तस्माद्वेदानधीते स पितुः शास्त्राण्यनेकशः । सर्वाचारपरो दक्षो धर्मज्ञो ज्ञानवत्सलः
Therefore, he studied the Vedas and many treatises from his father, excelling in all conduct, skilled, knowledgeable in dharma, and devoted to wisdom.
अंगसंवाहनं चक्रे गुर्वोश्च स्वयमेव सः । पादप्रक्षालनं चैव स्नानभोजनकीं क्रियाम्
He himself performed the massaging of his teacher's limbs, as well as the washing of feet and the duties of bathing and serving food.
भक्त्या चैव स्वभावेन तद्ध्याने तन्मयो भवेत् । मातापित्रोश्च राजेंद्र उपचर्यां प्रकारयेत्
With devotion and by his very nature, absorbed in meditation on that, he would serve his mother and father, O king.
सूत उवाच- तद्वर्तमानकाले तु बभूव नृपसत्तम । पिप्पलो नाम वै विप्रः कश्यपस्य महात्मनः
Sūta said: At that time, O best of kings, there was a brāhmaṇa named Pippala, of great soul, descended from Kaśyapa.
तपस्तेपे निराहारो जितात्मा जितमत्सरः । दयादानदमोपेतः कामं क्रोधं विजित्य सः
He practiced austerities, fasting, self-controlled, free from envy, endowed with compassion, charity, and restraint, having conquered desire and anger.
दशारण्यगतो धीमाञ्ज्ञानशांतिपरायणः । सर्वेंद्रियाणि संयम्य तपस्तेपे महामनाः
Going to the Daśārṇya forest, wise and devoted to knowledge and peace, he restrained all his senses and performed great austerities with a steadfast mind.
तपःप्रभावतस्तस्य जंतवो गतविग्रहाः । वसंति सुयुगे तत्र एकोदरगता इव
By the power of his austerity, the creatures there, free from enmity, lived together in that blessed age as if within a single womb.
तत्तपस्तस्य मुनयो दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमाययुः । नेदृशं केनचित्तप्तं यथासौ तप्यते मुनिः
Seeing his austerity, the sages were amazed; no one had ever performed such penance as that sage did.
देवाश्च इंद्रप्रमुखाः परं विस्मयमाययुः । अहो अस्य तपस्तीव्रं शमश्चेंद्रियसंयमः
Even the gods, led by Indra, were greatly astonished: 'Ah! How intense is his austerity, and how great his tranquility and control of the senses!'
निर्विकारो निरुद्वेगः कामक्रोधविवर्जितः । शीतवातातपसहो धराधर इवस्थितः
Unchanging, undisturbed, free from desire and anger, able to endure cold, wind, and heat, he stood firm like a mountain.
विषये विमुखो धीरो मनसोतीतसंग्रहम् । न शृणोति यथा शब्दं कस्यचिद्द्विजसत्तमः
Indifferent to sense objects, steadfast, his mind beyond grasp, that best of twice-born did not hear any sound at all.
संस्थानं तादृशं गत्वा स्थित्वा एकाग्रमानसः । ब्रह्मध्यानमयो भूत्वा सानंदमुखपंकजः
Having attained such a state and remaining with one-pointed mind, he became absorbed in meditation on Brahman, his face radiant with bliss.
अश्मकाष्ठमयो भूत्वा निश्चेष्टो गिरिवत्स्थितः । स्थाणुवद्दृश्यते चासौ सुस्थिरो धर्मवत्सलः
Becoming like stone or wood, motionless, he stood like a mountain; he appeared as a pillar, firm and devoted to righteousness.
तपःक्लिष्टशरीरोति श्रद्धावाननसूयकः । एवं वर्षसहस्रैकं संजातं तस्य धीमतः
His body afflicted by austerity, full of faith and free from malice, thus a thousand years passed for that wise one.
पिपीलिकाभिर्बह्वीभिः कृतं मृद्भारसंचयम् । तस्योपरि महाकायं वल्मीकं निजमंदिरम्
By many ants, a great mound of earth was piled up over him, and upon it a large anthill became his own dwelling.
