मयानृतं वचोभीत्या कथितं न गुरुद्रुहा । तस्मान्ममोपरि कृपां कुरु धर्मशिरोमणे
'Out of fear I spoke an untruth, not out of malice toward my teacher; therefore, O jewel of righteousness, show me your mercy.'
तदानुग्रहमाधाच्च सर्वभक्षो भवाञ्छुचिः । इत्युक्तवान्हुतभुजं दयार्द्रो मुनितापसः
Then, granting him favor, the sage, softened by compassion, said to Agni, 'Though you consume all, you shall remain pure.'
गर्भाच्च्युतस्य पुत्रस्य जातकर्मादिकं शुचिः । चकार विधिवद्विप्रो दर्भपाणिः सुमंगलः
The virtuous Brahmin, holding darbha grass and auspicious, performed the birth rites and other ceremonies according to rule for the son who had fallen from the womb.
च्यवनाच्च्यवनं प्राहुः पुत्रं सर्वे तपस्विनः । शनैःशनैः स ववृधे शुक्ले प्रतिपदिंदुवत्
Because he had fallen (cyavana), all the ascetics called the son Cyavana; he grew gradually, like the waxing moon on the bright fortnight.
स जगाम तपः कर्तुं रेवां लोकैकपावनीम् । शिष्यैः परिवृतः सर्वैस्तपोबलसमन्वितैः
He went to perform austerities at the Reva, purifier of the worlds, surrounded by all his disciples endowed with the power of penance.
गत्वा तत्र तपस्तेपे वर्षाणामयुतं महान् । अंसयोः किंशुकौ जातौ वल्मीकोपरिशोभितौ
Having gone there, the great one practiced austerities for ten thousand years; on his shoulders grew two kimshuka trees, shining atop the anthill.
मृगा आगत्य तस्यांगे कंडूं विदधुरुत्सुकाः । न किंचित्स हि जानाति दुर्वारतपसावृतः
Eager deer came and scratched his body, but he was unaware of anything, being enveloped in irresistible austerity.
कदाचिन्मनुरुद्युक्तस्तीर्थयात्रां प्रति प्रभुः । सकुटुंबो ययौ रेवां महाबलसमावृतः
Once, Manu, intent on pilgrimage, set out for the Reva with his family, accompanied by a great host of the strong.
तत्र स्नात्वा महानद्यां संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः । दानानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च प्रादाद्विष्णुप्रतुष्टये
There, after bathing in the great river and satisfying the ancestors and deities, he gave gifts to Brahmins for the pleasure of Vishnu.
तत्कन्या विचरंती सा वनमध्ये इतस्ततः । सखीभिः सहिता रम्या तप्तहाटकभूषणा
His beautiful daughter, adorned with ornaments of refined gold, wandered in the forest there with her companions.
तत्र दृष्ट्वाथ वल्मीकं महातरुसुशोभितम् । निमेषोन्मेषरहितं तेजः किंचिद्ददर्श सा
There, seeing an anthill splendid beneath a great tree, she noticed a certain radiance, unmoving and unwavering.
गत्वा तत्र शलाकाभिरतुदद्रुधिरं स्रवत् । दृष्ट्वा राज्ञांगजा खेदं प्राप्तवत्यतिदुःखिता
Approaching, she struck it with sticks, and blood began to flow; seeing this, the king's daughter was deeply distressed and overcome with sorrow.
न जनन्यै तथा पित्रे शशंसाघेन विप्लुता । स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं सा शुशोच भयातुरा
Overwhelmed by sin, she did not tell her mother or father; she grieved alone, fearful and troubled in her heart.
तदा भूश्चलिता राजन्दिवश्चोल्का पपात ह । धूम्रा दिशो भवन्सर्वाः सूर्यश्च परिवेषितः
Then, O king, the earth trembled, a meteor fell from the sky, all directions became smoky, and the sun was surrounded by a halo.
तदा राज्ञो हया नष्टा हस्तिनो बहवो मृताः । धनं नष्टं रत्नयुतं कलहोभून्मिथस्तदा
At that time, the king's horses were lost, many elephants died, wealth adorned with jewels was lost, and quarrels arose among the people.
