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.
संतानार्थं महाभाग भार्यायां मम मानद
O illustrious one, for the sake of progeny, grant honor to my wife.
एवमुक्तस्तुतेनर्षिस्तथास्त्वित्युक्तवान्हितम्
Thus addressed by the praising sage, he replied, 'So be it,' and spoke what was beneficial.
अन्धं वृद्धं च तं दृष्ट्वा न सा देवी जगाम ह
Seeing him blind and aged, the goddess did not approach.
कक्षीवच्चक्षुषौ तस्यां शूद्रयोन्यामृषिर्वशी
In the Śūdra womb, the sage Vaśī became Kakṣīvān and Cakṣuṣa.
कक्षीवच्चक्षुषौ तौ तु दृष्ट्वा राजा बलिस्तदा
Then King Bali saw Kakṣīvān and Cakṣuṣa.
सिद्धौ प्रत्यक्षधर्माणौ बुद्धौ श्रेष्ठतमावपि
Both were accomplished in direct dharma and possessed the highest intellect.
नेत्युवाच ततस्तं तु ममैताविति चाब्रवीत्
He said, 'No,' and then declared, 'These two are mine.'
अन्धं वृद्धं च मां मत्वा सुदेष्णा महिषी तव
Thinking me blind and aged, Sudeṣṇā, your queen,
ततः प्रसादयामास पुनस्तमृषिसत्तमम्
Then she again sought to please that foremost sage.
पुनश्चैनामलङ्कृत्य ऋषये प्रत्यपादयत्
Once more, adorning her, she was given to the sage.