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.
त्वत्पाददर्शनाद् एव सर्वं ज्ञातं मया मुने । यथागमनपुण्येन वयम् आयोजितास् त्वया
O sage, merely by seeing your feet, I have come to know everything; by the merit of my past approach, we have been brought together by you.
चिरजीवितचर्चाभिर् वयं ते स्मृतिम् आगताः । तेनेमं पादपं पादैस् त्वं पवित्रितवान् अयम्
Through discussions about long life, we have come to your remembrance; thus, with your feet, you have sanctified this tree.
ज्ञातत्वदागमो ऽप्य् एवं त्वां पृच्छामीह यन् मुने । भवद्वाक्यामृतास्वादवाञ्छा तत् प्रविजृम्भते
Even though I know of your arrival, O sage, I still ask you here; for the desire to taste the nectar of your words arises again.
इत्य् उक्तवान् असौ पक्षी भुसुण्डश् चिरजीवितः । त्रिकालामलसंवेदी तत्र प्रोक्तम् इदं मया
Thus spoke that ancient bird, Bhusunda, who has lived long; being aware of all three times, I then said this there.
विहङ्गममहाराज सत्यम् एतत् त्वयोच्यते । द्रष्टुम् अभ्यागतो ऽस्म्य् अद्य त्वाम् एव चिरजीवितम्
O great king of birds, what you say is true; today I have come to see you, the long-lived one.
आशीतलान्तःकरणो दिष्ट्या कुशलवान् असि । पतितो ऽसि न शुद्धात्मन् भीषणां भववागुराम्
With a mind cooled within, by good fortune you are well; O pure-souled one, you have not fallen into the dreadful snare of worldly existence.
तद् एतं संशयं छिन्द्धि भगवन् मम तत्त्वतः । कस्मिन् कुले भवाञ् जातो ज्ञातज्ञेयः कथं भवान्
Therefore, O venerable one, cut away this doubt of mine in truth: in which lineage were you born, and how did you come to know what is to be known?
कियद् आयुश् च ते साधो वृत्तं स्मरसि किं च वा । केन वायं निवासस् ते निर्दिष्टो दीर्घदर्शिना
O noble one, what is your age, and what do you remember of your conduct? By whom was this dwelling of yours assigned, O far-seeing one?
यत् पृच्छसि मुने सर्वं तद् इदं कथयाम्य् अहम् । अनुद्वेगितयेयं नः कथा श्रव्या महात्मना
O sage, all that you ask, I shall now recount; this discourse of ours is to be heard by the great-hearted, free from agitation.
युष्मद्विधास् त्रिभुवनप्रभुपूज्यरूपा आकर्णयन्ति यद् उदारधियो महान्तः । तेनाशुभं प्रकथितेन विनाशम् एति मेघस्य देहविभवेन यथार्कतापः
Those like you, revered by the rulers of the three worlds, endowed with noble minds, listen attentively; by such pure narration, misfortune is dispelled, just as the sun’s heat dissolves a cloud’s form.