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.
शशंसुर्मुनयः सिद्धा गतिं तस्मै सुतस्य ताम्
The sages and perfected ones declared to him the path of his son.
स्वयं पित्रा स्वरेणोञ्चैस्त्रींल्लोकाननुनाद्य वै
He himself, with his father, loudly resounded through the three worlds.
प्रत्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भोः शब्देनानुनादयन्
The righteous-minded one replied, echoing with the sound 'Bhoḥ'.
प्रत्याहरज्जगत्सर्वमुञ्चैः स्थावरजङ्गमम्
He drew back the entire world, loudly, both stationary and moving.
गिरिगह्वरपृष्टेषु व्याजहार शुकं प्रति
On the slopes and hollows of the mountain, he addressed the parrot.
गुणान्संत्यज्य सत्त्वादीन्पदमध्यगमत्परम्
Having abandoned qualities such as sattva, he reached the supreme state.
सो ऽनुनीतो भगवता व्यासो रुद्रेण नारद
Thus, O Nārada, Vyāsa was entreated by the Blessed One and Rudra.
पश्यसि विप्र नायान्तं ब्रह्मभूतं निजान्तिरे
You see, O Brahmin, the one who does not come, who has become Brahman, within your own self.
श्वाश्रमं स शुको ब्रह्मभूतो लोकांश्चचार ह
Having attained the state of Brahman, Śuka wandered among the worlds, leaving behind the life of a householder.
नरनारायणौ द्रष्टुं ययौ बदरिकाश्रमम्
He went to the hermitage at Badarikā to see Nara and Nārāyaṇa.