जपस्य च दशांशेन होमः कार्यो विधानतः । भवद्भिः कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं वेदविद्भिः कृपापरैः
"According to the injunction, a tenth part of the recitation should be offered in the fire. You, compassionate knowers of the Veda, should perform this for the accomplishment of my purpose."
सत्यव्रतोऽहं नृपतेः पुत्रो ब्रह्मविदांवराः । कार्यं मम विधातव्यं सर्वथा सुखहेतवे
"I am Satyavrata, son of the king, O foremost among knowers of Brahman. My work must be accomplished in every way for the sake of happiness."
तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणास्तत्र तमूचुर्नृपतेः सुतम् । शप्तस्त्वं गुरुणा प्राप्तं पिशाचत्वं त्वयाधुना
Hearing this, the brāhmaṇas there spoke to the king's son: "You have been cursed by your guru and have now attained the state of a piśāca."
न यागार्होऽसि तस्मात्त्वं वेदेष्वनधिकारतः । पिशाचत्वमनुप्राप्तं सर्वलोकेषु गर्हितम्
"Therefore, you are not eligible for sacrifice, as you have no right in the Vedas. You have attained the state of a piśāca, which is condemned in all worlds."
व्यास उवाच - तन्निशम्य वचस्तेषां राजा दुःखमवाप ह । धिग्जीवितमिदं मेऽद्य किं करोमि वने स्थितः
Vyāsa said: Hearing their words, the king was overcome with sorrow. "Fie on this life of mine today! What shall I do, dwelling in the forest?"
पित्रा चाहं परित्यक्तः शप्तश्च गुरुणा भृशम् । राज्याद्भ्रष्टः पिशाचत्वमनुप्राप्तः करोमि किम्
"Abandoned by my father and severely cursed by my guru, deprived of my kingdom and fallen into the state of a piśāca, what shall I do?"
तदा पृथुतरां कृत्वा चितां काष्ठैर्नृपात्मजः । सस्मार चण्डिकां देवीं प्रवेशमनुचिन्तयन्
Then, the prince built a large funeral pyre with wood, remembered the Goddess Caṇḍikā, and contemplated entering it.
स्मृता देवीं महामायां चितां प्रज्वलितां पुरः । कृत्वा स्नात्वा प्रवेशार्थं स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरग्रतः
Having remembered the great Māyā, the Goddess, and kindled the pyre before him, he bathed and stood with joined palms, ready to enter.
ज्ञात्वा भगवती तं तु मर्तुकामं महीपतिम् । आजगाम तदाऽऽकाशं प्रत्यक्षं तस्य चाग्रतः
Knowing that the king wished to die, the Blessed Goddess then appeared visibly before him in the sky.
दत्त्वाथ दर्शनं देवी तमुवाच नृपात्मजम् । सिंहारूढा महाराज मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
Having granted her vision, the Goddess, mounted on a lion, spoke to the prince with a voice deep as thunder, O king.
देव्युवाच - किं ते व्यवसितं साधो हुताशे मा तनुं त्यज । स्थिरो भव महाभाग पिता ते जरसान्वितः
The Goddess said: "What have you resolved, O noble one? Do not abandon your body in the fire. Be steadfast, O greatly fortunate one; your father is afflicted with old age."
राज्यं दत्त्वा वने तुभ्यं गन्तास्ति तपसे किल । विषादं त्यज हे वीर परश्वोऽहनि भूपते
"Having given you the kingdom, he will go to the forest for austerities. Cast off your sorrow, O hero; on the day after tomorrow, O king."
नेतुं त्वामागमिष्यन्ति सचिवाश्व पितुस्तव । मत्प्रसादात्पिता च त्वामभिषिच्य नृपासने
Your father's ministers will come to bring you back; by my grace, your father will anoint you on the royal throne.
जित्वा कामं ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्येत्येष निश्चयः । व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्त्वा तं तदा देवी तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having conquered desire, he will go to the world of Brahma—this is certain. Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the Goddess vanished there itself.
राजपुत्रो विरमितो मरणात्पावकात्ततः । अयोध्यायां तदाऽऽगत्य नारदेन महात्मना
The prince, restrained from death by fire, then came to Ayodhya, accompanied by the great sage Narada.
