Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga — Chapter 58

NarP 1 58.1

नारद उवाच अनूचानप्रसंगेन वेदाङ्गान्यखिलानि च । श्रुतानि त्वन्मुखांभोजात्समासव्यासयोगतः

nārada uvāca anūcānaprasaṃgena vedāṅgānyakhilāni ca / śrutāni tvanmukhāṃbhojātsamāsavyāsayogataḥ

Nārada said: In the course of the recitation, all the limbs of the Veda too have been heard from your lotus-mouth, both in brief and at length.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.2

शुकोत्पत्तिं समाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते । सनन्दन उवाच मेरुशृङ्गे किल पुरा कर्णिकारवनायते

śukotpattiṃ samācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate / sanandana uvāca meruśṛṅge kila purā karṇikāravanāyate

Relate in full the birth of Śuka, O greatly wise one. Sanandana said: Long ago, on the peak of Meru, in a spreading Karṇikāra grove,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.3

विजहार महोदेवो भौमैभूतगणैवृतः । शैलराजसुता चैव देवी तत्राभवत्पुरा

vijahāra mahodevo bhaumaibhūtagaṇaivṛtaḥ / śailarājasutā caiva devī tatrābhavatpurā

the great God roamed about, surrounded by troops of earthly beings; and the Goddess, the daughter of the mountain-king, was there in that time.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.4

तत्र दिव्यं तपस्तेपे कृष्णद्वैपायनः प्रभुः । योगेनात्मानमाविश्य योगधर्मपरायणः

tatra divyaṃ tapastepe kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ prabhuḥ / yogenātmānamāviśya yogadharmaparāyaṇaḥ

There the mighty Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana performed divine austerity, having entered into himself by yoga, wholly given to the discipline of yoga.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.5

धारयन्स तपस्तेपे पुत्रार्थं सुनिसंत्तमः । अग्नेर्भूमेस्तथा वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चाभितः

dhārayansa tapastepe putrārthaṃ sunisaṃttamaḥ / agnerbhūmestathā vāyorantarikṣasya cābhitaḥ

Holding (that intent), that best of ascetics performed austerity for the sake of a son, (turned) all about toward fire, earth, wind and the mid-air.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.6

वीर्येण संमतः पुत्रो मम भूयादिति स्म ह । संकल्पेनाथ सो ऽनेन दुष्प्रापमकगृतात्मभिः

vīryeṇa saṃmataḥ putro mama bhūyāditi sma ha / saṃkalpenātha so 'nena duṣprāpamakagṛtātmabhiḥ

"May a son esteemed for his valour be mine" — so indeed (he wished). Then with this resolve, hard to attain for those whose selves are unrestrained,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.7

वरयामास देवेशमास्थितस्तप उत्तमम् । अतिष्टन्मारुताहारः शतं किल समाः प्रभुः

varayāmāsa deveśamāsthitastapa uttamam / atiṣṭanmārutāhāraḥ śataṃ kila samāḥ prabhuḥ

he entreated the lord of gods, having undertaken the highest austerity; the mighty one stood, they say, a hundred years with the wind for his food.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.8

आराधयन्महादेवं बहुरूपमुमापतिम् । तत्र ब्रह्मर्षयश्चैव सर्वे देवर्षयस्तथा

ārādhayanmahādevaṃ bahurūpamumāpatim / tatra brahmarṣayaścaiva sarve devarṣayastathā

He propitiated Mahādeva of many forms, the husband of Umā. There all the brahman-seers and likewise the god-seers,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.9

लोकपालाश्च साध्याश्च वसुभिश्चाष्टभिः सह । आदित्याश्चैव रुद्राश्च दिवाकरनिशाकरौ

lokapālāśca sādhyāśca vasubhiścāṣṭabhiḥ saha / ādityāścaiva rudrāśca divākaraniśākarau

and the guardians of the worlds and the Sādhyas together with the eight Vasus, and the Ādityas and the Rudras, and the maker of day and the maker of night,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.10

विश्वा वसुश्च गन्धर्वः सिद्धाश्चाप्सरासांगणाः । तत्र रुद्रो महादेवः कर्णिकारमयीं शुभाम्

viśvā vasuśca gandharvaḥ siddhāścāpsarāsāṃgaṇāḥ / tatra rudro mahādevaḥ karṇikāramayīṃ śubhām

and the Viśvas and Vasu and the Gandharva, the Siddhas and the throngs of Apsarases (were there). There Rudra, the great god, (wore) a lovely (garland) made of Karṇikāra blossoms;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.11

