पीतवर्णो भवेद्वैश्यः शूद्रः कृष्णः स्मृतो बुधैः । यथावर्णं समुद्दिष्टो वर्णेषु ब्राह्मणादिषु ॥ २,६.
A yellow one is for a Vaishya, and a black one is known by the wise as for a Shudra; thus, the color is prescribed according to the four classes, beginning with Brahmins.
अथ वा रक्तवर्णस्तु सर्वेषामेव शस्यते । पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः ॥ २,६.
Alternatively, a red-colored bull is praised for all; father, grandfather, and great-grandfather alike.
आशासते सुतं जातं वृषोत्सर्गं करिष्यति । धर्मस्त्वं वृषरूपेण जगदानन्ददायकः ॥ २,६.
They hope that a son will be born who will perform the bull-release; you are Dharma in the form of a bull, giver of joy to the world.
अष्टमूर्तेरधिष्ठानमतः शान्तिं प्रयच्छ मे । गङ्गायमुनयोः पेयमन्तर्वेदि तृणं चर ॥ २,६.
Abode of the eight-formed one, therefore grant me peace; drink the waters of the Ganga and Yamuna, and graze on grass within the sacrificial enclosure.
धर्मराजस्य पुरतो वाच्यं मे सुकृतं वृष । दक्षिणांसे त्रिशूलाङ्कं वामोरौ चक्रचिह्नितम् ॥ २,६.
Before the Lord of Dharma, let my good deeds be spoken by you, O bull; on your right shoulder is the mark of a trident, on your left thigh the sign of a discus.
इति संप्रार्थ्य वृषभं गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिभिः । वृषं तत्सतरीयुक्तं पूजयित्वा समुत्सृजेत् ॥ २,६.
Having thus prayed to the bull with scents, flowers, rice, and so on, and having worshipped the bull yoked with a cow, let it be released.
तस्माद्राजन् विधानेन वृषोत्सर्गं समाचर । बहुसाधनयुक्तस्य नान्यथा सद्गतिस्तव ॥ २,६.
Therefore, O King, perform the bull-release according to rule; for one endowed with many means, there is no other path to the good state.
आसीत्त्रेतायुगे पूर्वं विदेहनगरे नृप । ब्राह्मणो धर्मवत्सेति स्वकर्मनिरतः सुधीः ॥ २,६.
In former times, in the city of Videha during the Tretā age, there was a wise Brahmin named Dharmavat, devoted to his own duties.
विष्णुभक्तोऽतितेजस्वी यथालाभेन तुष्टिकृत् । पितृपर्वणि संप्राप्ते कुशार्यो काननं ययौ ॥ २,६.
A devotee of Vishnu, of great brilliance, content with what he obtained, when the ancestor-rites arrived, he went to the forest to gather sacred grass.
अटन्नितस्ततस्तत्र चिन्वन् कुशपलाशकम् । सहसोपेत्य पुरुषाश्चात्वारश्चारुदर्शनाः ॥ २,६.
Wandering here and there, collecting kuśa and palāśa grass, suddenly four men of fierce appearance approached him.
विभ्रान्तमनसं गृह्य प्रत्यग्जग्मुर्विहायसा । बहुवृक्षसमाकीर्णं गिरिदुर्गभयानकम् ॥ २,६.
Seizing him, whose mind was bewildered, they went westward through the sky, into a forest thick with trees, mountainous and terrifying.
वनाद्वनान्तरं निन्युर्नदीनदसमाकुलम् । स तत्र नगरं राजन् ददर्श बहुविस्तरम् ॥ २,६.
They led him from forest to forest, through regions filled with rivers and streams; there, O King, he saw a city of great extent.
गोपुरद्वाररचितं सौधप्रासादमण्डितम् । चत्वरापणपण्यादिनरनारीसमाकुलम् ॥ २,६.
With gateways adorned with towers, embellished with mansions and palaces, and crowded with squares, markets, merchants, and men and women.
तूर्यद्वन्द्वाभिनिर्घोषवीणापटहनादितम् । कांश्चित्क्षुधार्दितान्दीनान्मलिनान्विगतौजसः ॥ २,६.
Resounding with the clamor of paired musical instruments, the sounds of lutes and drums; and there, some people, afflicted by hunger, wretched, dirty, and devoid of strength.
ततोऽतितुष्टान्मलिनान्वस्त्रखण्डसमावृतान् । अग्रतो हृष्टपुष्टांश्च स्वर्णवस्त्रोपशोभितान् ॥ २,६.
Then, he saw some exceedingly content, though clothed in tattered garments, and ahead, others who were joyful and well-nourished, adorned with golden ornaments and fine goods.
