देवासुरे कथं प्राप्ते हरिणा सह युध्यति । निहतो वासुदेवेन प्रविष्टो वैष्णवीं तनुम्
When the battle between gods and demons arose, how did he fight alongside Hari? Slain by Vasudeva, he entered a Vaishnava body.
सूत उवाच- कश्यपेन पुरा ज्ञातं कृतं व्यासेन धीमता । ब्रह्मणा कथितं पूर्वं व्यासस्याग्रे स्वयं प्रभोः
Suta said: Formerly, this was known by Kashyapa and composed by the wise Vyasa; it was told by Brahma himself before Vyasa, O Lord.
तमेवं हि प्रवक्ष्यामि भवतामग्रतो द्विजाः । संदेहकारणं जातं छिन्नं देवेन वेधसा
Therefore, O twice-born, I shall now explain before you the cause of doubt that arose, which was dispelled by the god, the Creator.
व्यास उवाचः- शृणु सूत महाभाग ब्रह्मणा परिभाषितम् । प्रह्लादस्य यथा जन्म पुराणेप्यन्यथा श्रुतम्
Vyāsa said: Hear, O Sūta, highly fortunate one, what was declared by Brahmā, regarding the birth of Prahlāda, which is heard differently in other Purāṇas.
जातमात्रः सर्वसुखं वैष्णवं मार्गमाश्रितः । महाभागवतश्रेष्ठः प्रह्लादो देवपूजितः
Immediately upon birth, Prahlāda, the foremost of great devotees, took refuge in the Vaiṣṇava path and was worshipped by the gods.
विष्णुना सह युद्धाय सपुत्रः संगरंगतः । निहतो वासुदेवेन प्रविष्टो वैष्णवीं तनुम्
He, along with his sons, entered into battle with Viṣṇu; slain by Vāsudeva, he entered a Vaiṣṇava body.
सृष्टिभावं शृणुष्व त्वमस्यैव च महात्मनः । संगरं प्राप्य पुत्राद्यैर्विष्णुना सह वीर्यवान्
Hear now of the creation and nature of that great soul; having engaged in battle with Viṣṇu together with his sons and others, he was mighty.
प्रविष्टो वैष्णवं तेजः संप्राप्य स्वेन तेजसा । पुराकल्पे महाभाग यथा जातः स वीर्यवान्
Having entered the Vaiṣṇava radiance by his own brilliance, O highly fortunate one, hear how that mighty one was born in a former age.
वृत्तांतं तस्य वीरस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि समासतः । पश्चिमे सागरस्यांते द्वारका नाम वै पुरी
I shall briefly recount the story of that hero; at the western edge of the ocean lies the city called Dvārakā.
सर्वऋद्धिसमायुक्ता सर्वसिद्धिसमन्विता । तस्यामास्ते सदा देवो योगज्ञो योगवित्तमः
Endowed with all prosperity and all accomplishments, in that city dwells always the god, knower of yoga and supreme in yogic knowledge.
शिवशर्मेति विख्यातो वेदशास्त्रार्थकोविदः । तस्यापि पंचपुत्रास्तु बभूवुः शास्त्रकोविदाः
Renowned as Śivaśarman, expert in the meaning of the Vedas and śāstras, he had five sons, all learned in the scriptures.
यज्ञशर्मा वेदशर्मा धर्मशर्मा तथैव च । विष्णुशर्मा महाभागो नूनं तत्कर्मकोविदः
Yajñaśarman, Vedaśarman, Dharmaśarman likewise, and Viṣṇuśarman, highly fortunate and certainly skilled in those duties.
पंचमः सोमशर्मेति पितृभक्तिपरायणः । पितृभक्तिं विना चैव धर्ममन्यं द्विजोत्तमाः
The fifth was Somaśarman, devoted above all to service of his father; O best of twice-born, apart from devotion to one's father, they did not know any other dharma.
न विदंति महात्मानस्तद्भावेन तु भाविताः । तेषां तु भक्तिं संपश्यञ्छिवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः
Great souls, absorbed in that feeling, know no other; seeing their devotion, Śivaśarman, best of twice-born, reflected.
