न निवेदयते यस्तु तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातकम् । उपस्थिते विवाहे च यज्ञे दाने च वासव
and does not report it, he is called a slayer of Brahman; O Indra, at the time of marriage, sacrifice, or gift—
मोहाच्चरति विघ्नं यः स मृतो जायते कृमिः । धनं फलति दानेन जीवितं जीवरक्षणात्
whoever, out of delusion, causes an obstacle, is reborn as a worm after death; wealth is gained by giving, life by protecting life—
रूपमैश्वर्यमारोग्यमहिंसाफलमश्नुते । फलमूलाशनात्पूजां स्वर्गः सत्येन लभ्यते
beauty, prosperity, and health are enjoyed as the fruit of nonviolence; heaven is attained through truth, worship by eating fruits and roots—
प्रायोपवेशनाद्राज्यं सर्वत्र सुखमश्नुते । सुखाट्यः शक्रदीक्षायां सुगामी च तृणाशनः
by fasting unto death, one enjoys happiness everywhere, and by the vow of Indra, the one who eats grass moves easily—
रूपी त्रिषवणस्नायी वायुं पीत्वा क्रतुं लभेत् । नित्यस्नायी भवेद्दक्षः संध्यावेदजपान्वितः
the one who bathes three times daily gains beauty, and by inhaling air, he attains the sacrifice; one who bathes regularly becomes skilled, endowed with the recitation of the twilight prayers—
अहिंस्रो याति वैराज्यं नाकपृष्ठमनाशकम् । अग्निप्रवेशी नियतं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
the nonviolent attains the realm of Virāj, the imperishable summit of heaven; the one who enters fire with discipline is honored in the world of Brahman—
रसानां प्रतिसंहारे पशून्पुत्रांश्च विंदति । नाके चिरं स वसति उपवासी च यो भवेत्
when the tastes are restrained, he obtains cattle and sons; and the one who fasts dwells long in heaven—
सततं भूमिशायी यः स लभेदीप्सितां गतिम् । वीरासनं वीरशयं वीरस्थानमुपासतः
whoever always lies upon the ground attains the desired state; by practicing the heroic posture, heroic lying, and heroic station—
अक्षयास्तस्यलोकाः स्युः सर्वकामगमास्तथा । उपवासं च दीक्षां च अभिषेकं च वासव
his worlds become inexhaustible, and all desires are fulfilled; O Indra, by undertaking fasting, initiation, and consecration—
कृत्वा द्वादशवर्षाणि वीरस्थानाद्विशिष्यते । पावनं चरते धर्मं स्वर्गलोके महीयते
for twelve years, he surpasses the heroic station; practicing pure dharma, he is honored in the heavenly world—
बृहस्पतिमतं पुण्यं ये पठंति द्विजोत्तमाः । तेषां चत्वारि वर्द्धंते आयुर्विद्यायशोबलम्
The twice-born who recite the meritorious teaching of Bṛhaspati— for them, four things increase: lifespan, knowledge, fame, and strength.
नारद उवाच- इतींद्राय बृहस्पतिप्रणीतं धर्मशास्त्रकम् । मह्यं भक्ताय संप्रोक्तं महेशेनाखिलं नृप
Nārada said: Thus, O king, this treatise on dharma composed by Bṛhaspati for Indra was fully declared to me, a devotee, by Maheśa.
नारद उवाच- शनिपीडा कथं याति तन्मे वद सुरोत्तम । त्वन्मुखाच्छ्रूयते यद्वै तेन जंतुः प्रमुच्यते
Nārada said: O best of the gods, tell me how the affliction caused by Śani is removed. It is heard from your mouth that by this, a being is released.
महादेव उवाच- देवर्षे शृणु वृत्तांतं तेन मुच्येत बंधनात् । ग्रहाणां ग्रहराजोऽयं सौरिः सर्वमहेश्वरः
Mahādeva said: O sage among the gods, listen to this account; by it, one is freed from bondage. Among the planets, this Sauri is the king of planets and the lord of all great lords.
अयं तु देवो विख्यातः कालरूपी महाग्रहः । जटिलो वज्ररोमा च दानवानां भयंकरः
This god is renowned as the embodiment of Time, a great planet, matted-haired, with hair like thunderbolts, and terrifying to the Dānavas.
