व्योम्न्य् एव जातनष्टानां महतां व्योमपक्षिणाम् । बन्धून् आबद्धनिलयाञ् शरदभ्रसमाकृतीन्
I saw, in the sky itself, the great celestial birds who were born and vanished there, their kin whose abodes were fixed, resembling autumn clouds in form.
विरिञ्चहंसजान् अन्यान् अन्यान् अग्निशुकोद्भवान् । कौमारबर्हिजान् अन्यान् अन्यान् अम्बरपक्षिजान्
I saw others born from the swan of Brahma, others born from the fire-parrot, others born from the peacock of Kumara, and yet others who were born as sky-dwelling birds.
द्वितुण्डांश् चाथ भारुण्डान् हेमचूडान् विहङ्गमान् । कलविङ्कान् बकान् गृध्रान् कोकिलान् क्रौञ्चकुक्कुटान्
I saw birds with two beaks, then the mighty Bharunda birds, those with golden crests, kalavinka birds, herons, vultures, cuckoos, cranes, and cocks.
भासचाषबलाकादीन् बहून् अन्यांश् च राघव । भूतौघाञ् जगतीवाहं दृष्टवांस् तत्र पक्षिणः
I saw many others, O Raghava, such as crows, sparrows, cranes, and many other hosts of beings in bird form that carry the world.
दक्षिणस्कन्धशाखायां स्थितायां खे दवीयसि । अथाहं दृष्टवान् पुष्टपत्त्रायाम् अम्बरस्थितः
When I was standing on the branch of the southern shoulder, high in the sky, then I saw, in a flourishing-leaved tree, one who was established in the sky.
कालकाकोलवलयं मञ्जरीजालमालितम् । लोकालोकाचलारण्ये कल्पाभ्रौघम् इव स्थितम्
I saw a circle of black cuckoos, adorned with clusters of blossoms, standing like a mass of clouds at the edge of the Lokāloka mountain in the forest.
तत्र पश्याम्य् अहं यावद् एकत्र स्कन्धकोटरे । विचित्रकुसुमास्तीर्णे विविधामोदशालिनि
There I saw, within the hollow of a single tree, a place strewn with wondrous flowers, filled with various delightful fragrances.
शक्रानिलयमार्केन्दुगृहबल्युपजीविनः । पुण्यकृद्योषितां स्वर्गे प्रियसूचकवाशिताः
There, the wives of the virtuous, who dwell in heaven and are sustained by the offerings made to Indra, Wind, Sun, and Moon, were singing songs that revealed their affection.
अपरिक्षुभिताकारास् सभायां वायसास् स्थिताः । विभेद्यमेघा वातेन समेनेव प्रसारिताः
Unperturbed in appearance, they sat together in an assembly, like crows gathered, spread out as clouds are scattered by the wind.
तेषां मध्ये स्थितश् श्रीमान् भुसुण्डः प्रोन्नताकृतिः । मध्ये सत्काचखण्डानाम् इन्द्रनील इवोन्नतः
In their midst stood the illustrious Bhusunda, tall in form, rising among the noble ones like a sapphire among precious gems.
परिपूर्णमना मानी समस् सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरः । प्राणस्पन्दावधानेन नित्यम् अन्तर्मुखस् सुखी
His mind was completely fulfilled, dignified, equally beautiful in every limb; ever inwardly content, attentive to the movement of breath.
चिरजीवीति विख्यातश् चिरजीवितया तया । जगद्विदितदीर्घायुस् स भुसुण्ड इति श्रुतः
Renowned as long-lived because of his great longevity, he is known throughout the world as Bhusunda, famed for his enduring life.
युगागमापायदशादर्शनप्रौढमानसः । प्रतिकल्पं च गणयन् खिन्नश् शक्रपरम्पराम्
His mind was matured by witnessing the coming and passing of ages; in every cosmic cycle, he counted the weary succession of Indras.
जन्मनां लोकपालानां शौरिशक्रगरुत्मताम् । संस्मर्ता समतीतानां सुरासुरमहीभृताम्
He remembers the births of the guardians of the worlds—Vishnu, Indra, Garuda—and recalls the past of gods, demons, and kings of the earth.
प्रसन्नगम्भीरमनाः पेशलस्निग्धमुग्धवाक् । अवक्रवक्ता ज्ञाता च निर्ममो निरहङ्कृतिः
With a mind serene and profound, speech graceful, gentle, and innocent; one who speaks without crookedness, is knowledgeable, free from possessiveness, and devoid of ego.
