अंगुष्ठमात्रं पुरुषं गृहीत्वा यमकिङ्करः
A servant of Yama, having seized the person the size of a thumb,
जीवो गत्वा यमं पश्येत्सर्वधर्मज्ञमेव च
the soul, having gone, beholds Yama, who knows all dharma.
धर्माधर्मविचारज्ञं सर्वज्ञं सर्वतोमुखम्
He is expert in discerning righteousness and unrighteousness, all-knowing, facing all directions.
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानं रत्नभूषणभूषितम्
He is adorned with garments purified by fire and decorated with jeweled ornaments.
जपन्तं श्रीकृष्णनाम शुद्धस्फाटिकमालया
He recites the name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, with a pure crystal rosary.
सगद्गदं साश्रुनेत्रं सर्वत्र समदर्शिनम्
His voice is choked with emotion, his eyes filled with tears, and he sees all equally.
स्वतेजसा प्रज्वलन्तं सुखदृश्यं विचक्षणम् 2.36.
He shines with his own brilliance, is pleasant to behold, and is discerning.
पुण्यात्मनां शान्तरूपं पापिनां च भयङ्करम्
To the virtuous he appears peaceful in form, but to the sinful, terrifying.
चित्रगुप्तविचारेण येषां यदुचितं फलम्
By the judgment of Citragupta, each receives the result appropriate to them.
एवं तेषां गतायाते निवृत्तिर्नास्ति जीविनाम्
In this way, for those who have come and gone, there is no cessation for the living.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं वरं प्रार्थय वाञ्छितम्
Thus, all has been told; ask for whatever boon you desire.
महेन्द्र उवाच कल्पवृक्ष मुनिश्रेष्ठ देहि मे परमं पदम्
Mahendra said: O wish-fulfilling tree, best of sages, grant me the supreme state.
महेन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः
Hearing Mahendra's words, the foremost sage smiled.
दुर्वासा उवाच मुक्तिर्युष्मद्विधानां च न लये प्राकृतेऽपि च
Durvāsā said: Liberation is not for those like you, not even at the time of cosmic dissolution.
आविर्भावः सृष्टिविधौ तिरोभावो लयेऽपि च
There is manifestation at the time of creation, and concealment even at dissolution.
यथा भ्रमति कालश्च तथा विषयिणो धुवम्
Just as time wanders, so too do those attached to sense objects, certainly.
पलमेकं भवेदेव यथा विपलषष्टिभिः 2.36.
A single pala is made up of sixty vipalas.
त्रिंशद्भिश्च मुहूर्त्तैश्च भवेदेव दिवानिशम्
And with thirty muhūrtas, a day and night is formed.
पक्षाभ्यां शुक्लकृष्णाभ्यां मास एव विधीयते
A month is constituted by the two fortnights, the bright and the dark.
ऋतुत्रयेणायनं च ताभ्यां द्वाभ्यां च वत्सरः
By three seasons comes an ayana, and by those two ayanas, a year.
वत्सरैर्नरमानैश्च युगानां च चतुष्टयम्
By years, by human measurements, and by the four yugas.
युगे नराणां शक्रायुर्मनोरायुः प्रकीर्त्तितम्
In a yuga, the lifespan of humans, of Indra, and of Manu is declared.
निपातो ब्रह्मणस्तत्र भवेत्प्राकृतिको लयः
There, the dissolution of Brahmā is said to be the natural dissolution.
चक्षुर्निमेषः सृष्टिश्च पुनरुन्मीलने तथा
The opening and closing of the eye is creation, and again, its reopening as well.
यथा पृथिव्या रेणूनामित्यूचे चन्द्रशेखरः
As are the particles of earth—so spoke Candraśekhara.
सृष्टिसूत्रस्वरूपं हि चान्यद्वृणु वरं सुर
The true nature of the thread of creation—choose another boon, O god.
आत्मनः पूर्वमैश्वर्य्यं वरयामास तत्र वै 2.36.
There, he chose his former sovereignty for himself.
नारद उवाच किं चकार गृहं गत्वा तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Nārada said: What did he do after going home? You should explain that to me.
नारायण उवाच वैराग्यं वर्द्धयामास तदा ब्रह्मन्दिने दिने
Nārāyaṇa said: Then, day by day, he increased his detachment during Brahmā's day.
मुनिस्थानाद्गृहं गत्वा स ददर्शामरावतीम्
Going home from the sage's place, he saw Amarāvatī.