तृणबिन्दुस्तु राजर्षिस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभः । ध्यानं विवेश तच्चापि ह्यपश्यदृषिकर्मजम् ।। ७.२.
The royal sage Tṛṇabindu, his radiance kindled by austerity, entered meditation and saw the cause of her condition through his yogic vision.
स तु विज्ञाय तं शापं महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः । गृहीत्वा तनयां गत्वा पुलस्त्यमिदमब्रवीत् ।। ७.२.
Having understood the curse of the great sage, he took his daughter and went to Pulastya, and spoke these words:
भगवंस्तनयां मे त्वं गुणैः स्वैरेव भूषिताम् । भिक्षां प्रतिगृहाणेमां महर्षे स्वयमुद्यताम् ।। ७.२.
'Revered one, please accept my daughter, adorned with her own virtues, as an offering; O sage, she herself is willing.'
तपश्चरणयुक्तस्य श्रम्यमाणेन्द्रियस्य ते । शुश्रूषणपरा नित्यं भविष्यति न संशयः ।। ७.२.
'She will always be devoted to serving you, whose senses are restrained by austerity; there is no doubt about this.'
तं ब्रुवाणं तु तद्वाक्यं राजर्षिं धार्मिकं तदा । जिघृक्षुरब्रवीत्कन्यां बाढमित्येव स द्विजः ।। ७.२.
Hearing these words from the righteous royal sage, the twice-born replied, wishing to accept the maiden, 'So be it.'
दत्त्वा स तु यथान्यायं स्वमाश्रमपदं गतः । सापि तत्रावसत्कन्या तोषयन्ती पतिं गुणैः ।। ७.२.
Having duly given her, he returned to his own hermitage; and the maiden stayed there, pleasing her husband with her virtues.
तस्यास्तु शीलवृत्ताभ्यां तुतोष मुनिपुङ्गवः । प्रीतः स तु महातेजा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.२.
The foremost sage was satisfied with her character and conduct; pleased, that illustrious one spoke these words.
परितुष्टो ऽस्मि सुश्रोणि गुणानां सम्पदा भृशम् । तस्माद्देवि ददाम्यद्य पुत्रमात्मसमं तव ।। ७.२.
O fair-hipped lady, I am greatly pleased by the abundance of your virtues; therefore, O goddess, today I shall grant you a son equal to myself.
उभयोर्वंशकर्तारं पौलस्त्य इति विश्रुतम् । यस्मात्तु विश्रुतो वेदस्त्वयैषो ऽध्ययतो मम ।। ७.२.
He will be known as the progenitor of both lineages, renowned as Paulastya; and because this Veda is celebrated as being studied by you, it is now yours from me.
तस्मात्स विश्रवा नाम भविष्यति न संशयः । एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ।। ७.२.
Therefore, he will be named Viśravā, without doubt; thus addressed, that goddess was inwardly overjoyed.
अचिरेणैव कालेनासूत विश्रवसं सुतम् । त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं यशोधर्मसमन्वितम् ।। ७.२.
In a short time, she gave birth to a son, Viśravas, famed throughout the three worlds, endowed with glory and righteousness.
श्रुतिमान्समदर्शी च व्रताचाररतस्तथा । पितेव तपसा युक्तो ह्यभवद्विश्रवा मुनिः ।। ७.२.
He was learned in the scriptures, impartial in vision, devoted to vows and right conduct; Viśravas the sage became endowed with austerity like his father.
अथ पुत्रः पुलस्त्यस्य विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । अचिरेणैव कालेन पितेव तपसि स्थितः ।। ७.३.
Then the son of Pulastya, Viśravas, foremost among sages, in a short time became established in austerity like his father.
सत्यवाञ्छीलवाञ्छान्तः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः । सर्वभोगेष्वसंसक्तो नित्यं धर्मपरायणः ।। ७.३.
Truthful, virtuous, tranquil, devoted to self-study, pure, unattached to all enjoyments, and always devoted to righteousness.
ज्ञात्वा तस्य तु तद्वृत्तं भरद्वाजो महामुनिः । ददौ विश्रवसे भार्यां स्वसुतां देववर्णिनीम् ।। ७.३.
Knowing his conduct, the great sage Bharadvāja gave his own daughter, radiant as a goddess, as a wife to Viśravas.
