विशालामगमत्कृष्णे समावेशितमानसः
With his mind absorbed, he reached the vast city of Kṛṣṇa.
विष्ण्वाख्ये निर्मले ब्रह्मण्यवाप नृपतिर्लयम्
In the pure Brahman called Viṣṇu, the king attained dissolution.
बुभुजे विषयान्कर्म चक्रे चानभिसंधितम्
He enjoyed sense objects and performed actions without attachment.
अवाप सिद्धिमत्यन्तत्रितापक्षपणीं मुने
O sage, he attained the perfection that removes all dissatisfaction.
तापत्रयचिकित्सार्थं किमन्यत्कथयामि ते
What more shall I tell you for the treatment of the threefold suffering?
तथापि मे मनो भ्रान्तं न स्थितिं लभतेंऽजसा
Yet my mind is still confused and does not easily find stability.
सोढुं शक्येत मनुजैस्तन्ममाख्याहि मानद
Tell me, O bestower of honor, how a man might be able to endure this.
उवाच हर्षसंयुक्तः स्मरन्भघरतचेष्टितम्
He spoke, filled with joy, recalling the deeds of the blessed king.
यं श्रुत्वा त्वन्मनो भ्रान्तमास्थानं लभते भूशम्
Upon hearing whom, your mind, bewildered, finds its proper place.
आर्षभो यस्य नाम्नेदं भारतं खण्डमुच्यते
The land called Bhārata is named after him, the noble Ṛṣabha.
पालयामास धर्मेण पितृबद्रञ्जयन् प्रजाः
He governed with righteousness, delighting his subjects as a father.
सर्वदेवात्मकं ध्यायन्नानाकर्मसु तन्मतिः
His mind, absorbed in meditation on the essence of all the gods, engaged in various duties.
मुक्त्वा राज्यं ययौ विद्वान्पुलस्त्यपुहाश्रमम्
The wise one, relinquishing the kingdom, went to the hermitage of Pulastya.
तत्रासौ तापसो तापसो भूत्वा विष्णोराराधनं मुने
There, becoming an ascetic, he devoted himself to the worship of Viṣṇu, O sage.
नित्यं प्रातः समाप्लुत्य निर्मले ऽभलि नारद
Every morning, having bathed in pure water, O Nārada, he performed his rituals.
अथाश्रमे समागत्य वासुदेवं जगत्पतिम्
Then, arriving at the hermitage, he worshipped Vāsudeva, Lord of the universe.
फलैः पुष्पैंस्तथा पत्रैस्तुलस्याः स्वच्छवारिभिः
With fruits, flowers, leaves of tulasi, and clear water, he offered worship.
सचैकदा महाभागः स्नात्वा प्रातः समाहितः
Once, O illustrious one, after bathing in the morning, he was intent in mind.
अथाजगाम तत्तीरं जलं पातुं पिपासिता
Then he went to the riverbank, thirsty, to drink water.
ततः समभवत्तत्र पीतप्राये जले तया
There, as she was about to finish drinking the water, it happened.
ततः सा सिंहसन्नादादुत्प्लुता निम्नगातटम्
Then, startled by a lion's roar, she leapt to the riverbank.
तमुह्यमानं वेगेन वीचिमालापरिप्लुतम्
Swept away by the current, engulfed by waves, he was carried off.
गर्भप्रच्युतिदुःखेन प्रोत्तुङ्गाक्रणेन च
With the pain of miscarriage and her body raised high.
हरिणीं तां विलोक्याथ विपन्नां नृपतापसः
Seeing the deer, now lost and distressed, the royal ascetic was moved.
चकारानुदिनं चासौ मृगपोतस्य वै नृपः
Day by day, the king cared for the young fawn.
चचाराश्रमपर्यन्तं तृणानि गहनेषु सः
He wandered the hermitage's outskirts, gathering grass in the thickets.
प्रातर्गत्वादिदूरं च सायमायात्यथाश्रमम्
In the morning he would go far away, and in the evening he would return to the hermitage.
तस्यतस्मिन्मृगे दूरसमीपपरिवर्तिनि
There, as that deer wandered sometimes near, sometimes far,
विमुक्तराज्यतनयः प्रोज्झिताशेषबान्धवः
He, having abandoned his kingdom and sons, forsaking all his relatives,
किं वृकैभक्षितो व्याघ्नैः किं सिंहेन निपातितः
Did a wolf devour him? Was he struck down by tigers? Or did a lion kill him?