वासनांशं समानीय धर्माधर्मैर् न गृह्यते । ततो न जायते मुक्त इति नो दर्शनं मुने
When the portion of latent tendencies is gathered, it is not seized by virtue or vice; therefore, liberation does not arise—this is not our view, O sage.
अत्युदारं महार्थं च वक्षि त्वं वदतां वर । अनुभूतिम् उपारूढं गूढं च परमार्थवत्
You, best of speakers, will declare something exceedingly noble and of great import—an experience that is profound, hidden, and truly ultimate.
त्वद्वाक्यविभवेनाद्य श्रुतेनानेन सुन्दर । पीतेनेवेन्दुना राहुर् अन्तर् यातो ऽस्मि शीतताम्
By the power of your words, and by hearing this beautiful teaching today, I have been cooled within, as if Rahu, having drunk the moon, has entered into coolness.
तत् समासेन तां तावद् आत्मोत्पत्तिं वदाशु मे । ततश् श्रोष्यामि यत्नेन ज्ञानगर्भां गिरं तव
Therefore, briefly tell me now about the origin of the Self; afterwards, I will diligently listen to your speech, which is filled with knowledge.
तेन पद्मजपुत्रेण मुनिना नारदेन तत् । क्व कृतं वीर्यम् आर्येण कथयार्य यथास्थितम्
By that sage Nārada, son of Padmaja, O noble one, where was that valor accomplished? Tell me, noble one, as it truly happened.
ततो निबध्नता तेन मनोमत्तमतङ्गजम् । विवेकविपुलालाने शुद्धबुद्धिवरत्रया
Then, by him, the mind—like a mad elephant—was restrained with the triple reins of pure understanding and the great goad of discernment.
तद् वीर्यं कल्पकालाग्निगलितेन्दुद्रवोपमम् । रसानां पारतादीनां दिव्यानाम् अनुजं नवम्
That potency, resembling the fresh essence of the moon melted by the fire of the world-age, is the new offspring among the divine elixirs such as mercury and others.
मुनिना पार्श्वगे कुम्भे स्फाटिके विसरद्रुचौ । अद्रुते विद्रुताकारं चन्द्रे चन्द्रम् इवार्पितम्
By the sage, it was placed in a crystal vessel with radiant luster at his side, unagitated and with a flowing form, like the moon set upon the moon itself.
रत्नशैलैर् वृतः कान्तैस् तले पार्श्वेषु चाभितः । गम्भीरकुक्षिस् सुदृढश् चाचलाहननक्षमः
Surrounded by beautiful jewel mountains at its base and on all sides, with a deep cavity, firm, and capable of withstanding even the blow of a mountain.
सङ्कल्पितेन क्षीरेण स कुम्भस् तेन पूरितः । अमृतापूरभिन्नेन विधिनेवामृतार्णवः
That vessel was filled with milk conjured by intention, as though by ritual, overflowing with nectar, like an ocean of ambrosia.
तत्र मासं गतो वृद्धिं मुनिमन्त्राहुतिक्रमैः । अमृतात्मा शुभो गर्भ इन्दोर् इन्दुर् इवानुजः
There, for a month, it grew through the sage's mantra-offerings; the embryo, whose essence was nectar, pure, like the moon's younger sibling, flourished.
इन्दुं मास इवापूर्णं मासेन सुषुवे घटः । गर्भं कमलपत्त्राक्षं प्रसूनम् इव माधवः
As the moon is not yet full in a month, so the vessel bore the embryo, whose eyes were like lotus petals, as Madhava bears a blossom.
परिपूर्णसमस्ताङ्गः कुम्भाद् गर्भस् स निर्ययौ । इन्दुस् सूक्ष्माद् इवाम्भोधेर् अपरः क्षयवर्जितः
With all limbs fully formed, the embryo emerged from the vessel, like another moon arising from the subtle ocean, untouched by waning.
दिनैः कतिपयैर् एव वृद्धिम् अभ्याजगाम सः । अप्रमेयाङ्गसौन्दर्यश् शुक्लपक्षे शशी यथा
In just a few days, he attained growth, with immeasurable beauty of form, like the moon waxing in the bright fortnight.
सर्वसंस्कारसम्पन्ने स तस्मिन् नारदो मुनिः । भाण्डाद् भाण्ड इवाशेषं विद्याधनम् अयोजयत्
In that one, Nārada the sage, endowed with all accomplishments, deposited the entire wealth of knowledge, as one vessel pours into another.
