स कथं शिशुको लेभे शिवशास्त्रप्रवक्तृताम् कथं वा शिवसद्भावं ज्ञात्वा तपसि निष्ठितः
How did that child attain the role of expounder of Shiva's teachings? Or, having realized the true nature of Shiva, how did he become steadfast in austerity?
कथं च लब्धविज्ञानस्तपश्चरणपर्वणि रुद्राग्नेर्यत्परं वीर्यं लभे भस्म स्वरक्षकम्
And how, having gained knowledge during the course of his austerities, did he obtain the supreme power of Rudra's fire—the ash that protects oneself?
न ह्येष शिशुकः कश्चित्प्राकृतः कृतवांस्तपः मुनिवर्यस्य तनयो व्याघ्रपादस्य धीमतः
For this child was not an ordinary one who performed austerity; he was the son of the eminent sage Vyaghrapada, wise among sages.
जन्मान्तरेण संसिद्धः केनापि खलु हेतुना स्वपदप्रच्युतो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो मुनिकुमारताम्
Perfected in a previous birth by some cause, he had, by destiny, fallen from his own state and attained the status of a sage's son.
महादेवप्रसादस्य भाग्यापन्नस्य भाविनः दुग्धाभिलाषप्रभवद्वारतामगमत्तपः
Because of the favor of Mahadeva, and due to his good fortune, he undertook austerity prompted by the desire for milk.
अतः सर्वगणेशत्वं कुमारत्वं च शाश्वतम् सह दुग्धाब्धिना तस्मै प्रददौ शंकरः स्वयम्
Therefore, together with the ocean of milk, Shankara himself granted him lordship over all the hosts and eternal youth.
तस्य ज्ञानागमोप्यस्य प्रसादादेव शांकरात् कौमारं हि परं साक्षाज्ज्ञानं शक्तिमयं विदुः
Even the knowledge of the sacred tradition was obtained by him solely through the grace of Śaṅkara; for the supreme knowledge, directly manifest, is known to be of Kumāra, consisting of power.
शिवशास्त्रप्रवक्तृत्वमपि तस्य हि तत्कृतम् कुमारो मुनितो लब्धज्ञानाब्धिरिव नन्दनः
His role as a proclaimer of the teachings of Śiva was also established by that; Kumāra, having received the ocean of knowledge from the sage, was like Nandana.
दृष्टं तु कारणं तस्य शिवज्ञानसमन्वये स्वमातृवचनं साक्षाच्छोकजं क्षीरकारणात्
The reason for his absorption in the knowledge of Śiva is seen: his own mother's words, directly arising from sorrow, were the cause, just as milk is produced.
कदाचित्क्षीरमत्यल्पं पीतवान्मातुलाश्रमे ईर्षयया मातुलसुतं संतृप्तक्षीरमुत्तमम्
Once, while staying at his uncle's hermitage, he drank only a little milk out of jealousy, seeing his cousin fully satisfied with excellent milk.
पीत्वा स्थितं यथाकामं दृष्ट्वा वै मातुलात्मजम् उपमन्युर्व्याघ्रपादिः प्रीत्या प्रोवाच मातरम्
After drinking as much as he wished, seeing his uncle's son content, Upamanyu, son of Vyāghrapāda, joyfully spoke to his mother.
मातर्मातर्महाभागे मम देहि तपस्विनि गव्यं क्षीरमतिस्वादु नाल्पमुष्णं पिबाम्यहम्
"Mother, O greatly fortunate ascetic, give me cow's milk; I do not drink a little, lukewarm milk, but desire the very sweet kind."
तच्छ्रुत्वा पुत्रवचनं तन्माता च तपस्विनी व्याघ्रपादस्य महिषी दुःखमापत्तदा च सा
Hearing her son's words, his ascetic mother, the wife of Vyāghrapāda, was overcome with sorrow.
उपलाल्याथ सुप्रीत्या पुत्रमालिंग्य सादरम् दुःखिता विललापाथ स्मृत्वा नैर्धन्यमात्मनः
Then, embracing her son with great affection, she, distressed, lamented, recalling her own poverty.
स्मृत्वास्मृत्वा पुनः क्षीरमुपमन्युस्स बालकः देहि देहीति तामाह रुद्रन्भूयो महाद्युतिः
Remembering and forgetting, again and again, the child Upamanyu repeatedly said to her, "Give, give," shining greatly like Rudra.