प्रतिगृह्य तु धर्मेण भरद्वाजसुतां तदा । प्रजान्वेक्षिकया बुद्ध्या श्रेयो ह्यस्य विचिन्तयन् ।। ७.३.
Having duly accepted Bharadvāja's daughter, he, considering what would be best for her offspring, reflected with wisdom.
मुदा परमया युक्तो विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । स तस्यां वीर्यसम्पन्नमपत्यं परमाद्भुतम् ।। ७.३.
Filled with supreme joy, Viśravas, the foremost sage, begot in her a son endowed with great strength, truly wondrous.
जनयामास धर्मज्ञः सर्वैर्ब्रह्मगुणैर्युतम् । तस्मिञ्जाते तु संहृष्टः सम्बभूव पितामहः ।। ७.३.
That knower of righteousness begot a son endowed with all the qualities of Brahmā; when he was born, the Grandfather was delighted.
दृष्ट्वा श्रेयस्करीं बुद्धिं धनाध्यक्षो भविष्यति । नाम तस्याकरोत्प्रीतः सार्धं देवर्षिभिस्तदा ।। ७.३.
Seeing his auspicious intelligence, the Lord of Wealth, together with the divine sages, joyfully gave him the name.
यस्माद्विश्रवसो ऽपत्यं सादृश्याद्विश्रवा इव । तस्माद्वैश्रवणो नाम भविष्यत्वेष विश्रुतः ।। ७.३.
Because he was the son of Viśravas and resembled Viśravas, he became renowned as Vaiśravaṇa.
स तु वैश्रवणस्तत्र तपोवनगतस्तदा । अवर्धताहुतिहुतो महातेजा यथानलः ।। ७.३.
Then Vaiśravaṇa, possessing great brilliance, dwelling in the forest of austerity, grew like fire fed by offerings.
तस्याश्रमपदस्थस्य बुद्धिर्जज्ञे महात्मनः । चरिष्ये परमं धर्मं धर्मो हि परमा गतिः ।। ७.३.
While residing at his hermitage, that great soul resolved: 'I shall practice the highest righteousness, for righteousness is the supreme goal.'
स तु वर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्त्वा महावने । यन्त्रितो नियमैरुग्रैश्चकार सुमहत्तपः ।। ७.३.
He performed severe austerity for thousands of years in the great forest, restrained by rigorous disciplines, undertaking immense penance.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रान्ते तं तं विधिमकल्पयत् । जलाशी मारुताहारो निराहारस्तथैव च ।। ७.३.
At the end of a thousand years, he established various practices: subsisting on water, living on air, and even fasting completely.
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि जग्मुस्तान्येकवर्षवत् । अथ प्रीतो महातेजाः सेन्द्रैः सुरगणैः सह ।। ७.३.
Thus, those thousands of years passed as if a single year; then the greatly radiant one, pleased, together with Indra and the hosts of gods—
गत्वा तस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मेदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । परितुष्टो ऽस्मि ते वत्स कर्मणानेन सुव्रत । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते वरार्हस्त्वं महामते ।। ७.३.
Having gone to his hermitage, Brahmā spoke these words: 'I am pleased with you, my child, for this deed, O steadfast one. Choose a boon, good fortune to you; you are worthy of a boon, O wise one.'
अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणः पितामहमुपस्थितम् । भगवँल्लोकपालत्वमिच्छेयं वित्तरक्षणम् ।। ७.३.
Then Vaiśravaṇa spoke to the assembled Grandfather: 'Lord, I desire the guardianship of wealth, the office of protector of riches.'
अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणं परितुष्टेन चेतसा । ब्रह्मा सुरगणैः सार्धं बाढमित्येव हृष्टवत् ।। ७.३.
Then Brahmā, with a heart well-pleased, said to Vaiśravaṇa, together with the hosts of gods, 'So be it,' joyfully.
अहं वै लोकपालानां चतुर्थं स्रष्टुमुद्यतः ।। ७.३.
I am now intent on creating the fourth among the guardians of the worlds.
यमेन्द्रवरुणानां च पदं यत्तव चेप्सितम् । तद्गच्छ त्वं हि धर्मज्ञ निधीशत्वमवाप्नुहि । शक्राम्बुपयमानां च चतुर्थस्त्वं भविष्यसि ।। ७.३.
The station of Yama, Indra, and Varuṇa which you desire, that you shall attain, knower of righteousness; obtain the lordship over treasures. You shall be the fourth among Śakra, Varuṇa, and Yama.