ऊचुर्ब्रह्मर्षयस्तं तु वचनं धर्मसंहितम् ऋषिवंशेषु भगवंश् छिन्नमूलमिदं पदम्
The Brahmarshis then spoke these words, imbued with righteousness: 'O venerable one, in the lines of seers, this lineage stands cut off at its root.'
एकस्त्वमनपत्यश्च गोत्रजो ऽन्यो न वर्तते कौमारं व्रतमास्थाय क्लेशमेवानुवर्तसे
You alone remain, without offspring, and no other of your lineage exists; having adopted the vow of celibacy from youth, you only continue in hardship.
बहूनि विप्र गोत्राणि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् एकदेहानि तिष्ठन्ति विविक्तानि विना प्रजाः
O Brahmin, among the sages of purified soul, many lineages exist, but their bodies remain solitary, without progeny.
एवमुच्छिन्नमूलैश्च पुत्रैर्नो नास्ति कारणम् भवांस्तु तपसा श्रेष्ठो प्रजापातसमद्युतिः
Thus, with sons cut off at the root, we have no cause; but you, foremost in austerity, radiant as Prajapati, remain.
तत्र वर्तस्व वंशाय वर्धयात्मानम् आत्मना त्वया धर्मो ऽर्जितस्तेन द्वितीयां कुरु वै तनुम्
Therefore, act for the sake of your lineage; increase yourself by your own self. By your virtue, which you have acquired, create a second body.
स एवमुक्तो मुनिभिर् मुनिर् मर्मसु ताडितः जगर्हे तानृषिगणान् वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the sages, the sage, struck to the core, reproached those groups of seers and spoke these words:
यथायं विहितो धरो मुनीनां शाश्वतः पुरा आर्षं वै सेवतः कर्म वन्यमूलफलाशिनः
As this eternal practice was established among the sages of old—serving the rishi’s way, living on forest roots and fruits—
ब्रह्मयोनौ प्रसूतस्य ब्राह्मणस्यात्मदर्शिनः ब्रह्मचर्यं सुचरितं ब्रह्माणमपि चालयेत्
For a Brahmin born from Brahma, who has realized the self, well-practiced celibacy can even shake the mind of Brahma himself.
जनानां वृत्तयस्तिस्रो ये गृहाश्रमवासिनः अस्माकं तु वरं वृत्तिर् वनाश्रमनिवासिनाम्
There are three ways of life for people who dwell in the householder stage; but for us who reside in the forest hermitage, the ascetic life is the best.
अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च दन्तोलूखलिनस्तथा अश्मकुट्टा ह्यशनकाः पञ्चातपसहाश्च ये
Those who live on water, those who live on air, those who grind with their teeth, those who pound with stones, and those who endure the fivefold heat—
एते तपसि तिष्ठन्ति व्रतैरपि सुदुष्करैः ब्रह्मचर्यं पुरस्कृत्य प्रार्थयन्ति परां गतिम्
These remain steadfast in austerity, undertaking vows that are most difficult, and, with celibacy at the forefront, seek the highest state.
ब्रह्यचर्याद्ब्राह्मणस्य ब्राह्मणत्वं विधीयते एवमाहुः परे लोके ब्रह्मचर्यविदो जनाः
It is from celibacy that a Brahmin’s Brahminhood is established; thus do those who know celibacy declare in the other world.
ब्रह्मचर्ये स्थितं सत्यं ब्रह्मचर्ये स्थितं तपः ये स्थिता ब्रह्मचर्ये तु ब्राह्मणा दिवि संस्थिताः
Truth abides in celibacy, austerity abides in celibacy; those Brahmins who remain steadfast in celibacy dwell in heaven.
नास्ति योगं विना सिद्धिर् न वा सिद्धिं विना यशः नास्ति लोके यशोमूलं ब्रह्मचर्यात्परं तपः
Without yoga there is no attainment, nor is there fame without attainment; in this world, there is no root of fame greater than celibacy, nor any austerity superior to it.
यो निगृह्येन्द्रियग्रामं भूतग्रामं च पञ्चकम् ब्रह्मचर्यं समाधत्ते किमतः परमं तपः
He who restrains the group of senses and the fivefold group of elements, and establishes himself in celibacy—what austerity is greater than this?
