बभार परमां भक्तिमीशाने ऽव्यभिचारिणीम्
He bore supreme devotion to Īśāna, unwavering and pure.
सर्वज्ञं सर्वकर्तारं स्क्षाद् विष्णुं व्यवस्थितम्
He recognized Viṣṇu, the all-knowing, the creator of all, established directly before him.
कराभ्यां सुशुभाभ्यां च संस्पृश्य प्रणतं मुनिः
The sage, with his beautiful hands, touched the one who had bowed before him.
त्रैलोक्ये शङ्करे नूनं भक्तः परपुरञ्जय
In the three worlds, O conqueror of enemy cities, Śaṅkara is surely the object of devotion.
प्रत्यक्षमेव सर्वेशं रुद्रं सर्वजगद्गुरुम्
He saw directly the Lord of all, Rudra, the teacher of the entire universe.
स्वयमेव हृषीकेशः प्रीत्योवाच सनातनः
Then Hṛṣīkeśa himself, the eternal one, spoke with affection.
व्रजस्व परया भक्त्या शरण्यं शरणं शिवम्
Go with supreme devotion to Śiva, the refuge of all who seek shelter.
जगाम शङ्करपुरीं समाराधयितुं भवम्
He went to the city of Śaṅkara to worship Bhava.
संत्यज्य सर्वकर्माणि तद्भक्तिपरमो ऽभवत्
Abandoning all actions, he became wholly devoted to that worship.
मुक्त्वा सत्यवतीसूनुं कृष्णं वा देवकीसुतम्
Leaving behind Satyavatī's son, or Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī—
पाराशर्याय मुनये व्यासायामिततेजसे
To the sage Pārāśarya, to Vyāsa of immeasurable brilliance—
को ह्यन्यस्तत्त्वतो रुद्रं वेत्ति तं परमेश्वरम्
Who else, indeed, truly knows Rudra, the Supreme Lord?
पाराशर्यं महात्मानं योगिनं विष्णुमव्ययम्
To Pārāśarya, the great-souled one, the yogin, the imperishable Viṣṇu—
प्रेणेमुस्तं महात्मानं व्यासं सत्यवतीसुतम्
We bow to that great soul, Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī.
किमकार्षोन्महाबुद्धिः श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि नः
What did the great-minded one do? We wish to hear, for we are curious.
पूजयामास जाह्नव्यां देवं विश्वेश्वरं शिवम्
He worshipped the god Śiva, Lord of all, on the banks of the Ganges.
पूजयाञ्चक्रिरे व्यासं मुनयो मुनिपुङ्गवम्
The sages honored Vyāsa, foremost among sages, with their worship.
महादेवाश्रयाः पुण्या मोक्षधर्मान् सनातनान्
Those virtuous ones, devoted to Mahādeva, followed the eternal teachings of liberation.
माहात्म्यं देवदेवस्य धर्मान् वेदनिदर्शितान्
The greatness of the god of gods, and the dharmas shown in the Vedas.
पृष्टवान् जैमिनिर्व्यासं गूढमर्थं सनातनम्
Jaimini questioned Vyāsa about the profound and eternal meaning.
न विद्यते ह्यविदितं भवता परमर्षिणा
There is nothing unknown to you, O supreme sage.
अन्ये सांख्यं तथा योगं तपस्त्वन्ये महर्षयः
Some sages pursue Sāṃkhya and Yoga, while others practice austerity.
अहिंसां सत्यमप्यन्ये संन्यासमपरे विदुः
Others know nonviolence and truth, and some understand renunciation.
तीर्थयात्रां तथा केचिदन्ये चेन्द्रियनिग्रहम्
Some undertake pilgrimages, while others practice restraint of the senses.
यदि वा विद्यते ऽप्यन्यद् गुह्यं तद्वक्तुमर्हसि
If there is anything else secret, you ought to tell it.
प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा प्रणम्य वृषकेतनम्
He spoke with deep words, having bowed to the one whose emblem is the bull.
वक्ष्ये गुह्यतमाद् गुह्यं श्रुण्वन्त्वन्ये महर्षयः
I will speak the most secret of secrets; let the other great sages listen.
गूढमप्राज्ञविद्विष्टं सेवितं सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः
Hidden, unknown to the unwise, served by those who see subtlety.
न वेदविद्विषु शुभं ज्ञाननानां ज्ञानमुत्तमम्
Among those ignorant of the Vedas, the highest knowledge of various knowledges is not auspicious.
देवासनगता देवी महादेवमपृच्छत
The goddess, seated among the gods, questioned Mahādeva.