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.
विषण्णबान्धवां चैव बन्धुहीनां च कुत्रचित्
He saw some with sorrowful relatives, and some who were without relatives.
शत्रुग्रस्तां च दृष्ट्वा तामगमद्वाक्पतिं प्रति
Seeing her afflicted by enemies, he approached the lord of speech.
ध्यायमानं परं ब्रह्म गङ्गातोये स्थितं परम्
He saw the Supreme Brahman, absorbed in meditation, standing in the waters of the Gaṅgā.
साश्रुनेत्रं पुलकितं परमानन्दसंयुतम्
With tearful eyes, thrilled, filled with supreme bliss.
श्रेष्ठं च वन्धुवर्गाणामतिश्रेष्ठं च मानिनाम्
Foremost among relatives, and the most excellent among the proud.
दृष्ट्वा गुरुं जपन्तं च तत्र तस्थौ सुरेश्वरः
Seeing the guru reciting, the lord of the gods stood there.
प्रणम्य चरणाम्भोजे रुरोदोच्चैर्मुहुर्मुर्हुः 2.37.
Having bowed to the lotus feet, he wept aloud again and again.
पुनर्वरो मया लब्धो ज्ञानिनामपि दुर्लभाम्
Once more, I have obtained a boon that is difficult even for the wise to attain.
शिष्यस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सतां बुद्धिमतां वरः
Hearing the words of the disciple, the best among the virtuous and wise,
बृहस्पतिरुवाच न कातरो हि नीतिज्ञो विपत्तौ स्यात्कदाचन
Bṛhaspati said: One who knows what is right is never fearful in adversity.