म्रियते नात्र सन्देहो नृप किञ्चित्कदापि च । स्वायुषोऽन्ते पद्यजाद्याः क्षयमृच्छन्ति पार्थिव
There is no doubt at all, O King, that at the end of one's allotted lifespan, those born from the lotus and others meet their destruction.
प्रभवन्ति पुनर्विष्णुहरशक्रादयः सुराः । तस्मात्कामादिकान्भावान्देहवान्प्रतिपद्यते
Again, Viṣṇu, Hara, Śakra, and other gods arise; therefore, one possessing a body acquires states such as desire and the rest.
नात्र ते विस्मयः कार्यः कदाचिदपि पार्थिव । संसारोऽयं तु सन्दिग्धः कामक्रोधादिभिर्नृप
You should never be astonished at this, O King; this cycle of existence is indeed uncertain, beset by desire, anger, and the like.
दुर्लभस्तद्विनिर्मुक्तः पुरुषः परमार्थवित् । यो बिभेतीह संसारे स दारान्न करोत्यपि
Rare is the person freed from these who knows the highest truth; he who fears this cycle of existence does not even take a wife.
विमुक्तः सर्वसङ्गेभ्यो विचरत्यविशङ्कितः । तस्माद्बृहस्पतेर्भार्या शशिना लम्भिता पुनः
Freed from all attachments, he wanders without anxiety; thus, Bṛhaspati's wife was again seized by the moon.
गुरूणा लम्भिता भार्या तथा भ्रातुर्यवीयसः । एवं संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन् रागलोभादिभिर्वृतः
The wife of the guru was seized, as was the wife of the younger brother; thus, in this wheel of existence, one is enveloped by passion, greed, and the like.
गार्हस्थ्यञ्च समास्थाय कथं मुक्तो भवेन्नरः । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन हित्वा संसारसारताम्
How can a man become liberated while embracing household life? Therefore, by every effort, one should abandon the essence of worldly existence.
आराधयेन्महेशानीं सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् । तन्मायागुणतश्छन्नं जगदेतच्चराचरम्
He should worship Maheśānī, whose form is existence, consciousness, and bliss; this entire world, moving and unmoving, is concealed by her māyā and qualities.
भ्रमत्युन्मत्तवत्सर्वं मदिरामत्तवन्नृप । तस्या आराधनेनैव गुणान्सर्वान्विमृद्य च
All wander like madmen, O King, as if intoxicated by wine; by worshipping her alone, one overcomes all qualities.
मुक्तिं भजेत मतिमान्नान्यः पन्थास्त्वितः परः । आराधिता महेशानी न यावत्कुरुते कृपाम्
The wise attains liberation; there is no other path beyond this. Until Maheśānī is worshipped and grants her compassion,
तावद्भवेत्सुखं कस्मात्कोऽन्योऽस्ति दयया युतः । करुणासागरामेतां भजेत्तस्मादमायया
So long, happiness remains—why? Who else is endowed with mercy? Therefore, one should worship this ocean of compassion with sincerity.
यस्यास्तु भजनेनैव जीवन्मुक्तत्वमश्नुते । मानुष्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य सेविता न महेश्वरी
By worshipping her alone, one attains liberation while living. Having obtained rare human birth, if Maheśvarī is not served,
निःश्रेणिकाग्रात्पतिता अध इत्येव विद्महे । अहङ्कारावृतं विश्वं गुणत्रयसमन्वितम्
One falls from the summit of the ladder, downward—so we know; the universe is enveloped by ego and endowed with the three qualities.
असत्येनापि सम्बद्धं मुच्यते कथमन्यथा । हित्वा सर्वं ततः सर्वेः संसेव्या भुवनेश्वरी
Even bound by untruth, how else can one be freed? Therefore, having abandoned everything, one should serve the Lady of the World.
राजोवाच किं कृतं गुरूणा तत्र काव्यरूपधरेण च । कदा शुक्रः समायातस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
The king said: What did the guru do there, taking the form of Kāvyā? When did Śukra arrive? Tell me this, O Grandfather.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्कृतं गुरुणा तदा । कृत्वा काव्यस्वरूपञ्च प्रच्छन्नेन महात्मना
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, I will tell you what the guru did then, having assumed the form and voice of Kāvyā, concealed by the great soul.
