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.
तृणान्यभक्षयन्केचिन्नग्राश्च विविशुर्जनलम्
Some ate grass, and some entered the city of the people.
सत्वरं शरणं जग्मुर्वशिष्टं प्राणलोलुपाः
Eager to save their lives, they quickly sought refuge with Vasiṣṭha.
चारैर्विज्ञातवान्सद्यः प्रात्प श्चाचार्यसन्निधिम्
He immediately learned of this through spies and went to the presence of the preceptor.
त्रातुं च शिष्याभिहितं च कर्तुं विवारयामास तदा क्षणेन
Then, in a moment, he forbade both the act of protection and what was said by the disciples.
अन्धांश्च श्मश्रुलान्सर्वान्मुण्डान्वेदवहिष्कृतान्
And all those who are blind, bearded, shaven-headed, and excluded from the Vedas,
प्रहसन्प्राह सगरः स्वगुरुं तपसो निधिम्
Sagara laughed and spoke to his own teacher, the repository of austerity,
सर्वथाहं हनिष्यामि मत्पितुर्देशहारकान्
In every way, I will kill those who have usurped my father's domain.
स एव सर्वनाशाय हेतुभूतो न संशयः
He alone is the cause of total destruction—of this there is no doubt.
त एव बलहीनाश्चेद्भजन्ते ऽत्यन्तसाधुताम्
If those same ones, being weak, display extreme virtue,
तावत्कुर्वन्ति कार्याणि यावत्स्यात्प्रबलं बलम्
They act only as long as their strength is not overpowered.