तदालोक्य नृपो भीतः किंचिदुद्विग्नमानसः । जनानपृच्छत्केनापि मुनये त्वपराधितम्
Seeing this, the king, frightened and somewhat disturbed in mind, asked the people, 'By whom has an offense been committed against a sage?'
पारंपर्येण तज्ज्ञात्वा स्वपुत्र्याः परिचेष्टितम् । ययौ सुदुःखितस्तत्र समृद्धबलवाहनः
Having learned through intermediaries of his daughter's actions, he went there, deeply distressed, with his powerful army and vehicles.
तं वै तपोनिधिं वीक्ष्य महता तपसायुतम् । स्तुत्वा प्रसादयामास मुनिवर्य दयां कुरु
Seeing that ascetic, endowed with great austerity, he praised him and sought to appease him, saying, 'O best of sages, show mercy.'
तस्मै तुष्टो जगादायं मुनिवर्यो महातपाः । तवात्मजाकृतं सर्वमुत्पाताद्यमवेहि तत्
Pleased with him, that eminent sage of great austerity spoke: 'Know that all these calamities have arisen because of your daughter's deed.'
तव पुत्र्या महाराज चक्षुर्विस्फोटनं कृतम् । बहुसुस्राव रुधिरं जानती त्वामुवाच न
O great king, your daughter caused the bursting of an eye, from which much blood flowed; though she knew you, she did not speak.
तस्मादियं महाभूप मह्यं देया यथाविधि । ततश्चोत्पातशमनं भविष्यति न संशयः
Therefore, O great king, she must be given to me according to proper custom; then the calamities will be pacified—there is no doubt.
तच्छ्रुत्वा दुःखितो राजा प्रज्ञाचाक्षुष आत्मजाम् । ददौ कुलवयोरूप शीललक्षणसंयुताम्
Hearing this, the king, though sorrowful, gave his daughter—endowed with family, beauty, and noble qualities—to the sage of clear vision.
दत्ता यदा नृपेणेयं कन्या कमललोचना । तदोत्पाताः शमं याताः सर्वे मुनिरुषोद्गताः
When the king gave this lotus-eyed maiden, then all the calamities ceased, and the sage, rising, departed.
राजा दत्त्वात्मजां तस्मै मुनये तपसांनिधे । प्राप स्वां नगरीं भूयो दुःखितोऽयं दयायुतः
Having given his daughter to that sage, the king, a repository of compassion, sorrowfully returned again to his city.
शेष उवाच। शत्रुघ्नश्च्यवनस्याथ दृष्ट्वाऽचिंत्यं तपोबलम् । प्रशशंस तपो ब्राह्मं सर्वलोकैकवंदितम्
Śeṣa said: Then Śatrughna, seeing the inconceivable power of asceticism in Cyavana, praised the Brahmin's austerity, honored by all the worlds.
अहो पश्यत योगस्य सिद्धिं ब्राह्मणसत्तमे । यः क्षणादेव दुष्प्रापं तद्विमानमचीकरत्
'Behold the perfection of yoga in this foremost of Brahmins, who in a moment created that wondrous aerial chariot, so hard to obtain.'
क्व भोगसिद्धिर्महती मुनीनाममलात्मनाम् । क्व तपोबलहीनानां भोगेच्छा मनुजात्मनाम्
Where is the great enjoyment attained by sages of pure soul, and where is the desire for pleasure of men lacking the power of austerity?
इति स्वगतमाशंसञ्छत्रुघ्नश्च्यवनाश्रमे । क्षणं स्थित्वा जलं पीत्वा सुखसंभोगमाप्तवान्
Thus reflecting to himself in Cyavana's hermitage, Śatrughna, after standing for a moment and drinking water, attained great happiness.
हयस्तस्याः पयोष्ण्याख्या नद्याः पुण्यजलात्मनः । पयः पीत्वा ययौ मार्गे वायुवेगगतिर्महान्
Then, having drunk the water of the river Payoshni, whose waters are holy, he went on his way, swift as the wind.
योधास्तन्निर्गमं दृष्ट्वा पृष्ठतोऽनुययुस्तदा । हस्तिभिः पत्तिभिः केचिद्रथैः केचन वाजिभिः
Seeing his departure, the warriors followed behind—some with elephants, some with infantry, some with chariots, and others with horses.