पशुयोनिगता त्वं वै भाषसे मानुषं वचः । सौष्ठवं ज्ञानसंपन्नं वद मे पूर्वचेष्टितम्
Though you are born in an animal womb, you speak human words—refined and full of knowledge. Tell me of your former deeds.
भर्तुश्चापि महाराज भटस्यास्य महात्मनः । कोयं धर्मो महावीर्यो गतः स्वर्गं पराक्रमैः
And of your master, O great king, this heroic servant of noble soul—what is his dharma, this mighty one who has attained heaven through his valor?
आत्मनश्च स्वभर्तुश्च सर्वं पूर्वानुगं वद । एवमुक्त्वा महाभागा विरराम नृपप्रिया
Tell me everything about yourself and your master, all that happened before. Having spoken thus, the blessed queen ceased.
शूकर्युवाच- यदि पृच्छसि मां भद्रे ममास्य च महात्मनः । तत्सर्वं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि चरितं पूर्वचेष्टितम्
The boar said: If you ask me, O good lady, about myself and this great soul, I will tell you everything—our past deeds and actions.
अयमेष महाप्राज्ञो गंधर्वो गीतपंडितः । रंगविद्याधरो नाम सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदः
This one is a great sage, a Gandharva skilled in song, known as Rangavidyadhara, learned in the meanings of all the scriptures.
मेरुं गिरिवरश्रेष्ठं चारुकंदरनिर्झरम् । तमाश्रित्य महातेजाः पुलस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः
Relying on Meru, the foremost of mountains, with its beautiful sparkling waterfalls, the illustrious sage Pulastya, best among sages, took up residence there.
तपश्चचार तेजस्वी निर्व्यलीकेन चेतसा । विद्याधरस्तत्र गतः स्वेच्छया स महाप्रभो
That radiant one performed austerities with a mind free from deceit; and there, by his own will, the Vidyadhara also arrived, O great lord.
तमाश्रित्य गिरिश्रेष्ठं गीतमभ्यसते तदा । स्वरतालसमोपेतं सुस्वरं चारुहासिनि
Dwelling on that best of mountains, he practiced singing, accompanied by proper notes and rhythm, with a sweet voice, O lovely-smiling one.
गीतं श्रुत्वा मुनिस्तस्य ध्यानाच्चलितमानसः । गायंतं तमुवाचेदं गीतविद्याधरं प्रति
Hearing his song, the sage's mind was disturbed from meditation; he addressed that Vidyadhara skilled in song with these words.
भवद्गीतेन दिव्येन देवा मुह्यंति नान्यथा । सुस्वरेण सुपुण्येन तालमानेन पंडित
By your divine singing, O learned one, even the gods are bewildered—such is its sweetness, virtue, and perfect rhythm.
लययुक्तेन भावेन मूर्च्छना सहितेन च । मे मनश्चलितं ध्यानाद्गीतेनानेन सुव्रत
With melody, feeling, and proper modulation, O virtuous one, your song has unsettled my mind from meditation.
इदं स्थानं परित्यज्य अन्यस्थानं व्रजस्व तत् । गीतविद्याधर उवाच- आत्मज्ञानसमं गीतमन्यस्थानं व्रजामि किम्
Leave this place and go elsewhere. The Vidyadhara of song replied: Where shall I go, when song is equal to self-knowledge?
दुःखं ददे न कस्यापि सुखदो नृषु सर्वदा । गीतेनानेन दिव्येन सर्वास्तुष्यंति देवताः
I never give sorrow to anyone, but always bring joy to people; by this divine song, all the gods are satisfied.
शंभुश्चापि समानीतो गीतध्वनिरतो द्विज । गीतं सर्वरसं प्रोक्तं गीतमानंददायकम्
Even Shambhu is drawn here, O twice-born, attracted by the sound of song; all flavors are expressed in song, which brings delight.
शृंगाराद्यारसाः सर्वे गीतेनापि प्रतिष्ठिताः । शोभामायांति गीतेन वेदाश्चत्वार उत्तमाः
All the sentiments, beginning with love, are established in song; by song, the four excellent Vedas attain beauty.
