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.
अभार्यो लभते भार्यां सुशीलां च पतिव्र ताम्
A man without a wife obtains a wife who is virtuous and devoted to her husband.
इदं स्तोत्रं पुरा दत्तं ब्रह्मणा च प्रचेतसे
This hymn was formerly given by Brahmā to Pracetas.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच उवाच ब्रह्मणः पुत्रं स्वभक्तं भक्तव त्सलः
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: He spoke to the son of Brahmā, his own devotee, being affectionate to his devotee.
शंकर उवाच पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं मदंशेन च मत्समः
Śaṃkara said: Your son will indeed be born, and by a portion of myself, he will be like me.
दास्यामि मन्त्रमतुलं सर्वेषां च सुदुर्लभम्
I will give you an unparalleled mantra, exceedingly rare among all.
स्तोत्रं पूजाविधानं च कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
A hymn, a method of worship, and a most wondrous protective charm.
वरं दातुमिष्टदेवी प्रत्यक्षा भवितेति च
The desired goddess will appear directly to grant a boon.
जजाप परमं मन्त्रं सोऽसितः शतवत्सरम्
He, Asita, recited the supreme mantra for a hundred years.
पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं महाज्ञानी सुतेति च
Your son will indeed be born, and he will be a great knower, O son.
कालेन च सुतस्तस्य शिवांशेन बभूव ह 4.30.
In due time, his son was born, endowed with a portion of Śiva.
सुयज्ञनृपतेः कन्यां रत्नमालावतीं मुदा
With joy, he married Ratnamālāvatī, the daughter of King Suyajña.
स्थाने स्थाने च रहसि शतवर्षं तया सह
In various places and in secret, he spent a hundred years with her.
कालान्तरे स विरतो बभूव मुनिपुंगवः
After some time, that foremost sage became detached.
उत्थाय रात्रौ शयनाद्विरक्तश्च तपोधनः
Rising at night from his bed, the ascetic, detached from desire, departed.
निद्रां त्यक्त्वा च तत्कान्ता न दृष्ट्वा स्वामिनं सती
Having abandoned sleep and not seeing her husband, the faithful wife—
उत्तिष्ठन्ती निर्विशन्ती रुरोदोच्चैर्मुहुर्मुहुः
Rising and searching, she wept aloud again and again.
आहारं च परित्यज्य प्राणांस्तत्याज सुन्दरी
Abandoning food, the beautiful woman gave up her life-breath.
तपश्चकार स मुनिर्गन्धमादनगह्वरे
That sage performed austerities in the cave of Gandhamādana.
तं ददर्श ह दैवेन रम्भा शृंगारलोलुपा
By the will of fate, Rambhā, eager for love, beheld him.
सा च तं कथयामास निर्जने समुपस्थिता 4.30.
And she, having come near him in solitude, began to speak.