यथा मे चिंत्यते नित्यं धेन्वर्थं श्वभ्रपूरणे
As I constantly reflect, it is for the sake of the cow that the pit must be filled.
तस्मात्त्वं पूरय क्षिप्रं नान्यः शक्तोऽत्र कर्मणि
Therefore, you must quickly fill it; no one else is capable of this task.
चिन्तयामास तत्कार्यं विवरस्य प्रपूरणे
He began to ponder how to accomplish the filling of the pit.
चिरं विचार्य तमृषिमिदमाह नगोत्तमः
After considering for a long time, the best of mountains spoke to the sage:
पक्षच्छेदस्तु शक्रेण सर्वेषां च पुरा कृतः
Their wings were cut off long ago by Indra and by all the others.
वसिष्ठ उवाच अस्त्युपायो नगानां तु तत्र नेतुं महानग
Vasiṣṭha said: There is indeed a way for the mountains to be taken there, O great mountain.
तस्यार्बुद इति ख्पातो वयस्यः परमं प्रियः
Among them is one called Arbuda, a dear friend from childhood.
स वा ऊर्ध्वगतिः क्षिप्रं क्षणान्नेष्यत्यसंशयः
He will ascend quickly and bring it here in a moment, without doubt.
आदेशो दीयतामस्य दुःखं कर्तुं च नार्हसि
Give him the command, and you should not cause him suffering.
दुःखेन महताऽऽविष्टश्चिंतयामास भूधरः
Overwhelmed by great sorrow, the mountain began to reflect.
मैनाकस्तनयोऽस्माकं प्रविष्टः सागरे भयात् किं कृत्यमधुनाऽस्माकं कथं श्रेयो भविष्यति
Maināka, our son, has entered the ocean out of fear; what should we do now, and how will our welfare be secured?
इतः शापभयं तीव्रमितो दुःखं च पुत्रजम् 7.3.3.
Here there is intense fear of a curse, and here also the suffering caused by our son.
स एवं निश्चयं कृत्वा नंदिवर्धनमुक्तवान्
Having thus made up his mind, he spoke to Nandivardhana.
तत्रास्ति विवरो रौद्रस्तं प्रपूरय सत्वरम्
There is a dreadful chasm there—fill it quickly.
पालाशैः खादिरैराढ्यो धवैः शाल्मलिभिस्तथा
Fill it with branches of palāśa, khadira, dhava, and śālmalī trees.
सुनिष्ठुरैर्नृपशुभिर्भिल्लैश्च विविधैरपि नार्होऽहं पर्वतश्रेष्ठ तत्र गंतुं कथंचन
It is filled with fierce men, beasts, and various kinds of Bhillas; O best of mountains, I am not fit to go there in any way.
अथोवाच वसिष्ठस्तं संत्रस्तं नंदिवर्द्धनम्
Then Vasiṣṭha spoke to the frightened Nandivardhana.
तव मूर्ध्नि सदा वासो मम तत्र भविष्यति
My dwelling will always be upon your head there.
वृक्षाश्च विविधाकाराः पत्रपुष्पफलान्विताः
There are trees of various forms, adorned with leaves, flowers, and fruits.
अहमेवानयिष्यामि तवार्थे च महेश्वरम्
I myself will bring Maheśvara here for your sake.
अर्बुदं नागमासाद्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Having approached Arbuda, the serpent, he spoke these words.
तत्र यावोऽद्य भद्रं ते वयस्य विनयान्वित 7.3.3.
May you prosper there today, friend, endowed with humility.
तत्रैव च वसिष्यामि त्वया सार्द्धमसंशयम्
There itself I will remain with you, without doubt.
किं त्वहं प्रणयाद्भ्रातर्वक्ष्यामि यद्वचः शृषु
But out of affection, brother, I will say something—listen to my words.
मन्नाम्ना ख्यातिमायातु नान्यत्किंचिद्वृणोम्यहम् प्रणम्य पितरौ चैव प्रतस्थे मुनिना सह
Let fame come by my name; I choose nothing else. Having bowed to his parents, he set out together with the sage.
दिव्यैर्वृक्षैः शुभैः पूर्णैर्नदीनिर्झरसंकुलैः
With divine, auspicious trees in abundance, and filled with rivers and waterfalls.
मुक्तोऽर्बुदेन तत्रैव विवरे मुनिवाक्यतः
There, by the words of the sage, he was released from the chasm by Arbuda.
विमुक्तो विवरे तस्मिन्नर्बुदेन महात्मना
Freed in that chasm by the great-souled Arbuda.
ब्रवीच्चार्बुदं नागं वरं वरय सुव्रत
He spoke to Arbuda, the serpent: 'Choose a boon, O steadfast one.'
अवश्यं यदि दातव्यं तच्छृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम
If something must indeed be given, then listen, best of twice-born.