वाक्पतेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा गत्वोवाच नृपं तदा । दूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्योवाच किंकरम्
Hearing the words of the eloquent one, the messenger went and spoke to the king; after hearing the messenger’s words, the king laughed and said to his attendant:
गच्छ गच्छ त्वरन् गच्छ सप्तर्षीञ्छीघ्रमानय । उपायं च करिष्यामि तैः सार्धं साप्रतं चर
Go, go, hurry, go! Quickly bring the Seven Sages. I will make arrangements; act promptly together with them.
नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा गत्वा दूतस्तदन्तिसम् । उवाच सर्वांस्तत्रैव यथोक्तं नहुषेण च
Hearing the king’s command, the messenger went to the sages and conveyed to them exactly what Nahusha had said.
दूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ययुः सप्तर्षयो मुदा । राजा दृष्ट्वा च तान्सर्वान्ननामोवाच सादरम्
Hearing the messenger’s words, the Seven Sages joyfully went; the king, seeing them all, respectfully bowed and spoke.
नहुष उवाच यूयं च ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा ज्वलन्तो ब्रह्मतेजसा । ब्रह्मणः मदृशाः सर्वे सततं भक्तवत्सलाः
Nahusha said: You are sons of Brahma, blazing with Brahman’s radiance; all of you are ever devoted to those like me.
नारायणपराः शश्वच्छुद्धसत्तवस्वरूपिणः । मोहमात्सर्यहीनाश्च दर्पाहंकारवर्जिताः
Always devoted to Narayana, of pure sattva nature, free from delusion and envy, devoid of pride and ego.
नारायणसमाः सर्वे तेजसा यशसा सदा । गुणेन कृपया प्रेम्णा वरदानेन निश्चितम्
All of you are equal to Narayana in brilliance and fame, certainly in virtue, compassion, love, and the granting of boons.
इत्युक्तवा प्रणतो राजा तुष्टाव च रुरोद च । दृष्टवा ते कातरं भूपमूचुः परहितैषिणः
Having spoken thus, the king bowed, praised them, and wept; seeing the king distressed, those desiring the welfare of others spoke.
ऋषय ऊचुः वरं पृणीष्व हे वत्स यत्ते मनसि वाञ्छितम् । सर्वं दातुं वयं शक्ता नासार्ध्य नश्च किंचन
The sages said: Choose a boon, dear one, whatever you desire in your heart; we are able to grant everything—nothing is difficult or lacking for us.
इन्द्रत्वं वा मनुत्वं वा चिरायुर्वा ततः परम् । सप्तद्धीपेश्वरत्वं चाप्यतीव सुचिरं सुखम्
Whether it is the position of Indra, Manu, long life beyond compare, or sovereignty over the seven continents, or exceedingly long and happy life—
अथापि सर्वसिद्धित्वं सर्वैश्वर्य सुदुर्लभम् । मुक्तिं वा हरिभक्तिं वा तपसा या सुदुर्लभा
Or even complete attainment, the most rare sovereignty over all, or liberation, or devotion to Hari, which is difficult to obtain even by austerity—
किमीप्सितं ते हे वत्स ब्रूहि नः सांप्रतं मुदा । सर्व तुम्यं प्रदायैव यास्यामस्तपसे मुदा
What do you desire, dear one? Tell us now with joy. Having granted you everything, we will gladly return to our austerities.
युगलक्षसमं यच्च क्षणं कृष्णार्चनं विना । तद्दिनं दुर्दिनं यत्तद्ध्यानसेवनवर्जितम्
Any moment, even as brief as a yuga, spent without worshipping Krishna, is a wretched day—one devoid of meditation and service.
विना तत्सेवनं यो हि विषयान्यं च वाञ्छति । विषमत्ति प्रणाशाय विहायामृतमीप्सितम्
Whoever, forsaking that service, desires other objects, consumes poison for their own destruction, abandoning the nectar they should seek.
ब्रह्मा शिवश्च धर्मश्च विष्णुश्चापि महान्विराट् । गणेशश्च दिनेशश्च शषेश्च सनकादयः
Brahma, Shiva, Dharma, the great and vast Vishnu, Ganesha, the Sun, the Moon, and Sanaka and the others—
एते यच्चरणम्भोजं ध्यायन्तेऽहर्निशं मुदा । जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिहरं तन्निरता वयम्
All these, day and night, joyfully meditate upon those lotus feet which remove birth, death, old age, and disease; we too are devoted to them.