वल्मीकोदरमध्यस्थो जडीभूत इवस्थितः । स एवं पिप्पलो विप्रस्तपते सुमहत्तपः
Situated in the middle of the anthill, he remained as if inert; thus did the brāhmaṇa Pippala perform his great austerity.
कृष्णसर्पैस्तु सर्वत्र वेष्टितो द्विजसत्तमः । तमुग्रतेजसं विप्रं प्रदशंति विषोल्बणाः
Surrounded everywhere by black serpents, that best of twice-born was bitten by venomous snakes, though possessed of fierce energy.
संप्राप्य गात्रमर्माणि विषं तस्य न भेदयेत् । तेजसा तस्य विप्रस्य नागाः शांतिमथागमन्
Though their poison reached his body and vital points, it did not harm him; by the brāhmaṇa's radiance, the serpents became peaceful and departed.
तस्य कायात्समुद्भूता अर्चिषो दीप्ततेजसः । नानारूपाः सुबहुशो दृश्यंते च पृथक्पृथक्
From his body arose flames of radiant brilliance, appearing in many forms and in great number, each distinct from the other.
यथा वह्नेः खरतरास्तथाविधा नरोत्तम । यथामेघोदरे सूर्यः प्रविष्टो भाति रश्मिभिः
Just as the flames of fire are fierce, so were they, O best of men; and as the sun shines with its rays within the womb of a cloud.
वल्मीकस्थस्तथाविप्रः पिप्पलो भाति तेजसा । सर्पा दशंति विप्रं तं सक्रोधा दशनैरपि
Thus, the sage dwelling in the anthill, Pippala, shone with his radiance; even when snakes bit him in anger with their fangs.
न भिंदंति च दंष्ट्राग्राच्चर्म भित्त्वा नृपोत्तम । एवं वर्षसहस्रैकं तप आचरतस्ततः
Yet their sharp teeth could not pierce his skin, O foremost of kings, even after breaking through the surface; so he continued his austerity for a thousand years.
गतं तु राजराजेंद्र मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः । त्रिकालं साध्यमानस्य शीतवर्षातपान्वितः
O king of kings, the time passed for that great-souled sage, as he practiced his austerity three times daily, enduring cold, rain, and heat.
गतः कालो महाराज पिप्पलस्य महात्मनः । तद्वच्च वायुभक्षं तु कृतं तेन महात्मना
O great king, the time passed for the noble Pippala; likewise, he sustained himself only on air, performing austerity.
त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि गतानि तस्य तप्यतः । तस्य मूर्ध्नि ततो देवैः पुष्पवृष्टिः कृता पुरा
Three thousand years passed as he practiced austerity; then, the gods showered flowers upon his head in ancient times.
ब्रह्मज्ञोसि महाभाग धर्मज्ञोसि न संशयः । सर्वज्ञानमयोऽसि त्वं संजातः स्वेनकर्मणा
You are a knower of Brahman, O highly fortunate one; you are a knower of dharma, without doubt; you are filled with all knowledge, born from your own actions.
यं यं त्वं वांछसे कामं तं तं प्राप्स्यसि नान्यथा । सर्वकामप्रसिद्धस्त्वं स्वत एव भविष्यसि
Whatever desire you wish for, you shall obtain; you will become fulfilled in all desires by your own power.
समाकर्ण्य महद्वाक्यं पिप्पलोपि महामनाः । प्रणम्य देवताः सर्वा भक्त्या नमितकंधरः
Hearing these great words, Pippala, with a noble mind, bowed to all the gods, his neck bent in devotion.
हर्षेण महताविष्टो वचनं प्रत्युवाच सः । इदं विश्वं जगत्सर्वं ममवश्यं यथा भवेत्
Filled with great joy, he replied: 'May this entire world, all creation, come under my control.'
तथा कुरुध्वं देवेंद्रा विद्याधरो भवाम्यहम् । एवमुक्त्वा स मेधावी विरराम नृपोत्तम
'So let it be, O lords of the gods; let me become a Vidyadhara.' Having spoken thus, the wise one ceased, O foremost of kings.