सुहृद् दान्तस् तथा मित्रं भृत्यः पुत्रो गुरुः प्रभुः । सर्वदा सर्वथा नित्यं सर्वं सर्वस्य संस्तवे
A friend, restrained, likewise a companion, servant, son, teacher, master—always, in every way, at all times, everything, for everyone, in praise.
सोम्यः प्रसन्नमधुरो रसवान् महात्मा हृद्यस् सरोवर इवान्तर् अखण्डशैत्यः । हृत्पुण्डरीककुहरव्यवहारवेत्ता गाम्भीर्यम् अच्छम् अजहत् प्रकटाशयश्रीः
Pleasant, serene, sweet, endowed with essence, great-souled, delightful—like a lake within, possessing unbroken coolness; one who knows the workings of the heart’s lotus-cave, whose depth is clear, unwavering, and whose manifest intentions are radiant.
अथ तस्याहम् अपतं दीप्यमानवपुः पुरः । किञ्चिद्विक्षोभितसभं खान् नक्षत्रम् इवाचले
Then I approached him, my form shining before him, disturbing the assembly slightly, like a star in the sky disturbing the stillness.
चुक्षोभ वायसास्थाननीलोत्पलसरः क्षणं । मत्पातमन्दवातेन भूकम्पेनेव सागरः
For a moment, the blue-lotus lake where the crow dwelled was disturbed, as if by the gentle wind of my arrival, like the ocean shaken by an earthquake.
अशङ्कितम् अपि प्राप्ताद् दर्शनात् समनन्तरम् । भुसुण्डस् तु वसिष्ठो ऽयं प्राप्त इत्य् अवबुद्धवान्
Though unafraid, upon my immediate arrival and sight, Bhusunda instantly recognized: 'This is Vasistha who has come.'
पत्त्रपुञ्जात् समुत्तस्थौ मेघशाव इवाचलात् । हे मुने स्वागतम् इति प्रोवाच मधुराक्षरम्
He rose from the cluster of leaves like a young cloud from a mountain, and said in sweet words, 'Welcome, O sage.'
सङ्कल्पमात्रजाताभ्यां कराभ्यां कुसुमाञ्जलिम् । मह्यम् आशु ददौ बालमेघो हैमम् इवोत्करम्
With hands formed by mere intention, he quickly offered me a handful of flowers, like a young cloud offering a heap of snow.
इदम् आसनम् इत्य् उक्त्वा नवं कल्पतरुच्छदम् । उपनीतवति त्यक्तभृत्ये वायसनायके
Saying, 'This is the seat,' he brought a new seat shaded by the wish-fulfilling tree, after dismissing his attendant, the wind as leader.
भुसुण्डानूत्थितेष्व् ईषच्चलपक्षेषु पक्षिषु । उपविष्टं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा स्वासनोन्मुखदृष्टिषु
When the birds of Bhusunda, with slightly moving wings, had risen, they saw the sage seated, his gaze intent on the seat.
ससभाखगवृन्देन भुसुण्डेन समं ततः । तस्मिन् कल्पलताकुञ्जे उपविष्टो ऽहम् आसने
Then, together with Bhusunda and the assembly of birds, I sat on that seat in the arbor of wish-fulfilling vines.
अथ पाद्यादि दत्त्वा स भुसुण्डस् तुष्टमानसः । माम् उवाच महातेजास् सौहार्दमधुराक्षरम्
Then Bhusunda, his mind content, offered water for washing the feet and other honors, and addressed me with words sweetened by friendliness, radiant in his splendor.
अहो भगवतास्माकं प्रसादो दर्शितश् चिरात् । दर्शनामृतसेकेन यत् सिक्तास् सद्रुमा वयम्
Ah, revered one, at last your grace has been shown to us; by the nectar-shower of your presence, we and the trees here are drenched.
मत्पुण्यचिरसम्भारप्रेरितेन त्वयाधुना । मुने मान्यैकमान्येन कुत आगमनं कृतम्
O sage, prompted by the great accumulation of my merit, you, who are to be honored above all, have now come—what is the reason for your arrival?
कच्चिद् अस्मिन् महामोहे चिरं विहरतस् तव । अखण्डितैव समता स्थिता चेतसि पावने
As you have long dwelt in this great delusion, is your pure mind's equanimity still unbroken?
किमर्थम् अद्यागमनक्लेशेनात्मा कदर्थितः । त्वद्वचश्श्रोतुकामानाम् आज्ञां नो दातुम् अर्हसि
For what reason has your self been troubled today by the hardship of coming here? You should grant us permission, for we wish to hear your words.