बालकं वंदयामास मुनीन्द्रं सस्मितं मुदा
She offered respects to the smiling, joyful sage as if he were a child.
आशिषं प्रददौ प्रीत्या वेदमंत्रोपयोगिकम्
With affection, she bestowed blessings useful for Vedic rites and mantras.
शिष्यान्पाद्यादिकं भक्त्या प्रददौ च पृथक्पृथक्
She devotedly gave water for washing the feet and other offerings to the disciples, each separately.
समुद्यता सा प्रष्टुं च पुटाञ्जलियुता सती
She prepared herself to ask, joining her hands in reverence, intent on inquiry.
स्वात्मारामं मंगलं च प्रष्टुं यद्यपि न क्षमा
Though she was not able to question the blessed, self-contented one,
अबला बुद्धिहीनाया दोषं क्षंतुं सदाऽर्हसि
O noble one, you should always forgive the faults of a weak and unintelligent woman.
अंगिरा वाऽथ वाऽत्रिर्वा मरीचिर्गौतमोऽथ वा
Are you Aṅgiras, or Atri, or Marīci, or Gautama?
दुर्वासाः कर्दमस्त्वं वा वशिष्ठो गर्ग एव वा
Are you Durvāsas, or Kardama, or Vasiṣṭha, or perhaps Garga?
सनत्कुमारः सनकः सनन्दो वा सनातनः
Are you Sanatkumāra, Sanaka, Sananda, or Sanātana?
विश्वामित्रोऽथ वाल्माको वामदेवोऽथ कश्यपः 4.13.
Are you Viśvāmitra, Vālmīki, Vāmadeva, or Kaśyapa?
भृगुः शुक्रश्च च्यवनो नरनारायणोऽथवा
Are you Bhṛgu, Śukra, Cyavana, or Nara-Nārāyaṇa?
मार्कण्डेयो लोमशश्च कण्वः कात्यायनस्तथा
Are you Mārkaṇḍeya, Lomaśa, Kaṇva, or also Kātyāyana?
पौलस्त्यस्त्वमगस्त्यो वा शरद्वान्गिरिरेव च
You may be Paulastya, Agastya, or Sharadvangiri.
पाणिनिर्वा कणादो वा शाकल्यः शाकटायनः
You may be Panini, Kanāda, Shākalya, or Shākaṭāyana.
जाबालो याज्ञवल्क्यश्च वैशंपायन एव च
You may be Jābāla, Yājñavalkya, or Vaishampāyana.
उपमन्युर्गौरमुखोऽरुणिरौर्वोऽथ कक्षिवान्
You may be Upamanyu, Gauramukha, Aruni, Aurva, or Kakṣivān.
एतेषां पुण्यश्लोकानां को भवान्वद मे प्रभो
Among these renowned sages, who are you? Tell me, O Lord.
किंकरः किंकरी वाऽपि समर्था प्रभुमीश्वरम्
Are you a servant or a maid, or are you capable of being the master and lord?
धन्याऽहं कृतकृत्याहं सफलं जीवितं मम
I am blessed, I am accomplished; my life has become fruitful.
त्वत्पादोदकसंस्पर्शात्सद्यः पूता वसुंधरा ।। तवागमनमात्रेण तीर्थीभूतो ममाश्रमः 4.13.
By the touch of water from your feet, the earth is instantly purified; by your mere arrival, my hermitage has become a holy place.
येये श्रुताः श्रुतौ ब्रह्मञ्च्छ्रुतिसारा महाजनाः
All those who are renowned in the Vedas, O Brahman, are great people whose essence is found in the scriptures.
शिष्या वेदा मूर्तिमंतो ग्रीष्म मध्याह्नभास्कराः
Their disciples are the Vedas embodied, like the midday sun in summer.
आशिषं कर्तुमर्हंति प्रसन्नमनसा शिशुम्
They are able to bestow blessings upon the child with a cheerful mind.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा नंदस्त्री भक्त्या तस्थौ मुनेः पुरः
Having spoken thus, Nanda stood before the sage with devotion.
यशोदावचनं श्रुत्वा जहास मुनिपुंगवः
Hearing Yashoda's words, the eminent sage smiled.
हितं तथ्यं नीतियुक्तं महत्पुण्यकरं परम्
That which is beneficial, true, righteous, and supremely meritorious.
श्रीगर्ग उवाच सुधामयं ते वचनं लौकिकं च कुलोचितम्
Śrī Garga said: Your words are like nectar, worldly and fitting for your lineage.
सर्वेषां गोपपद्मानां गिरिभानुश्च भास्करः
Among all the lotus-like cowherds, Giribhānu is the sun.
तस्याः कन्या यशोदा त्वं यशोवर्द्धनकारिणी
His daughter is you, Yashoda, the one who increases fame.
नंदो यस्त्वं च या भद्रे बालो यो येन वा गतः 4.13.
Nanda is who he is, and you, O gentle one, are who you are; the boy is whoever he has become.