अहं होमस्य चोद्वेगान्निःसृतस्त्वामवेक्षितुम्
"I have come forth from the sacrificial fire, troubled, to look upon you."
पतितात्र विभो त्राहि कृच्छ्रादस्मात्सुदुःसहात् 7.3.1.
"I have fallen here, O Lord, save me from this terrible and unbearable distress."
सरस्वतीं समादध्यौ नदीं त्रैलोक्यपावनीम्
He meditated upon Sarasvatī, the river that purifies the three worlds.
श्वभ्रं तत्पूरयामास समंताद्विमलैर्जलैः
She filled that chasm all around with pure waters.
संहृष्टा मुनिना सार्द्धं ययावाश्रमसम्मुखम्
Rejoicing together with the sage, she went toward the hermitage.
स दृष्ट्वा श्वभ्रमध्यं तं गंभीरं च महामुनिः
Seeing that deep chasm, the great sage
तस्य चिंतयतो विप्रा बुद्धिरेषोदपद्यत तस्माद्गच्छाम्यहं शीघ्रं हिमवन्तं नगोत्तमम्
As the brahmin pondered, this thought arose in his mind: 'Therefore, I shall quickly go to Himavat, the best of mountains.'
स एव पर्वतं चात्र प्रेषयिष्यति भूधरः
'That very mountain, the lord of the earth, will send a mountain here.'
ततो जगाम स मुनिर्हिमवन्तं नगोत्तमम् अर्घ्यपाद्यादिसंस्कारैः संपूज्य इदमब्रवीत्
Then the sage went to Himavat, the best of mountains, and after honoring him with offerings of water and other rites, he spoke these words:
स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ सफलं मेऽद्य जीवितम्
"Welcome to you, best of sages! Today my life is fulfilled."
ब्रूहि कार्यं मुनिश्रेष्ठ अपि जीवितमात्मनः
Speak, O foremost sage, what is to be done—even if it concerns your own life.
अगाधं नन्दिनी तत्र पतिता धेनुरुत्तमा ॥ 7.3.1.
There, Nandinī, the excellent cow, fell into a deep place.
यत्नादाकर्षिता तस्माद्भूयः पतनजाद्भयात्
She was pulled out with effort, due to fear arising from the fall.
तस्मात्कञ्चिन्नगश्रेष्ठं तत्र प्रेषय भूधरम्
Therefore, send some distinguished mountain there, O lord of peaks.
तत्प्रमाणं नगं कंचित्प्रेषयामि विचिंत्य च
I will send some mountain, considering its measure.
न संख्या विद्यतेऽधस्तात्तस्य पर्वतसत्तम
There is no count below, O best of mountains.
अभूत्कौतूहलं तेन सर्वं विस्तरतो वद
Curiosity arose in him; tell everything in detail.
अहिल्या दयिता तस्य धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनी
Ahilyā, his beloved and illustrious wife, was devoted to righteousness.
शिष्यानध्यापयामास स मुनिः शतशस्तदा
At that time, the sage taught hundreds of disciples.
तस्यान्योऽपि च यः शिष्यो गुरुभक्तिपरायणः
Among them, another disciple was especially devoted to the teacher.
न तं विसर्जयामास जरयापि परिप्लुतम्
He did not dismiss him, even though he was overcome by old age.
जातकार्यसमायुक्तो विद्यापारंगतोऽपि सः
Though accomplished in knowledge and engaged in necessary tasks, he was so.
प्रभूतानि समादाय आश्रमं परमं गतः
Taking many things, he went to the supreme hermitage.
काष्ठलग्नां तदा श्वेतां जटामेकां ददर्श सः
Then he saw a single white matted lock attached to wood.
धिग्धिङ्मे जीवितं नष्टं कुतः कार्यरतस्य च
Alas, my life is lost—how can this happen to one engaged in duty?
भविष्यति कुलच्छेदः शैथिल्यान्मम दुर्मतेः
There will be destruction of the lineage due to my negligence and faulty mind.
तस्य दुःखं तथा क्षिप्रं गौतमाय निेवेदितम् 7.3.2.
His sorrow was quickly reported to Gautama in this way.
वत्स गच्छ गृहं त्वं च अग्निहोत्रादिकाः क्रियाः
Child, go home and perform the rituals such as agnihotra.
इत्युक्तो गुरुणा सोऽपि प्रत्युवाच गुरुं प्रति
Thus addressed by his teacher, he too replied to his guru.
तेनैव परिपूर्णत्वं जातं मे नात्र संशयः
Through this alone, I have attained completeness; there is no doubt about it.