आरणे यस्तदा दिव्यं प्राप्य जन्म महामुनिः
At that time, the great sage, having attained a divine birth in the forest,
उत्पन्नमात्रं तं वेदाः सरहस्याः ससंग्रहाः
As soon as he was born, the Vedas, with their secrets and collections, became manifest to him.
बृहस्पतिं स वव्रे च वेदवेदाङ्गभाष्यवित्
He chose Bṛhaspati, the knower of the Vedas, Vedāṅgas, and their commentaries, as his teacher.
सो ऽधीत्य वेदानखिलान्सरहस्यान्ससंग्रहान्
He studied all the Vedas, their secrets, and their collections.
गुरवे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा समावृत्तो महामुनिः
Having given the teacher’s fee to his guru, the great sage completed his studies.
देवतानामृषीणां च बाल्ये ऽपि सुमहातपाः
Even in childhood, he was possessed of great austerity among gods and sages.
न त्वस्य रमते बुद्धि राश्रमेषु मुनीश्वर
But, O best of sages, his mind did not delight in the hermitages.
स मोक्षमनुचिन्त्यैव शुकः पितरमभ्यगात्
Thinking only of liberation, Śuka approached his father.
मोक्षधर्मेषु कुशलो भगवान् प्रब्रवीतु मे
He said, 'O blessed one, skilled in the dharmas of liberation, please teach me.'
शृत्वा पुत्रस्य वचनं परमर्षिरुवाच तम्
Hearing his son’s words, the supreme sage spoke to him.
पितुर्निदेशाज्जग्राह शुको ब्रह्मविदां वरः
By his father's command, Śuka, foremost among those who know Brahman, accepted it.
शतं ब्राह्म्या श्रिया युक्तं ब्रह्मतुल्यपराक्रमम्
He was endowed with the wealth of Brahman, possessing a hundredfold brilliance and power equal to Brahma.
उवाच गच्छेति तदा जनकं मिथिलेश्वरम्
Then he said, 'Go,' to Janaka, the king of Mithilā.
पितुर्नियोगादगमज्जनकं मेथखिलं नृपम्
By his father's instruction, he went to Janaka, the king of the land of Mithilā.
उक्तश्च मानुषेण त्वं तथा गच्छेत्यविस्मितः
He was told by a human, 'In this way, go,' without astonishment.
आर्जवेनैव गन्तव्यं न सुखाय क्षणात्त्वया
You must go with straightforwardness, not for ease or pleasure, even for a moment.
अहॄङ्कारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन्नराधिपे
You must not display pride in the sacrifice before that king.
स धर्मकुशलो राजा मोक्षशास्त्रविशारदः
That king is skilled in dharma and an expert in the scriptures of liberation.
एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जगाम मिथिलां मुनिः
Thus instructed, the righteous sage went to Mithilā.
सगिरीं श्चाप्यतिक्रम्य भारतं वर्षमासदत्
Having crossed the mountains, he reached the land of Bhārata.
विदेहान्वै समासाद्य जनकेन समागमत्
Arriving among the Videhas, he met Janaka.
तस्थौ तत्र महायोगी क्षुत्पिपासादिवर्जितः
The great yogi remained there, free from hunger and thirst.
तेषां तु द्वारपालानामेकस्तत्र व्यवस्थितः
Among their gatekeepers, one stood there.
जूजयित्वा यथान्यायमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः
Having greeted him properly and with folded hands, he saluted him.
तत्रान्तःपुरसंबद्धं महच्चैत्रग्थोपमम्
There, within the inner palace, was a great hall resembling a celestial mansion.
दर्शयित्वासने स्थाप्य राजानं च व्यजिज्ञपत्
Showing him, seating him, and informing the king as well.
सेवायै तस्य भावस्य ज्ञानाय मुनिसतम
For service to his disposition and for knowledge, the foremost sage.
सूक्ष्मरक्तांबरधरास्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाः
They wore fine red garments and ornaments of heated gold.
परं पञ्चाशतस्तस्य पाद्यादीनि व्यकल्पयन्
Then, for him, they prepared fifty kinds of foot-washing and other offerings.
तस्य भुक्तवतस्तात तास्ततः पुरकाननम्
After he had eaten, O dear one, he went to the gardens of the city.