ध्यात्वा नत्वा हृषीकेशं सर्वक्लेशविनाशनम् ।। सर्वश्रेयः प्रदातारं हरेः स्तोत्रमुदीरितम्
Having meditated upon and bowed to Hṛṣīkeśa, destroyer of all afflictions, bestower of all blessings, the hymn to Hari was proclaimed.
वासुदेवाभिधानं तत्सर्वश्रेयः प्रदायकम् ।। मोक्षद्वारं सुखोपेतं शांतिदं पुष्टिवर्द्धनम्
That hymn named after Vāsudeva grants all blessings, opens the door to liberation, brings happiness, bestows peace, and increases prosperity.
सर्वकामप्रदातारं ज्ञानदं ज्ञानवर्द्धनम् ।। वासुदेवस्य यत्स्तोत्रं विज्वलाय प्रकाशितम्
It grants all desires, gives knowledge, and increases wisdom; this hymn to Vāsudeva was revealed to Vijvala.
वासुदेवाभिधानं चाप्रमेयं पुण्यवर्द्धनम् ।। सोऽवगम्य पितुः सर्वं विज्वलः पक्षिणांवरः
The hymn named after Vāsudeva is immeasurable and increases merit; Vijvala, best among birds, learned all of it from his father.
तत्रगंतुंप्रचक्रामपितुःपृष्टंतदानृप ।। एवं गंतुं कृतमतिं विज्वलं ज्ञानपारगम्
Then, having asked his father, the king prepared to go there; thus, Vijvala, accomplished in knowledge, resolved to depart.
उवाच पुत्रं धर्मात्मा उपकारसमुद्यतम्
The righteous Kuñjala, intent on doing good, spoke to his son.
कुंजल उवाच- पुत्र तस्य महज्जाने पातकं भूपतेः शृणु ।। यतो गत्वा पठ स्वत्वं सुबाहोश्चोपशृण्वतः
Kuñjala said: My son, listen to the great sin of that king; go there and recite it yourself, and let Subāhu hear as well.
यथायथा श्रोष्यति स्तोत्रमुत्तमं तथा तथा ज्ञानमयो भविष्यति ।। श्रीवासुदेवस्य न संशयो वै तस्य प्रसादात्सुशिवं मयोक्तम्
The more one hears this excellent hymn, the more one becomes filled with knowledge; by the grace of Śrī Vāsudeva, there is no doubt, supreme auspiciousness is attained, as I have said.
आमंत्र्य स गुरुं पश्चादुड्डीय लघुविक्रमः ।। आनंदकाननं पुण्यं संप्राप्तो विज्वलस्तदा
Having respectfully taken leave of his teacher, Vijvala, swift in movement, then reached the blessed forest of joy.
वृक्षच्छायां समाश्रित्य उपविष्टो मुदान्वितः । समालोक्य स राजानं विमानेनागतं पुनः
Taking shelter in the shade of a tree, he sat down, filled with happiness, and saw the king, who had come again in a celestial chariot.
एष्यत्यसौ कदा राजा सुबाहुः प्रियया सह ।। पातकान्मोचयिष्यामि स्तोत्रेणानेन वै कदा
When will King Subahu come here together with his beloved? When will I free him from his sins by means of this hymn?
तावद्विमानः संप्राप्तः किंकिणीजालमंडितः ।। घंटारवसमाकीर्णो वीणावेणुसमन्वितः
Meanwhile, an aerial chariot arrived, adorned with a net of bells, filled with the sound of gongs, accompanied by lutes and flutes.
गंधर्वस्वरसंघुष्टश्चाप्सरोभिः समन्वितः ।। सर्वकामसमृद्धस्तु अन्नोदकविवर्जितः
Resounding with Gandharva melodies and joined by Apsaras, possessing all enjoyments, yet lacking food and water.
तस्मिन्याने स्थितो राजा सुबाहुः प्रियया सह ।। समुत्तीर्णो विमानात्स सुतार्क्ष्य प्रियया सह
King Subahu, together with his beloved, was seated in that vehicle; having descended from the chariot, he stood with his beloved.
