असह्यकुसुमापूरो ऽसह्यनिर्मलनिर्झरः । गुह्यकारक्षितनिधिस् सह्यनामाविषह्यभाः
It is filled with unbearable blossoms, with streams of dazzling purity, its treasures guarded by spirits, named Sahya, radiating an intolerable brilliance.
मुक्तापटलसम्पूर्णैर् धातुपाटलभित्तिभिः । भासुरः काञ्चनतटैः कटैर् इव सुरद्विपः
Its shining slopes are adorned with walls of minerals studded with clusters of pearls, and with golden banks, like the peaks of the gods’ own mountain.
क्वचित् पुष्पभराशारो धातुशारतरः क्वचित् । क्वचित् फुल्लसरश्शारो रत्नशारशिराः क्वचित्
In some places, it is dense with masses of flowers; in others, it is rich with pure minerals; elsewhere, it is edged with blooming lakes, and in some parts, crowned with crests of jewels.
इतो रटन्निर्झरवान् इतः क्वणितकीचकः । इतो रटद्गुहावात इतष् षट्पदघुङ्घुमी
Here, waterfalls roar; there, bamboo reeds sing; in one place, the wind howls through caves; in another, bees hum deeply.
सानौ गीताप्सरोवृन्दो वने मृदुखगारवः । अधित्यकायां मत्ताभ्रो गहनेषु मृगारवी
On its slopes, celestial nymphs sing; in the forest, birds gently call; on the ridges, intoxicated clouds resound; in the thickets, wild animals cry out.
विद्याधरोद्गीतगुहो भृङ्गगीताम्बुजाकरः । किरातागीतपर्यन्तः खगागीतवनद्रुमः
Its caves echo with the songs of vidyādharas; lotuses resound with the music of bees; its edges ring with the songs of hunters, and its forest trees with the melodies of birds.
स्कन्धेषु देवैर् वलितः पादेषु वलितो नरैः । पाताले वलितो नागैर् जगद्गेहम् इवापरम्
Its shoulders are encircled by gods, its feet by men, and its nether regions by serpents, as if it were another cosmic abode.
कन्दरेषु श्रितस् सिद्धैर् निधानैर् अन्तर् आश्रितः । चन्दनेषु श्रितो नागैस् सिंहैश् शृङ्गशिखासु च
In the mountain caves, inhabited by accomplished sages and filled with hidden treasures, among sandalwood trees where elephants dwell, and on the peaks where lions reside,
पुष्पाभ्रसंवीतवपुः पुष्परेण्वभ्रपांसुलः । पुष्पपत्त्राभ्रभृद्वातः पुष्पपादपपाण्डुरः
His form is covered with clouds of flowers, dusted with pollen and flower-dust; the wind carries petals and clouds, and he is pale as the trunks of flowering trees.
धातुधूल्यभ्रकपिलो रत्नोपलतलस्थितिः । स दारुजैर् इव सुरस्त्रीगणैर् अलम् आश्रितः
Tinged tawny by the dust of minerals and clouds, he dwells upon jeweled rocky platforms, surrounded as if by groups of celestial women made of wood.
अभ्रनीलांशुकच्छन्ना मूकरत्नविभूषणाः । शिलाकनकसुन्दर्यो यत्र शृङ्गाभिसारिकाः
There, women adorned with blue cloud-like garments and pearl-jewel ornaments, beautiful as golden rocks, move among the peaks as if seeking lovers.
तत्रोत्तरतटे सानाव् आनमत्फलपादपे । रत्नपुष्करिणीजालवहन्निर्झरवारिणि
On the northern slope of that mountain, where the trees bend under the weight of their fruit, and the streams carry the waters of jeweled lotus ponds,
चूतद्रुमलतोन्मुक्तपुष्पस्तबकदन्तुरे । विदुलाङ्कोल्लपुन्नागनीपनीरन्ध्रदिक्तटे
Where mango trees release clusters of blossoms, and the banks are marked by moon-crested, ollapunnaga, nipa, and nirandhra trees,
लतावितानच्छन्नार्के रत्नांशुभरभासुरे । स्रवज्जम्बूरसक्नूते स्वर्लोकाह्लादकारिणि
Where the sun is veiled by canopies of vines, the brilliance of jewels shines forth, and the flowing waters of the Jambu river bring delight like that of heaven,
ब्रह्मलोकसमस् स्वर्गरम्यश् शिवपुरोपमः । अत्रेर् अस्त्य् आश्रमश् श्रीमान् सिद्धश्रमहरो महान्
There is the splendid hermitage of Atri, vast as Siddha-ashrama, equal to Brahma's world, delightful as heaven, and resembling the city of Shiva.
