एवं दिने गते भद्रे ह्यस्तं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे
Thus, when the day had passed, O gentle one, and the sun had set,
एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशी निष्परिग्रहः
Alone, with mind and self restrained, without hope or possessions,
नात्युच्चं नातिनीचं च चेलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्
Not too high nor too low, with cloth, deer skin, and kusa grass atop,
उपविश्यासनेऽयुञ्जद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये
Seated on the seat, he practiced yoga for purification of the self.
संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्
He gazed at the tip of his own nose, not glancing at the directions.
संयम्य मयि चित्तं यो युक्त आसीत मत्परः
Restraining the mind in me, whoever sits united, devoted to me,
एवं निवृत्तसंध्यायां ततो रात्रिरुपागता
When twilight had ended in this way, then night arrived.
कृत्वा तु पिण्ड संकल्पं पश्चात्तापं चकार ह
Having made the offering with resolve, he felt remorse afterwards.
निवापकर्म ह्यशुचि पुत्रार्थे विनियोजितम्
The offering ritual, impure and performed for the sake of a son, was undertaken.
कथं ते मुनयः शापात्प्रदहेयुर्न मामिति 187.
How could the sages, because of the curse, not burn me?
किं वक्ष्यन्ति च मां सर्वे ये वै पितृपदे स्थिताः
What will all those who stand in the place of ancestors say about me?
पूर्वसन्ध्यानु सम्प्राप्ता उदिते च दिवाकरे
When the early twilight arrived and the sun had risen,
पुनश्चिन्तां प्रपन्नः स आत्रेयो ह्यतिदुःखितः
Again, the Atri descendant, greatly distressed, fell into worry.
धिग्वयो धिक्च मे कर्म धिग्बलं धिक्च जीवितम्
Fie upon age, fie upon my actions, fie upon strength, and fie upon life.
नरकं पूतिकाख्यातं हृदि दुःखं विदुर्बुधाः
The wise know that the hell called Pūti is suffering in the heart.
पूजयित्वा तु देवांश्च दत्त्वा दानं त्वनेकशः
But after worshipping the gods and giving many gifts,
पुत्रेण लभते येन पौत्रेण च पितामहाः
A man obtains that by means of his son, and the grandfathers through the grandson.
पुत्रेण श्रीमता हीनं नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
Deprived of a prosperous son, I am unable to endure living.
जगाम तापसारण्यमृष्याश्रमविभूषितम्
He went to the forest of ascetics, adorned by the hermitages of sages.
तत्प्रविश्याश्रमपदं भ्राजमानं स्वतेजसा 187.
Entering that hermitage, shining with its own splendor,
तस्मै दत्त्वा पाद्यमर्घ्यं आसने चोपवेश्य च
He offered him water for washing the feet, an arghya, and seated him on a seat.
नारद उवाच अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावान्नावबुध्यसे
Nārada said: You grieve for those not to be grieved for, yet you are wise but do not understand.
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः
The wise do not mourn for the living or the dead.
अमित्रास्तस्य हृष्यन्ति स चापि न निवर्त्तते
His enemies rejoice, yet he does not return.
देवतासुरगन्धर्वा मानुषा मृगपक्षिणः
Devas, asuras, gandharvas, humans, beasts, and birds—
जातस्य सर्वभूतस्य कालो मृत्युरुपस्थितः
For every being that is born, time in the form of death is present.
तव पुत्रो महात्मा वै श्रीमान्नाम श्रियो निधिः
Your son was truly great, renowned, and a treasure of fortune.
मृत्युकालमनुप्राप्य गतो दिव्यां परां गतिम्
Having reached the time of death, he has attained the highest divine state.
नारदेनैवमुक्ते तु श्रुत्वा स द्विजसत्तमः
When this was spoken by Nārada, the best of twice-born heard it.
भीतो गद्गदया वाचा निःश्वसंश्च मुहुर्मुहुः 187.
Afraid, with faltering voice, he sighed again and again.