शस्त्रमादाय तीक्ष्णं तु यावत्कृंतति तच्छवम् ।। तावद्धि विज्वलेनापि समाह्वानं कृतं तदा
As he took up a sharp weapon and began to cut that corpse, at that very moment a shining figure called out.
भो भोः पुरुषशार्दूल देवोपम भवानिदम् ।। करोति निर्घृणं कर्म नृशंसैर्न च शक्यते
"O tiger among men, you who are like a god, you are performing this cruel act; such wickedness cannot be done by the wicked."
कर्तुं पुरुषशार्दूल कोऽयं विधिविपर्ययः ।। दुष्कृतं साहसं कर्म निंद्यं लोकेषु सर्वदा
"O tiger among men, what is this reversal of proper conduct? This reckless, sinful deed is always condemned among people."
वेदाचारविहीनं तु कस्मात्प्रारब्धवानि ह ।। तन्मे त्वं कारणं सर्वं कथयस्व यथा तथा
"Devoid of Vedic practice, why have you undertaken this? Tell me the entire reason for this, just as it is."
इत्येवं भाषितं तस्य विज्वलस्य महात्मनः ।। समाकर्ण्य महाराजः स्वप्रियां वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When these words were spoken by the great-souled Vijvala, the king listened and spoke to his beloved.
प्रिये वर्षशतं भुक्तं मयेदं पापकर्मणा ।। कदा न भाषितं केन यथायं परिभाषते
"Beloved, for a hundred years I have endured this suffering due to sinful deeds; never has anyone spoken as this one now addresses me."
ममैवं पीड्यमानस्य क्षुधया हृदयं प्रिये ।। निर्गतं चोत्सुकं कांते शांतिश्चित्ते प्रवर्तते
"My heart, tormented by hunger, beloved, has become restless and eager, and now peace arises within my mind."
यावदस्य श्रुतं वाक्यं सर्वदुःखस्य शांतिदम् ।। तावच्चित्ते समाह्लादो वर्तते चारुहासिनि
"As soon as I heard these words, which bring peace to all suffering, joy arose in my heart, O you with the lovely smile."
कोयं देवो नु गंधर्वः सहस्राक्षो भविष्यति ।। मुनीनां स्याद्वचः सत्यं यदुक्तं मुनिना पुरा
"Who is this? Is he a god, or a Gandharva, or will he become Indra? Perhaps the words spoken by the sage long ago are true."
एवमाभाषितं श्रुत्वा प्रियस्यानंतरं प्रिया ।। राजानं प्रत्युवाचाथ भार्या पतिपरायणा
After hearing her beloved speak thus, the devoted wife addressed the king in turn.
सत्यमुक्तं त्वया नाथ इदमाश्चर्यमुत्तमम् ।। यथा ते वर्तते कांत मम चित्ते तथा पुनः
"O lord, you have spoken truly; this is a most wondrous thing. Just as it is for you, beloved, so it is again in my heart."
पक्षिरूपधरः कोऽयं पृच्छते हितकारिवत् ।। एवमाभाषितं श्रुत्वा प्रियायाः पृथिवीपतिः
"Who is this, taking the form of a bird, who questions us as a well-wisher?" Hearing her speak thus, the king,
बद्धांजलिपुटोभूत्वा पक्षिणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। सुबाहुरुवाच- स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ पक्षिरूपधरः प्रभो
With hands joined in reverence, addressed the bird: Subahu said, "Welcome to you, O wise one, lord taking the form of a bird."
शिरसा भार्यया सार्द्धं तव पादांबुजद्वयम् ।। नमस्करोम्यहं पुण्यमस्तु नस्त्वत्प्रसादतः
"Together with my wife, I bow my head to your two lotus feet. May we obtain merit by your grace."
भवान्कः पक्षिरूपेण पुण्यमेवं प्रभाषते ।। यादृशं क्रियतेकर्म पूर्वदेहेन सत्तम
You, O Bhavanka, speak of merit in the form of a bird; whatever action is performed in a previous body, O noble one,
सुकृतं दुष्कृतं वापि तदिहैव प्रभुज्यते ।। अथ तेनात्मकं वृत्तं तस्याग्रे च निवेदितम्
Whether good or bad, that is experienced here itself; and the conduct belonging to that self is declared before him.