देवशर्म्मोवाच- सर्वं देवि समाख्यातं धर्माख्यं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । कथं पुत्रमहं विंद्यां वैष्णवं गुणसंयुतम्
Devaśarman said— O goddess, all the supreme knowledge called dharma has been explained; how can I obtain a son endowed with Vaishnava qualities?
वद त्वं मे महाभागे यदि जानासि सुव्रते । धर्ममार्गस्त्वया सर्व्वः पितुः प्राप्तः पुरानघे
Tell me, O highly fortunate one, if you know, O virtuous lady; the entire path of dharma was formerly obtained by you from your father, O sinless one.
ममैतद्विदितं कांते भवती ब्रह्मवादिनी । च्यवनस्य प्रसादेन विष्णोस्तुष्टस्य ते पुरा
O beloved, this is known to me: you are a speaker of Brahman; formerly, by the grace of Cyavana and the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, you received it.
सुमनोवाच- वसिष्ठं गच्छ धर्मज्ञ तं प्रार्थय महामुनिम् । तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि तं पुत्रं धर्मज्ञं धर्मवत्सलम्
Sumanā said— Go to Vasiṣṭha, O knower of dharma, and beseech that great sage; from him you will obtain a son devoted to dharma and loving righteousness.
एवमुक्ते तया वाक्ये देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । करिष्ये तव कल्याणि मतमेवं न संशयः
Thus addressed by her, Devaśarman, the best of twice-born, said: 'O auspicious one, I will do exactly as you say, without doubt.'
एवमुक्त्वा जगामासौ देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । वसिष्ठं सर्ववेत्तारं दीप्यंतं तपतां वरम्
Having spoken thus, Devaśarman, the best of twice-born, went to Vasiṣṭha, the knower of all, shining, the foremost of ascetics.
गंगातीरे स्थितं पुण्यमासनस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । तेजोज्वालासमाकीर्णं द्वितीयमिव भास्करम्
He saw the most excellent twice-born, seated in a holy place on the bank of the Ganges, surrounded by a blaze of energy, like a second sun.
राजमानं महात्मानं ब्रह्मसिंहं द्विजोत्तमम् । भक्त्या प्रणम्य स मुनिं दंडवत्तं पुनःपुनः
Radiant, great-souled, a lion among Brahmins, the best of twice-born—he bowed to that sage with devotion, again and again, in full prostration.
तमुवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मसूनुरकल्मषम् । उपविशासने पुण्ये सुखेन सुमहामते
That son of Brahma, full of great energy, spoke to him, free from sin: 'Sit on this holy seat, O supremely wise one, at ease.'
नारद उवाच- उपविष्टः स योगींद्र पुनः प्राह तपोधनम् । गृहे पुरुष ते वत्स दारभृत्येषु सर्वदा
Nārada said— When he was seated, that lord of yogis again addressed the ascetic: 'O child, is all well in your house, with your wife and servants always?'
क्षेममस्ति महाभाग पुण्यकर्मसु चाग्निषु । निरामयोऽसि चांगेषु धर्मं पालयसे सदा
Is all well, O highly fortunate one, with your meritorious rites and your sacred fires? Are you free from illness in your limbs? Do you always uphold dharma?
एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः पुनः प्राह महीसुरम् । किं करोमि प्रियं कामं सुप्रियं ते द्विजोत्तम
Having spoken thus, the highly wise one again addressed the best of Brahmins: 'What dear wish, what most cherished thing, shall I do for you, O best of twice-born?'
नारद उवाच- एवं संभाष्य तं विप्रं विरराम शुभं वचः । ततो विप्रो महाभागो वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्
Nārada said— Thus having spoken to that Brahmin, he ceased his auspicious words; then the highly fortunate Brahmin addressed Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of sages.
स होवाच महात्मानं वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यं विच्छेदय द्विजोत्तम
He spoke to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of ascetics: 'O lord, please listen to my words, O best of twice-born.'
दारिद्र्यं केन भावेन पुत्रसौख्यं कथं नहि । एतन्मे संशयं तात कस्मात्पापाद्वदस्व मे
By what cause does poverty arise, and why is there no happiness from sons? O father, tell me the reason for this doubt of mine—what sin is the cause of it?
