नद्यो नदाः समुद्राश्च संक्षोभं परमं ययुः । तत्क्षोभादमराः क्षोभं परं जग्मुर्महामुने ॥ १,१२.
Rivers, streams, and oceans were greatly agitated; and because of that disturbance, O great sage, even the gods were deeply troubled.
यामा नाम तदा देवा मैत्रेय परमाकुलाः । इन्द्रेण सह संमन्त्र्य ध्यानभङ्गं प्रचक्रमुः ॥ १,१२.
At that time, the gods called Yāmās, together with Indra, held counsel and sought to break his meditation, O Maitreya, being greatly distressed.
कूष्माण्डा विविधै रूपैर्महेन्द्रेण महामुने । समाधिभङ्गमत्यन्तमारब्धाः कर्तुमातुराः ॥ १,१२.
The Kūṣmāṇḍas, taking on various forms, were urgently set to disrupt his meditation, along with mighty Indra, O great sage.
सुनीतिर्नाम तन्माता सास्त्रा तत्पुरतः स्थिता । पुत्रेति करुणां वाचमाह मायामयी तदा ॥ १,१२.
His mother, named Sunīti, stood before him, and with words full of compassion, spoken through illusion, said: 'My son...'
पुत्रकास्मान्निवर्तस्व शरीरात्ययदारुणात् । निर्बन्धतो मया लब्धो बहुभिस्त्वं मनोरथै ॥ १,१२.
'My child, turn back from this harsh destruction of your body; you were obtained by me with much effort and many wishes.'
दीनामेकां परित्यक्तुमनाथां न त्वमर्हसि । सपत्नीवचनाद्वत्स अगतेस्त्वं गतिर्मम ॥ १,१२.
'You should not abandon me, helpless, alone, and destitute; because of the words of a co-wife, O child, you, who are my only refuge, would leave me?'
क्व च त्वं पञ्चवर्षीयः क्वचैतद्दारूणं तपः । निवर्ततां मनः कष्टान्निर्बन्धात्फलवर्जितात् ॥ १,१२.
'How can you, only five years old, undertake such severe austerity? Let your mind turn away from these harsh and fruitless efforts.'
कालः क्रीडनकानान्ते तदन्तेऽध्ययनस्य ते । ततः समस्तभोगानां तदन्ते चेष्यते तपः ॥ १,१२.
'There is a time for playthings, and after that, for your studies; only after enjoying all pleasures should you undertake austerity.'
कालः क्रीडनकानां यस्तव बालस्य पुत्रक । तस्मिंस्त्वमिच्छसि तपः किं नाशायात्मनो रतः ॥ १,१२.
O child, the time of your life is meant for playthings, for you are still a boy. Why do you wish to undertake austerities now, delighting in the destruction of your own self?
मत्प्रीतिः परमो धर्मो वयोवस्थाक्रियाक्रमम् । अनुवर्तस्व मा मोहान्निवर्तास्मादधर्मतः ॥ १,१२.
My affection is the highest virtue; follow the proper order of duties according to your age. Do not, out of delusion, turn away from this and act unrighteously.
परित्यजति वत्साध्य यध्येतन्न भवांस्तपः । त्यक्ष्याम्यहमिह प्राणांस्ततो वै पश्यतस्तव ॥ १,१२.
If you, my dear one, abandon this austerity, then I will not give up my life here before your eyes.
श्रीपराशर उवाच तां प्रलापवतीमेवं बाष्पाकुलविलोचनाम् । समाहितमना विष्णौ पश्यन्नपि न दृष्टवान् ॥ १,१२.
Śrī Parāśara said: Though she was weeping and speaking incoherently, her eyes filled with tears, he, with his mind fixed on Viṣṇu, did not look at her, even while seeing her.
वत्स वत्स सुघोराणि रक्षांस्येतानि भीषणे । वनेऽभ्युद्यतशस्त्राणीः समायान्त्यपगम्यताम् ॥ १,१२.
My child, my child, these terrible and fearsome demons, armed with weapons, are approaching in the forest; go away from here.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ साथ रक्षांस्याविर्बभुस्ततः । अभ्युद्यतोग्रशस्त्राणि ज्वालामालाकुलैर्मुखैः ॥ १,१२.
Having said this, she departed, and then the demons appeared, brandishing fierce weapons, their faces wreathed in blazing flames.
ततो नादानतीवोग्रन्राजपुत्रस्य ते पुरः । मुमुचुर्दीप्तशस्त्राणि भ्रामयन्तो निशाचराः ॥ १,१२.
Then, right before the prince, the night-wandering demons, whirling their flaming weapons, released them with a dreadful roar.
