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.
कथं त्वां पुरुषो देवमचिरादेव पश्यति
How does a man see you, O god, in a short time?
आयासबहुला लोके यानि चान्यानि शङ्कर
O Śaṅkara, what other arduous tasks exist in the world?
दृश्यो हि भगवान् सूक्ष्मः सर्वेषामथ देहिनाम्
The Blessed Lord, though subtle, is indeed perceivable by all embodied beings.
हिताय सर्वभक्तानां ब्रूहि कामाङ्गनाशन
For the welfare of all devotees, speak, O destroyer of desire.
वक्ष्ये तव यथा तत्त्वं यदुक्तं परमर्षिभिः
I shall declare to you the true principle, as spoken by the supreme sages.
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां संसारार्णवतारिणी
It is the deliverer from the ocean of worldly existence for all beings.
निवसन्ति महात्मानः परं नियममास्थिताः
Great souls, established in supreme discipline, dwell there.
ज्ञानानामुत्तमं ज्ञानमविमुक्तं परं मम
Among all forms of knowledge, the highest is the imperishable, which is mine.
श्मशानसंस्थितान्येव दिव्यभूमिगतानि च
Only those who dwell in cremation grounds or have reached the divine realm [perceive this].
अयुक्तास्तन्न पश्यन्ति युक्ताः पश्यन्ति चेतसा
The unyoked do not see that, but the yoked perceive it with their mind.