गुरुं पुण्यमयं ज्ञात्वा त्रिविधेनापि कर्मणा । इत्यर्थे श्रूयते विप्र इतिहासः पुरातनः
Knowing the teacher to be full of merit, the student should serve him in all three ways of action; in this context, O Brahmin, an ancient story is told.
सर्वपापहरः प्रोक्तश्च्यवनस्य महात्मनः । भार्गवस्य कुले जातश्च्यवनो मुनिसत्तमः
It is said that Cyavana, the great-souled one, born in the lineage of Bhrigu, is a remover of all sins.
तस्य चिंता समुत्पन्ना एकदा तु नृपोत्तम । कदाहं ज्ञानसंपन्नो भविष्यामि महीतले
Once, O best of kings, a thought arose in him: 'When will I become endowed with knowledge upon the earth?'
दिवारात्रौप्रचिंतेत्स ज्ञानार्थी मुनिसत्तमः । एवं तु चिंतमानस्य मतिरासीन्महात्मनः
That best of sages, desiring knowledge, pondered day and night; thus, as he was reflecting, this resolve arose in the great-souled one.
तीर्थयात्रां प्रयास्यामि अभीष्टफलदायिनीम् । गृहक्षेत्रादिसंत्यज्य भार्यां पुत्रं धनं ततः
'I shall undertake a pilgrimage to sacred fords that grant the desired fruits, renouncing house, field, wife, son, and wealth.'
तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन अटते मेदिनीं तदा । लोमानुलोमयात्रां स गंगायाः कृतवान्नृप
Then, on the pretext of pilgrimage, he wandered the earth, O king, and performed the journey along the Ganga, following the course of its flow.
स तद्वन्नर्मदायाश्च सरस्वत्या मुनीश्वरः । गोदावर्यादिसर्वासां नदीनां सागरस्य च
That lordly sage did likewise for the Narmada, Sarasvati, and all rivers like the Godavari, and for the ocean as well.
अन्येषां सर्वतीर्थानां क्षेत्राणां च नृपोत्तम । देवानां पुण्यलिगानां यात्राव्याजेन सोऽभ्रमत्
O best of kings, he wandered to all other sacred fords, fields, and the holy lingas of the gods, under the pretext of pilgrimage.
भ्रममाणस्य तस्यापि तीर्थेषु परमेषु च । भ्रममाणः समायातः क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं तदा । कायश्च निर्मलो जातः सूर्यतेजः समप्रभः
Even as he wandered among those supreme fords, he came to the best of fields; then his body became pure, shining like the brilliance of the sun.
च्यवनः काशते दीप्त्या पूतात्मानेन कर्मणा
Cyavana shone with radiance, his soul purified by that act.
नर्मदा दक्षिणे कूले नाम्ना अमरकंटकम् । ददर्श सुमहालिगं सर्वेषां गतिदायकम्
On the southern bank of the Narmada, at a place called Amarakantaka, he saw a most splendid linga, bestowing liberation on all.
नत्वा स्तुत्वा तु संपूज्य सिद्धनाथं महेश्वरम् । ज्वालेश्वरं ततो दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा चाप्यमरेश्वरम्
Having bowed, praised, and worshipped Siddhanatha Maheśvara, he then beheld Jvaleshvara and also Amareśvara.
ब्रह्मेशं कपिलेशं च मार्कंडेश्वरमुत्तमम् । एवं यात्रां ततः कृत्वा ॐकारं समुपागतः २७ **। वटच्छायां समाश्रित्य शीतलां श्रमनाशिनीम् । सुखेन संस्थितो विप्रश्च्यवनो भृगुनंदनः
Having thus visited Brahmeshvara, Kapileshvara, and the excellent Markandeshvara, he then proceeded to Omkara. Taking shelter in the cool shade of a banyan tree, which dispels fatigue, the sage Cyavana, descendant of Bhrigu, sat there comfortably.
तत्र स्वनं स शुश्राव समुक्तं पक्षिणा तदा । दिव्यभाषा समायुक्तं ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतम्
There he heard a sound uttered by a bird, divine in speech and filled with knowledge and wisdom.
