51. Chapter 51

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । ततःप्रभृति तत्रासौ प्रसिद्धस्तापसाश्रमे । कदम्बदाशूर इति शूरस्तपसि दारुणे ॥ १ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | tataḥprabhṛti tatrāsau prasiddhastāpasāśrame | kadambadāśūra iti śūrastapasi dāruṇe || 1 ||

Vasishtha continued:—Thenceforward Dasura remained as an ascetic in his hermitage, in that forest, and was known as the Kadamba Dasura, and a giant of austere devotion.

तस्मिँल्लतादले स्थित्वा विलोक्य ककुभः क्षणात् । दृढपद्मासनं बद्ध्वा दिग्भ्यः प्रत्याहृतात्मना ॥ २ ॥

tasmiṃllatādale sthitvā vilokya kakubhaḥ kṣaṇāt | dṛḍhapadmāsanaṃ baddhvā digbhyaḥ pratyāhṛtātmanā || 2 ||

There sitting on the leaves of the creepers growing on the branch of that tree, he looked up to heaven, and then placing himself in the posture of padmasana, he called back his mind to himself.

अज्ञातपरमार्थेन क्रियामात्रे च तिष्ठता । फलकार्पण्ययुक्तेन मनसा सोऽकरोन्मखम् ॥ ३ ॥

ajñātaparamārthena kriyāmātre ca tiṣṭhatā | phalakārpaṇyayuktena manasā so'karonmakham || 3 ||

Unacquainted with spiritual adoration, and unpracticed to the ceremonial ritual, he commenced to perform his mental sacrifice, with a desire of gaining its reward.

नभोगतलतापत्रसंस्थितेनान्तरात्मना । सर्वाः स्वमनसा तेन कृता यज्ञक्रियाः क्रमात् ॥ ४ ॥

nabhogatalatāpatrasaṃsthitenāntarātmanā | sarvāḥ svamanasā tena kṛtā yajñakriyāḥ kramāt || 4 ||

Sitting on the leaves of the creepers in his aerial seat, he employed his inward spirit and mind, in discharging his sacrificial rites, of the sacred fire and horse sacrifice.

तत्रासौ दश वर्षाणि मनसैवायजत्सुरान् । गवाश्वनरमेधाद्यैर्यज्ञैर्विपुलदक्षिणैः ॥ ५ ॥

tatrāsau daśa varṣāṇi manasaivāyajatsurān | gavāśvanaramedhādyairyajñairvipuladakṣiṇaiḥ || 5 ||

He continued there for the space of full ten years, in his acts of satisfying the gods with his mental sacrifices of the bull, horse and human immolations, and paying their honorariums in his mind.

कालेनामलतां याते वितते तस्य चेतसि । बलादवततारान्तर्ज्ञानमात्मप्रसादजम् ॥ ६ ॥

kālenāmalatāṃ yāte vitate tasya cetasi | balādavatatārāntarjñānamātmaprasādajam || 6 ||

In process of time, his mind was purified and expanded, and he gained the knowledge of the beatification of his soul.

ततो विशीर्णावरणो विगलद्वासनामलः । स ददर्शैकदा तस्यां लतायामग्रतः स्थिताम् ॥ ७ ॥

tato viśīrṇāvaraṇo vigaladvāsanāmalaḥ | sa dadarśaikadā tasyāṃ latāyāmagrataḥ sthitām || 7 ||

His ignorance being dispelled, his heart became purified of the dirt of worldly desires; and he came to behold a sylvan goddess, standing beside his leafy and mossy seat.

वनदेवीं विशालाक्षीमालोककुसुमाम्बराम् । कामिनीं कान्तवदनां मदघूर्णितलोचनाम् ॥ ८ ॥

vanadevīṃ viśālākṣīmālokakusumāmbarām | kāminīṃ kāntavadanāṃ madaghūrṇitalocanām || 8 ||

She was a body of light and dressed in a robe of flowers; her form and face were beautiful to behold, and her large bright eyes turned wistfully towards him.

