तेनातिकृष्टेन शरेण विद्धः कोलः किरातेन धनुर्धरेण । पलायमानो भयविह्वलश्च मुनेः समीपं विद्रुतो जगाम
By that hunter, wielding a bow, a boar was struck with a sharp arrow; terrified and trembling with fear, the boar fled and ran to the sage's presence.
विकंपमानो रुधिरार्द्रदेहो यदा जगामाश्रममण्डलं वै । कालस्तदातीव दयार्द्रभावं प्राप्तो मुनिस्तत्र समीक्ष्य दीनम्
Trembling, his body wet with blood, when the boar reached the area of the hermitage, the sage, seeing the pitiable creature, was overcome with deep compassion.
अग्रे व्रजन्तं रुधिरार्द्रदेहं दृष्ट्वा मुनिः सूकरमाशु विद्धम् । दयाभिवेशादतिकम्पमानः सारस्वतं बीजमथोच्चचार
Seeing the boar, its body wet with blood, coming before him, the sage, filled with compassion and trembling greatly, spontaneously uttered the Sarasvata seed-syllable.
अज्ञातपूर्वं च तथाश्रुतञ्च दैवान्मुखे वै समुपागतञ्च । न ज्ञातवान्बीजमसौ विमूढो ममज्ज शोके स मुनिर्महात्मा
That seed-syllable, never before known or heard, came to his mouth by divine will; the sage, bewildered, did not recognize it and, overwhelmed by grief, was plunged into sorrow.
कोलः प्रविश्याश्रममण्डलं तद् गतो निकुञ्जे प्रविलीय गूढम् । अप्राप्तमार्गो दृढनिर्विण्णचेताः प्रवेपमानः शरपीडितत्वात्
The boar, entering the hermitage grounds, slipped away into a thicket and hid himself; his path undetected, his mind utterly despondent, he trembled from the pain of the arrow.
ततः क्षणादाकरणान्तकृष्टं चापं दधानोऽतिकरालदेहः । प्राप्तस्तदन्ते स च मृग्यमाणो निषादराजः किल काल एव
Then, in a moment, the Nishada king—his body exceedingly fierce, holding his drawn bow—arrived at the end of the search, seeking his quarry.
दृष्ट्वा मुनिं तत्र कुशासने स्थितं नाम्ना तु सत्यव्रतमद्वितीयम् । व्याधः प्रणम्य प्रमुखे स्थितोऽसौ पप्रच्छ कोलः क्व गतो द्विजेश
Seeing the sage Satyavrata seated there on a bed of kusha grass, the hunter approached, bowed before him, and standing in front, asked, 'O lord of the twice-born, where has the boar gone?'
जानामि तेऽहं सुव्रतं प्रसिद्धं तेनाद्य पृच्छे मम बाणविद्धः । क्षुधार्दितं मे सकलं कुटुम्बं विभर्तुकामः किल आगतोऽस्मि
I know your renowned vow, O virtuous one; therefore I ask you today. My family, struck by hunger, must be supported, and I have come here with my arrow-wounded prey.
वृत्तिर्ममैषा विहिता विधात्रा नान्याऽस्ति विप्रेन्द्र ऋतं ब्रवीमि । भर्तव्यमेवेह कुटुम्बमञ्जसा केनाप्युपायेन शुभाशुभेन
This is the livelihood ordained for me by the Creator; there is no other, O best of Brahmins, I speak the truth. My family must be supported here, by whatever means, whether auspicious or not.
सत्यं ब्रवीत्वद्य सत्यव्रतोऽसि क्षुधातुरो वर्तते पोष्यवर्गः । क्वासो गतः सूकरो बाणविद्धः पृच्छाम्यहं वाडव ब्रूहि तूर्णम्
Speak the truth today, for you are Satyavrata. My dependents are tormented by hunger. Where is that boar, struck by my arrow? I ask you, O sage—tell me quickly.
तेनेति पृष्टः स मुनिर्महात्मा वितर्कमग्नः प्रबभूव कामम् । सत्यव्रतं मेऽद्य भवेन्न भग्नं न दृष्ट इत्युच्चरितेन किं वै
Thus questioned, the great sage was plunged into deep thought: 'Let not my vow of truthfulness be broken today; but if I say he is not seen, what is the point of such speech?'
गतोऽत्र कोलः शरविद्धदेहः कथं ब्रवीम्यद्य मृषाऽमृषा वा । क्षुधार्दितोऽयं परिपृच्छतीव दृष्ट्वा हनिष्यत्यपि सूकरं वै
'The boar, his body pierced by arrows, has come here—how can I speak falsely or truly today? This man, tormented by hunger, is asking; if he sees the boar, he will surely kill it.'
सत्यं न सत्यं खलु यत्र हिंसा दयान्वितं चानृतमेव सत्यम् । हितं नराणां भवतीह येन तदेव सत्यं न तथाऽन्यथैव
'Truth is not truth where there is violence; and that which is compassionate, though untrue, is indeed truth. That which brings benefit to people is truth here, not otherwise.'