ततोऽपि सुरसंकाशान्स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितोऽभवत् । किं स्वप्न उत माया वै मदीयो मानसो भ्रमः ॥ २,६.
Beyond that, seeing some who shone like gods, he became astonished: 'Is this a dream, or an illusion, or some confusion of my own mind?'
सन्दिहानं द्विजं निन्युः पुरुषा राजसन्निधिम् । सतद्ददर्श विप्रस्तु स्वर्णप्रासादमन्दिरे ॥ २,६.
While he was doubting, men led the twice-born to the royal presence; and there, the Brahmin saw a palace adorned with gold.
सिंहासनंमहादिव्यं छत्रचामरवीजितम् । तत्रोप विष्टं राजानं किरीटकनकोज्ज्वलम् ॥ २,६.
A great, divine throne, fanned with umbrellas and yak-tail whisks; and upon it sat a king, his crown shining with gold.
महत्या च श्रिया युक्तं स्तूयमानं सुवन्दिभिः । राजापि दृष्ट्वा तं विप्रं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः ॥ २,६.
Endowed with immense splendor, praised by excellent bards; and the king, seeing the Brahmin, rose to greet him with joined palms.
पूजयामास विधिवन्मधुपर्कास नादिभिः । सन्तुष्टमनसं देवमस्तौषीत्परया मुदा ॥ २,६.
He worshipped him according to proper rites, with offerings such as madhuparka; his mind satisfied, he praised the god with supreme joy.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म पावितञ्च कुलं प्रभो । विष्णुभक्तस्य धर्मस्य यत्ते दृग्गोचरं गतः ॥ २,६.
'Today my birth is fruitful, and my lineage purified, O Lord, for a devotee of Vishnu and of righteousness has come within your sight.'
नत्वा स्तुत्वा बहुविधमुवाचानुवसन्नृपः । यतः समागतो देवः पुनस्तत्रैव नीयताम् ॥ २,६.
Having bowed and offered many kinds of praise, the king, seated, spoke: 'Since the god has arrived, let him be led back there again.'
इति श्रुत्वा वचो राज्ञः पप्रच्छ द्विजपुङ्गवः । ब्राह्मण उवाच । कोऽयं देश कुतो लोका उत्तमा मध्यमाधमाः ॥ २,६.
Hearing these words of the king, the foremost of Brahmins asked: The Brahmin said: 'What is this place? From where are these worlds—superior, middling, and inferior?'
केन पुण्येन तु भवान्पारमेष्ट्यविभूषितः । किमर्थमहमानीतः पुनस्तत्रैव नीयते ॥ २,६.
'By what merit have you been adorned with the splendor of Brahma? For what reason have I been brought here, and why am I to be led back there again?'
अपूर्वमिव पश्यामि सर्वं स्वप्नगतो यथा । राजोवाच । स्वधर्मनिरतो यस्तु हरिभक्तिरतः सदा ॥ २,६.
'I see everything as if unprecedented, as if in a dream.' The king said: 'He who is devoted to his own duty and always engaged in devotion to Hari—'
विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः स मे पूज्यो न संशयः । तीर्थयात्रापरो नित्यं वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित् ॥ २,६.
'Detached from sense objects, he is worthy of my worship, without doubt; always intent on pilgrimages, and knowing the special rites of bull-offering.'
सत्यदानपरो यस्तु स नमस्यो दिवौकसाम् । दर्शनार्थमिहानीतः पूजार्हश्च परन्तप ॥ २,६.
'He who is devoted to truth and charity is to be honored even by the gods; he has been brought here for a vision, and is worthy of worship, O subduer of foes.'
अनुगृहाण मां देव क्षमस्व मम साहसम् । इत्युक्त्वा दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणां संज्ञया भ्रुवः ॥ २,६.
'Grant me your favor, O god, forgive my offense.' Having spoken thus, he signaled with his eyebrows to his ministers.
वदिष्यति समग्रं ते स्वयं वक्तुं न साम्प्रतम् । सामन्तः सर्ववेदज्ञो ज्ञात्वा हार्दं नृपस्य च ॥ २,६.
'He will tell you everything in full; it is not the time for me to speak now.' The chief minister, knowing all the Vedas and the king's heart—
विपश्चिदुवाच । पूर्वजन्मनि वैश्योऽयं विश्वम्भर इति श्रुतः । विराधनगरे विप्र द्विजदेवविभूषिते ॥ २,६.
The learned one said: 'In a previous birth, this one was a Vaiśya named Viśvambhara, in the city of Virādhana, O Brahmin, renowned for its Brahmins and gods.'