शुकश्च एकस्तत्रास्ते बहुकालप्रजीवकः । कुंजलोनाम धर्मात्मा चतुःपुत्रः सभार्यकः
There was a single parrot, long-lived, named Kunjala, righteous in nature, with his wife and four sons.
आसंस्तस्य हि पुत्राश्च चत्वारः पितृनंदनाः । तेषां नामानि राजेंद्र कथयिष्ये तवाग्रतः
That bird had four sons, beloved of their father; O king, I will tell you their names before you.
ज्येष्ठस्तु उज्ज्वलो नाम द्वितीयस्तु समुज्ज्वलः । तृतीयो विज्वलोनाम चतुर्थश्च कपिंजलः
The eldest was named Ujjvala, the second Samujjvala, the third Vijvala, and the fourth Kapinjala.
एवं पुत्रास्तु चत्वारः कुंजलस्य महामते । शुकस्य तस्य पुण्यस्य पितृमातृपरायणाः
Thus, Kunjala, the wise and virtuous parrot, had four sons, devoted to their parents.
भ्रमंति गिरिकुंजेषु द्वीपेषु च समाहिताः । भोजनार्थं तु संक्षुब्धाः क्षुधया परिपीडिताः
They wandered attentively among mountain groves and islands, agitated and afflicted by hunger, seeking food.
स्वोदरस्थां क्षुधां सौम्य फलैरमृतसन्निभैः । अमृतस्वादुतोयेन शमयंति नृपोत्तम
O best of kings, with fruits like nectar and water sweet as ambrosia, they would appease the hunger within their bellies.
फलं पक्वं रसालं तु आहारार्थं सुपुत्रकाः । दत्वा फलानि दंपत्योर्निक्षिपंति प्रयत्नतः
For the sake of food, the good sons would carefully gather ripe, juicy fruits and offer them to their parents.
मातुरर्थे महाभागा भक्तिभावसमन्विताः । तुष्टा आहारमुत्पाद्य भक्षयंति पठंति च
Blessed with devotion for their mother, they would, when satisfied, produce food, eat, and recite verses.
तत्र क्रीडारताः सर्वे विलसंति रमंति च । संध्याकालं समाज्ञाय पितुरंतिकमुत्तमम्
There, all of them, delighting in play, would sport and enjoy themselves; when evening approached, they would return to their excellent father.
आयांति भक्ष्यमादाय गुर्वर्थं तु प्रयत्नतः । पश्यतस्तस्य विप्रस्य च्यवनस्य महात्मनः
Bringing food for their teacher with care, they would come before their great father, as the sage Cyavana watched.
आगतास्त्वंडजाः सर्वे पितुर्नीडं सुशोभनम् । पितरं मातरं चोभौ प्रणेमुस्ते महामते
All the birds arrived at their father's beautiful nest and, O wise one, respectfully greeted both father and mother.
ताभ्यां भक्ष्यं समासाद्य उपतस्थुस्तयोः पुरः । सर्वे संभाषिताः पित्रा मानितास्ते सुतोत्तमाः
Having brought food, they stood before their parents; all those excellent sons were addressed and honored by their father.
मात्रा च कृपया राजन्वचनैः प्रीतिसंमितैः । पक्षवातेन शीतेन मातापित्रोश्च ते तदा
And by their mother, with kindness and words full of affection; for their parents then suffered from the cold and the wind of their wings.
तेषामाप्यायनं तौ द्वौ चक्राते पक्षिणौ नृप । आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव द्वाभ्यामपि सुपुत्रकान्
Those two birds, O king, nourished their children, blessing them with good wishes, rejoicing in their excellent sons.
तैश्च दत्तं सुसंपुष्टमाहारममृतोपमम् । तावेव हि सुसंप्रीतिं चक्राते द्विजसत्तम
The food given by them was well-nourishing, like nectar; those two, O best of twice-born, felt great joy.
पिबतो निर्मलं तोयं तीर्थकोटिसमुद्भवम् । स्वस्थानं तु समाश्रित्य सुखसंतुष्टमानसौ
Drinking pure water arising from countless sacred places, and settled in their own abode, their minds were content and happy.