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.
क्रीडन्त्यश्च हसंत्यश्च गायन्त्यश्चैव ताः शुकम्
There, those women played, laughed, and sang to the parrot.
आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा जितक्रोधो जितेन्द्रियः
Āraṇeya, pure in heart, master of anger and senses,
पादशौचं तु कृत्वा वै शुकः संध्यामुपास्य च
The parrot, having performed foot-cleansing and worshipped at twilight,
पूर्वरात्रे तु तत्रासौ भूत्वा ध्यानपरायणः
In the first part of the night, he became absorbed in meditation there.
ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय कृत्वा शौचमनन्तरम्
Then, rising in the morning, he performed purification immediately.
अनेन विधिना तत्र तदहःशेषमप्युत
In this manner, he spent the rest of that day there.
तां च रात्रिं नृपकुले वर्तयामास नारद
And he passed that night in the royal household, O Nārada.
पुरः पुरोहितं कृत्वा सर्वाण्यन्तः पुराणि च
Having placed the priest in front, and all the inner chambers as well,
महदासनमादाय सर्वरत्नविभूषितम्
He brought a great seat adorned with every kind of jewel.
तत्रोपविष्टं तं कार्ष्णिशास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा
There, he seated him, according to the rites prescribed in the Kārṣṇi tradition.