हितं कथं स्यादुभयोर्विरुद्धयो- स्तदुत्तरं किं न यथा मृषा वचः । विचारयन्वाडव धर्मसङ्कटे न प्राप वक्तुं वचनं यथोचितम्
'How can there be benefit for both, when their interests are opposed? What answer can there be, other than a lie? Thus pondering, the sage, caught in a dilemma of dharma, could not utter a fitting reply.'
बाणाहतं वीक्ष्य दयान्वितञ्च कोलं तदन्ते समुदाहृतं वचः । तेन प्रसन्ना निजबीजतः शिवा विद्यां दुरापां प्रददौ च तस्मै
Seeing the boar struck by arrows and filled with compassion, she spoke these words at that moment; pleased with him, the auspicious one granted him the rare knowledge, arising from her own seed.
बीजोच्चारणतो देव्या विद्या प्रस्फुरिताखिला । वाल्मीकेश्च यथापूर्वं तथा स ह्यभवत्कविः
By the utterance of the seed-syllable of the Goddess, all knowledge manifested; and just as before, he became a poet like Vālmīki.
तमुवाच द्विजो व्याधं सम्मुखस्थं धनुर्धरम् । सत्यकामस्तु धर्मात्मा श्लोकमेकं दयापरः
Then the twice-born addressed the hunter standing before him, armed with a bow; Satyakāma, righteous and compassionate, spoke a single verse.
या पश्यति न सा ब्रूते या ब्रूते सा न पश्यति । अहो व्याध स्वकार्यार्थिन् किं पृच्छसि पुनः पुनः
She who sees does not speak, and she who speaks does not see; O hunter, intent on your own purpose, why do you ask again and again?
इत्युक्तस्तु तदा तेन गतोऽसौ पशुहा पुनः । निराशः सूकरे तस्मिन्परावृत्तो निजालये
Thus addressed by him, the animal-slayer departed; disappointed with the boar, he turned back to his own home.
ब्राह्मणस्तु कविर्जातः प्राचेतस इवापरः । प्रसिद्धः सर्वलोकेषु नाम्ना सत्यव्रतो द्विजः
But the brāhmaṇa became a poet, another like the son of Prachetas; renowned everywhere by the name Satyavrata, the twice-born.
सारस्वतं ततो बीजं जजाप विधिपूर्वकम् । पण्डितश्चातिविख्यातो द्विजोऽसौ धरणीतले
Then, performing the proper rites, he recited the Sārasvata seed-mantra; that learned twice-born became exceedingly famous on earth.
प्रतिपर्वसु गायन्ति ब्राह्मणा यद्यशः सदा । आख्यानं चातिविस्तीर्ण स्तुवन्ति मुनयः किल
At every festival, brāhmaṇas always sing his fame; and the sages indeed praise his extensive narrative.
तच्छ्रुत्वा सदनं तस्य समागम्य तदाश्रमे । येन त्यक्तः पुरा तेन गृहं नीतोऽतिमानितः
Hearing this, people gathered at his dwelling and ashram; he who was once abandoned was now brought home with great honor.
तस्माद्राजन्सदा सेव्या पूजनीया च भक्तितः । आदिशक्तिः परा देवी जगतां कारणं हि सा
Therefore, O King, the supreme Goddess, the primal power, the cause of the worlds, should always be served and worshipped with devotion.
तस्या यज्ञं महाराज कुरु वेदविधानतः । सर्वकामप्रदं नित्यं निश्चयं कथितं पुरा
O great King, perform her sacrifice according to Vedic injunction; it is always said to grant all desires.
स्मृता सम्पूजिता भक्त्या ध्याता चोच्चारिता स्तुता । ददाति वाञ्छितानर्थान्कार्यदा तेन कीर्त्यते
Remembered, worshipped with devotion, meditated upon, uttered, or praised, she grants the desired objects; thus she is called the fulfiller of purposes.
अनुभावमिदं राजन् कर्तव्यं सर्वथा बुधैः । दृष्ट्वा रोगयुतान्दीनान्क्षुधितान्निर्धनाञ्छठान्
O King, this effect must always be accomplished by the wise, seeing those afflicted with disease, misery, hunger, poverty, and deceit.
जनानार्तांस्तथा मूर्खान्पीडितान्वैरिभिः सदा । दासानाज्ञाकरान्क्षुद्रान्विकलान्विह्वलानथ
And seeing people who are distressed, ignorant, always tormented by enemies, servants who obey commands, the lowly, the disabled, and the agitated.
अतृप्तान्भोजने भोगे सदार्तानजितेन्द्रियान् । तृष्णाधिकानशक्तांश्च सदाधिपरिपीडितान्
Those unsatisfied in food and enjoyment, always suffering, unable to control their senses, overwhelmed by desire, powerless, and constantly oppressed by others.
तथा विभवसम्पन्नान् पुत्रपौत्रविवर्धनान् । पुष्टदेहांश्च सम्भोगैः संयुतान्वेदवादिनः
Likewise, those endowed with wealth, increasing sons and grandsons, those with strong bodies, enjoying pleasures, and versed in the Vedas.