सुषाव सुशुभे काले शुश्रूषानष्टकिल्बिषा
He served at the proper time, free from faults, attentive and pure.
न तदातिसुखं किं वा नराणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्
Is there any great happiness for those who perform virtuous deeds among men?
तत्सर्वं नाशयत्याशु परिचर्या महात्मनाम्
All of that is swiftly destroyed by service to the great souls.
कलामात्रो ऽपि शीताशुः शंभुना स्वीकृतो यथा
Even a fraction of cold ashes, when accepted by Śambhu, brings blessing.
इहामुत्र च विग्नेन्द्र सन्तः पूज्यतमास्ततः
Here and hereafter, O lord of obstacles, the virtuous are most worthy of reverence.
गर्भं प्रात्पो गरो जीर्णो मासत्रयमहो ऽद्भुतम्
Gara, worn out, entered the womb; three months passed—an astonishing thing.
जातकर्म चचकारासौ तन्नाम सगरेति च
He performed the birth rites, and the child was named Sagara.
चौलोपवीतकर्माणि तथा चक्रे मुनीश्वरः
The sage performed the rituals of shaving and investiture with the sacred thread.
समर्थं सगरं दृष्ट्वा किञ्चिदुद्भिन्नशैशवम्
Seeing Sagara capable, though still showing traces of childhood,
सगरः शिक्षितस्तेन सम्यगौर्वर्षिणा मुने
Sagara was properly instructed by the venerable sage Aurva.
सभित्कुशांवुपुष्पादि प्रत्यहं समुपानयत्
He brought darbha grass, flowers, and other offerings every day.
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा सगरो विनयान्वितः
Sagara, with joined palms and humility, spoke.
तत्सर्वं मेसमाचक्ष्व श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम
Tell me all of this, for I am eager to hear.
पित्रा विहीना ये लोके जीवन्तो ऽपि मृतोपमाः
Those who are deprived of their father in this world, though living, are like the dead.
यस्य माता पिता नास्ति सुखं तस्य न विद्यते
One who has neither mother nor father knows no happiness.
अपुत्रस्य वृथां जन्म ऋणग्रस्तस्य चैव हि
The birth of a sonless man is in vain, as is that of one burdened by debt.
पतिहीना यथा नारी पितृहीनस्तथा शिशुः
Just as a woman without a husband, so is a child without a father.
पशुहीनो यथा वैश्यस्तया पित्रा विनार्भक्तः
Just as a merchant without cattle, so is a child deprived of his father.
तपो यथा दयाहीनं सथा पित्रा विवार्भकः
Just as austerity is without compassion, so is a child without his father.
बेदहीनो यथा वाजी तथा पित्रा विनार्भक्तः
Just as a horse is without a bridle, so is a child without his father.
तथा पित्रा विहीनस्तु बहुदुःखान्वितः सुतः
Thus, a son bereft of his father is afflicted with much sorrow.
संपृष्टं तद्यथावृत्तं सर्वं तस्मै न्यवेदयत्
When asked, he reported everything to him just as it had happened.
हनिष्यामीत्यरातीन्स प्रतिज्ञामकरोत्तदा
Then he made a vow to destroy his enemies.
प्रस्थापितः प्रतस्थे च तेनैव मुनिना वदा
Having been sent forth, he set out together with that very sage.
वशिष्टं स्वकुलाचार्यं प्रात्पः प्रीतिसमन्वितः
He approached Vasiṣṭha, his family preceptor, filled with affection.
सर्वं विज्ञापत्रामास ज्ञानदृष्ट्या विजानते
He presented everything to him, who understood by the vision of knowledge.
तेनैव मुनिनावाप खड्गं वज्रोपमं धनुः
By that very sage he obtained a sword, hard as a thunderbolt, and a bow.
आशीर्भिरर्चितः सद्यः प्रतस्थे प्रणिपत्य तम्
Honored with blessings, he at once set out after bowing to him.
सपुत्रपौत्रान्सगणानकरोत्स्वर्गासिनः
He sent his enemies to heaven along with their sons, grandsons, and followers.
केचिद्विनष्टा संत्रस्तास्तथा चान्ये प्रदुद्रुवुः
Some were destroyed, terrified; others fled away.