गीतेन देवताः सर्वास्तोषमायांति नान्यथा । तदेवं निन्दसे गीतं मामेवं परिचालयेः
By song, all the gods are satisfied—never otherwise. Thus, why do you disparage song and treat me in this way?
अन्यायोऽयं महाभाग तवैव इह दृश्यते । पुलस्त्य उवाच- सत्यमुक्तं त्वयाद्यैव गीतार्थं बहुपुण्यदम्
This is unjust, O blessed one, and is seen only in you here. Pulastya said: What you have spoken today about the merit of song is true.
शृणु त्वं मामकं वाक्यं मानं त्यज महामते । नाहं गीतं प्रकुत्सामि गीतं वंदामि नान्यथा
Listen to my words, O wise one, and set aside your pride; I do not disparage song—I honor it, nothing else.
विद्याश्चतुर्दशैवैता एकीभावेन भावदाः । प्राणिनां सिद्धिमायांति मनसा निश्चलेन च
These fourteen branches of knowledge, when united, bring about fulfillment; they grant success to living beings who possess a steady mind.
तपश्च तद्वन्मंत्राश्च सुसिद्ध्यंत्येकचिंतया । हृषीकाणां महावर्गश्चपलो मम संमतः
Austerity, and likewise mantras, are perfected by single-pointed concentration; but the great multitude of the senses is, in my view, fickle.
विषयेष्वेव सर्वेषु नयत्यात्मानमुच्चकैः । चालयित्वा मनस्तस्माद्ध्यानादेव न संशयः
Indeed, the mind leads itself to great heights in all objects of sense, having been stirred; therefore, only through meditation is it steadied—of this there is no doubt.
यत्र शब्दं न रूपं च युवती नैव तिष्ठति । मुनयस्तत्र गच्छंति तपःसिद्ध्यर्थमेव हि
Where there is neither sound nor form, and no young woman abides, there the sages go, solely for the accomplishment of austerity.
अयं गीतः पवित्रस्ते बहुसौख्यप्रदायकः । न पश्येम वयं वीर तिष्ठामो वनसंस्थिताः
This song is pure and bestows much happiness; O hero, we do not wish to see you—we remain here in the forest.
अन्यत्स्थानं प्रयाहि त्वं नोवा वयं व्रजामहे । गीतविधाधर उवाच- इंद्रियाणां बलं वर्गं जितं येन महात्मना
Go to another place, or else we shall depart; (the Gandharva who upholds the song spoke:) The one who has conquered the power of the senses is called great-souled.
स जयी कथ्यते योगी स च वीरः ससाधकः । शब्दं श्रुत्वाथ वा दृष्ट्वा रूपमेवं महामते
He is declared victorious, a yogi, a hero, and an accomplisher, who, upon hearing sound or seeing form, remains unmoved through meditation, O wise one.
चलते नैव यो ध्यानात्स धीरस्तपसाधकः । भवांस्तु तेजसा हीन इंद्रियैर्विजितो यतः
He who does not waver from meditation, even after hearing sound or seeing form, is steadfast and accomplished in austerity; but you are devoid of brilliance, since you are overcome by the senses.
स्वर्गेपि नास्ति सामर्थ्यं मम गीतस्य धर्षणे । वर्जयंति वनं सर्वे हीनवीर्या न संशयः
Even in heaven I have no power to withstand this song; all those lacking in strength avoid the forest—of this there is no doubt.
अयं साधारणो विप्र वनदेशो न संशयः । देवानां सर्वजीवानां यथा मम तथा तव
This forest region, O Brahmin, is common to all—of this there is no doubt; it belongs to the gods and all beings, just as it does to me and to you.
कथं गच्छाम्यहं त्यक्त्वा वनमेवमनुत्तमम् । यूयं गच्छंतु तिष्ठंतु यद्भव्यं तत्तु नान्यथा
How can I leave behind this most excellent forest and go elsewhere? You may go or stay as you wish; whatever is destined will surely come to pass.
एवमाभाष्य तं विप्रं गीतविद्याधरस्तदा । समाकर्ण्य ततस्तेन मुनिना तस्य उत्तरम्
Having spoken thus to the Brahmin, the Gandharva skilled in song listened, and then the sage gave his reply.