गुरुणा बोधिता दैत्या मत्वा काव्यं स्वकं गुरुम् । विश्वासं परमं कृत्वा बभूवुस्तन्मयास्तदा
The demons, instructed by the guru, thinking Kāvyā to be their own teacher, placed utmost trust and became like him at that time.
विद्यार्थं शरणं प्राप्ता भृगुं मत्वातिमोहिताः । गुरुणा विप्रलब्धास्ते लोभात्को वा न मुह्यति
Seeking knowledge, they approached Bhṛgu for refuge, utterly deluded; deceived by the guru out of greed—who is not bewildered by greed?
दशवर्षात्मके काले सम्पूर्णसमये तदा । जयन्त्या सह क्रीडित्वा काव्यो याज्यानचिन्तयत्
When the full period of ten years had passed, Kāvya, after sporting with Jayantī, began to think of the sacrificers.
आशया मम मार्गं ते पश्यन्तः संस्थिताः किल । गत्वा तान्वै प्रपश्येऽहं याज्यानतिभयातुरान्
With the hope that they might be waiting for me, surely watching my path, I will go and see those sacrificers, who are greatly troubled by fear.
मा देवेभ्यो भयं तेषां मद्भक्तानां भवेदिति । सञ्चिन्त्य बुद्धिमास्थाय जयन्तीं प्रत्युवाच ह
Thinking, 'Let my devotees not be afraid of the gods,' and taking counsel with himself, he addressed Jayantī.
देवानेवोपसंयान्ति पुत्रा मे चारुलोचने । समयस्तेऽद्य सम्पूर्णो जातोऽयं दशवार्षिकः
"O beautiful-eyed one, the gods are approaching, and my vow of ten years is now complete."
तस्माद् गच्छाम्यहं देवि द्रष्टुं याज्यान्सुमध्यमे । पुनरेवागमिष्यामि तवान्तिकमनुद्रुतः
"Therefore, O slender-waisted goddess, I will go to see the sacrificers. I will return to you again without delay."
तथेति तमुवाचाथ जयन्ती धर्मवित्तमा । यथेष्टं गच्छ धर्मज्ञ न ते धर्मं विलोपये
Jayantī, best knower of dharma, replied, "So be it. Go as you wish, knower of dharma; I will not hinder your duty."
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं काव्यो जगाम त्वरितस्ततः । अपश्यद्दानवानां च पार्श्वे वाचस्पतिं तदा
Hearing her words, Kāvya quickly departed from there and then saw Vācaspati among the Daityas.
छद्मरूपधरं सौम्यं बोधयन्तं छलेन तान् । जैनं धर्मं कृतं स्वेन यज्ञनिन्दापरं तथा
He saw him, gentle in appearance, instructing them with deceit, having assumed a disguised form, and establishing his own Jain doctrine, which was opposed to sacrifice.
भो देवरिपवः सत्यं ब्रवीमि भवतां हितम् । अहिंसा परमो धर्मोऽहन्तव्या ह्याततायिनः
"O enemies of the gods, I speak the truth for your benefit: non-violence is the highest dharma; only aggressors should be slain."
द्विजैर्भोगरतैर्वेदे दर्शितं हिंसनं पशोः । जिह्वास्वादपरैः काममहिंसैव परा मता
"The Vedas, interpreted by twice-born who delight in enjoyment, prescribe animal sacrifice; but those who seek pleasure for the tongue consider non-violence to be supreme."
एवंविधानि वाक्यानि वेदशास्त्रपराणि च । ब्रुवाणं गुरुमाकर्ण्य विस्मितोऽसौ भृगोः सुतः
Hearing his teacher speak such words, even quoting Vedic scriptures, the son of Bhṛgu was astonished.
चिन्तयामास मनसा मम द्वेष्यो गुरुः किल । वञ्चिताः किल धूर्तेन याज्या मे नात्र संशयः
He thought to himself, "Surely my teacher has become my enemy; my sacrificers have certainly been deceived by this trickster—there is no doubt."