वृत्तान्तः कथितः सर्वो राज्ञे सत्वरमादितः । श्रुत्वा राजाथ पुत्रस्य तं तथा मरणोद्यमम्
All the events were quickly told to the king, from the beginning, by Narada; hearing of his son's attempt at death,
खेदमाधाय मनसि शुशोच बहुधा नृपः । सचिवानाह धर्मात्मा पुत्रशोकपरिप्लुतः
The king, filled with sorrow in his heart, grieved in many ways; overwhelmed by grief for his son, the righteous king spoke to his ministers.
ज्ञातं भवद्भिरत्युग्रं पुत्रस्य मम चेष्टितम् । त्यक्तो मया वने धीमान्पुत्रः सत्यव्रतो मम
You all know well the severe actions of my son; my wise son Satyavrata, worthy of the kingdom, was sent by me to the forest.
आज्ञयासौ गतः सद्यो राज्यार्हः परमार्थवित् । स्थितस्तत्रैव विज्ञाने धनहीनः क्षमान्वितः
By my command, he went at once—worthy of the kingdom, knower of the highest truth; he remained there, steadfast in knowledge, patient, though without wealth.
वसिष्ठेन तथा शप्तः पिशाचसदृशः कृतः । सोऽद्य दुःखेन सन्तप्तः प्रवेष्टुञ्च हुताशनम्
Cursed by Vasishtha, he was made like a demon; today, tormented by sorrow, he was about to enter the fire.
उद्यतः श्रीमहादेव्या निषिद्धः संस्थितः पुनः । तस्माद् गच्छन्तु तं शीघ्रं ज्येष्ठपुत्रं महाबलम्
He was restrained by the great Goddess Mahadevi as he was about to do so, and stood still; therefore, let my eldest, mighty son be brought here quickly.
आश्वास्य वचनैरत्र तरसैवानयन्त्विह । अभिषिच्य सुतं राज्ये औरसं पालनक्षमम्
Comfort him with words and bring him here at once; after anointing my true-born son, fit to rule, on the throne,
वनं यास्यामि शान्तोऽहं तपसे कृतनिश्चयः । इत्युक्त्वा मन्त्रिणः सर्वान्प्रेषयामास पार्थिवः
I will go to the forest, peaceful and resolved to practice austerity. Having said this, the king sent all his ministers.
तस्यैवानयनार्थं हि प्रीतिप्रवणमानसः । ते गत्वा तं समाश्वास्य मन्त्रिणः पार्थिवात्मजम्
With a mind inclined toward affection for the purpose of bringing him back, those ministers went, comforted the prince, and reassured him.
अयोध्यायां महात्मानं मानपूर्वं समानयन् । दृष्ट्वा सत्यव्रतं राजा दुर्बलं मलिनाम्बरम्
Brought the great-souled one to Ayodhya with due honor; seeing Satyavrata weak and clad in soiled garments,
जटाजूटधरं क्रूरं चिन्तातुरमचिन्तयत् । किं कृतं निष्ठुरं कर्म मया पुत्रो विवासितः
With matted locks, harsh in appearance, distressed by anxiety, the king thought: What cruel deed have I done, exiling my son?
राज्यार्हश्चातिमेधावी जानता धर्मनिश्चयम् । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा तमालिङ्य महीपतिः
Worthy of the kingdom, exceedingly wise, knowing the essence of dharma—thus reflecting in his mind, the king embraced him.
आसने स्वसमीपशे समाश्वास्योपवेशयत् । उपविष्टं सुतं राजा प्रेमपूर्वमुवाच ह
He seated him near himself on a seat, comforting him; when his son was seated, the king spoke to him with deep affection.
प्रेमगद्गदया वाचा नीतिशास्त्रविशारदः । राजोवाच - पुत्र धर्मे मतिः कार्या माननीया मुखोद्भवाः
With a voice choked with love, skilled in the science of ethics, the king said: My son, your mind should be set on dharma; those born from the mouth (Brahmins) must be honored.
न्यायागतं धनं ग्राह्यं रक्षणीयाः सदा प्रजाः । नासत्यं क्वापि वक्तव्यं नामार्गे गमनं क्वचित्
Wealth acquired by justice should be accepted; the subjects must always be protected. Falsehood should never be spoken, nor should you ever stray from the right path.