अयोगे केशधरणम् असंकल्पव्रतक्रियां अब्रह्मचर्ये चर्या च त्रयं स्याद् दम्भसंज्ञकम्
Wearing matted hair without union, performing vows without resolve, and conduct without celibacy—these three are known as hypocrisy.
क्व दाराः क्व च संयोगः क्व च भावविपर्ययः नन्वियं ब्रह्मणा सृष्टा मनसा मानसी प्रजा
Where are wives, where is union, and where is the confusion of feelings? Was not this mental progeny created by Brahma through his mind?
यद्यस्ति तपसो वीर्यं युष्माकं विदितात्मनाम् सृजध्वं मानसान्पुत्रान् प्राजापत्येन कर्मणा
If you, who know your own selves, possess the power of austerity, then create mental sons by the act of Prajapati.
मनसा निर्मिता योनिर् आधातव्या तपस्विभिः न दारयोगो बीजं वा व्रतमुक्तं तपस्विनाम्
The womb created by the mind should be established by ascetics; for ascetics released by vows, there is neither union nor seed.
यदिदं लुप्तधर्मार्थं युष्माभिरिह निर्भयैः व्याहृतं सद्भिरत्यर्थम् असद्भिरिव मे मतम्
What you have declared here, fearlessly, abandoning righteousness and purpose, seems to me, though spoken by the good, to be as if by the wicked.
वपुर्दीप्तान्तरात्मानम् एतत्कृत्वा मनोमयम् दारयोगं विना स्रक्ष्ये पुत्रम् आत्मतनूरुहम्
Having made this body, with a blazing inner self, of the substance of mind, I shall create a son, sprung from my own body, without union.
एवमात्मानमात्मा मे द्वितीयं जनयिष्यति वन्येनानेन विधिना दिधक्षन्तमिव प्रजाः
Thus, my own self will beget a second self by this wild method, as if wishing to burn up the creatures.
ऊर्वस्तु तपसाविष्टो निवेश्योरुं हुताशने ममन्थैकेन दर्भेण सुतस्य प्रभवारणिम्
Possessed by austerity, the thigh must be placed in the sacred fire; with a single blade of grass, he churned his thigh as the fire-stick for the birth of a son.
तस्योरुं सहसा भित्त्वा ज्वालामाली ह्यनिन्धनः जगतो दहनाकाङ्क्षी पुत्रो ऽग्निः समपद्यत
Suddenly piercing his thigh, a flame-wreathed, fuel-less son, desiring to burn the world, Agni, was born.
ऊर्वस्योरुं विनिर्भिद्य और्वो नामान्तको ऽनलः दिधक्षन्निव लोकांस्त्रीञ् जज्ञे परमकोपनः
Splitting open Urvaśī’s thigh, the fierce fire, called Aurva, the ender, was born, as if wishing to burn the three worlds.
उत्पन्नमात्रश्चोवाच पितरं क्षीणया गिरा क्षुधा मे बाधते तात जगद्भक्ष्ये त्यजस्व माम्
Immediately upon birth, he spoke to his father in a voice weakened by hunger: 'Father, hunger torments me; release me to consume the world.'
त्रिदिवारोहिभिर्ज्वालैर् जृम्भमाणो दिशो दश निर्दहन्सर्वभूतानि ववृधे सो ऽन्तको ऽनलः
Expanding with flames reaching the heavens, blazing in all ten directions, burning all beings, that fierce fire grew.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ब्रह्मा मुनिमूर्वं सभाजयन् उवाच वार्यतां पुत्रो जगतश्च दयां कुरु
Meanwhile, Brahmā, honoring the sage Aurva, said: 'Restrain your son and show compassion to the world.'
अस्यापत्यस्य ते विप्र करिष्ये स्थानमुत्तमम् तथ्यमेतद्वचः पुत्र शृणु त्वं वदतां वर
'For this child of yours, O sage, I shall provide an excellent abode. This is the truth, O son, best of speakers, listen to my words.'
धन्यो ऽस्म्यनुगृहीतो ऽस्मि यन्मे ऽद्य भगवाञ्छिशोः मतिमेतां ददातीह परमानुग्रहाय वै
'Blessed and favored am I, since today the Lord grants this understanding for my child, truly for the highest grace.'