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.
शंकर उवाच पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं मदंशेन च मत्समः
Shankara said: Your son will truly be born, equal to me, with a portion of myself.
दास्यामि मन्त्रमतुलं सर्वेषां च सुदुर्लभम्
I will give you an unparalleled mantra, exceedingly rare for all.
स्तोत्रं पूजाविधानं च कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
Hymns of praise, the method of worship, and the most wondrous protective charm—
वरं दातुमिष्टदेवी प्रत्यक्षा भवितेति च
The cherished goddess herself will appear directly to grant a boon.
जजाप परमं मन्त्रं सोऽसितः शतवत्सरम्
That Asita recited the supreme mantra for a hundred years.
पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं महाज्ञानी सुतेति च
Your son will indeed be born—a great knower, a true son.
कालेन च सुतस्तस्य शिवांशेन बभूव ह 4.30.
In time, his son was born, endowed with a portion of Shiva.
सुयज्ञनृपतेः कन्यां रत्नमालावतीं मुदा
With joy, he married Ratnamalavati, the daughter of King Suyajña.
स्थाने स्थाने च रहसि शतवर्षं तया सह
In various secluded places, he spent a hundred years with her.
कालान्तरे स विरतो बभूव मुनिपुंगवः
After some time, that foremost sage withdrew from worldly life.