चिंतयामास मेधावी निष्कर्षिष्ये सुरोत्तमान् । पितृभक्तेषु यो भावो नैतेषां मनसि स्थितः
The wise one considered, 'I shall test these excellent sons; the feeling of devotion to the father is not established in their minds.'
यथा जानाम्यहं चाथ करिष्ये बुद्धिपूर्वकम् । विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादात्स सर्वसिद्धिर्बभूव ह
As I know, so I shall act with discernment; and by the grace of Viṣṇu, all success was attained.
सद्भावं चिंतयामास अंजनार्थं द्विजोत्तमाः । उपायं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठस्तपसस्तेजसः किल
He contemplated a true means, O best of twice-born, for the purpose of testing; the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, by austerity and brilliance.
चकार सोप्युपायज्ञो मायया ब्रह्मवित्तमः । तेषामग्रे ततो व्याजं शिवशर्मा व्यदर्शयत्
Skilled in expedients and supreme in knowledge of Brahman, he devised a stratagem by his power of illusion; then Śivaśarman displayed a pretense before them.
महता ज्वररोगेण मृता माता विदर्शिता । तैस्तु दृष्टा मृता माता पितरं वाक्यमब्रुवन्
He showed their mother as dead, afflicted by a great fever; seeing their mother dead, they spoke to their father.
ययावयं महाभाग गर्भोदरे प्रवर्द्धिताः । कलेवरं परित्यज्य स्वयमेव गता क्षयम्
"O highly fortunate one, we who grew in her womb, she has now abandoned her body and departed of her own accord to destruction."
अपहाय गता सेयं स्वर्गे तात किमुच्यते । शिवशर्मोपरिभवं पुत्रं भक्तिपरायणम्
She has departed, leaving behind; what can be said, father, of her who has gone to heaven, having wronged Śivaśarman, her son devoted to devotion?
यज्ञशर्माणमाहूय इत्युवाच द्विजोत्तमः । शिवशर्मोवाच- अनेनापि सुतीक्ष्णेन शस्त्रेण निशितेन वै
Having summoned Yajñaśarman, the best of twice-born spoke thus. Śivaśarman said: 'Even with this sharp weapon, O Sutīkṣṇa—'
विच्छिद्यांगानि सर्वाणि यत्र तत्र क्षिपस्व ह । तत्कृतं तेन पुत्रेण यथादेशः श्रुतः पितुः
Cut off all the limbs and cast them wherever you wish; this was done by that son, as the command of the father was heard.
समायातः पुनः पश्चात्पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । यथादिष्टं त्वया तात तत्सर्वं कृतवानहम्
Having returned again afterwards, he spoke to his father: 'All that you instructed, father, I have done.'
समादिश ममान्यच्च कार्यकारणमद्य च । तच्च सर्वं करिष्यामि दुर्जयं दुर्लभं पितः
'Command me today, father, regarding any other task or purpose; I will accomplish all that, even if it is unconquerable or difficult.'
तमाज्ञाय महाभागं पितृभक्तं स च द्विजः । निश्चयं परमं ज्ञात्वा द्वितीयस्य विचिंतयन्
Hearing him, that twice-born, recognizing his great devotion to his father and his firm resolve, considered the matter of the second son.
वेदशर्माणमाहूय गच्छ त्वं मम शासनात् । स्त्रिया विना न शक्नोमि स्थातुं कंदर्पमोहितः
Summoning Vedaśarman, he said: 'Go, by my command; I cannot remain without a woman, being deluded by Kāma.'
मायया दर्शिता नारी सर्वसौभाग्यसंपदा । एनामानय वत्स त्वं ममार्थे कृतनिश्चयः
'A woman, shown by illusion, endowed with all fortune and prosperity—bring her, my child, for my sake, with firm resolve.'
एवमुक्तस्तथा प्राह करिष्ये तव सुप्रियम् । पितरं तं नमस्कृत्य तामुवाच गतस्ततः
Thus addressed, he replied: 'I will do what pleases you greatly.' Having bowed to his father, he went and spoke to her.
त्वां देवि याचते तातः कामबाणप्रपीडितः । अतस्त्वं जरया युक्ते प्रसादसुमुखी भव
'My father, afflicted by the arrows of desire, requests you, O goddess; therefore, being joined with old age, show a gracious face.'