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.
चिंतयामास मेधावी किं कृत्वा सुकृतं भवेत् । क्षमां कृत्वा जगामाथ अन्यत्स्थानं द्विजोत्तमः
The wise one pondered, 'What should I do to bring about merit?' Exercising patience, the best of twice-born departed to another place.
तपश्चचार धर्मात्मा योगासनगतः सदा । कामं क्रोधं परित्यज्य मोहं लोभं तथैव च
That righteous-souled one practiced austerity, always established in yogic posture, having abandoned desire, anger, delusion, and greed.
सर्वेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य मनसा सममेव च । एवं स्थितस्तदा योगी पुलस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः
Restraining all the senses and the mind equally, thus the yogi Pulastya, best among sages, remained established.
सुकलोवाच- गते तस्मिन्महाभागे पुलस्त्ये मुनिपुंगवे । कालादिष्टेन तेनापि गीतविद्याधरेण च
(Sukalā spoke:) When that illustrious Pulastya, foremost among sages, had departed, so too did the Gandharva skilled in song, as ordained by time.
चिंतितं सुचिरं कालं न दृष्टोयं भयान्मम । क्व गतस्तिष्ठते वापि कुरुते किं कथं च सः
He pondered for a long time, 'I have not seen him out of fear; where has he gone, where does he stay, what is he doing, and how?'
ज्ञात्वा पद्मात्मजसुतमेकांतवनशालिनम् । गतो वराहरूपेण तस्याश्रममनुत्तमम्
Knowing that the son of Padma was dwelling alone in the forest, he went, taking the form of a boar, to that unsurpassed hermitage.
आसनस्थं महात्मानं तेजोज्वालासमाविलम् । दृष्ट्वा चकार वै क्षोभं तस्य विप्रस्य भामिनि
O beautiful one, seeing the great-souled sage seated in meditation, radiant and shining with energy, that brahmin became agitated.
धर्षयेन्नियतं विप्रं तुंडाग्रेण कुचेष्टया । पशुं ज्ञात्वा महाराज क्षमते तस्य दुष्कृतम्
Intending to harass the restrained brahmin, he would prod him with his snout and behave mischievously; knowing him to be an animal, O great king, the sage forgave his misdeeds.
मूत्रयेत्पुरतः कृत्वा विष्ठां च कुरुते ततः । नृत्यते क्रीडते तत्र पतति प्रोच्चलेत्पुनः
He would urinate in front of him, then defecate there; he would dance, play, fall down, and then move about again.
पशुं ज्ञात्वा परित्यक्तो मुनिना तेन भूपते । एकदा तु तथायाते तेन रूपेण वै पुनः
Knowing him to be an animal, the sage abandoned him, O king; yet once, coming again in that same form—