ब्रह्मणः पदमन्वेष्टुमुत्सुकः पितरं ययौ
Eager to seek the abode of Brahma, he went to his father.
शुकः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य ययौ कैलासपर्वतम्
Shuka, having circumambulated, went to Mount Kailasa.
क्षणैकं स्थीयतां पुत्र इति च क्रोश दुर्मनाः
With a troubled heart, she cried, 'Stay for just a moment, my son!'
मोक्षमेवानुसंचित्य गत एव परं पदम्
Having pursued only liberation, he departed to the supreme state.
पुनः पप्रच्छ तं विप्र शुकाभिपतनं मुनिम्
Again, the sage questioned that Brahmin about the descent of Śuka.
यच्छ्रृत्वा मानसं मे ऽद्य शान्तिमग्र्यामुपागतम्
Hearing this, my mind today has attained the highest peace.
नहि सम्पूर्णतामेति तृष्णा कृष्णगुणार्णवे
Thirst is never satisfied in the ocean of Kṛṣṇa's virtues.
कुत्र ते निवसंतीह संशयो मे महानयम्
Where do they reside here? I have a great doubt about this.
धारयामास चात्मानं यथाशास्त्रं महामुनिः
The great sage composed himself according to the scriptures.
ततः स प्राङ्मुखो विद्वानादित्येन विरोचिते
Then, facing east, the learned one shone with the radiance of the sun.
न तत्र पक्षिसंघातो न शब्दो न च दर्शनम्
There was no flock of birds, no sound, nor any sight there.
स ददर्श तदात्मानं सर्वसंगविनिःसृतः
At that moment, he saw himself freed from all attachments.
स पुनर्योगमास्थाय मोक्षमार्गोपलब्धये
Again, taking up yoga, he sought the path to liberation.
अन्तरीक्षचरः श्रीमान्व्यासपुत्रः सुनिश्चितः
The glorious son of Vyāsa, certain in purpose, moved through the sky.
ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि मनोमारुतरंहसम्
All beings saw him, swift as the mind and wind.
पुष्प वर्षैश्च दिव्यैस्तमवचक्रुर्दिवौकसः
The celestial beings honored him with showers of divine flowers.
ऋषयश्चैव संसिद्धाः को ऽयं सिद्धिमुपागतः
And the accomplished sages asked, 'Who is this who has attained perfection?'
उवाच च महातेजास्तानृषीन्संप्रहर्षितः
The one of great brilliance, delighted, spoke to those sages.
तस्मै प्रतिवचोदेयं भवद्भिस्तु समाहितैः
To him, you who are focused should give this reply.
तमो ह्यष्टविधं त्यक्त्वा जहौ पञ्चविधं रजः
He abandoned the eightfold darkness and cast off the fivefold passion.
ततस्तस्मिन्पदे नित्ये निर्गुणे लिङ्गपूजिते
Then, in that eternal, attributeless state where the emblem is worshipped,
संश्लिष्टे श्वेतपीते च रुक्मरूप्यमये शुभे
joined together, white and yellow, splendid, made of gold and silver,
सो ऽविशङ्केन मनसा तथैवाभ्यपतच्छुकः
the parrot approached there with a mind free from doubt, just so.
अदृश्येतां द्विजश्रेष्ठ तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
O best of twice-born, both became invisible; it was as if something wondrous occurred.
न च प्रतिजघानास्य स गतिं पर्वतोत्तमः
And the supreme mountain did not obstruct his path.
शुको ददर्श धर्मात्मा पुष्पितद्रुमकाननम्
The righteous-minded parrot saw a forest of blossoming trees.
निराकारं तु साकाराददृशुस्तं विवाससः
The formless was seen by those with form, from afar.
उत्तमां गतिमास्थाय पृष्टतो ऽनुससार ह
Having attained the highest path, he followed behind.
दर्शयित्वा प्रभावं स्वं सर्वभूतो ऽभवत्तदा
Having displayed his own power, he then became all beings.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण शुकाभिपतनं ययौ
Within the span of a blink, the parrot's ascent took place.