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.
मृत्योमृर्त्युस्वरूपेण मृत्युसंसारखण्डन
O Death of death, who takes the form of death, destroyer of the bondage of death and worldly existence.
कालरूपं कलयतां कालकालेश कारण
O Lord of time, cause of all, who contemplates the form of time among those who contemplate time.
गुणातीत गुणाधार गुणबीज गुणात्मक
Transcending the qualities, yet the support of the qualities, the seed of the qualities, and composed of the qualities.
ब्रह्मस्वरूप ब्रह्मज्ञ ब्रह्मभावे च तत्पर
Of the nature of Brahman, knower of Brahman, devoted to the state of Brahman.
इति स्तुत्वा शिवं नत्वा पुरस्तस्थौ मुनीश्वरः
Having thus praised and bowed to Shiva, the lord of sages stood before him.
असितेन कृतं स्तोत्रं भक्तियुक्तश्च यः पठेत्
Whoever recites this hymn composed by Asita, endowed with devotion,
स लभेद्वै ष्णवं पुत्रं ज्ञानिनं चिरजीविनम् 4.30.
He will obtain a Vaishnava son, wise and long-lived.
अभार्यो लभते भार्यां सुशीलां च पतिव्र ताम्
A man without a wife obtains a virtuous and devoted wife.
इदं स्तोत्रं पुरा दत्तं ब्रह्मणा च प्रचेतसे
This hymn was formerly given by Brahma to Pracetas.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच उवाच ब्रह्मणः पुत्रं स्वभक्तं भक्तव त्सलः
Śrī Krishna said: Out of affection for his devotee, he spoke to Brahma's son.