एवम् एतद् असत्सर्गो भर्तुस् ते भाति भासुरः । तथैवायम् इहाभाति पश्याम्य् एतद् अहं सुते
Thus, this unreal creation of your husband shines brilliantly; in the same way, this here appears—I see this, O child.
यथा पत्युर् अमूर्तो ऽस्मात् सर्गात् सर्गो भ्रमात्मकः । जातस् तथायं वद मे जगत्कुड्यनिवृत्तये
Just as from the formless creation of the husband, another creation arises, consisting of delusion, so too does this; tell me, for the removal of the wall of the world.
प्राक्स्मृतिर् भ्रान्तिमात्रात्मा सर्गो ऽयम् उदितो यथा । स्वप्नभ्रमात्मको भाति तथेदं कथ्यते शृणु
Previously, memory was merely of the nature of delusion, and thus this creation arose; it appears as a dream-delusion, so it is said—listen.
अस्ति कश्चिच् चिदाकाशे क्वचित् संसारमण्डपः । आकाशकाचदलवच् छादनाच्छादनाकृतिः
There is, somewhere in the space of consciousness, a pavilion of worldly existence, having the form of covering and uncovering, like the leaves of the sky-born lotus.
मेरुस्तम्भस्थलोकेशपुरश्रीसालभञ्जिकः । चतुर्दशापवरकस् त्रिगर्तो भानुदीपकः
He is like a statue supporting Mount Meru, a city-lord, a splendid salabhanjika, one of the fourteen guardians, a king of the Trigarta region, and a lamp illuminating the sun.
कोणस्थभूतवल्मीकव्याप्तपर्वतलोष्टकः । अनेकपुत्रजरढप्रजेशब्राह्मणास्पदम्
He is like a mountain stone covered by an anthill at the corner, a dwelling place for many sons, elders, rulers, and brahmins.
ऋक्षौघकोशकाराढ्यव्योमोर्ध्वतलकालिमा । नभोनिवासिसिद्धौघमषकाहितघुङ्घुमः
He is like a treasury filled with constellations, dark at the uppermost sky, a buzzing swarm of perfected beings dwelling in the heavens, and the humming of mosquitoes.
पयोदगृहधूमोग्रजालावलितकोणकः । वातमार्गमहावंशस्थितवैमानिकक्रिमिः
He is like a corner enveloped by the dense smoke of cloud-mansions, an aerial insect settled on the great bamboo of the wind's path.
सुरासुरादिदुर्बाललीलाकलकलाकुलः । लोकान्तरपुरग्रामभाण्डोपस्करनिर्भरः
He is filled with the playful chatter of gods, demons, and other children, and crowded with the vessels and implements of cities, towns, and worlds.
सरित्स्रोतोऽब्धिसरसीजलोक्षितमहीतलः । पातालभूतलस्वर्गाभोगभासुरकोटरः
The earth there is washed by the streams of rivers, ocean waves, and lakes, and its cavities shine with the enjoyments of the underworld, earth, and heaven.
तत्र कस्मिंश्चिद् एकस्मिन् कोणापवरकोदरे । शैललोष्टतले ऽस्त्य् एको गिरिग्रामकगर्तकः
There, in the hollow of a certain corner, on a mountain stone, there is a small pit belonging to a mountain village.
अस्मिन् नदीशैलवनोपगूढे साग्निस् सदारस् सुतवान् अरोगः । गोक्षीरवान् राजभयाद् विमुक्तः सर्वातिथिर् धर्मपरो द्विजो ऽभूत्
In this place, surrounded by rivers, mountains, and forests, there lived a brahmin, always with his wife and sons, healthy, possessing cows and milk, free from fear of kings, hospitable to all, and devoted to righteousness.
वित्तवेशवयःकर्मविद्याविभवचेष्टितैः । वसिष्ठस्येव सदृशो न तु वासिष्ठचेतनः
In wealth, appearance, age, actions, learning, and grandeur, one may resemble Vasiṣṭha, but not possess the consciousness of Vasiṣṭha.
वसिष्ठ इति नाम्नाभूत् तस्याभूद् इन्दुसुन्दरी । नाम्ना त्व् अरुन्धती भार्या भूमिव्योमन्य् अरुन्धती
He was called Vasiṣṭha by name; his wife was Indusundarī by name, but on earth and in the heavens, she was known as Arundhatī.
