यस्मात्त्वमन्धो वृद्धश्च भर्त्तव्यो दुरनुष्ठितः
Because you are blind, aged, and difficult to maintain, and your conduct is improper,
कर्मण्यस्मिंस्ततः क्रूरे तस्य बुद्धिरजायत
Therefore, in this situation, a harsh thought arose in his mind.
कोष्टे समुद्रे प्रक्षिप्य गङ्गांभसि समुत्सृजत्
He placed him in a cell and cast him into the ocean, releasing him into the waters of the Ganges.
तं सस्त्रीको बलिर्नाम राजा धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्
That person, along with his wife, was named Bali, a king who understood the essence of righteousness and wealth.
तं गृहीत्वा स धर्मात्मा बलिर्वैरोचनस्तदा
Then, Bali, son of Virocana, who was devoted to dharma, took him in.
प्रीतः स वै वरेणाथ च्छन्दयामास वै बलिम्
Pleased, he granted Bali a boon and allowed him to choose freely.