प्रहर्षितश्च श्रीकृष्णः कथयामास राधिकाम्
Filled with joy, Shri Krishna began to speak to Radhika.
आगच्छन्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणम्
Seeing him approaching, with a pleasant face and gaze.
ध्यानाद्विरतमग्रे च पश्यन्तं बहिरेव तत्
Who, having ceased from meditation, was now looking outward.
नाम्नाऽष्टवक्रं जटिलं ज्वलन्तं ब्रह्मतेजसा
By name Ashtavakra, matted-haired, blazing with the radiance of Brahman.
अहो किं वा ब्रह्मतेजो मूर्तिमन्तमिह स्वयम्
Ah! Is this not the very radiance of Brahman embodied here itself?
पुटाञ्जलियुतं भक्त्या भीतं प्रणतकंधरम्
With hands joined in reverence, devoted, fearful, bowing his neck.
प्रभावं कथयामास मुनीन्द्रस्य महात्मनः यत्स्तोत्रं च पुरा दत्तं शंकरेण महात्मना
He spoke of the greatness of the illustrious sage, and of the hymn once given by the noble Shankara.
अष्टावक्र उवाच गुणीश गुणिनां बीज गुणायन नमोऽस्तु ते ।। 4.29.
Ashtavakra said: Lord of qualities, seed of the virtuous, source of virtues, I bow to you.
सिद्धिस्वरूप सिद्ध्येश सिद्धिबीज परात्पर
Embodiment of perfection, lord of accomplishments, seed of success, supreme among the supreme.
हे वेदबीज वेदज्ञ वेदिन्वेदविदां वर
O seed of the Vedas, knower of the Vedas, best among those who know the Vedas.
ब्रह्मानन्तेश शेषेन्द्र धर्मादीनामधीश्वर
Lord of Brahma, Ananta, Shesha, Indra, and master of Dharma and others.
प्रकृते प्राकृत प्रज्ञ प्रकृतीश परात्पर
Of nature, natural, wise, lord of nature, supreme among the supreme.
सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तबीजेश सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारण
Lord of the seed of creation, maintenance, and dissolution; cause of creation, maintenance, and dissolution.
अहो यस्य त्रयः स्कन्धा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
Ah! Whose three branches are Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara.
संसारविफला एव प्रकृत्यंकुरमेव च
The fruitlessness of worldly existence, and the very sprout of nature.
तेजोरूप निराकार प्रत्यक्षानूहमेव च
Formed of radiance, formless, both manifest and inconceivable.
इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिश्रेष्ठो निपत्य चरणाम्बुजे
Having spoken thus, the eminent sage fell at the lotus feet.
पपात तत्र तद्देहः पादपद्मसमीपतः 4.29.
There, his body collapsed near the lotus feet.
सप्ततालप्रमाणं तु चोत्थाय च पपात ह
Rising to a height equal to seven palm trees, he then fell down.
अष्टावक्रकृतं स्तोत्रं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्
Whoever recites the hymn composed by Ashtavakra upon rising in the morning,
प्राणाधिको मुमुक्षूणां स्तोत्रराजश्च नारद
O Narada, for those desiring liberation, it is more vital than life and is the king of hymns.
मृते मुनौ किं चकार श्रीकृष्णो भक्तवत्सलः
What did Shri Krishna, the devotee's friend, do when the sage died?
श्रीनारायण उवाच कृत्वा वक्षसि तद्देहं रुरोदोच्चैर्यथा नरः
Shri Narayana said: Placing that body upon his chest, he wept loudly like a man.
बाहुभ्यां च समाश्लिष्य पिपेषोद्रिक्तमोहतः
Embracing it with his arms, he pressed it tightly, overwhelmed by emotion.
रक्तमांसास्थिहीनं तच्छरीरं च महात्मनः
That body of the great soul was devoid of blood, flesh, and bone.
दग्धं लोहितमांसास्थि ज्वलता जठराग्निना
The blood, flesh, and bone were burned by the blazing fire of the stomach.
चितां चन्दनकाष्ठेन निर्माय मधुसूदनः
Madhusudana prepared a funeral pyre with sandalwood.
ददौ चितायामग्निं च काष्ठं दत्त्वा शवोपरि
He placed fire upon the pyre, after laying wood atop the corpse.
तद्देहे भस्मसाद्भूते नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिवि
When that body had become ashes, drums resounded in the heavens.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र रत्नसारविनिर्मितम्
Meanwhile, there appeared a chariot made from the essence of jewels.