वणान्सेकान्वृत्तभवानुत्तराधरतः स्थितान्
Take the syllables that recur, positioned above and below, in sequence.
उपान्त्यतो निवर्तेत त्यजन्नेकैकमूर्द्धतः
One should return from the penultimate, leaving each one at the top.
लगक्रियाङ्कसंदोहे भवेत्संख्याविमिश्रिते
When the sum of the marks of light syllables is mixed, the count arises.
संख्यैव द्विगुणैकोना सद्भिरध्वा प्रकीर्तितः
The count, doubled and increased by one, is declared by the wise as the path.
प्रस्तारोक्तप्रभेदानां नामानांस्त्यं प्रगाहते
The names of the divisions described in the arrangement are now set forth.
श्रुतानि त्वन्मुखांभोजात्समासव्यासयोगतः
The teachings have been heard from your lotus-like mouth, both in summary and in detail.
मेरुशृङ्गे किल पुरा कर्णिकारवनायते
Once, on the peak of Meru, in a grove of karṇikāra trees—
शैलराजसुता चैव देवी तत्राभवत्पुरा
There, the daughter of the mountain king, the goddess, once dwelled.
योगेनात्मानमाविश्य योगधर्मपरायणः
Absorbed in herself through yoga, devoted to the discipline of yoga—
अग्नेर्भूमेस्तथा वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चाभितः
Surrounded by fire, earth, wind, and the expanse of the sky—
संकल्पेनाथ सो ऽनेन दुष्प्रापमकगृतात्मभिः
Then, by resolve, she accomplished what is difficult to attain for those whose minds are unsteady.
अतिष्टन्मारुताहारः शतं किल समाः प्रभुः
She subsisted on air alone, the Lord, for a hundred years, it is said.
तत्र ब्रह्मर्षयश्चैव सर्वे देवर्षयस्तथा
There, all the Brahmarṣis and likewise all the Devarṣis gathered.
आदित्याश्चैव रुद्राश्च दिवाकरनिशाकरौ
The Ādityas, the Rudras, the sun and the moon as well.
तत्र रुद्रो महादेवः कर्णिकारमयीं शुभाम्
There, Rudra, the great god, fashioned a beautiful lotus made of gold.
तस्निन् दिव्ये वने रम्ये देवदेवर्षिसंकुले
In that divine and delightful forest, filled with gods, sages, and seers,
न चास्य हीयते वर्णो न ग्लानिरुपजायते
Its color never fades, nor does it ever wither.
जटाश्च तेजसा तस्य वैश्वानरशिखोपमाः
His matted locks shone with radiance, resembling the flames of blazing fire.
एवं विधेन तपसा तस्य भक्त्या च नारद
In this way, through his austerity and devotion, O Nārada,
उवाच चैनं भगवांस्त्र्यंबकः प्रहसन्निव
The blessed Three-eyed Lord spoke to him, as if smiling.
यथा खे च तथा शुद्धो भविष्यति सुतस्तंव
"Just as the sky is pure, so too shall your son become pure."
तेजसा तस्य लोकांस्त्रीन्यशः प्राप्स्यति केवलम्
By his radiance, he will attain the three worlds, but only fame.
अरणिं त्वथ संगृह्य ममन्थाग्निचिकीर्षया
Then, taking the arani stick, he churned it, desiring to produce fire.
घृताचीं नामाप्सरसं ददर्श भगवान्नृषिः
The blessed sage beheld Ghṛtācī, the celestial nymph.
अभवद्भगवान्व्यासो वने तस्मिन्मुनीश्वर
In that forest, the blessed Vyāsa was present, O best of sages.
शुकीभूया महारम्या घृताची समुपागमत्
Ghṛtācī, having assumed the form of a parrot, approached, exceedingly lovely.
स्मरराजेनानुगतः सर्वगात्रातिगेन ह
She was followed by the god of love, affecting all her limbs.
न शशाक नियन्तुं तं व्यासः प्रविसृतं मनः
Vyāsa could not restrain his mind, which had been set loose.
हृतम् यत्नान्नियच्छतश्चापि मुने एतञ्चिकीर्षया
Though he tried with effort to control it, O sage, it was carried away by that desire.
शुक्रे निर्मथ्यमाने ऽस्यां शुको जज्ञे महातपाः
As the arani stick was being churned, Śuka, the great ascetic, was born.