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.
पुत्रस्य लक्षणं पुण्यं तवाग्रे प्रवदाम्यहम् । पुण्यप्रसक्तो यस्यात्मा सत्यधर्मरतः सदा
I will declare to you the auspicious qualities of a son: One whose soul is devoted to virtue, always engaged in truth and dharma.
शुद्धिमाञ्ज्ञानसंपन्नस्तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरः । सर्वकर्मसुसंवीतो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः
Pure, endowed with knowledge, ascetic, foremost among speakers, accomplished in all actions, and devoted to study of the Vedas.
सर्वशास्त्रप्रवेदी च देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । याज्ञिकः सर्वयज्ञानां दाता त्यागी प्रियंवदः
He is learned in all scriptures, worshipper of gods and Brahmins, performer of sacrifices, giver in all rites, renouncer, and one who speaks kindly.
विष्णुध्यानपरो नित्यं शांतोदांतः सुहृत्सदा । पितृमातृपरो नित्यं सर्वस्वजनवत्सलः
Always devoted to meditation on Vishnu, peaceful and self-controlled, ever a friend; constantly attentive to father and mother, affectionate to all his kin.
कुलस्य तारको विद्वान्स्वकुलं परिपोषकः । एवंगुणैस्तु संयुक्तः सुपुत्रः सुखदायकः
A savior of his lineage, wise, nourisher of his own family; endowed with such qualities, a good son brings happiness.
अन्ये संबंधयुक्ताश्च शोकसंतापकारकाः । उदासीनेन किं कार्यं फलहीनेन तेऽनघ
Others, though related, bring sorrow and distress; what use is there for one indifferent, O sinless one, whose actions bear no fruit?
आयांति यांति ते सर्वे दुःखं दत्वा सुदारुणम् । पुत्ररूपेण ते सर्वे संसारे द्विजसत्तम
All of them come and go, causing severe suffering; in the form of sons, they all bring pain in worldly life, O best of twice-born.
पूर्वजन्मकृतं कर्म यत्त्वया परिपालितम् । तत्सर्वं हि प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामद्भुतं पुनः
The deeds performed by you in previous births, which you have maintained, I will recount all of them; listen again to this wondrous tale.
भवाञ्छूद्रो महाप्राज्ञ पूर्वजन्मनि नान्यथा । कृषिकर्त्ता ज्ञानहीनो महालोभेन संयुतः
You were a Shudra, O wise one, in a previous birth, not otherwise; a farmer, lacking knowledge, possessed of great greed.
एकभार्यः सदा द्वेषी बहुपुत्रो ह्यदत्तवान् । धर्मं नैव विजानासि सत्यं च परिनिष्ठितम्
Having one wife, always hostile, father of many sons, yet not a giver; you did not understand dharma nor the established truth.