तेन सत्येन मे धर्म वेदशर्मा स जीवतु । धर्म उवाच- दमशौचेन सत्येन तपसा तव सुव्रत
'By that truth, O Dharma, let Vedaśarmā live.' Dharma said: 'By your self-restraint, purity, truth, and austerity, O virtuous one—'
पितृभक्त्या तव भ्राता वेदशर्मा महाभुजः । पुनरेव महात्मासौ जीवनं च लभिष्यति
'By your devotion to your father, your brother Vedaśarmā, mighty-armed, will again obtain life, that great-souled one.'
तपसानेन तुष्टोस्मि पितृभक्त्या महामते । वरं वरय भद्रं ते दुर्लभं धर्मवित्तमैः
'By this austerity and your devotion to your father, O wise one, I am pleased. Choose a boon, O blessed one, rare even among those who know Dharma.'
एवमाकर्णितं तेन सुवाक्यं धर्मशर्मणा । वैवस्वतं महात्मानं समुवाच महायशाः
Having heard these excellent words from Dharmaśarmā, the illustrious one addressed Vaivasvata, the great-souled.
देहि मे त्वचलां भक्तिं पितुः पादार्हणे पुनः । धर्मे रतिं तथा मोक्षं सुप्रसन्नो यदा मम
'Grant me unwavering devotion to serving my father's feet again, delight in Dharma, and liberation, whenever you are well-disposed toward me.'
तमुवाच ततो धर्मो मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यति । एवमुक्ते महावाक्ये वेदशर्मा तदोत्थितः
Then Dharma said to him, 'By my grace, it shall be so.' When these great words were spoken, Vedaśarmā arose at that moment.
प्रसुप्तवन्महाप्राज्ञो धर्मशर्माणमब्रवीत् । क्व सा देवी गता भ्रातः क्व स तातो भवेदिति
Having awakened, the wise Vedaśarmā spoke to Dharmaśarmā: 'Brother, where has that lady gone? Where is our father?'
समासेन समाख्यातं यथा पित्रा नियोजितः । समाज्ञाय ततो हृष्टो धर्मशर्मा तमब्रवीत्
Briefly, as instructed by their father, it was explained. Then, understanding, Dharmaśarmā joyfully spoke to him.
ममाद्यैव महाभाग शिरसा जीवितेन च । संमुखी भव वै भ्रातः कोन्यो मे त्वादृशो भुवि
'Today, O most fortunate, with my head and my life, be present before me, brother. Who else on earth is like you to me?'
भ्रातरं चैवमाभाष्य उत्सुकः पितरं प्रति । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे भ्रात्रा च धर्मशर्मणा
Having spoken thus to his brother, eager regarding their father, he resolved to go, together with Dharmaśarmā.
द्वावेतौ तु गतौ तत्र पितरं हृष्टमानसौ । द्वाभ्यां तत्र समास्थाय शिवशर्माणमुत्तमम्
The two went there, their minds joyful, to their father; together they approached Śivaśarmā, the excellent one.
धर्मशर्मा तदोवाच पितरं दीप्तिसंयुतम् । ममाद्यैव महाभाग तपसा जीवितेन च
Dharmaśarmā then spoke to his radiant father: 'Today, O most fortunate, by my austerity and my life—'
वेदशर्मा समानीतस्तं पुत्रं प्रगृहाण भोः । शिवशर्मा ततो हृष्टो भक्तिं विज्ञाय तस्य च
'Vedaśarmā has been brought; take your son, O sir.' Śivaśarmā, then, rejoicing and recognizing his devotion—
न किंचिदब्रवीत्तं तु पुनश्चिंतामुपेयिवान् । पुरतो विनयेनापि वर्तमानं महामतिम्
He said nothing, but again fell into thought, seeing his wise son standing before him with humility.
विष्णुशर्माणमाभाषीद्वत्स मे वचनं कुरु । इंद्रलोकं व्रजस्वाद्य तस्मादानय चामृतम्
Viṣṇuśarman was addressed: 'My child, do as I say. Go now to Indra's world and bring back the nectar from there.'
