Devi Bhagavata Purana

सम्प्राप्य मानुषभवं सकलाङ्गयुक्तं पोतं भवार्णवजलोत्तरणाय कामम् । सम्प्राप्य वाचकमहो न शृणोति मूढः स वञ्चितोऽत्र विधिना सुखदं पुराणम्

Having obtained a human birth, complete in all limbs, a boat for crossing the ocean of existence, and having found a reciter, alas, the fool who does not listen is deceived by fate and loses the Purāṇa that brings happiness.

यः प्राप्य कर्णयुगलं पटुमानुषत्वे रागी शृणोति सततं च परापवादान् । सर्वार्थदं रसनिधिं विमलं पुराणं नष्टः कुतो न शृणुते भुवि मन्दबुद्धिः

He who, having gained a pair of ears in human birth, always listens with attachment to slander of others, but does not listen to the pure Purāṇa, the giver of all aims and a treasury of nectar—how is such a dull-witted one not lost on earth?

देवीसर्वोत्तमेतिकथनम् ऋषय ऊचुः सौम्य व्यासस्य भार्यायां कस्यां जातः सुतः शुकः । कथं वा कीदृशो येन पठितेयं सुसंहिता

The sages said: Gentle one, in which wife of Vyāsa was the son Śuka born? And how, and of what kind, by whom was this excellent collection recited?

अयोनिजस्त्वया प्रोक्तस्तथा चारणिजः शुकः । सन्देहोऽस्ति महांस्तत्र कथयाद्य महामते

You have said that Śuka was not born from a womb, and also that he was born of a celestial; there is great doubt in this—tell us now, O wise one.

गर्भयोगी श्रुतः पूर्वं शुको नाम महातपाः । कथं च पठितं तेन पुराणं बहुविस्तरम्

It is heard that Śuka, the great ascetic, was formerly a yogi in the womb; and how was this extensive Purāṇa recited by him?

सूत उवाच पुरा सरस्वतीतीरे व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । आश्रमे कलविंकौ तु दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागतः

Sūta said: Once, on the banks of the Sarasvatī, Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, saw two young birds in his hermitage and was filled with wonder.

जातमात्रं शिशुं नीडे मुक्तमण्डान्मनोहरम् । ताम्रास्यं शुभसर्वाङ्गं पिच्छांकुरविवर्जितम्

In the nest, a newly born chick, freed from its shell and charming to behold, with a copper-colored beak, auspicious limbs, and lacking the beginnings of feathers, was seen.

तौ तु भक्ष्यार्थमत्यन्तं रतौ श्रमपरायणौ । शिशोश्चंचुपुटे भक्ष्यं क्षिपन्तौ च पुनः पुनः

Those two birds, entirely devoted to finding food and diligent in their efforts, repeatedly placed food into the chick’s open beak.

अङ्गेनाङ्गानि बालस्य घर्षयन्तौ मुदान्वितौ । चुम्बन्तौ च मुखं प्रेम्णा कलविंकौ शिशोः शुभम्

With joy, they rubbed their bodies against the chick’s limbs, and with affection, the two birds lovingly kissed the chick’s beautiful face.

वीक्ष्य प्रेमाद्‌भुतं तत्र बाले चटकयोस्तदा । व्यासश्चिन्तातुरः कामं मनसा समचिन्तयत्

Seeing that wonderful display of love in the young birds, Vyāsa was overcome with anxious thoughts and reflected deeply in his mind.

तिरश्चामपि यत्प्रेम पुत्रे समभिलक्ष्यते । किं चित्रं यन्मनुष्याणां सेवाफलमभीप्सताम्

If even among animals such love for their offspring is observed, what wonder is there that humans, desiring the fruits of service, should do the same?

किमेतौ चटकौ चास्य विवाहं सुखसाधनम् । विरच्य सुखिनौ स्यातां दृष्ट्वा वध्वा मुखं शुभम्

Will these two birds arrange a marriage for their chick, the means to happiness, and, seeing the bride’s beautiful face, become joyful?

अथवा वार्धके प्राप्ते परिचर्यां करिष्यति । पुत्रः परमधर्मिष्ठः पुण्यार्थं कलविंकयोः

Or, when old age comes, will the son, most righteous, serve his parents for the sake of merit, as is fitting for birds?