शिवाश्च शतशो नेदुः सज्वालाः कवलैर्मुखैः । त्रासाय तस्य बालस्य योगयुक्तस्य सर्वदा ॥ १,१२.
Hundreds of jackals howled, their mouths filled with blazing flames, to terrify that boy who was always absorbed in yoga.
हन्यतां दन्यतामेष छिद्यतां छिद्यतामयम् । भक्ष्यतां भक्ष्यतां चाय मित्युचुस्ते निशाचराः ॥ १,१२.
Let him be struck, let him be struck down! Cut him, cut him! Eat him, eat him!—so cried the night-wandering demons.
ततो नानाविधान्नादान् सिंहोष्ट्रमकराननाः । त्रासाय राजपुत्रस्य नेदुस्ते रजनीचराः ॥ १,१२.
Then the night-wandering demons, with faces like lions, camels, and crocodiles, made various terrifying noises to frighten the prince.
रक्षांसि तानि ते नादाः शिवास्तान्यायुधानि च । गोविन्दासक्तचित्तस्य ययुर्नन्द्रियगोचरम् ॥ १,१२.
But those demons, their howls, the jackals, and their weapons, did not enter the awareness of the one whose mind was absorbed in Govinda.
एकाग्रचेताः सततं विष्णुमेवात्मसंश्रयम् । दृष्टवान् पृथिवीनाथपुत्रो नान्यं कथञ्चन ॥ १,१२.
With his mind always one-pointed, seeing Viṣṇu alone as his refuge, the prince saw nothing else at all.
ततः सर्वासु मायासु विलीनासु पुनः सुराः । संक्षोभं परमं जग्मुस्तत्पराभवशङ्किताः ॥ १,१२.
Then, when all those illusions had vanished, the gods again became greatly disturbed, fearing defeat.
ते समेत्य जगद्योनिमनादिनिधनं हरिम् । शरण्यं शरणं यातास्तपसा तस्य तापिताः ॥ १,१२.
They gathered together and approached Hari, the source of the universe, without beginning or end, the refuge of all, distressed by his austerities.
देवा ऊचुः देवदेव जगन्नाथ परेश पुरुषोत्तम । ध्रुवस्य तपसा तप्तास्त्वां वयं शरणं गताः ॥ १,१२.
The gods said: O God of gods, Lord of the universe, Supreme Lord, Best of Men, afflicted by Dhruva's austerities, we have come to you for refuge.
दिने दिने कलालेशैः शशाङ्क पूर्यते यथा । तथायं तपसा देव प्रयात्यृद्धिमहर्निंशम् ॥ १,१२.
Just as the moon is filled day by day with portions of its digits, so too, O God, does he grow in power day and night through his austerities.
औतानपादितपसा वयमित्थं जनार्दन । भीतास्त्वां शरणं यातास्तपसस्तं निवर्तय ॥ १,१२.
O Janārdana, through the austerities of the son of Uttānapāda, we have become fearful and have come to you for refuge; please make him turn back from his austerities.
नविद्मः किं स शक्रत्वं सूर्यत्वं किमभीप्सति । वित्तपाम्बुपसोमानां साभिलाषः पदेषु किम् ॥ १,१२.
We do not know whether he desires the position of Indra, or of the Sun, or wishes for the realms of the gods of wealth, water, or the moon.
तदस्माकं प्रसीदेश हृदयाच्छल्यमुद्धर । उत्तानपादतनयं तपसः सन्निवर्तय ॥ १,१२.
O Lord, be gracious to us; remove the thorn from our hearts, and turn the son of Uttānapāda away from his austerities.
श्रीभगवानुवाच नेन्द्रत्वं न च सूर्यत्वं नैवाम्बुपधनेशताम् । प्रार्थयत्येष यं कामं तं करोम्यखिलं सुरा ॥ १,१२.
The Blessed Lord said: He does not seek the position of Indra, nor that of Sūrya, nor lordship over the waters; whatever desire he has, O gods, I shall fulfill it entirely.
यात देवा यथाकाम स्वस्थानं विगतज्वराः । निवर्तयाम्यहं बालं तपस्यासक्तमानसम् ॥ १,१२.
Go, O gods, as you wish, to your own abodes, free from distress; I myself shall turn the boy, whose mind is absorbed in austerity, away from his penance.
श्रीपराशर उवाच इत्युक्ता देवदेवेन प्रणम्य त्रिदशास्ततः । प्रययुः स्वानि धिष्ण्यानि शतक्रतुपुरोगमाः ॥ १,१२.
Parāśara said: Thus addressed by the Lord of gods, the deities, led by Śatakratu, bowed and departed to their own realms.