महत्य् अत्र्याश्रमे तस्मिंस् तापसौ द्वौ बभूवतुः । कौचिद् एव नभोमार्ग इव शुक्रबृहस्पती
In that great hermitage of Atri, there were two ascetics, like Venus and Jupiter moving together in the sky.
तयोर् अथैकास्पदयोस् तत्राभूतां सुताव् उभौ । कुलाङ्कुरौ शुद्धतनू सरस्वत्य् अम्बुजाव् इव
There, from those two sharing one dwelling, were born two sons, noble scions, pure-bodied, like two lotuses in the waters of Sarasvati.
विलासभासनामानौ वृद्धिम् आययतुः क्रमात् । तौ पित्रोः पल्लवौ शीघ्रं लतापादपयोर् इव
Named Vilāsa and Bhāsa, they gradually grew in stature, swiftly flourishing as tender shoots from the feet of their parents, like sprouts from the base of a vine.
आस्ताम् अन्योऽन्यसुहृदौ सुस्निग्धौ वल्लभौ मिथः । तिलतैलवद् आश्लिष्टौ तौ पुष्पामोदवत् स्थितौ
They were deeply affectionate, mutually dear, close friends to each other; embracing like sesame and oil, they remained together, fragrant like flowers.
नाभूतां विप्रयुक्तौ तौ सुरक्ताव् इव दम्पती । एकं द्वित्वम् इवापन्नं समम् आसीत् तयोर् मनः
They were never separated, passionately attached like a loving couple; their minds were united, as if one had become two.
तौ तथान्योऽन्यमुदितौ मनोहरतराकृती । तस्थतुस् स्वाश्रमे मौने सरोज इव षट्पदौ
Thus, joyful in each other's company, possessing most charming forms, they stayed in their own hermitage in silence, like two bees on a lotus.
प्रापतुर् यौवनं बाल्यम् उत्सृज्य जनवल्लभौ । कालेनाल्पतरेणैव चन्द्रसूर्याव् इवोदितौ
Leaving childhood behind, they attained youth, beloved by people, in a short time, like the rising moon and sun.
जग्मतुर् देहम् उत्सृज्य ततस् तौ पितरौ तयोः । स्वर्गं जरार्ताव् उड्डीय नीडाद् इव विहङ्गमौ
Then, their parents, having grown old, departed their bodies and soared to heaven, like birds flying from their nest.
पञ्चत्वं गतयोः पित्रोर् दीनवक्त्रौ बभूवतुः । सन्नाङ्गौ विगतोत्साहौ पद्माव् इव जलोद्धृतौ
Their parents, having passed away, became downcast in face, their limbs weak and spirit gone, like lotuses taken out of water.
तत्रौर्ध्वदैहिकं कृत्वा चक्राते परिदेवनम् । लोकस्थितिर् अलङ्घ्या हि महताम् अपि मानद
There, after performing the last rites, they lamented; for, O bestower of honor, the order of the world is unbreakable even for the great.
कृत्वौर्ध्वदैहिकम् अथो व्यथयाभिभूतौ शोकोत्थया करुणम् आर्तगिरा विलप्य । चित्रार्पिताव् इव निरस्तसमस्तचेष्टौ तौ संस्थितौ सुसमशून्यहृदादिनान्तम्
Having performed the funeral rites, then, overcome by the pain arising from grief, they wailed with pitiful, anguished voices; like painted figures, deprived of all movement, they remained, their hearts utterly empty and hollow within.
अथ शोकपराभूतौ तस्थतुर् दृढतापसौ । तापसंशुष्कसर्वाङ्गौ ताव् अरण्यद्रुमाव् इव
Then, overwhelmed by sorrow, the two stood firm in their asceticism, their bodies dried up like ascetics, resembling two forest trees.
विरक्तौ विपिने कालं क्षपयाम् आसतुर् द्विजौ । वियूथाव् इव सारङ्गाव् अनास्थाम् आगतौ पराम्
Detached, the two brahmins spent their time in the forest, like two deer separated from their herd, having come to utter indifference.
जग्मुर् दिनानि मासाश् च वर्षाण्य् अथ तयोस् तदा । क्रमात् ताव् अपि संयातौ जरां श्वभ्रद्रुमाव् इव
Days, months, and then years passed for them; gradually, they too reached old age, like two hollow trees.
अप्राप्तविमलज्ञानौ चिराज् जरढतापसौ । ताव् एकदा सङ्घटिताव् इदम् अन्योऽन्यम् ऊचतुः
Long without attaining pure knowledge, the two aged ascetics, one day, came together and spoke to each other as follows.