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.
अहो मुनिवरश्रेष्ठ अहो धर्मविदां वर
Ah, best of great sages! Ah, foremost among knowers of dharma!
प्रणयात्सौहृदाद्वापि स्नेहाद्वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु
Out of affection, friendship, or love, I will tell—listen to this.
कृतस्नेहस्य पुत्रार्थे मया संकल्प्य यत्कृतम्
Out of affection for my son, I resolved and performed what was done.
पश्चाद्विसर्जितं पिण्डं दर्भानास्तीर्य भूतले
Afterwards, I offered the rice-ball, spreading darbha grass upon the ground.
शोकस्य तु प्रभावेण एतत्कर्म मया कृतम्
Due to the force of grief, this act was performed by me.
नष्टबुद्धिस्मृतिसत्त्वो ह्यज्ञानेन विमोहितः
My intellect, memory, and resolve were lost, deluded by ignorance.
भयं तीव्रं प्रपश्यामि मुनिशापात्सुदारुणात् न भेतव्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ पितरं शरणं व्रज
I see terrible fear arising from the fierce curse of the sage; but do not be afraid, best of twice-born—take refuge in your father.
अधर्मं न च पश्यामि धर्मो नैवात्र संशयः
I do not see any unrighteousness here; indeed, there is no doubt this is righteousness.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा पितरं शरणं गतः
By deed, by mind, and by speech, he took refuge in his father.
ध्यायमानस्ततोऽप्याशु आजगाम तपोधनम् 187.
Meditating thus, he quickly approached the ascetic endowed with austerity.