महामोहेन संमुग्धः प्रियया बोधितो द्विज । तयाहं प्रेषितस्तात तव पार्श्वं समागतः
Deluded by great ignorance, I was awakened by my beloved, O twice-born one. Sent by her, O father, I have come to your presence.
तत्सर्वं हि समाचक्ष्व सर्वसंदेहनाशकम् । मुक्तिदाता भव स्वत्वं ममसंसारबंधनात्
Please explain all this, which dispels every doubt. Be the giver of liberation to me from the bondage of worldly existence.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- पुत्रा मित्रास्तथा भ्राता अन्ये स्वजनबांधवाः । पंचभेदास्तु संबंधाः पुरुषस्य भवंति ते
Vasiṣṭha said: Sons, friends, brothers, and other relatives—these are five kinds of relationships that a person has.
तेते सुमनसा प्रोक्ताः पूर्वमेव तवाग्रतः । ऋणसंबंधिनः सर्वे ते कुपुत्रा द्विजोत्तम
All these, O best of the twice-born, have already been described to you as being bound by debts; they are all bad sons.
पुत्रस्य लक्षणं पुण्यं तवाग्रे प्रवदाम्यहम् । पुण्यप्रसक्तो यस्यात्मा सत्यधर्मरतः सदा
Now I shall tell you, in your presence, the characteristics of a good son: one whose soul is devoted to virtue and who always delights in truth and righteousness.
शुद्धिमाञ्ज्ञानसंपन्नस्तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरः । सर्वकर्मसुसंवीतो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः
He is pure, endowed with knowledge, austere, foremost among speakers, accomplished in all duties, and devoted to the study of the Vedas.
सर्वशास्त्रप्रवेदी च देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । याज्ञिकः सर्वयज्ञानां दाता त्यागी प्रियंवदः
He is learned in all scriptures, worships gods and Brahmins, performs sacrifices, gives gifts, is generous, and speaks kindly.
विष्णुध्यानपरो नित्यं शांतोदांतः सुहृत्सदा । पितृमातृपरो नित्यं सर्वस्वजनवत्सलः
He is always devoted to meditation on Viṣṇu, calm, self-controlled, ever friendly, devoted to his parents, and affectionate to all his relatives.
कुलस्य तारको विद्वान्स्वकुलं परिपोषकः । एवंगुणैस्तु संयुक्तः सुपुत्रः सुखदायकः
A wise son who uplifts the family and nourishes his lineage—endowed with such qualities, a good son brings happiness.
अन्ये संबंधयुक्ताश्च शोकसंतापकारकाः । उदासीनेन किं कार्यं फलहीनेन तेऽनघ
Other relatives, though connected, bring grief and sorrow; what use is there for an indifferent one, who is fruitless, O sinless one?
आयांति यांति ते सर्वे दुःखं दत्वा सुदारुणम् । पुत्ररूपेण ते सर्वे संसारे द्विजसत्तम
They all come and go, giving intense suffering; all these, in the form of sons, exist for you in this world, O best of the twice-born.
पूर्वजन्मकृतं कर्म यत्त्वया परिपालितम् । तत्सर्वं हि प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामद्भुतं पुनः
The actions performed by you in previous births—I shall now tell you all of them; listen again to this wondrous account.
भवाञ्छूद्रो महाप्राज्ञ पूर्वजन्मनि नान्यथा । कृषिकर्त्ता ज्ञानहीनो महालोभेन संयुतः
O most wise one, you were a Śūdra in your previous birth, not otherwise—a farmer, lacking in knowledge, and possessed of great greed.
एकभार्यः सदा द्वेषी बहुपुत्रो ह्यदत्तवान् । धर्मं नैव विजानासि सत्यं च परिनिष्ठितम्
You had one wife, were always hostile, had many sons, and gave nothing. You did not understand righteousness, nor were you established in truth.
दानं नैव त्वया दत्तं शास्त्रं नैव परिश्रुतम् । कृतं नैव त्वया तीर्थं न च यात्रा महामते
You did not give charity, nor did you study scripture; you did not undertake pilgrimages, nor did you travel, O wise one.