इति श्रुत्वा महेशस्य वचनं ते पतत्त्रिणः
Hearing these words of Maheśa, those birds replied:
इतोपि त्र्यक्ष यत्साक्षात्तिर्यक्त्वेपि समीक्षिताः
"Moreover, O Three-eyed One, even when born as animals, we have directly beheld you.
लाभाः संतूद्यमवतां गिरीशेह परः शताः
May there be hundreds of supreme gains here, O Lord of Mountains, for those who strive!
यदेतद्दृश्यते नाथ तत्सर्वं क्षणभंगुरम्
Whatever is seen here, O Lord, all of it is momentary and perishable.
विचित्रजन्मकोटीनां स्मृतिर्नोत्र परिस्फुरेत्
Among the countless varieties of births, memory does not arise here.
देवयोनिरपि प्राप्ता चिरमस्माभिरीशितः
We have long attained even the divine birth, O Lord.
आसुरी दानवी नागी नैर्ऋती चापि कैन्नरी
We have been Asuras, Dānavas, Nāgas, Nairṛtas, and Kinnaras as well.
नरत्वे भूपतित्वं च परिप्राप्तमनेकशः 4.2.79.
We have attained human birth and kingship many times.
वने वनौकसो जाता ग्रामेषु ग्रामवासिनः
We have been born as forest-dwellers in the woods, and as villagers in the villages.
सुखिनोपि वयं जाता दुःखिनो वयमास्म च
We have been born happy, and we have also been born miserable.
अधीतिनोपि मूर्खाश्च स्वामिनः सेवका अपि
We have been both learned and ignorant, masters and servants as well.
अभूम भूरिशः शंभो न क्वापि स्थैर्यमागताः
O Śambhu, we have existed in many forms, but nowhere have we found stability.
पिनाकिन्क्वापि न प्रापि सुखलेशो मनागपि
O Pinākin, nowhere did we attain even the slightest trace of happiness.
तापनेःसुतपो वह्निज्वालाप्रज्वलितैनसः
Because of the heat of the sun, the austerities of Tapana, and the flames of fire, our sins have been burned.
तथापि चेद्वरो देयस्तिर्यक्ष्वस्मासु धूर्जटे
Yet, O Dhūrjaṭi, if a boon must be given to us, even as animals—
येन ज्ञानेन मुक्ताः स्मोऽमुष्मात्संसारबंधनात्
Grant us that knowledge by which we are freed from the bondage of this worldly existence.
ऐंद्रं पदं न वांछामो न चांद्रं नान्यदेव हि
We do not desire the station of Indra, nor that of the Moon, nor any other indeed.
त्वत्सान्निध्याद्विजानीमः सर्वज्ञ सकलं वयम् 4.2.79.
O Omniscient One, by your nearness we know all things.
एतदेव परं ज्ञानं संसारोच्छित्तिकारणम्
This alone is the supreme knowledge, the cause of the destruction of worldly existence.
निर्मथ्य विष्वग्वाग्जालं सारभूतमिदं परम्
Having churned the net of words on all sides, this essence is supreme.
यद्वाच्यं बहुभिर्ग्रंथैस्तदष्टाभिरिहाक्षरैः
What is to be expressed in many texts is here conveyed in these eight syllables.
याज्ञवल्क्यो मुनिवरः प्रोक्तवान्मुनिसंसदि
The sage Yājñavalkya spoke this among the assembly of sages.
स्वामिनापि जगद्धात्री पुरतो मंदराचले
Even by the Lord, before the Mother of the world, on Mount Mandara.
कृष्णद्वैपायनोप्येवं शंभो वक्ष्यति नान्यथा
So too will Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana speak thus, O Śambhu, and not otherwise.
वदंत्यन्येपि मुनयस्तीर्थसंन्यासकारिणः
Other sages also declare this, those who have taken up renunciation at holy places.
वयमप्येवं जानीमो यत्र स्वर्गतरंगिणी
We too know thus, where the heavenly river flows.
भूतं भावि भविष्यं यत्स्वर्गे मर्त्ये रसातले
Whatever has been, is, or will be—in heaven, on earth, or in the netherworld—
अतो हिरण्यगर्भोक्तं हरिप्रोक्तं मुनीरितम् 4.2.79.
Therefore, what was spoken by Hiraṇyagarbha, by Hari, and by the sages—
करामलकवत्सर्वमेतद्ब्रह्मांडगोलकम्
All this universe, like an amalaki fruit in the palm, is encompassed.
धर्मराजस्य तपसा तिर्यञ्चोपि वयं विभो
By the austerity of Dharmarāja, even we, O Lord, though animals, are so.