Varaha Purana

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.

रोमांचिततनुर्जातः शुको वीक्ष्य महागिरिम्

The parrot, his body bristling with goosebumps, beheld the great mountain.

दृष्टं च विष्ण्वायतनं तेजसा चोपशोभितम्

He saw the abode of Vishnu, shining with radiance.

वत्साऽयं कोऽत्र संचारी कदा किं तु पिता मम

'Who is this calf wandering here? When, and why? Yet, he is my father.'

क्षणमेकं तथा चैनं तस्य चिन्तान्वितस्य हि

For a moment, as he was thus absorbed in thought about him,

नमो नारायणायोक्त्वा निषसाद वरासने असंख्याताः समायाता यथा देवी तथैव ताः

Saying 'Salutations to Narayana,' he sat down on an excellent seat; countless goddesses arrived there, just as she did.

गीतं वाद्यं च नृत्यं च यथासौख्यं विहृत्य च

There was singing, instrumental music, and dancing, and they enjoyed themselves as they pleased.

देवतादक्षिणे भागे पक्षिणां च जटायुषाम्

On the right side of the goddess were the deities and the vulture birds.

शुको लेख्यसमस्तेषां मध्ये कृत्वा तु संविदम्

The parrot, having made his intention known, was placed in the midst of them all.

ते समाश्वास्य तं प्राहुः कथमस्मिन्भवान्गतः 171.

They comforted him and asked, 'How did you come here?''

शुकस्तान्प्रत्युवाचाथ पिता मे पोतसंस्थितः

Then the parrot replied to them, 'My father is on the raft.'