दिनैः कतिपयैर् एव विज्ञाताशेषवाङ्मयम् । चकारैनं मुनिवरः प्रतिबिम्बम् इवात्मनः
Within just a few days, the eminent sage made him thoroughly versed in all branches of learning, as if he were his own reflection.
तेनाराजत पुत्रेण मुनिना मुनिनायकः । रत्नाद्रौ प्रतिबिम्बेन सद्योदित इवोडुराट्
By that son, who was a sage and not a king, the chief of sages shone forth, like the moon suddenly rising with its reflection on a mountain of gems.
अथैनं पुत्रम् आदाय ब्रह्मलोकं स नारदः । जगाम तत्र पितरं ब्रह्माणं चाभ्यवादयत्
Then Nārada, taking that son, went to Brahmā's world, and there he respectfully greeted his father, Brahmā.
कृताभिवादनं ब्रह्मा पौत्रम् आदाय तं तदा । अभिवादितवेदादिं स्वयम् अङ्के न्यवेशयत्
Brahmā, after being respectfully greeted, took his grandson—versed in the Vedas and other knowledge—and seated him on his own lap.
अथाशीर्वादमात्रेण सर्वज्ञं ज्ञानपारगम् । पौत्रं तं कुम्भनामानं चकार कमलोद्भवः
Then, with a mere blessing, the lotus-born made that grandson, named Kumbha, all-knowing and accomplished in wisdom.
साधो सो ऽयम् अहं पौत्रः कुम्भो ऽहं पद्मजन्मनः । पुत्रो ऽहं नारदमुनेः कुम्भनामास्मि कुम्भजः
O noble one, I am that grandson—Kumbha, born of the lotus-born, son of the sage Nārada, called Kumbha, born from a pot.
निवसाम्य् अब्जजपुरे पित्रा सह यथासुखम् । चत्वारस् सुहृदो वेदा मम लीला विलासिनी
I dwell happily with my father in the city of the lotus-born; the four Vedas are my dear friends, and my play is with delight.
मातृष्वसा मे गायत्री माता मम सरस्वती । ब्रह्मलोके मम गृहं पौत्रस् तत्रास्मि सुस्थितः
Gayatri is my maternal aunt, Sarasvati is my mother; my home is in the world of Brahma, and I am well established there as a grandson.
यथाकामम् अशेषाणि जगन्ति विहराम्य् अहम् । लीलया परिपूर्णत्वान् न तु कार्येण केनचित्
I roam through all the worlds as I wish, in play and fullness, not compelled by any duty.
राजर्षे तेन मे पादौ पततो मे न भूतले । रजस् स्पृशति नाङ्गानि ग्लानिं नायाति मे वपुः
O royal sage, for this reason my feet do not touch the ground; dust does not cling to my limbs, nor does my body experience fatigue.
अद्याकाशपथा गच्छन् दृष्टवांस् त्वाम् अहं पुरः । इह तेनागतो ऽस्म्य् अङ्ग सर्वं कथितवान् इति
Today, as I was traveling the path of the sky, I saw you before me; thus I have come here, O dear one, and have told you everything.
एषो ऽहम् इत्य् अखिलम् एव यथानुभूतं ते वर्णितं ननु मया वनवासतज्ज्ञ । सन्तो ह्य् असङ्कथनम् आर्यसमागमेषु निन्दन्त्य् अलं सुभग संव्यवहारदक्षाः
All this, as I have experienced it, I have described to you, saying, 'This is who I am.' For indeed, noble ones skilled in conduct do not approve of withholding one's story in the company of the virtuous.
इत्य् उक्तवत्य् अथ मुनौ दिवसो जगाम सायन्तनाय विधये ऽस्तम् इनो जगाम । स्नातुं सभा कृतनमस्करणा जगाम श्यामाक्षये रविकरैश् च सहाजगाम
Having spoken thus, when the sage was present, the day moved toward evening and the sun set; she went to bathe, having offered salutations in the assembly, and departed along with the rays of the setting sun.
सर्गे स्फुरद्भिर् मत्पुण्यैर् मन्ये सम्प्रेषितो भवान् । अलक्ष्यैस् सम्भृतैर् अद्रौ प्रावृड्वातैर् इवाम्बुदः
I think you have been sent to me in this creation by my own shining merits, gathered unseen, like a rain cloud driven to the mountain by the winds of the monsoon.
अद्य तिष्ठाम्य् अहं साधो धन्यानां धुरि धर्मतः । अमृतस्यन्दवचसा यत् त्वयास्मि समागतः
Today I stand, O noble one, at the forefront of the blessed, by virtue of righteousness, because I have met you, whose words flow with the nectar of immortality.