Varaha Purana

शुकोऽयं पञ्जरस्श्चश्च पुत्रार्थं मे प्रदीयताम्

Let this parrot and its cage be given to me for the sake of my son.

इत्युक्तमात्रे वचने शबरो वाक्यमब्रवीत् 170.

As soon as these words were spoken, Shabari replied:

सरस्वत्याः फले चैव दत्ते दास्यामि ते शुकम्

When the fruit of Sarasvati is given, I will give you the parrot.

सरस्वत्याः सङ्गमे च यत्फलं लभते नरः

Whatever fruit a man obtains at the confluence of Sarasvati—

यत्फलं सङ्गमस्योक्तं शृणुयाद्द्वादशीव्रतम्

The fruit spoken of regarding the confluence, one should hear about the vow of the twelfth day.

यमुद्दिश्य व्रतं कुर्यात्स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम्

For whom one performs the vow, he attains the supreme state.

नासौ यमपुरं याति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति

He does not go to the city of Yama; he goes to the world of Vishnu.

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे गोकर्णसरस्वतीमाहात्म्ये सप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the glorious Varaha Purana, in the greatness of Gokarna and Sarasvati, the one hundred seventieth chapter is concluded.

श्रीवराह उवाच प्रविश्य गृह्य तत्पुण्यं मातापित्रोस्तदर्पितम्

Sri Varaha said: Entering, one should take that merit and dedicate it to one's mother and father.

शुकस्य चरितं सर्वं निवेद्य च महामतिः

Having reported all the deeds of the parrot, the wise one—

सुखं प्राप्तं मतं चापि व्यवहारे च पूजने

Having attained happiness and also approval in dealings and honor—

पुनस्तत्रैव गमने वणिग्भावे मतिर्गता

Again, his mind turned toward going there, with the intention of becoming a merchant.

आनयिष्ये बहून्यत्र सार्धं रत्नपरीक्षकैः समुद्रयायिभिर्लोकैः संविदं प्रोच्य निर्गतः

I will bring many things here, together with jewel-appraisers and people who travel the sea—having declared this intention, he departed.

पेयाहार समाहारं कृत्वा कृत्यविदार्थकम्

Having gathered provisions of drink and food, suitable for the task at hand—

मातापित्रोः शुभा वाचो गृहीत्वा देवतागृहे

Having received auspicious words from his mother and father at the house of the deity—

पितुः शुश्रूषणं चोक्त्वा सर्वं यूयं करिष्यथ

Having said, 'You all will perform every service for my father,'—

भवतीभिश्च कृत्यं मे करणीयं यथा तथा

'And you, ladies, must do my duties as is fitting,'—

भार्याभिः समनुज्ञातो यानपात्रं गतस्तदा 171.

Having been granted permission by his wives, he then went to the vessel of travel.

पोतारूढास्ततः सर्वे पोतवाहैरुपोहिताः

Then all boarded the ship, accompanied by the shipmen.

अथ दैववशाद्वायुर्विलोमः समजायत पोतवाहास्ततः सर्वे विसंज्ञा मोहिताः कृशाः

Then, by the force of fate, a contrary wind arose; all the shipmen became unconscious, bewildered, and weak.

हा कष्टं हि कथं किञ्च कुत्र गच्छामहे वयम् आक्षिपद्वाग्भिरुग्राभिरन्योन्यं शङ्क्य मूर्च्छिताः

'Alas, what misery! What is this? Where are we going?'—they cried out with harsh words, suspecting each other, faint and confused.

जल्पन्ति कोऽत्र पापिष्ठः समारूढो निराकृतः

They said, 'Who among us, the most sinful, has boarded and brought this ruin?'

एवं विलपतां तेषां चत्वारोऽपि समभ्ययुः

As they lamented in this way, four of them approached together.

निर्भर्त्सनं ततस्तेषामन्योन्यमभिजल्पनम्

Then, among them, there was mutual reproach and accusation.

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति इति सर्वस्य निश्चितम्

'A man without a son has no destiny'—this was the settled conclusion of all.

यदत्र युक्तं कालेऽस्मिन्विषमे समुपस्थिते

'What is appropriate in this difficult time that has now come?'

शुक उवाच अहं करिष्ये तत्सर्वं मा विषादे मनः कृथाः

Śuka said: 'I will do all that is necessary; do not let your mind be troubled.'

एवमाश्वास्य पितरं समुड्डीय ततो द्रुतम् 171.

Thus comforting his father, he swiftly lifted him up.

नीचगत्या रक्षयन्वै सुतरं दुस्तरं जलम्

Moving low, he protected him through the very difficult and impassable water.