तस्याख्यानं च लोकेऽस्मिन्प्रथितं नास्ति वै प्रभो । मया गुप्तं विशेषेण नोक्तं हि कस्यचित्कदा
His story is not widely known in this world, O lord; I have kept it especially secret and have never told it to anyone.
रघुवंशेऽति विख्यातो राजा दशरथः पुरा । चक्रवर्ती महावीरः सप्तद्वीपाधिपोऽभवत्
In the Raghu dynasty, there was once a king named Daśaratha, greatly renowned, a universal emperor, a mighty hero, and lord of the seven continents.
कृत्तिकांते शनिं ज्ञात्वा दैवज्ञैर्ज्ञापितो हि सः । रोहिणीं भेदयित्वा च शनिर्यास्यति सांप्रतम्
Having learned from astrologers that Śani was at the end of Kṛttikā, he was informed that Śani would now proceed, breaking through Rohiṇī.
शाकटं भेदमत्युग्रं सुरासुरभयंकरम् । द्वादशाब्दं तु दुर्भिक्षं भविष्यति सुदारुणम्
The breaking of the Śākaṭa formation would be extremely fierce, terrifying to gods and demons; for twelve years, a most dreadful famine would occur.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं मंत्रिभिः सह पार्थिवः । मंत्रयामास किमिदं भयंकरमुपस्थितम्
Hearing this, the king, together with his ministers, deliberated: 'What is this terrible danger that has arisen?'
आकुलं च जगद्दृष्ट्वा पौरजानपदादिकम् । ब्रुवंति सर्वतो लोकाः क्षय एष समागतः
Seeing the world in turmoil—city dwellers and country folk alike—people everywhere were saying, 'This is the end that has come.'
देशाः सनगरा ग्रामा भयभीताः समंततः । पप्रच्छ प्रयतो राजा वसिष्ठप्रमुखान्द्विजान्
Lands with their cities and villages were seized by fear on all sides; the devoted king questioned the foremost Brāhmaṇas, led by Vasiṣṭha.
संविधानं किमत्रास्ति ब्रूत मां हि द्विजोत्तमाः
He asked, 'What remedy is there in this situation? Tell me, O best of Brāhmaṇas.'
वसिष्ठ उवाच- प्राजापत्यमृक्षमिदं तस्मिन्भिन्ने कुतः प्रजाः । अयं योगोह्यसाध्यस्तु ब्रह्मशक्रादिभिस्तथा
Vasiṣṭha said: 'This is the constellation of Prajāpati; if it is broken, how can there be creatures? This conjunction cannot be overcome even by Brahmā, Indra, and others.'
इति संचिंत्य मनसा साहसं परमं महत् । समादाय धनुर्दिव्यं दिव्यायुधसमन्वितम्
Thinking thus in his mind, he undertook a most extraordinary deed: taking up his divine bow, equipped with celestial weapons.
रथमारुह्य वेगेन गतो नक्षत्रमंडलम् । सपादं योजनं लक्षं सूर्यस्योपरि संस्थितम्
Mounting his chariot with speed, he went to the region of the stars, a hundred thousand yojanas and a quarter above the sun.
रोहिणीपृष्ठमास्थाय राजा दशरथः पुरा । रथे तु कांचने दिव्ये मणिरत्नविभूषिते
Long ago, King Daśaratha, stationed on the back of Rohiṇī, in a divine golden chariot adorned with jewels and gems,
हंसवर्णहयैर्युक्ते महाकेतुसमुच्छ्रये । दीप्यमानो महारत्नैः किरीटमुकुटोज्ज्वलः
Yoked with horses of swan-like color, with a great banner raised high, shining with great jewels, his crown and diadem radiant,
बभ्राज स तदाकाशे द्वितीय इव भास्करः । आकर्णपूर्णा चापे तु संहारास्त्रं न्ययोजयत्
He shone there in the sky like a second sun; drawing his bow to the ear, he fitted the missile of destruction.
संहारास्त्रं शनिर्दृष्ट्वा सुरासुरभयंकरम् । हसित्वा तद्भयात्सौरिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing the missile of destruction, terrifying to gods and demons, Śani laughed and, out of fear, spoke these words.