नीलोत्पलामोदवतीमतीव सुमनोहराम् । तामुवाचानवद्याङ्गीं स मुनिर्विनताननाम् ॥ ९ ॥

nīlotpalāmodavatīmatīva sumanoharām | tāmuvācānavadyāṅgīṃ sa munirvinatānanām || 9 ||

Her body breathed the fragrance of the blue lotus, and her figure charmed his inmost soul. He then spoke to the goddess, standing before him with her down cast looks.

कोकिलाकुसुमापूरनतां वनलतामिव । का त्वमुत्पलपत्राक्षि कान्तिविक्षोभितस्मरा ॥ १० ॥

kokilākusumāpūranatāṃ vanalatāmiva | kā tvamutpalapatrākṣi kāntivikṣobhitasmarā || 10 ||

What art thou, O tender dame! That lookest like a creeper fraught with flowers, and defiest the god Cupid with thy beauteous form and eyes, resembling the petals of the lotus.

वयस्यामिव पुष्पाढ्यां लतां किमिव तिष्ठसि । इत्युक्ते मृगशावाक्षी गौरपीनपयोधरा ॥ ११ ॥

vayasyāmiva puṣpāḍhyāṃ latāṃ kimiva tiṣṭhasi | ityukte mṛgaśāvākṣī gaurapīnapayodharā || 11 ||

Why standest thou as Flora, the befriending goddess of flowering creepers? Thus accosted, the dame with deer-like eyes and protuberant bosom replied to him.

मुनिमाह मनोहारि मुग्धाक्षरमिदं वचः । यानि यानि दुरापानि वाञ्छितानि महीतले ॥ १२ ॥

munimāha manohāri mugdhākṣaramidaṃ vacaḥ | yāni yāni durāpāni vāñchitāni mahītale || 12 ||

She said to the hermit with a sweet and charming voice in the following manner said:—"Mayst thou prosper in obtaining the objects of thy wishes:—

प्राप्यन्ते तानि तान्याशु महतामेव याच्ञया । अहमस्मिँल्लताकीर्णे त्वत्कदम्बाभ्यलंकृते ॥ १३ ॥

prāpyante tāni tānyāśu mahatāmeva yācñayā | ahamasmiṃllatākīrṇe tvatkadambābhyalaṃkṛte || 13 ||

"For any thing which is desirable and difficult of attainment in this world, is surely obtainable when sought after with proper exertion by the great":—

लतालीलालया ब्रह्मन्विपिने वनदेवता । यश्चैत्रसितपक्षस्य त्रयोदश्यां स्मरोत्सवे ॥ १४ ॥

latālīlālayā brahmanvipine vanadevatā | yaścaitrasitapakṣasya trayodaśyāṃ smarotsave || 14 ||

"I am, O Brahman! a sylvan goddess of this forest, which is so full of creeping plants, and decorated by the beautiful kadamba trees.

बभूव वनदेवीनां समाजो नन्दने वने । तत्राहमगमं नाथ त्रैलोक्यललनासदः ॥ १५ ॥

babhūva vanadevīnāṃ samājo nandane vane | tatrāhamagamaṃ nātha trailokyalalanāsadaḥ || 15 ||

"Here I strayed to witness the festive mirth of the sylvan goddesses, which always takes place on this thirteenth day of the lunar month of chaitra in this forest.

तत्र दृष्टा मया सर्वा वयस्या मदनोत्सवे । अपुत्रया पुत्रयुतास्तेनाहं दुःखिता भृशम् ॥ १६ ॥

tatra dṛṣṭā mayā sarvā vayasyā madanotsave | aputrayā putrayutāstenāhaṃ duḥkhitā bhṛśam || 16 ||

"I saw here my companions enjoying their festival of love, and felt myself sorry to think of my childlessness among them.

त्वयि सर्वार्थसार्थस्य बृहत्कल्पतरौ स्थिते । अनाथेव कथं नाथ किल शोचाम्यपुत्रिका ॥ १७ ॥

tvayi sarvārthasārthasya bṛhatkalpatarau sthite | anātheva kathaṃ nātha kila śocāmyaputrikā || 17 ||

Finding thee accomplished in all qualifications, I have resorted hither with my suit of begetting a son by thee.

