कालेन कियता तत्र नारदस्योपदेशतः । ज्ञानं परमकं प्राप्य योगमार्गमनुत्तमम्
After some time, by Nārada's instruction, he attained supreme knowledge and the unsurpassed path of yoga.
पुत्रे राज्यं निधायाथ गतो बदरिकाश्रमम् । मायाबीजोपदेशेन तस्य ज्ञानं निरर्गलम्
Having entrusted the kingdom to his son, he went to the Badarikā hermitage; through the teaching of the seed of Māyā, his knowledge became unobstructed.
नारदस्य प्रसादेन जातं सद्यो विमुक्तिदम् । कैलासशिखरे रम्ये त्यक्त्वा सङ्गं पितुः शुकः
By Nārada's grace, immediate liberation was attained; Śuka, abandoning attachment to his father, in the delightful peak of Kailāsa.
ध्यानमास्थाय विपुलं स्थितः सङ्गपराङ्मुखः । उत्पपात गिरेः शृङ्गात्सिद्धिं च परमां गतः
He took up deep meditation, turning away from attachment, and rose from the mountain peak, attaining supreme accomplishment.
आकाशगो महातेजा विरराज यथा रविः । गिरेः शृङ्गं द्विधा जातं शुकस्योत्पतने तदा
Moving through the sky, radiant with great energy, he shone like the sun; at Śuka's ascent, the mountain peak split in two.
उत्पाता बहवो जाताः शुकश्चाकाशगोऽभवत् । अन्तरिक्षे यथा वायुः स्तूयमानः सुरर्षिभिः
Many omens appeared, and Śuka moved through the sky; in the atmosphere like the wind, praised by the divine sages.
तेजसातिविराजन्वै द्वितीय इव भास्करः । व्यासस्तु विरहाक्रान्तः क्रन्दन्पुत्रेति चासकृत्
Radiant with extraordinary brilliance, like a second sun, Vyasa, overwhelmed by separation, repeatedly cried out, 'My son!'
गिरेः शृङ्गे गतस्तत्र शुको यत्र स्थितोऽभवत् । क्रन्दमानं तदा दीनं व्यासं मत्वा श्रमाकुलम्
He reached the mountain peak where the parrot had remained; seeing Vyasa distressed and exhausted, the parrot perceived his sorrowful cries.
सर्वभूतगतः साक्षी प्रतिशब्दमदात्तदा । तत्राद्यापि गिरेः शृङ्गे प्रतिशब्दः स्फुटोऽभवत्
Present as a witness in all beings, the parrot then echoed Vyasa's cries; even today, a clear echo resounds on that mountain peak.
रुदन्तं तं समालक्ष्य व्यासं शोकसमन्वितम् । पुत्र पुत्रेति भाषन्तं विरहेण परिप्लुतम्
Observing Vyasa weeping, overcome with grief, calling out 'Son, son!' and submerged in the pain of separation,
शिवस्तत्र समागत्य पाराशर्यमबोधयत् । व्यास शोकं मा कुरु त्वं पुत्रस्ते योगवित्तमः
Shiva appeared there and instructed Parashara's son: 'Vyasa, do not grieve; your son is foremost in yoga.'
परमां गतिमापन्नो दुर्लभां चाकृतात्मभिः । तस्य शोको न कर्तव्यस्त्वयाशोकं विजानता
He has attained the supreme state, rare for those who have not mastered themselves; you, who understand freedom from sorrow, should not mourn for him.
कीर्तिस्ते विपुला जाता तेन पुत्रेण चानघ । व्यास उवाच न शोको याति देवेश किं करोमि जगत्पते
Your fame has become great through that son, O sinless one. Vyasa said: 'Yet, O Lord of gods, my sorrow does not depart; what can I do, Lord of the world?'
अतृप्ते लोचने मेऽद्य पुत्रदर्शनलालसे । महादेव उवाच छायां द्रक्ष्यसि पुत्रस्य पार्श्वस्थां सुमनोहराम्
Today my eyes remain unsatisfied, longing to see my son. Mahadeva said: 'You will see the beautiful shadow of your son standing nearby.'
तां वीक्ष्य मुनिशार्दूल शोकं जहि परन्तप । सूत उवाच तदा ददर्श व्यासस्तु छायां पुत्रस्य सुप्रभाम्
Beholding that shadow, O tiger among sages, abandon your grief, O scorcher of foes. Suta said: Then Vyasa saw the radiant shadow of his son.
