एकोननवतितमोऽध्यायः 5.89 नारद उवाच- एवं संबोधितो विप्रो देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । पुनः प्राह प्रियां भार्यां सहितां ज्ञानवादिनीम्
Chapter eighty-nine. Nārada said: Thus addressed, the learned brāhmaṇa Devaśarman, best of twice-born, again spoke to his dear wife, who was wise in knowledge.
सत्यमुक्तं त्वया भद्रे सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । तथा हि वंशमिच्छंति साधवः सत्यपंडिताः
You have spoken the truth, O gentle one, destroying all doubts. Indeed, the virtuous and wise desire lineage.
यथा पुत्रस्य चिंता मे न धनस्य तथा प्रिये । येनकेनाप्युपायेन पुत्रमुत्पादयाम्यहम्
Just as my concern is for a son, not for wealth, O beloved; by whatever means, I will produce a son.
सुमनोवाच- पुत्रेण लोकाञ्जयति पुत्रस्तारयते कुलम् । सुपुत्रेण महाभाग पितामाता प्रजीवतः
Sumanā said: With a son, one conquers the worlds; a son uplifts the family. Through a worthy son, O fortunate one, parents live on.
एकः पुत्रो वरः कांत बहुभिर्निर्गुणैस्तु किम् । एकस्तारयते वंशमन्ये संतापकारकाः
One son is better, O lovely one; what use are many who lack virtue? One uplifts the lineage, others bring only sorrow.
पूर्वमेव मया प्रोक्तमन्ये संबंधभागिनः । पुण्येन प्राप्यते पुत्रः पुण्येन प्राप्यते कुलम्
I have already said, others are merely relatives. A son is obtained by merit, a family is obtained by merit.
सुगर्भः प्राप्यते पुण्यैर्दुर्मृत्युः पातकैस्तथा । सुखानां निचयं कांत सत्यमेव वदाम्यहम्
A good womb is gained by virtue, a bad death by sin. The abundance of happiness, O lovely one, I speak truly.
ब्रह्मचर्येण सत्येन तपसा नित्यवर्तनैः । दानेन नियमैश्चापि क्षमा शौचेन वल्लभ
Through celibacy, truthfulness, austerity, constant practice, charity, and discipline, as well as patience and purity, O beloved,
अहिंसया च शक्त्या वाऽस्तेयेनापि प्रवर्तते । एतैर्दशभिरंगैश्च धर्ममेवं प्रसूयते
Through nonviolence, strength, and abstaining from theft, one acts; by these ten qualities, dharma is thus produced.
संपूर्णो जायते धर्म अंगैर्गर्भो यथोदरे । धर्मं सृजति धर्मात्मा त्रिविधेनैव कर्मणा
When dharma is complete with its qualities, it is born as a fetus in the womb; the righteous soul creates dharma by threefold action.
तस्य धर्मः प्रसन्नात्मा पुण्य सौख्यं प्रयच्छति । यंयं चिंतयते प्राज्ञस्तंतं प्राप्नोति दुर्लभम्
His dharma, with a pure mind, grants merit and happiness; whatever the wise contemplate, that rare thing they attain.
देवशर्म्मोवाच- सर्वं देवि समाख्यातं धर्माख्यं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । कथं पुत्रमहं विंद्यां वैष्णवं गुणसंयुतम्
Devaśarman said: All has been explained, O goddess, the supreme knowledge called dharma. How may I obtain a son, a virtuous devotee of Viṣṇu?
वद त्वं मे महाभागे यदि जानासि सुव्रते । धर्ममार्गस्त्वया सर्व्वः पितुः प्राप्तः पुरानघे
Tell me, O blessed one, if you know, O virtuous lady. The entire path of dharma was received by you from your father long ago, O sinless one.
ममैतद्विदितं कांते भवती ब्रह्मवादिनी । च्यवनस्य प्रसादेन विष्णोस्तुष्टस्य ते पुरा
This is known to me, O lovely one; you are a speaker of Brahman. By the grace of Cyavana, when Viṣṇu was pleased with you in the past.
सुमनोवाच- वसिष्ठं गच्छ धर्मज्ञ तं प्रार्थय महामुनिम् । तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि तं पुत्रं धर्मज्ञं धर्मवत्सलम्
Sumanā said: Go to Vasiṣṭha, knower of dharma, and request that great sage; from him you will obtain a son devoted to dharma and righteousness.
एवमुक्ते तया वाक्ये देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । करिष्ये तव कल्याणि मतमेवं न संशयः
Hearing these words from her, Devaśarman, the foremost among twice-born, replied: I will do as you wish, O auspicious one; there is no doubt.
एवमुक्त्वा जगामासौ देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । वसिष्ठं सर्ववेत्तारं दीप्यंतं तपतां वरम्
Having spoken thus, Devaśarman, the best of Brahmins, went to Vasiṣṭha, knower of all, radiant, foremost among ascetics.
गंगातीरे स्थितं पुण्यमासनस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । तेजोज्वालासमाकीर्णं द्वितीयमिव भास्करम्
He saw the excellent Brahmin seated on the sacred bank of the Ganges, surrounded by a blaze of energy, like a second sun.
राजमानं महात्मानं ब्रह्मसिंहं द्विजोत्तमम् । भक्त्या प्रणम्य स मुनिं दंडवत्तं पुनःपुनः
He beheld the illustrious, great-souled Brahmin lion, shining with majesty; and, with devotion, repeatedly bowed to the sage in prostration.
तमुवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मसूनुरकल्मषम् । उपविशासने पुण्ये सुखेन सुमहामते
The mighty, radiant son of Brahma, free from blemish, addressed him: Sit comfortably on this sacred seat, O wise one.
नारद उवाच- उपविष्टः स योगींद्र पुनः प्राह तपोधनम् । गृहे पुरुष ते वत्स दारभृत्येषु सर्वदा
Nārada said: Once seated, the lord of yogis again addressed the ascetic: 'O child, is everything well in your house, among wife and servants, always?'
क्षेममस्ति महाभाग पुण्यकर्मसु चाग्निषु । निरामयोऽसि चांगेषु धर्मं पालयसे सदा
Is all well, O fortunate one, with your sacred rites and 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 wise one again addressed the Brahmin: What dear wish, what cherished desire shall I fulfill for you, O best of twice-born?
नारद उवाच- एवं संभाष्य तं विप्रं विरराम शुभं वचः । ततो विप्रो महाभागो वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्
Nārada said: Having thus spoken to the Brahmin, he ceased his auspicious words; then the fortunate Brahmin addressed Vasiṣṭha, foremost of sages.
स होवाच महात्मानं वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यं विच्छेदय द्विजोत्तम
He spoke to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, foremost among ascetics: O revered one, please listen to my words; dispel my doubts, O best of Brahmins.
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? This is my doubt, O father; tell me, from what sin does it come?
महामोहेन संमुग्धः प्रियया बोधितो द्विज । तयाहं प्रेषितस्तात तव पार्श्वं समागतः
Deluded by great ignorance, I was instructed by my beloved; sent by her, O father, I have come to your presence.
तत्सर्वं हि समाचक्ष्व सर्वसंदेहनाशकम् । मुक्तिदाता भव स्वत्वं ममसंसारबंधनात्
Tell me everything that dispels all doubts; be the giver of liberation, and free 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 five kinds of relationships exist for a person.
तेते सुमनसा प्रोक्ताः पूर्वमेव तवाग्रतः । ऋणसंबंधिनः सर्वे ते कुपुत्रा द्विजोत्तम
These, O noble one, were previously described to you; all are bound by debts, and are bad sons, O best of Brahmins.