अर्जयित्वाथवा द्रव्यं पितरौ तर्पयिष्यति । अथवा प्रेतकार्याणि करिष्यति यथाविधि

Or, having acquired wealth, will he satisfy his parents? Or, will he perform the proper funeral rites for them as prescribed?

अथवा किं गयाश्राद्धं गत्वा संवितरिष्यति । नीलोत्सर्गं च विधिवत्प्रकरिष्यति बालकः

Or, will he go to Gayā and perform the ancestral offerings, and properly carry out the ritual of offering water for the departed?

संसारेऽत्र समाख्यातं सुखानामुत्तमं सुखम् । पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वंगो लालनञ्च विशेषतः

In this world, the highest happiness is said to be the embrace of a son’s body and especially the act of nurturing him.

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गो नैव च नैव च । पुत्रादन्यतरन्नास्ति परलोकस्य साधनम्

For one without a son, there is no destiny, no heaven at all; apart from a son, there is no means to attain the next world.

मन्वादिभिश्च मुनिभिर्धर्मशास्त्रेषु भाषितम् । पुत्रवान्स्वर्गमाप्नोति नापुत्रस्तु कथञ्चन

It has been stated by Manu and other sages in the scriptures of dharma: one with a son attains heaven, but one without a son does not, in any way.

दृश्यतेऽत्र समक्षं तन्नानुमानेन साध्यते । पुत्रवान्मुच्यते पापादाप्तवाक्यं च शाश्वतम्

This is seen directly here and is not established by inference; one with a son is freed from sin—this is the eternal teaching.

आतुरे मृत्युकालेऽपि भूमिशय्यागतो नरः । करोति मनसा चिन्तां दुःखितः पुत्रवर्जितः

Even when ill and at the time of death, lying on the ground, a man without a son is troubled and filled with anxious thoughts.

धनं मे विपुलं गेहे पात्राणि विविधानि च । मन्दिरं सुन्दरं चैतत्कोऽस्य स्वामी भविष्यति

He thinks, 'I have great wealth in my house, and many kinds of vessels; this beautiful mansion—who will be its master?'

मृत्युकाले मनस्तस्य दुःखेन भ्रमते यतः । अतोऽस्य दुर्गतिर्नूनं भ्रान्तचित्तस्य सर्वथा

At the time of death, his mind wanders in sorrow; therefore, surely his fate is miserable, for his mind is utterly confused.

एवं बहुविधां चिन्तां कृत्वा सत्यवतीसुतः । निःश्वस्य बहुधा चोष्णं विमनाः सम्बभूव ह

Having considered many such thoughts, the son of Satyavatī sighed deeply and often, and became despondent.

विचार्य मनसात्यर्थं कृत्वा मनसि निश्चयम् । जगाम च तपस्तप्तुं मेरुपर्वतसनिधौ

After deep reflection in his mind and making a firm resolve, he went to perform austerities near Mount Meru.

मनसा चिन्तयामास कं देवं समुपास्महे । वरप्रदाननिपुणं वाञ्छितार्थप्रदं तथा

He began to ponder in his mind: Which deity should I worship, who is skilled in granting boons and bestows the desired objects?

विष्णुं रुद्रं सुरेन्द्रं वा ब्रह्माणं वा दिवाकरम् । गणेशं कार्तिकेयं च पावकं वरुणं तथा

Should it be Viṣṇu, Rudra, the lord of the gods, Brahmā, the Sun, Gaṇeśa, Kārtikeya, Agni, or Varuṇa?

एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । यदृच्छया समायातो वीणापाणिः समाहितः

As he was thinking in this way, the eminent sage Nārada, holding his vīṇā and composed in mind, arrived there by chance.

तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । कृत्वार्घ्यमासनं दत्त्वा पप्रच्छ कुशलं मुनिम्

Seeing him, Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, was greatly delighted; after offering water for washing and a seat, he inquired about the sage’s well-being.

श्रुत्वाथ कुशलप्रश्नं पप्रच्छ मुनिसत्तमः । चिन्तातुरोऽसि कस्मात्त्वं द्वैपायन वदस्व मे

Hearing the inquiry about his welfare, the best of sages asked, 'Why are you troubled with care, Dvaipāyana? Tell me.'