तेषां च वचनं श्रृत्वा तानुवाच नृपेश्वरः । स लज्जितो नम्रवक्त्र मायामोहितमानसः
Hearing their words, the lord of kings replied to them, his face lowered in shame, his mind bewildered by illusion and delusion.
नहष उवाच सर्व दातुं समर्थाश्च यूयं च भक्तवत्सलाः । अधुना देहि (दत्त) मे तूर्णं शचीदानमभीप्सितम्
Nahuṣa said: You are all capable of granting everything, and you are devoted to your devotees; now, quickly grant me the gift of Śacī that I desire.
सप्तर्षिवाहनं कान्तं शचीच्छति महासती । एतदेव मम वरं निष्पन्नं कुरुताचिनम्
The great and virtuous Śacī desires the beloved vehicle of the Seven Sages; let this alone be my boon—make it come to pass for me.
नहुषस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मुनयश्च परस्परम् । मत्युच्चैर्जहसुः सर्वे कौतुकेन च नारद
Hearing the words of Nahuṣa, the sages all laughed loudly among themselves, O Nārada, amused by the situation.
राजानं मोहितं मत्वा वेष्टितं विष्णुमायया । चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां तं वोढुं कृपया दीनवत्सलाः
Recognizing the king as deluded, entangled by Viṣṇu's illusion, they, compassionate to the distressed, resolved to carry out his request.
चक्रुः स्कनधे तच्छिविकां मुक्तामाणिक्यभूषिताम् । राजा ययौ सुवेषश्च रत्नभूषणभूषितः
They placed the palanquin, adorned with pearls and jewels, on their shoulders; the king, splendidly attired and decorated with gem ornaments, set out.
दृष्ट्वा चातिविलम्बं च भर्त्सयामास तान्नृपः । क्रुधा शाशाप दुर्वासाश्चाग्रगामी च वर्त्मनि
Seeing their excessive delay, the king rebuked them; in anger, he cursed Durvāsā, who was leading the way.
महानजगनरो भूत्वा पत वै मूढमानस । दर्शनाद्धर्मपुत्रस्य तव मोक्षो भविष्यति
Become a great serpent, O foolish-minded one! You shall fall; by the sight of Dharmaputra, your liberation will come.
रत्नयानेन वैकुण्ठं गत्वा वैकुण्ठसेवनम् । करिष्यसि महाराज न कर्म निष्फलं भवेत्
Traveling to Vaikuṇṭha in a chariot of jewels, you will serve in Vaikuṇṭha, O great king; your actions will not be fruitless.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययुः सर्वे प्रहस्य मुनिसत्तमाः । राजा पपात तच्छापात्सर्पों भूत्वा महामुने
Having spoken thus, all the eminent sages departed, laughing; by that curse, the king fell and became a serpent, O great sage.
शची चगाम त्तच्छ्रृत्वा गुरुं नत्वाऽमरावतीम् । ययौ बृहस्पतिः शीघ्रं यत्रेन्द्रः पद्मतन्तुषु
Hearing this, Śacī departed, bowed to her teacher, and went to Amarāvatī; Bṛhaspati quickly went to where Indra was among the lotus fibers.
गत्वा सनोवराम्याशमाजुहाव सुरेश्वरम् । अतिप्रसन्नवदनः कृपया च कृपानिधिः
Arriving at the beautiful grove, he called out to the lord of the gods, his face beaming with great joy, full of compassion and mercy.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच अयिवत्सत्वमागाच्छ भयं किं ते मयि स्थिते । त्यज भीतिमिहागच्छ गुरुस्तेहं बृहस्पतिः
Bṛhaspati said: O dear one, come forth! What fear is there for you while I am here? Abandon your fear and come here; I am your teacher, Bṛhaspati.
स्वगुरोश्च स्वरं श्रुत्वा महेन्द्रो हृष्टमानसः । रूपं विहाय सूक्ष्मं च स्वरूपेण समाययौ
Hearing the voice of his own teacher, Mahendra, his heart filled with joy, left his subtle form and came forth in his own true form.