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.
यथोक्तं कुंजलेनापि पित्रा पूर्वं श्रुतं तथा ।। कथयस्वात्मवृत्तांतं भवान्को मां प्रभाषते
As has been previously heard from the father by Kunjala, so tell your own story, O Bhavanka, you speak to me.
सुबाहुं प्रत्युवाचेदं वाक्यं पक्षिवरस्तदा ।। विज्वल उवाच- शुकजात्यां समुत्पन्नः कुंजलोनाम मे पिता
Then the best among birds replied to Subahu with these words: Vijvala said—My father is named Kunjala, born in the lineage of parrots.
तस्याहं विज्वलो नाम तृतीयस्तु सुतेष्वहम् ।। नाहं देवो न गंधर्वो न च सिद्धो महाभुज
I am Vijvala, his third son; I am neither a god, nor a gandharva, nor a siddha, O mighty-armed one.
नित्यमेव प्रपश्यामि कर्म चैवं सुदारुणम् ।। कियत्कालं महत्कर्म साहसाकारसंयुतम्
I always observe actions, indeed, most dreadful; for some time, great deeds, accompanied by boldness,
करिष्यसि महाराज तन्मे कथय सांप्रतम् ।। सुबाहुरुवाच- वासुदेवाभिधानं यत्पूर्वमुक्तं हि ब्राह्मणैः
You will perform, O great king; tell me that now. Subahu said—That which was previously spoken by the Brahmins as named Vasudeva,
श्रोष्याम्यहं यदा भद्र गतिं स्वां प्राप्नुयां तदा ।। पुण्यात्मना भाषितं वै मुनिना संयतात्मना
I will listen, O fortunate one, when I attain my own path; spoken by the virtuous sage, whose self is restrained.
तदाहं पातकान्मुक्तो भविष्यामि न संशयः ।। विज्वल उवाच- तवार्थे पृच्छितस्तातस्तेन मे कथितं च यत्
Then I shall be freed from sin, there is no doubt. Vijvala said—For your sake, my father was asked, and he told me what
तत्तेद्याहं प्रवक्ष्यामि शाश्वतं शृणु सत्तम
That, indeed, I will declare to you, eternal; listen, O noble one.
ॐअस्य श्रीवासुदेवाभिधानस्य स्तोत्रस्य नारदऋषिरनुष्टुप्छंदः । ॐकारोदेवता सर्वपातकनाशनार्थे चतुर्वर्गसाधनार्थे च जपे विनियोगः । ॐनमो भगवते वासुदेवाय इति मंत्रः । पावनं परमं पुण्यं वेदज्ञं वेदमंदिरम् ।। विद्याधारं भवाधारं प्रणवं वै नमाम्यहम्
Om: The seer of this hymn named Śrī Vāsudeva is Nārada, the meter is Anuṣṭubh; Om is the deity. The recitation is for the destruction of all sins and attainment of the four aims of life. The mantra is: 'Om namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.' I bow to the sacred, supreme, meritorious, Veda-knowing, temple of the Veda; the bearer of knowledge, the support of existence, I bow to the Pranava.
निरावासं निराकारं सुप्रकाशं महोदयम् ।। निर्गुणं गुणसंबद्धं नमामि प्रणवं परम्
I bow to the Pranava, which is without abode, without form, brilliantly manifest, of great glory; without qualities, yet bound with qualities, supreme.