तद्धठं सा परिज्ञाय द्विजपत्नी तपस्विनी शान्तये तद्धठस्याथ शुभोपायमरीरचत्
Recognizing his insistence, the ascetic wife of the sage devised a good means to quiet his demand.
उञ्छवृत्त्यार्जितान्बीजान्स्वयं दृष्ट्वा च सा तदा बीजपिष्टमथालोड्य तोयेन कलभाषिणी
Then, seeing some seeds she had obtained by gleaning, she ground them, mixed them with water, and spoke gently.
एह्येहि मम पुत्रेति सामपूर्वं ततस्सुतम् आलिंग्यादाय दुःखार्ता प्रददौ कृत्रिमं पयः
She called her son kindly, saying, "Come, come, my child," embraced him, and, afflicted with sorrow, gave him the artificial milk.
पीत्वा च कृत्रिमं क्षीरं मात्रां दत्तं स बालकः नैतत्क्षीरमिति प्राह मातरं चातिविह्वलः
After drinking the artificial milk given by his mother, the boy, greatly distressed, said to her, "This is not milk."
दुःखिता सा तदा प्राह संप्रेक्ष्याघ्राय मूर्धनि समार्ज्य नेत्र पुत्रस्य कराभ्यां कमलायते
Then, seeing him, she, sorrowful, smelled his head, wiped his lotus-like eyes with her hands, and spoke.
तटिनी रत्नपूर्णास्तास्स्वर्गपातालगोचराः भाग्यहीना न पश्यन्ति भक्तिहीनाश्च ये शिवे
There are rivers filled with jewels, accessible in heaven and the netherworld; but those without fortune, and those lacking devotion to Śiva, do not see them.
राज्यं स्वर्गं च मोक्षं च भोजनं क्षीरसंभवम् न लभन्ते प्रियाण्येषां न तुष्यति यदा शिवः
Kingdom, heaven, liberation, or food produced from milk—none of these dear things are attained by those for whom Śiva is not pleased.
भवप्रसादजं सर्वं नान्यद्देवप्रसादजम् अन्यदेवेषु निरता दुःखार्ता विभ्रमन्ति च
All comes from the grace of Bhava; nothing arises from the favor of other gods. Those devoted to other deities, afflicted by suffering, wander in delusion.
क्षीरं तत्र कुतो ऽस्माकं वने निवसतां सदा क्व दुग्धसाधनं वत्स क्व वयं वनवासिनः
How can we, always dwelling in the forest, obtain milk here? Where is the means for milk, child? Where are we, forest-dwellers?
कृत्स्नाभावेन दारिद्र्यान्मया ते भाग्यहीनया मिथ्यादुग्धमिदं दत्तम्पिष्टमालोड्य वारिणा
Because of utter poverty, and being bereft of fortune, I have given you this milk, falsely mixed and churned with water.
त्वं मातुलगृहे स्वल्पं पीत्वा स्वादु पयः शृतम् ज्ञात्वा स्वादु त्वया पीतं तज्जातीयमनुस्मरन्
At your maternal uncle's house, you drank a little pure, sweet, boiled milk; knowing its taste, you drank it, and now you remember that same kind.
दत्तं न पय इत्युक्त्वा रुदन् दुःखीकरोषि माम् प्रसादेन विना शंभो पयस्तव न विद्यते
Saying, 'This is not milk that was given,' you cry and cause me sorrow; without the grace of Śambhu, you have no milk.
पादपंकजयोस्तस्य साम्बस्य सगणस्य च भक्त्या समर्पितं यत्तत्कारणं सर्वसम्पदाम्
Whatever is offered with devotion to the lotus feet of Sāmbā and his attendants—that is the cause of all prosperity.
अधुना वसुदोस्माभिर्महादेवो न पूजितः सकामानां यथाकामं यथोक्तफलदायकः
Now, we have not worshipped Mahādeva with wealth; he grants the fruits as spoken, according to the desires of those who seek them.
धनान्युद्दिश्य नास्माभिरितः प्रागर्चितः शिवः अतो दरिद्रास्संजाता वयं तस्मान्न ते पयः
We have not previously worshipped Śiva here with the aim of gaining wealth; therefore, we have become poor, and thus you have no milk.