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?
प्रीतिप्रसन्नवदनः पार्श्वस्थे चाभवन्मृगे
With a face bright with joy and affection, he would remain beside the deer.
कालेन गच्छता सो ऽथ कालं चक्रे महीपतिः
As time passed, that king met his end.
मृगमेव तदाद्राक्षीत्त्यजन्प्राणानसावपि
At that time, as he beheld the deer, he too gave up his life.
जाति स्मरत्वादुद्विग्नः संसारस्य द्विजोत्तम
Because of remembering his former birth, he was agitated by the world, O best of twice-born.
शुष्कैस्तृणैस्तथा पर्णैः स कुर्वन्नात्मपोषणम्
There, sustaining himself with dry grass and leaves,
तत्र चोत्सृष्टदेहो ऽसौ जज्ञे जातिस्मरो द्विजः
There, after casting off that body, he was born as a twice-born who remembered his previous birth.
सर्वविज्ञान संपन्नः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित्
Endowed with all knowledge, knowing the true meaning of all the scriptures,
आत्मनोधिगतज्ञानाद्द्वेवादीनि महामुने
Because of knowledge attained by his own self, O great sage, he knew both the beginning and the end.
न पपाठ गुरुप्रोक्तं कृतोपनयनः श्रुतम्
Though his initiation was performed, he did not recite the teachings spoken by his teacher.
उक्तो ऽपि बहुशः किञ्चिज्जण्ड वाक्यमभाषत
Even when addressed repeatedly, he spoke only a few dull words.