नाराचेनातितीक्ष्णेन प्राप्तकालं जघान ह । स्रवच्छोणितधाराभिः प्लाविताङ्गः स मूषकः
—and killed it at the proper time. That mouse, its body drenched with flowing streams of blood—
पपात भूमौ विप्रर्षे व्यथया हतचेतनः । आखौ निपतिते तस्मिन्दयालुर्द्विजसत्तमः
—fell to the ground, O best of Brāhmaṇas, its senses overcome by pain. When the mouse had fallen, the compassionate best of Brāhmaṇas—
हाहाकारं ततः कृत्वा समुत्तस्थौ जवेन सः । निजकर्णात्समानीय तुलसीपत्रमुत्तमम्
—then uttered a cry of distress and quickly rose up; taking a fine leaf of tulasī from his own ear—
तस्याखोर्वदने शीर्षे कर्णयोश्च प्रदत्तवान् । मातस्तु तुलसीदेवि गोविन्दह्लादकारिणि
—he placed it in the mouth, on the head, and on the ears of that mouse. 'O Mother Tulasī, goddess, bringer of delight to Govinda—'
अस्याखोः कृतपापस्य कुरु त्वं गतिमुत्तमाम् । इत्युक्त्वा सद्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वलोकोपकारकः
'For this mouse, who has committed sin, grant the highest state.' Having said this, the excellent Brāhmaṇa, benefactor of all the worlds—
हरेनारायणानन्त इत्युच्चैरकरोद्ध्वनिम् । तुलसीपत्रसंस्पर्शान्मूषको वीतकल्मषः
—loudly uttered the names 'Hari, Nārāyaṇa, Ananta.' By the touch of the tulasī leaf, the mouse was freed from sin.
श्रवणाद्धरिनाम्नश्च मुक्तोऽभूद्भवबंधनात् । ततो दूता महाविष्णोः सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः
By hearing the name of Hari, he was freed from the bondage of birth; then the messengers of the great Viṣṇu, adorned with all auspicious marks,
आजग्मुः सुरथैः शीघ्रं नेतुं तं गतकल्मषम् । समारुह्य रथं दिव्यं विष्णुदूतगणैर्वृताः
quickly arrived with divine chariots to take him, whose sins were gone; mounting a celestial chariot, surrounded by the hosts of Viṣṇu’s attendants,
जगाम परमं स्थानं मूषको द्विजसत्तम । युगकोटिसहस्राणि स्थित्वा नारायणाश्रमे
the mouse, O best of twice-born, reached the supreme abode, having dwelt in Nārāyaṇa’s hermitage for thousands of millions of ages.
ज्ञानमासाद्य तत्रैव मोक्षमाखुर्जगाम सः । व्यास उवाच- माहात्म्यं तुलसीदेव्याः कथितं ते द्विजोत्तम
There itself, attaining knowledge, that mouse obtained liberation; Vyāsa said: The greatness of goddess Tulasī has been told to you, O best of Brāhmaṇas.
इदानीं ब्रूहि किं श्रोतुं महाभाग त्वमिच्छसि
Now, O highly fortunate one, tell me what you wish to hear.
श्रीविष्णवे नमः स्वच्छं चंद्रावदातं करिकरमकरक्षोभसंजातफेनं। ब्रह्मोद्भूतिप्रसक्तैर्व्रतनियमपरैः सेवितं विप्रमुख्यैः। कारालंकृतेन त्रिभुवनगुरुणा ब्रह्मणा दृष्टिपूतं। संभोगाभोगरम्यं जलमशुभहरं पौष्करं वः पुनातु
Salutation to Śrī Viṣṇu. May the pure water, white as the moon, foaming from the agitation of elephants and makaras, served by foremost Brāhmaṇas devoted to vows and discipline, sanctified by the gaze of Brahmā, the guru of the three worlds, adorned with beauty and delight, and remover of all inauspiciousness—may that Puṣkara water purify you.
सूतमेकांतमासीनं व्यासशिष्यं महामतिः। लोमहर्षणनामा वा उग्रश्रवसमाह तत्
The wise disciple of Vyāsa, named Lomaharṣaṇa or Ugraśravas, sat apart as the Sūta.
ऋषीणामाश्रमांस्तात गत्वा धर्मान्समासतः। पृच्छतां विस्तराद्ब्रूहि यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि
Having gone to the hermitages of the sages, O dear one, and having asked them about dharma in detail, speak fully of what you have heard from me.