दत्त्वा वरं हरस्तस्मै तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । अन्तर्हिते महादेवे व्यासः स्वाश्रममभ्यगात्
Having granted the boon, Hara vanished there; with Mahadeva disappeared, Vyasa returned to his hermitage.
शुकस्य विरहेणापि तप्तः परमदुःखितः
Even with Shuka's absence, he was scorched by grief, suffering greatly.
धृतराष्ट्रादीनामुत्पत्तिवर्णनम् ऋषय ऊचुः शुकस्तु परमां सिद्धिमाप्तवान्देवसत्तमः । किं चकार ततो व्यासस्तन्नो ब्रूहि सविस्तरम्
The account of the birth of Dhritarashtra and others. The sages said: 'Shuka, O best of gods, attained the highest perfection; what did Vyasa do afterward? Tell us in detail.'
सूत उवाच शिष्या व्यासस्य येऽप्यासन्वेदाभ्यासपरायणाः । आज्ञामादाय ते सर्वे गताः पूर्वं महीतले
Suta said: The disciples of Vyasa, devoted to the study of the Vedas, all received his command and departed earlier onto the earth.
असितो देवलश्चैव वैशम्पायन एव च । जैमिनिश्च सुमन्तुश्च गताः सर्वे तपोधनाः
Asita, Devala, Vaishampayana, Jaimini, and Sumantu—all those ascetics departed.
तानेतान्वीक्ष्य पुत्रं च लोकान्तरितमप्युत । व्यासः शोकसमाक्रान्तो गमनायाकरोन्मतिम्
Seeing them and his son departed from the world, Vyasa, overwhelmed by sorrow, resolved to depart.
सस्मार मनसा व्यासस्तां निषादसुतां शुभाम् । मातरं जाह्नवीतीरे मुक्तां शोकसमन्विताम्
Vyasa remembered in his mind that virtuous Nishada maiden, his mother, freed from sorrow, dwelling on the banks of the Jahnavi.
स्मृत्वा सत्यवतीं व्यासस्त्यक्त्वा तं पर्वतोत्तमम् । आजगाम महातेजा जन्मस्थानं स्वकं मुनिः
Recalling Satyavati, Vyasa, abandoning that lofty mountain, the great sage of brilliant energy, went to his own birthplace.
द्वीपं प्राप्याथ पप्रच्छ क्व गता सा वरानना । निषादास्तं समाचख्युर्दत्ता राज्ञे तु कन्यका
Having reached the island, he inquired, 'Where has that beautiful-faced woman gone?' The Nishadas informed him: 'The maiden was given to the king.'
दाशराजोऽपि सम्पूज्य व्यासं प्रीतिपुरःसरम् । स्वागतेनाभिसत्कृत्य प्रोवाच विहिताञ्जलिः
The King of the Dashas, having respectfully worshipped Vyasa with great affection, welcomed him with due honor and addressed him with joined palms.
दाशराज उवाच अद्य मे सफलं जन्म पावितं नः कुलं मुने । देवानामपि दुर्दर्शं यज्जातं तव दर्शनम्
The King of the Dashas said: Today my birth has borne fruit, and our lineage is purified, O Sage, for even the gods rarely behold what I have seen—your presence.
यदर्थमागतोऽसि त्वं तद्ब्रूहि द्विजसत्तम । अपि दारा धनं पुत्रास्त्वदायत्तमिदं विभो
For whatever purpose you have come, O best of twice-born, please tell me that. My wives, wealth, and sons—all this is at your disposal, O illustrious one.
सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये चकाराश्रममण्डलम् । व्यासस्तपःसमायुक्तस्तत्रैवास समाहितः
On the beautiful bank of the Sarasvati, Vyasa established a hermitage, and there, absorbed in austerities, he resided with focused mind.
सत्यवत्याः सुतौ जातौ शन्तनोरमितद्युतेः । मत्वा तौ भ्रातरौ व्यासः सुखमाप वने स्थितः
When the two sons of Satyavati, radiant descendants of Shantanu, were born, Vyasa, considering them brothers, lived contentedly in the forest.
चित्राङ्गदः प्रथमजो रूपवाञ्छत्रुतापनः । बभूव नृपतेः पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः
Chitrangada, the eldest, handsome and a subduer of foes, became the king's son, endowed with all auspicious marks.