अष्टावक्रो मुनीन्द्रोऽपि विख्यातो भुवनत्रये 4.30.
Even Aṣṭāvakra, the foremost sage, is renowned throughout the three worlds.
कृष्णस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विमनस्का हरिप्रिया
Hearing Kṛṣṇa's words, Hari's beloved became disheartened.
राधिकोवाच स वितृप्तो भवति किं गोष्पदोदकपानतः
Rādhikā spoke: Is he satisfied merely by drinking water from a cow's hoofprint?
वेदानां वेदवक्तॄणां विधातुर्जनकस्य च
Of the Vedas, their reciters, and the progenitor of the creator,
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा तुष्टः कृष्णो बभूव ह
Hearing Rādhikā's words, Kṛṣṇa became pleased.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच श्रवणात्कथनाद्यस्य सर्वं पापं प्रणश्यति
Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke: By hearing and narrating his story, all sin is destroyed.
महाविष्णोर्नाभिपद्माद्बभूव जगतां विधिः
From the lotus sprung from Mahāviṣṇu's navel, the creator of the worlds was born.
पुत्रा बभूवुश्चत्वारो ब्रह्मणो मानसात्पुरा
In ancient times, four sons were born from Brahmā's mind.
शिशवः पञ्चवर्षीया नग्ना अज्ञानिनो यथा
They were children, five years old, naked, and ignorant as children are.
सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः
Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana,
तानुवाच जगद्धाता सृष्टिं कुरुत पुत्रकाः 4.30.
The creator of the world spoke to them: 'Sons, create progeny.'
विधाता विमनस्कश्च तनयेषु गतेषु च
The creator became disheartened when his sons departed.
ज्ञानेन निर्ममे पुत्रान्स्वाङ्गेषु च तपोधनान्
By knowledge, he created sons from his own limbs, who were rich in austerity.
अत्रिः पुलस्त्यः पुलहो मरीचिर्भृगुरङ्गिराः
Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Marici, Bhrigu, and Angiras—
शङ्कुः शङ्खः पञ्चशिखः प्रचेतास्ते तपोधनाः
Shanku, Shankha, Panchashikha, and Prachetas—these were ascetics endowed with austerity.
कलत्रवन्तस्ते सर्वे संसारं कर्तुमु न्मुखाः
All of them had wives and were inclined to engage in worldly life.
तदस्तु च कथा बह्वी मुनिवंशानुकीर्तनी
Now, there is a lengthy tale, recounting the lineages of sages.
प्रचेतसः सुतः श्रीमानसितो मुनिपुङ्गवः
Prachetas's son was the illustrious Asita, foremost among sages.
न बभूव सुतस्तस्य प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं समुद्यतः
He had no son, being ready to relinquish his life.
मन्त्राधिष्ठातृदेवीं ते सद्यः साक्षाद्भविष्यति 4.30.
The goddess presiding over mantras will appear to them directly and immediately.
श्रुत्वैतच्चरितं विप्रो जगाम शिवसन्निधिम्
Hearing this account, the sage went to the presence of Shiva.
सकलत्रो यथा योगी तुष्टाव योगिनां गुरुम्
With his wife, as a yogi, he praised the guru of yogis.
असित उवाच योगीन्द्राणां च योगीन्द्र गुरूणां गुरवे नमः
Asita said: Salutations to the guru of yogis, the guru of gurus.
मृत्योमृर्त्युस्वरूपेण मृत्युसंसारखण्डन
To the one whose form is both death and immortality, who destroys the bondage of death and worldly existence.
कालरूपं कलयतां कालकालेश कारण
To the lord of time, the cause of those who contemplate the form of time at the appointed hour.
गुणातीत गुणाधार गुणबीज गुणात्मक
Transcending qualities, the support of qualities, the seed of qualities, and whose nature is qualities.
ब्रह्मस्वरूप ब्रह्मज्ञ ब्रह्मभावे च तत्पर
Whose essence is Brahman, who knows Brahman, and who is devoted to the state of Brahman.
इति स्तुत्वा शिवं नत्वा पुरस्तस्थौ मुनीश्वरः
Having praised Shiva and bowed, the lord among sages stood before him.
असितेन कृतं स्तोत्रं भक्तियुक्तश्च यः पठेत्
Whoever recites the hymn composed by Asita with devotion—
स लभेद्वै ष्णवं पुत्रं ज्ञानिनं चिरजीविनम् 4.30.
He attains a Vaishnava son, wise and long-lived.