वेदव्यासान्मया पुत्र पुराणान्यखिलानि च। तवाख्यातानि प्राप्तानि मुनिभ्यो वद विस्तरात्
O son, all the Purāṇas and the teachings of Vedavyāsa have been imparted to you; tell them in detail to the sages.
प्रयागे मुनिवर्यैश्च यथापृष्टः स्वयं प्रभुः। पृष्टेन चानुशिष्टास्ते मुनयो धर्मकांक्षिणः
At Prayāga, as the best of sages asked the Lord himself, and as they were instructed when they questioned, those sages, desiring dharma,
देशं पुण्यमभीप्संतो विभुना च हितैषिणा। सुनाभं दिव्यरूपं च सत्यगं शुभविक्रमं
seeking a holy land, were guided by the Lord, the well-wisher, to Sunābha, divine in form, truthful, and of auspicious valor.
अनौपम्यमिदं चक्रं वर्तमानमतंद्रिताः। पृष्टतो यातनियमात्पदं प्राप्स्यथ यद्धितम्
He said: This matchless wheel, which moves tirelessly, you should follow without distraction; by doing so, you will attain the good that is sought.
गच्छतो धर्मचक्रस्य यत्र नेमिर्विशीर्यते। पुण्यः स देशो मंतव्य इत्युवाच स्वयं प्रभुः
Wherever the rim of the wheel of dharma, as it moves, does not break, that place should be considered holy—so spoke the Lord himself.
उक्त्वा चैवमृषीन्सर्वानदृश्यत्वमगात्पुनः। गंगावर्तसमाहारो नेमिर्यत्र व्यशीर्यत
Having thus spoken to all the sages, he became invisible again; the rim broke where the Ganges’ currents gathered.
ईजिरे दीर्घसत्रेण ऋषयो नैमिषे तदा। तत्र गत्वा तु तान्ब्रूहि पृच्छतो धर्मसंशयान्
Then, at Naimiṣa, the sages performed a long sacrifice; go there and speak to them, answering their questions about dharma.
उग्रश्रवास्ततो गत्वा ज्ञानविन्मुनिपुंगवान्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य नमस्कृत्वा कृतांजलिः
Then Ugraśravas went to those wise and eminent sages; approaching them, he greeted them with joined palms.
तोषयामास मेधावी प्रणिपातेन तानृषीन्। ते चापि सत्रिणः प्रीताः ससदस्या महात्मने
The intelligent one pleased those sages with his respectful salutation; and those sacrificers, along with their assembly, were pleased with the great-souled one.
तस्मै समेत्य पूजां च यथावत्प्रतिपेदिरे। ऋषय ऊचुः। कुतस्त्वमागतः सूत कस्माद्देशादिहागतः
Coming together, they honored him as was proper; the sages said: From where have you come, O Sūta? From what land have you arrived here?
कारणं चागमे ब्रूहि वृंदारकसमद्युते। सूत उवाच। पित्राहं तु समादिष्टो व्यासशिष्येण धीमता
O radiant one among the attendants, tell us the reason according to tradition. The Sūta said: I was instructed by my father, the wise disciple of Vyāsa.
शुश्रूषस्व मुनीन्गत्वा यत्ते पृच्छंति तद्वद। वदंतु भगवंतो मां कथयामि कथां तु यां
Go to the sages, serve them, and speak to them whatever they ask. Let the venerable ones address me, and I will narrate the story they desire.
पुराणं चेतिहासं वा धर्मानथ पृथग्विधान्। तां गिरं मधुरां तस्य शुश्रुवुर्ऋषिसत्तमाः
Whether it is ancient legend or history, or various kinds of dharma, the best of the sages listened to his sweet words.
अथ तेषां पुराणस्य शुश्रूषा समपद्यत। दृष्ट्वा तमतिविश्वस्तं विद्वांसं लौमहर्षणिं
Then, among them, the desire to hear the Purāṇa arose, seeing Laumaharṣaṇa, the learned one, so completely trustworthy.
तस्मिन्सत्रे कुलपतिस्सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः। शौनको नाम मेधावी विज्ञानारण्यके गुरुः
In that assembly, the head of the family, thoroughly learned in all the scriptures, named Śaunaka, wise and the teacher in the forest of knowledge, was present.
इत्थं तद्भावमालंब्य धर्माञ्छुश्रूषुराह तम्। त्वया सूत महाबुद्धे भगवान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः
Thus, relying on that disposition, the seeker of dharma addressed him: 'O Sūta, of great intellect, you are the foremost knower of Brahman.'