देहि मे भगवन्पुत्र नो चेद्देहमिहाग्नये । प्रकरोम्याहुतिं पुत्र दुःखदाहोपशान्तये ॥ १८ ॥

dehi me bhagavanputra no ceddehamihāgnaye | prakaromyāhutiṃ putra duḥkhadāhopaśāntaye || 18 ||

"Please Sir, to procreate a son in me, or else I will put my person in the flames, to get rid of my sorrow of childlessness.

तामित्युक्तवतीं तन्वीं विहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । आह हस्तगतं पुष्पं तस्यै दत्त्वा दयान्वितः ॥ १९ ॥

tāmityuktavatīṃ tanvīṃ vihasya munipuṅgavaḥ | āha hastagataṃ puṣpaṃ tasyai dattvā dayānvitaḥ || 19 ||

Hearing the sylvan dame speaking in this manner, the hermit smiled at her, and spoke kindly to her with presenting her a flower with his own hand, and said:—

गच्छ तन्वङ्गि मासेन पूजार्हमलिलोचनम् । प्रसोष्यसे सुतं कान्तं प्रसूनमिव सल्लता ॥ २० ॥

gaccha tanvaṅgi māsena pūjārhamalilocanam | prasoṣyase sutaṃ kāntaṃ prasūnamiva sallatā || 20 ||

Depart O damsel! and betake thyself to the worship of Siva for a whole month, and then thou shalt like a tender creeper, beget a boy as beautiful as a bud by this time of the year.

किंत्वसौ मरणावेशयायिन्या नस्त्वया सुतः । याचितः कृच्छ्रं संप्राप्य ज्ञाता तेन भविष्यति ॥ २१ ॥

kiṃtvasau maraṇāveśayāyinyā nastvayā sutaḥ | yācitaḥ kṛcchraṃ saṃprāpya jñātā tena bhaviṣyati || 21 ||

But that son of thine, whom thou didst desire of me at the sacrifice of thy life, will betake himself to austerities like mine, and become a seer like myself.

इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिस्तन्वीं प्रसन्नमुखमण्डलाम् । परिचर्यां करोमीति प्रार्थनोत्कां व्यसर्जयत् ॥ २२ ॥

ityuktvā sa munistanvīṃ prasannamukhamaṇḍalām | paricaryāṃ karomīti prārthanotkāṃ vyasarjayat || 22 ||

So saying the sage dismissed the suppliant dame now gladdened in her face, and promised to perform the necessary for her blessing's sake.

सा जगामात्मसदनं सोऽतिष्ठत्स्वात्मना सह । अवहत्क्रमशः काल ऋतुसंवत्सराङ्कितः ॥ २३ ॥

sā jagāmātmasadanaṃ so'tiṣṭhatsvātmanā saha | avahatkramaśaḥ kāla ṛtusaṃvatsarāṅkitaḥ || 23 ||

The lotus-eyed dame then retired from him, and went to her abode; and the hermit passed his months, seasons and years in his holy meditation.

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन सैवोत्पलविलोचना । द्वादशाब्दमुपादाय सुतं मुनिमुपाययौ ॥ २४ ॥

atha dīrgheṇa kālena saivotpalavilocanā | dvādaśābdamupādāya sutaṃ munimupāyayau || 24 ||

After a long time the lotus-eyed dame returned to the sage with her boy, now grown up to the twelfth year of his age.

सा प्रणम्योपविश्याग्रे मुनिमिन्दुसमाननम् । उवाच कलया वाचा चूतद्रुमभिवालिनी ॥ २५ ॥

sā praṇamyopaviśyāgre munimindusamānanam | uvāca kalayā vācā cūtadrumabhivālinī || 25 ||

She made her obeisance and sat before him with her boy of the moon bright face; and then uttered her words, sweet as the murmur of the humble bee, to the stately Amra tree.

अयं स भगवन्भव्यः कुमारः पुत्र आवयोः । कृतो मया समग्राणां कलानां किल कोविदः ॥ २३ ॥

ayaṃ sa bhagavanbhavyaḥ kumāraḥ putra āvayoḥ | kṛto mayā samagrāṇāṃ kalānāṃ kila kovidaḥ || 23 ||

The lotus-eyed dame then retired from him, and went to her abode; and the hermit passed his months, seasons and years in his holy meditation.

