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.'
भज त्वं चारुसर्वांगि पितरं मम सुंदरि । एवमाकर्णितं तस्य मायया वेदशर्मणः
'O beautiful one with lovely limbs, unite with my father, O fair one.' Thus Vedaśarman, by illusion, spoke to her.
स्त्र्युवाच- जरया पीडितस्यापि नैवेच्छामि कदाचन । सश्लेष्ममुखरोगस्य व्याधिग्रस्तस्य सांप्रतम्
The woman said: 'Even though he is afflicted by old age, I do not desire him at any time, now stricken with phlegm, throat disease, and illness.'
शिथिलस्यापि चार्तस्य तस्य वृद्धस्य संगमम् । भवंतं रंतुमिच्छामि करिष्ये तव सुप्रियम्
'Though he is weak and suffering, I do not wish union with that old man; I wish to enjoy with you, I will do what pleases you greatly.'
भवंतं रूपसौभाग्यैर्गुणरत्नैरलंकृतम् । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नं दिव्यरूपं महौजसम्
'You, adorned with beauty, fortune, and jewel-like virtues, possessed of divine marks, divine form, and great energy—'
किं करिष्यसि तातेन वृद्धेन शृणु मानद । ममांगभोगभावेन सर्वं प्राप्स्यसि दुर्लभम्
'What will you do with that old father? Listen, O honorable one; by enjoying my body, you will obtain all that is difficult to attain.'
यद्यत्त्वमिच्छसे विप्र तद्ददामि न संशयः । एतद्वाक्यं महच्छ्रुत्वा अप्रियं पापसंकुलम्
'Whatever you desire, O brāhmaṇa, I will give without doubt.' Hearing these words, great, unpleasant, and filled with sin—
वेदशर्मोवाच- अधर्मयुक्तं ते वाक्यमयुक्तं पापमिश्रितम् । नेदृशं मां वदेर्देवि पितृभक्तिमनागसम्
Vedaśarman said: 'Your words are unrighteous, improper, and mixed with sin; do not speak thus to me, O goddess, devoted to my father and innocent.'
पितुरर्थं समायातस्त्वामहं प्रार्थये शुभे । अन्यदेवं न वक्तव्यं भज त्वं पितरं मम
'I have come for my father's sake, and I request you, O auspicious one; do not speak otherwise—unite with my father.'
यद्यत्त्वमिच्छसे देवि त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरम् । तत्तद्दद्मि न संदेहो देवराज्याधिकं शुभे
O goddess, whatever you desire in the three worlds, whether moving or unmoving, I grant it to you—there is no doubt. Even greater than the kingdom of the gods, O auspicious one.
स्त्र्युवाच- एवं समर्थो दातुं मे पितुरर्थे यदा भवान् । तदा मे दर्शयाद्यैव सेंद्रास्त्वं समहेश्वरान्
The woman spoke: Since you are able to give me anything for my father's sake, then today, show me—together with Indra and the great gods—that you are their equal.