यत्र पर्वतशृङ्गे वै कर्णिकारवनाद्भुते । क्रीडन्ति देवताः सर्वे मुनयश्च तपोऽधिकाः
There, on the wondrous mountain peak adorned with groves of karṇikāra trees, all the gods and the great ascetics devoted to austerity sport and play.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा मरुतश्चाश्विनौ तथा । वसन्ति मुनयो यत्र ये चान्ये ब्रह्मवित्तमाः
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, the two Aśvins, and the sages—those who are foremost knowers of Brahman—reside there.
तत्र हेमगिरेः शृङ्गे संगीतध्वनिनादिते । तपश्चचार धर्मात्मा व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
On that summit of the golden mountain, resounding with the music of song, the righteous Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, performed austerities.
ततोऽस्य तेजसा व्याप्तं विश्वं सर्वं चराचरम् । अग्निवर्णा जटा जाता पाराशर्यस्य धीमतः
Then, by his radiance, the entire universe—moving and unmoving—became filled; the wise son of Parāśara's matted locks turned the color of fire.
ततोऽस्य तेज आलक्ष्य भयमाप शचीपतिः । तुरासाहं तदा दृष्ट्वा भयत्रस्तं श्रमातुरम्
Seeing his brilliance, the lord of Śacī was seized by fear; beholding Turāsāha in that state—trembling with fear and exhausted—
उवाच भगवान् रुद्रो मघवन्तं तथास्थितम् । शङ्कर उवाच कथमिन्द्राद्य भीतोऽसि किं दुःखं ते सुरेश्वर
The blessed Rudra spoke to Maghavan, who stood thus: 'O Indra, why are you afraid now? What troubles you, lord of the gods?'
अमर्षो नैव कर्तव्यस्तापसेषु कदाचन । तपश्चरन्ति मुनयो ज्ञात्वा मां शक्तिसंयुतम्
One should never harbor resentment toward ascetics; the sages perform austerities knowing me, endowed with power.
न त्वेतेऽहितमिच्छन्ति तापसाः सर्वथैव हि । इत्युक्तवचनः शक्रस्तमुवाच वृषध्वजम्
These ascetics never wish harm in any way; thus addressed, Śakra spoke to the bull-bannered one.
कस्मात्तपस्यति व्यासः कोऽर्थस्तस्य मनोगतः । शिव उवाच पाराशर्यस्तु पुत्रार्थी तपश्चरति दुश्चरम्
'Why is Vyāsa performing austerities? What desire occupies his mind?' Śiva said: 'The son of Parāśara seeks a son and undertakes severe penance.'
पूर्णवर्षशतं जातं ददाम्यद्य सुतं शुभम् । सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्या वासवं रुद्रो दयया मुदिताननः
'Though a full hundred years have passed, today I shall grant him an auspicious son.' Sūta said: Thus, with these words, Rudra, his face beaming with compassion, spoke to Vāsava.
गत्वा ऋषिसमीपं तु तमुवाच जगद्गुरुः । उत्तिष्ठ वासवीपुत्र पुत्रस्ते भविता शुभः
Going to the sage, the Lord of the Universe said: 'Arise, son of Vāsavī; an auspicious son will be born to you.'
सर्वतेजोमयो ज्ञानी कीर्तिकर्ता तवानघ । अखिलस्य जनस्यात्र वल्लभस्ते सुतः सदा
'He will be filled with all brilliance, wise, and a maker of fame for you, O sinless one; your son will always be beloved by all people here.'
भविष्यति गुणैः पूर्णः सात्त्विकैः सत्यविक्रमः । सूत उवाच तदाकर्ण्य वचः श्लक्ष्णं कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा
'He will be endowed with all virtues, pure in nature, and truly valiant.' Sūta said: Hearing these gentle words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana then—
शूलपाणिं नमस्कृत्य जगामाश्रममात्मनः । स गत्वाश्रममेवाशु बहुवर्षश्रमातुरः
Having bowed to the trident-bearing Lord, he went to his own hermitage; reaching his hermitage swiftly, weary from many years of austerity—
अरणीसहितं गुह्यं ममन्थाग्निं चिकीर्षया । मन्थनं कुर्वतस्तस्य चित्ते चिन्ताभरस्तदा
With the secret fire-sticks, he churned to produce fire; as he churned, his mind was filled with anxious thoughts.