वित्तवेशवयःकर्मविद्याविभवचेष्टितैः । समेव साप्य् अरुन्धत्या न तु चेतनसत्तया
In wealth, appearance, age, actions, learning, and grandeur, she too was like Arundhatī, but not in the essence of her consciousness.
अकृत्रिमप्रेमरसा विलासालसगामिनी । सास्य संसारसर्वस्वम् आसीत् कुमुदहासिनी
She moved with the playful grace of unfeigned love, her beauty radiant; she was his entire world, seated like a lotus.
स विप्रस् तस्य शैलस्य सानौ सरसशाद्वले । कदाचिद् उपविष्टस् सन् ददर्शाधो महीपतिम्
Once, that sage sat on the grassy slope of a mountain near a lake, and saw a king below.
समग्रपरिवारेण यान्तम् आखेटकेच्छया । महता सैन्यघोषेण मेरोर् इव बिभित्सया
The king was traveling with his entire retinue, seeking the pleasure of the hunt, with a great clamor of his army, as if intending to conquer Mount Meru.
चामरैः कीर्णचन्द्रांशु पताकाभिर् लतावनम् । कुर्वाणं खं सितच्छत्रमण्डलै रौप्यकुट्टिमम्
With yak-tail fans, moon-bright banners, and garlands of creepers, he made the sky appear as if adorned with a circle of white parasols, like a silver pavement.
अश्वीयाग्निपृषत्पूरपूर्णरेण्वभ्रवर्णवत् । हास्तिकोत्तम्भितकरवाटाट्टालकगोपितम्
The dust raised by horses and the multitude of chariots resembled clouds; the city was hidden by tall mansions and gateways, raised by elephants.
महाकलकलावर्तद्रवद्दिग्भूतमण्डलम् । कचत्काञ्चनमाणिक्यहारकेयूरकुण्डलम्
The region, whirling with great tumult and flowing swiftly in all directions, was adorned with clinking golden and ruby necklaces, armlets, and earrings.
तम् आलोक्य महीपालम् इदं चिन्तितवान् असौ । अहो नु रम्या नृपता सर्वसौभाग्यभासिता
Beholding that king, he thought to himself: 'Ah, how delightful is kingship, resplendent with every kind of good fortune!'
पदातिरथहस्त्यश्वपताकाच्छत्रचामरैः । कदा स्यां दशदिक्कुञ्जपूरको ऽहं महीपतिः
When will I become a king, filling the ten directions with foot soldiers, chariots, elephants, horses, banners, parasols, and fans?
कदा मे वायवः कुन्दमकरन्दसुगन्धयः । पास्यन्त्य् अन्तःपुरस्त्रीणां सुरतश्रमशीकरान्
When will the winds, fragrant with the pollen of jasmine, carry to me the sweat of exhaustion from the amorous play of the women of my inner chambers?
कर्पूरेण पुरन्ध्रीणां कीर्णेन यशसा दिशाम् । इन्दूदयावदातानि कदा कुर्यां मुखान्य् अहम्
When will I make the faces of noble women, sprinkled with camphor and renowned throughout the quarters, as radiant as the rising moon?
इत्थं ततःप्रभृत्य् एव विप्रस् सङ्कल्पवान् अभूत् । स्वधर्मनिरतो नित्यं यावज्जीवम् अतन्द्रितः
From that time onward, the brahmin became filled with such desires, ever devoted to his own duty, diligent throughout his life.
हिमाशनिर् इवाम्भोजं जर्जरीकर्तुम् आदृता । जरा हार्दान्वितेवैनं जवाद् द्विजम् उपाययौ
Just as frost eagerly hastens to wither a lotus, so old age, having entered his heart, swiftly approached the brahmin.
आसन्नमरणस्यात्र भार्या म्लानिम् उपाययौ । तस्य शाम्यति पुष्पर्तौ लतेव ग्रीष्मभीतितः
As his death drew near, his wife became withered, like a creeper whose flowers fade when struck by the heat of summer.
माम् अथाराधितवती सा ततस् त्वम् इवाङ्गना । अमरत्वं सुदुष्प्रापं बुद्ध्वेमं सावृणोद् वरम्
She worshipped me then, O lady, just as you have, and, realizing that immortality is exceedingly hard to attain, she requested this boon from me.
देवि स्वमण्डपाद् एव जीवो भर्तुर् मृतस्य मे । मा यासीद् इत्य् अतस् तस्यास् स एवाङ्गीकृतो मया
From her own pavilion, the goddess asked that the soul of her deceased husband should not depart; thus, I granted her that very wish.