पुत्रमाह्वयते माता प्रातराशाय चेन्मुने
If, O sage, a mother calls her son for breakfast,
शौनक उवाच व्युत्पत्त्या संज्ञया वाऽपि तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Shaunaka said: By etymology or by designation, you ought to explain this.
सौतिरुवाच नारं ददौ जन्मकाले तेनायं नारदाभिधः
Sauti said: At the time of birth, she did not give water; therefore, he is called Narada.
ददाति नारं ज्ञानं च बालकेभ्यश्च बालकः
He gives water and knowledge, and the boy gives to other boys as well.
वीर्येण नारदस्यैव बभूव बालको मुने
By the potency of Narada alone, the boy came into being, O sage.
शौनक उवाच मुनीन्द्रस्य कथं नाम नारदश्चेति मंगलम् ।। 1.21.
Shaunaka said: How is the great sage auspiciously named Narada?
सौतिरुवाच ददौ पुत्र कश्यपाय तेनायं नारदाभिधः
Sauti said: He gave the son to Kashyapa; therefore, he is called Narada.
शौनक उवाच शूद्रयोनौ ब्रह्मपुत्रः कथं स नारदाभिधः
Shaunaka said: How is the son of Brahma, born in a Shudra womb, called Narada?
सौतिरुवाच नरान्ददौ तत्कण्ठं च तेन तन्नारदं स्मृतम्
Sauti said: He gave water to his throat, and thus he is remembered as Narada.
ततो बभूव बालश्च नारदात्कण्ठदेशतः
Then a boy was born from Narada's throat.
साम्प्रतं शिशुवृत्तान्तं सावधानं निशामय
Now, attentively listen to the account of the child's early life.
ववृधे गोपिकाबालो विप्रगेहे दिनेदिने
The Gopika boy grew up day by day in the house of the Brahmin.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विप्रा आययुर्विप्रमन्दिरम्
Meanwhile, Brahmins arrived at the Brahmin's house.
प्रच्छन्नं हृतवन्तश्च ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नभास्करम्
They came in secret, having taken away the midday summer sun.
फलमूलादिकं काले चत्वारो मुनिपुङ्गवाः
At the proper time, the four eminent sages brought fruits and roots.
चतुर्थको मुनिस्तस्मै कृष्णमन्त्रं ददौ मुदा 1.21.
The fourth sage gladly gave him the Krishna-mantra.
एकदा शिशुमाता च गच्छन्ती निशि वर्त्मनि
Once, the mother of the child, while walking on the path at night,
सद्यो जगाम वैकुण्ठं विष्णुयानेन सा सती
That virtuous lady immediately went to Vaikuntha in Vishnu's celestial chariot.
प्रातर्बालो द्विजैः सार्धं प्रययौ विप्रमन्दिरात्
In the morning, the boy, together with the brahmins, departed from the brahmin's abode.
ब्रह्मपुत्राः शिशुं त्यक्त्वा स्वस्थानं प्रययुः किल
The sons of Brahma, having left the child, indeed returned to their own place.
तत्र स्नात्वा विप्रदत्तं विष्णुमन्त्रं जजाप सः
There, after bathing, he recited the Vishnu mantra given by the brahmin.
महारण्ये च घोरे च अश्वत्थमूलसन्निधौ
And in the great and terrible forest, at the foot of an ashvattha tree,
शौनक उवाच दत्तं परं श्रींहरेश्च तद्भवान्वक्तु मर्हति
Shaunaka said: The supreme wealth given by Shri Hari—worthy sir, you should tell that.
सौतिरुवाच द्वाविंशत्यक्षरो मन्त्रो वेदेषु च सुदुर्लभः
Sauti said: The mantra of twenty-two syllables, which is very rare even in the Vedas,
तं च ब्रह्मा ददौ भक्त्या कुमाराय च धीमते
That, Brahma gave with devotion to the wise Kumara.
ॐ श्रीं नमो भगवते रास मण्डलेश्वराय 1.21.
"Om, Shri, obeisance to the Lord of the rasa circle."
महापुरुषस्तोत्रं च पूर्वोक्तं कवचं च यत्
Also, the great hymn to the Supreme Person and the previously mentioned protective charm,
तेजोमण्डलरूपे च सूर्य्यकोटिसमप्रभे
In the form of a circle of light, shining like ten million suns,
ध्यायन्ते वैष्णवा रूपं तदभ्यन्तरसन्निधौ
The Vaishnavas meditate on that form in the innermost presence.
नवीनजलदश्यामं शरत्पङ्कजलोचनम्
Of fresh raincloud hue, with eyes like autumn lotuses,