अनया कान्तया सार्द्धं स्थातुमिच्छामि सांप्रतम् । सागराद्यत्समुत्पन्नममृतं व्याधिनाशनम्
At this time, I wish to remain together with this beloved one. The nectar that arose from the ocean destroys disease.
साधुनेच्छति मामेषा यथैनां तु लभाम्यहम् । तथा कुरुष्व शीघ्रं त्वमन्यथान्यं प्रयास्यति
She earnestly desires me; so that I may obtain her, act quickly in this way—otherwise, she will go to another.'
वृद्धं ज्ञात्वावमन्येत इयं बाला सुरूपिणी । अद्य देव्यानया सार्द्धं प्रियया भुवनत्रये
Knowing me to be old, this beautiful young woman disregards me. Today, with this dear goddess, in all three worlds—
निर्दोषो व्याधिनिर्मुक्तो यथा तात भवाम्यहम् । तथा कुरुष्व मे वत्स मद्भक्तोसि यदा भुवि
Make it so, my son, that I become faultless and free from disease, as you are my devotee on earth.
एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं पितुस्तस्य महात्मनः । विष्णुशर्मा तदोवाच पितरं दीप्ततेजसम्
Hearing these words of his great-souled father, Viṣṇuśarman then spoke to his radiant father:
सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि भवतः सुखमुत्तमम् । एवमाभाष्य धर्मात्मा विष्णुशर्मा महामतिः
'I will do all this, for your highest happiness.' Thus spoke Viṣṇuśarman, righteous and wise.
पितरं तं नमस्कृत्य पुनः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् । बलेन महता सोपि तपसा नियमेन च
Having bowed to his father and circumambulated him, he set out with great strength, with austerity and discipline.
अंतरिक्षगतश्चासीद्गच्छमानस्य धीमतः । स महावायुवेगेन ऐंद्रं संप्रतिगच्छति
As the wise one traveled through the sky, he moved toward Indra's realm with the force of a great wind.
सूत उवाच- प्रस्थितस्तेन मार्गेण प्रविष्टो गगनांतरे । स दृष्टो देवदेवेन सहस्राक्षेण धीमता
Sūta said: Setting out on that path, entering the space between the heavens, he was seen by the wise lord of gods, the thousand-eyed one.
उद्यमं तस्य वै ज्ञात्वा चक्रे विघ्नं सुराधिराट् । मेनिकांतामुवाचेदं गच्छ त्वं मम शासनात्
Knowing his intention, the king of the gods created an obstacle. He addressed Menikā: 'Go at my command.'
समाचरस्वास्य शीघ्रं गत्वा विघ्नं सुमध्यमे । अस्यैव विप्रवर्यस्य पुत्रस्य शिवशर्मणः
'Go quickly, lovely-waisted one, and create an obstacle for this excellent brāhmaṇa, the son of Śivaśarman.'
तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते यथा नायाति मे गृहम् । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं मेनिका प्रस्थिता त्वरात्
'Do so, good lady, so that he does not come to my abode.' Hearing these words, Menikā set out swiftly.
सूत उवाच- रूपौदार्यगुणोपेता सर्वालंकारभूषिता । नंदनस्य वनस्यांते दोलायां समुपस्थिता
Sūta said: Endowed with beauty, nobility, and adorned with all ornaments, she arrived at the edge of Nandana's forest, on a swing.
सुस्वरेण प्रगायंती गीतं वीणास्वरोपमम् । तेन दृष्टा विशालाक्षी चतुरा चारुलोचना
Singing sweetly, her song rivaling the tones of the vīṇā, she was seen by him—broad-eyed, clever, and lovely-eyed.
व्यवसायं ततो ज्ञात्वा तस्या विघ्नमनुत्तमम् । इंद्रेण प्रेषिता चैषा न च भद्रकरा भवेत्
Realizing her purpose was to create a great obstacle, and that she had been sent by Indra, he knew she would not bring good.