प्रभो केवलमेतेन ज्ञानं नाधिगतं शुभम् । येन संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन्न पुनः परिपीड्यते ॥ २७ ॥

prabho kevalametena jñānaṃ nādhigataṃ śubham | yena saṃsāracakre'sminna punaḥ paripīḍyate || 27 ||

He is only untaught in the best knowledge, which releases the soul from its return to this world of troubles.

ज्ञानं त्वमेवास्य विभो कृपयोपदिशाधुना । को हि नाम कुले जातं पुत्रं मौर्ख्येण योजयेत् ॥ २८ ॥

jñānaṃ tvamevāsya vibho kṛpayopadiśādhunā | ko hi nāma kule jātaṃ putraṃ maurkhyeṇa yojayet || 28 ||

Do you now my lord! deign to instruct him in that knowledge, for who is there that should like to keep his own boy in ignorance (of his future and best welfare)?

एवं वदन्तीं स मुनिः सच्छिष्यमबले सुतम् । इहैव स्थापयैनं त्वमित्युक्त्वा तां व्यसर्जयत् ॥ २९ ॥

evaṃ vadantīṃ sa muniḥ sacchiṣyamabale sutam | ihaiva sthāpayainaṃ tvamityuktvā tāṃ vyasarjayat || 29 ||

Being thus besought by her, he bespoke to the tender mother, to leave the child there and depart her own way.

तस्यां गतायां स पितुरन्तेवासितया तया । अतिष्ठत्संयतो धीमानर्कस्येवारुणः पुरः ॥ ३० ॥

tasyāṃ gatāyāṃ sa piturantevāsitayā tayā | atiṣṭhatsaṃyato dhīmānarkasyevāruṇaḥ puraḥ || 30 ||

She being gone, the boy remained submissive to his father, and dwelt by his side as his pupil, like Aruna (Ouranus) waiting upon the sun.

कदर्थः प्राप्य विज्ञानं ततश्चित्राभिरुक्तिभिः । चिरकालमसौ तत्र मुनिः पुत्रमबोधयत् ॥ ३१ ॥

kadarthaḥ prāpya vijñānaṃ tataścitrābhiruktibhiḥ | cirakālamasau tatra muniḥ putramabodhayat || 31 ||

Inured in austerity, the boy continued to receive his best knowledge from the various lectures of his father, and passed a long time with him in that place, under the name of the sage's son.

आख्यायिकाख्यानशतैर्दृष्टान्तैर्दृष्टिकल्पितैः । तथेतिहासवृत्तान्तैर्वेदवेदान्तनिश्चयैः ॥ ३२ ॥

ākhyāyikākhyānaśatairdṛṣṭāntairdṛṣṭikalpitaiḥ | tathetihāsavṛttāntairvedavedāntaniścayaiḥ || 32 ||

The boy was taught in various narratives and tales, and with many examples and ocular instances; as also in historical accounts and evidences of the Veda and Vedanta.

अनुद्वेगितया नित्यं विस्तरेण कथाक्रमैः । अनुभूतिमुपारूढै रूढिमेति यथा मयि ॥ ३३ ॥

anudvegitayā nityaṃ vistareṇa kathākramaiḥ | anubhūtimupārūḍhai rūḍhimeti yathā mayi || 33 ||

The boy remained attendant on the lecture of his father, without feeling any anxiety; and formed his right notions of things by means of their antecedents. (The antecedent or preliminary causes of right judgements are, perceptions, inferences, comparisons and testimony or authoritative statements of sastras.

अनुभववशतो रसातिरिक्तैरलमुचितार्थवचोगणैर्महात्मा । जलद इव शिखण्डिनं पुरःस्थं तनयमबोधयदम्बरे महर्षिः ॥ ३४ ॥

anubhavavaśato rasātiriktairalamucitārthavacogaṇairmahātmā | jalada iva śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraḥsthaṃ tanayamabodhayadambare maharṣiḥ || 34 ||

The magnanimous father thus instilled true knowledge into the mind of his boy, by means (of the quadruple process) of right reasoning and correct diction, rather than regarding the elegance of expression; as the cloud indicates the approaching rain to the peacock by its hoarse sounds.