प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा सुतोत्पत्तौ महात्मनः । मन्थानारणिसंयोगान्मन्थनाच्च समुद्भवः
Suddenly, as the great soul was intent on producing a son, an apparition appeared; from the union of the churning sticks and the act of churning, there arose—
पावकस्य यथा तद्वत्कथं मे स्यात्सुतोद्भवः । पुत्रारणिस्तु या ख्याता सा ममाद्य न विद्यते
'Just as fire arises thus, how will a son be born to me? The putrāraṇi, the stick for producing a son, is said to exist, but today I do not possess it.'
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना कुलोत्पन्ता पतिव्रता । कथं करोमि कान्तां च पादयोः शृङ्खलासमाम्
'A young woman, endowed with beauty, born of a noble family, devoted to her husband—how can I make such a beloved, adorned with anklets at her feet?'
पुत्रोत्पादनदक्षां च पातिव्रत्ये सदा स्थिताम् । पतिव्रतापि दक्षापि रूपवत्यपि कामिनी
She who is skilled in bearing children, always steadfast in fidelity to her husband—whether devoted, skilled, beautiful, or passionate—
सदा बन्धनरूपा च स्वेच्छासुखविधायिनी । शिवोऽपि वर्तते नित्यं कामिनीपाशसंयुतः
is ever a source of bondage, yet grants pleasure at will; even Shiva himself is always bound by the snare of a passionate woman.
कथं करोम्यहं चात्र दुर्घटं च गृहाश्रमम् । एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य घृताची दिव्यरूपिणी
How shall I undertake this difficult life of a householder? While he was thus reflecting, Ghritachi, of divine form,
प्राप्ता दृष्टिपथं तत्र समीपे गगने स्थिता । तां दृष्ट्वा चञ्चलापाङ्गीं समीपस्थां वराप्सराम्
appeared within his sight, standing nearby in the sky; seeing that enchanting-eyed, nearby, excellent apsara,
पञ्चबाणपरीताङ्गस्तूर्णमासीद्धृतव्रतः । चिन्तयामास च तदा किं करोम्यद्य संकटे
his body was at once overcome by the five arrows of love, though he was firm in his vow; then he thought, 'What shall I do now in this peril?'
धर्मस्य पुरतः प्राप्ते कामभावे दुरासदे । अङ्गीकरोमि यद्येनां वञ्चनार्थमिहागताम्
When, in the presence of Dharma, the state of desire—so hard to overcome—arises, if I accept her, who has come here to deceive,
हसिष्यन्ति महात्मानस्तापसा मां तु विह्वलम् । तपस्तप्त्वा महाघोरं पूर्णवर्षशतं त्विह
'Great souls, ascetics, will laugh at me, seeing me agitated, though I have performed severe austerity for a full hundred years.'
दृष्ट्वाप्सरां च विवशः कथं जातो महातपाः । कामं निन्दापि भवतु यदि स्यादतुलं सुखम्
'How has this great ascetic become helpless at the sight of an apsara? Let there be reproach if only there is incomparable pleasure.'
गृहस्थाश्रमसम्भूतं सुखदं पुत्रकामदम् । स्वर्गदं च तथा प्रोक्तं ज्ञानिनां मोक्षदं तथा
'The householder's life brings happiness, grants sons, is said to give heaven, and, for the wise, even liberation.'
न भविष्यति तन्नूमनया देवकन्यया । नारदाच्च मया पूर्वं श्रुतमस्ति कथानकम् । यथोर्वशीवशो राजा पराभूतः पुरूरवाः
'But that will not happen with this celestial maiden; I have already heard the tale from Narada, how King Pururavas was defeated, enslaved by Urvashi.'
बुधोत्पत्तिः ऋषय ऊचुः कोऽसौ पुरूरवा राजा कोर्वशी देवकन्यका । कथं कष्टं च सम्प्राप्तं तेन राज्ञा महात्मना
The sages said: Who is this King Pururavas? Who is Urvashi, the celestial maiden? What hardship did that great-souled king encounter?
सर्वं कथानकं ब्रूहि लोमहर्षणजाधुना । श्रोतुकामा वयं सर्वे त्वन्मुखाब्जच्युतं रसम्
Tell us the whole story, O son of Lomaharshana; we all wish to hear the nectar flowing from your lotus mouth.