गते मुनीन्द्रे गोलोकं वृन्दावनविनोदिनी
When the chief sage departed for Goloka, Vrindavan rejoiced.
श्रीराधिकोवाच अतिखर्वजनाकारस्तेजीयानतिकुत्सितः
Shri Radha said: His form was exceedingly short, radiant, and not at all contemptible.
कथं वा निर्गतं भस्म देहादस्य किमद्भुतम्
How did ashes emerge from his body, and what was so wondrous about it?
रथस्थः पुण्यवान्सद्यो गोलकं च जगाम ह
Seated in the chariot, the virtuous one immediately went to Goloka.
त्वया कृतं च सत्कारमश्रुपूर्णेन चक्षुषा
You performed the rites with eyes full of tears.
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मधुसूदनः कथां कथितुमारेभे युगान्तरगतामपि
Hearing Radha's words, Madhusudana smiled and began to recount a story from another age.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच पश्चाच्छ्रोष्यसि कालेन प्रसङ्गे विदुषां मुखात्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Later, in due course, you will hear this in context from the mouths of the learned.
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 troubled in mind.
राधिकोवाच स वितृप्तो भवति किं गोष्पदोदकपानतः
Rādhikā said: Is one ever satisfied by drinking water from a cow's hoofprint?
वेदानां वेदवक्तॄणां विधातुर्जनकस्य च
Of the Vedas, their teachers, and the progenitor of the creator as well.
राधिकावचनं श्रुत्वा तुष्टः कृष्णो बभूव ह
Hearing Rādhikā's words, Kṛṣṇa became pleased.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच श्रवणात्कथनाद्यस्य सर्वं पापं प्रणश्यति
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: By hearing or reciting this, all one's sins are destroyed.
महाविष्णोर्नाभिपद्माद्बभूव जगतां विधिः
From the lotus at the navel of Mahāviṣṇu, the creator of the worlds arose.
पुत्रा बभूवुश्चत्वारो ब्रह्मणो मानसात्पुरा
Long ago, four sons were born from the mind of Brahmā.
शिशवः पञ्चवर्षीया नग्ना अज्ञानिनो यथा
They were five-year-old boys, naked, and ignorant as children are.
सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः
Sanaka, Sananda, and the third, Sanātana,
तानुवाच जगद्धाता सृष्टिं कुरुत पुत्रकाः 4.30.
To them, the creator of the world said: 'Sons, create progeny.'
विधाता विमनस्कश्च तनयेषु गतेषु च
The creator was disheartened when his sons departed.
ज्ञानेन निर्ममे पुत्रान्स्वाङ्गेषु च तपोधनान्
By knowledge, he created sons endowed with austerity from his own limbs.
अत्रिः पुलस्त्यः पुलहो मरीचिर्भृगुरङ्गिराः
Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Marīci, Bhṛgu, and Aṅgirā,
शङ्कुः शङ्खः पञ्चशिखः प्रचेतास्ते तपोधनाः
Śaṅku, Śaṅkha, Pañcaśikha, and Pracetā—these were ascetics rich in austerity.
कलत्रवन्तस्ते सर्वे संसारं कर्तुमु न्मुखाः
All of them, possessing wives, were intent on continuing worldly existence.
तदस्तु च कथा बह्वी मुनिवंशानुकीर्तनी
So be it; and there are many stories recounting the lineages of sages.
प्रचेतसः सुतः श्रीमानसितो मुनिपुङ्गवः
The illustrious Asita, son of Pracetas, was a foremost sage.
न बभूव सुतस्तस्य प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं समुद्यतः
He had no son who was prepared to give up his life.
मन्त्राधिष्ठातृदेवीं ते सद्यः साक्षाद्भविष्यति 4.30.
That goddess who presides over mantras will manifest before you directly and immediately.
श्रुत्वैतच्चरितं विप्रो जगाम शिवसन्निधिम्
Hearing this account, the sage went into the presence of Shiva.
सकलत्रो यथा योगी तुष्टाव योगिनां गुरुम्
With his wife, just as a yogi should, he praised the guru of yogis.
असित उवाच योगीन्द्राणां च योगीन्द्र गुरूणां गुरवे नमः
Asita said: Salutations to the guru of gurus, the lord of the yogis among yogis.