मुचुकुन्दश्च पुण्यात्मा सर्वे शक्रसमा युधि
And Mucukunda, of virtuous soul—all were equal to Indra in battle.
हरितो युवनाश्वस्य हारितस्तत्सुतो ऽभवत्
Harita was the son of Yuvanāśva, and Hārita was his son.
नर्मदायां समुत्पन्नः संभूतिस्तत्सुतो ऽभवत्
Saṃbhūti was born in the Narmadā, and he was the son of Hārita.
बृहदशवो ऽनरण्यस्य हर्यश्वस्तत्सुतो ऽभवत्
Bṛhadaśva was the son of Anaraṇya, and Haryaśva was his son.
प्रसादाद्धार्मिकं पुत्रं लेभे सूर्यपरायणम्
By grace, he obtained a righteous son devoted to the Sun.
लेभे त्वप्रतिमं पुत्रं त्रिधन्वानमरिन्दमम्
He obtained an incomparable son, Tridhanvan, subduer of enemies.
स्वाध्यायवान् दानशीलस्तितिक्षुर्धर्मतत्परः
He was devoted to study, generous in giving, patient, and intent on righteousness.
वसिष्ठकश्यपमुखा देवाश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमाः
The gods headed by Vasiṣṭha and Kaśyapa, with Indra at the forefront,
समाप्य विधिवद् यज्ञं वसिष्ठादीन् द्विजोत्तमान्
Having duly completed the sacrifice, he honored Vasiṣṭha and the other foremost Brahmins.
यज्ञस्तपो वा संन्यासो ब्रूत मे सर्ववेदिनः
O all-knowing ones, tell me: is sacrifice, austerity, or renunciation the highest?
इष्ट्वा यज्ञेश्वरं यज्ञैर् गच्छेद वनमथात्मवान्
Having worshipped the Lord of Sacrifice with sacrifices, a self-controlled person should then go to the forest.
प्रव्रजेद् विधिवद् यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा पूर्वं सुरोत्तमान्
One should properly enter the renounced life, having first worshipped the excellent gods with sacrifices.
तमाराध्य सहस्त्रांशुं तपसा मोक्षमाप्नुयात्
By worshipping the thousand-rayed one through austerity, one attains liberation.
बीजं भगवता येन स देवस्तपसेज्यते
That seed by which the Blessed Lord, the god, is worshipped through austerity—
स रुद्रस्तपसोग्रेण पूज्यते नेतरैर्मखैः
That Rudra is worshipped by fierce austerity, not by other sacrifices.
स सर्वदैवततनुः पूज्यते तपसेश्वरः
He, the Lord of Austerity, whose form is all the deities, is worshipped through austerity.
तपः सुमहदास्थाय पूज्यते स महेश्वरः
By undertaking great austerity, that great Lord is worshipped.
स देवदेवस्तपसा पूजनीयः सनातनः
He, the eternal God of gods, is to be worshipped through austerity.
प्रसीदति महायोगी पूजितस्तपसा परः
The supreme great yogi is pleased when worshipped with austerity.
नान्तरेण तपः कश्चिद्धर्मः शास्त्रेषु दृश्यते
No dharma is seen in the scriptures without austerity.
विसर्जयित्वा संपूज्य त्रिधन्वानमथाब्रवीत्
Having dismissed and honored them, he then spoke to Tridhanvan.
प्राणं बृहन्तं पुरुषमादित्यान्तरसंस्थितम्
The great vital being, the Person, situated within the sun—
चातुर्वर्ण्यसमायुक्तमशेषं क्षितिमण्डलम्
The entire earth, endowed with the fourfold varṇa system—
जगामारण्यमनघस्तपश्चर्तुमनुत्तमम्
He went to the forest, sinless, to perform supreme austerity.
कन्दमूलफलाहारो मुन्यन्नैरयजत् सुरान्
Sustained by roots, tubers, and fruits, he worshipped the gods with ascetic food.
जजाप मनसा देवीं सावित्ररिं वेदमातरम्
He mentally recited the Sāvitrī, the goddess, mother of the Vedas.
हिरण्यगर्भो विश्वात्मा तं देशमगमत् स्वयम्
Hiraṇyagarbha, the soul of the universe, himself went to that place.
ननाम शिरसा तस्य पादयोर्नाम कीर्तयन्
He bowed his head at his feet, reciting his name.
हिर्ण्यमूर्तये तुभ्यं सहस्त्राक्षाय वेधसे
To you, of golden form, thousand-eyed, creator, I offer praise.
सांख्ययोगाधिगम्याय नमस्ते ज्ञानमूर्तये
Salutations to you, embodiment of knowledge, attainable through Sāṃkhya and Yoga.