धारयानः स्रजं भाति शारदीव निशाकरः । तस्निन् दिव्ये वने रम्ये देवदेवर्षिसंकुले

dhārayānaḥ srajaṃ bhāti śāradīva niśākaraḥ / tasnin divye vane ramye devadevarṣisaṃkule

wearing that garland he shines like the autumn moon. In that lovely divine forest thronged with gods and divine seers,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.12

आस्थितः परमं योगं व्यासः पुत्रार्थमुद्यतः । न चास्य हीयते वर्णो न ग्लानिरुपजायते

āsthitaḥ paramaṃ yogaṃ vyāsaḥ putrārthamudyataḥ / na cāsya hīyate varṇo na glānirupajāyate

Vyāsa, established in the supreme yoga, was intent upon (obtaining) a son; and his colour did not fade, nor did weariness come upon him.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.13

त्रयाणामपिलोकानां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् । जटाश्च तेजसा तस्य वैश्वानरशिखोपमाः

trayāṇāmapilokānāṃ tadadbhutamivābhavat / jaṭāśca tejasā tasya vaiśvānaraśikhopamāḥ

That was as it were a marvel to the three worlds; and his matted locks, through his fiery power, resembled the flames of fire,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.14

प्रज्वलन्त्यः स्म दृश्यन्ते युक्तस्यामिततेजसः । एवं विधेन तपसा तस्य भक्त्या च नारद

prajvalantyaḥ sma dṛśyante yuktasyāmitatejasaḥ / evaṃ vidhena tapasā tasya bhaktyā ca nārada

blazing they were seen, (the locks) of him who was yoked in yoga, of measureless splendour. By austerity of such a kind and by his devotion, O Nārada,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.15

महेश्वरः प्रसन्नात्मा चकार मनसा मतिम् । उवाच चैनं भगवांस्त्र्यंबकः प्रहसन्निव

maheśvaraḥ prasannātmā cakāra manasā matim / uvāca cainaṃ bhagavāṃstryaṃbakaḥ prahasanniva

Maheśvara, his heart made gracious, formed a resolve in his mind; and the Lord Tryambaka spoke to him, as though smiling:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.16

यथा ह्यग्नियथा वायुर्यथा भूमिर्यथा जलम् । यथा खे च तथा शुद्धो भविष्यति सुतस्तंव

yathā hyagniyathā vāyuryathā bhūmiryathā jalam / yathā khe ca tathā śuddho bhaviṣyati sutastaṃva

"As fire is, as wind, as earth, as water, and as the sky — so pure will your son be."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.17

तद्भावभागी तद्बुद्धिस्तदात्मा तदुपाश्रयः । तेजसा तस्य लोकांस्त्रीन्यशः प्राप्स्यति केवलम्

tadbhāvabhāgī tadbuddhistadātmā tadupāśrayaḥ / tejasā tasya lokāṃstrīnyaśaḥ prāpsyati kevalam

(He will be) one who shares in that nature, whose mind is that, whose self is that, whose refuge is that; by his splendour he will win the three worlds, and fame besides.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.18

एवं लब्ध्वा वरं देवो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । अरणिं त्वथ संगृह्य ममन्थाग्निचिकीर्षया

evaṃ labdhvā varaṃ devo vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ / araṇiṃ tvatha saṃgṛhya mamanthāgnicikīrṣayā

Having thus obtained the boon, the divine Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, then took up the fire-drill and churned it, wishing to make fire.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.19

अथ रूपं परं विप्र बिभ्रतीं स्वेन तेजसा । घृताचीं नामाप्सरसं ददर्श भगवान्नृषिः

atha rūpaṃ paraṃ vipra bibhratīṃ svena tejasā / ghṛtācīṃ nāmāpsarasaṃ dadarśa bhagavānnṛṣiḥ

Then, O brahmin, the venerable seer saw the apsaras named Ghṛtācī, who bore surpassing beauty by her own radiance.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.20

स तामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा सहसा काममोहितः । अभवद्भगवान्व्यासो वने तस्मिन्मुनीश्वर

sa tāmapsarasaṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasā kāmamohitaḥ / abhavadbhagavānvyāso vane tasminmunīśvara

Seeing that apsaras, the venerable Vyāsa was suddenly bewildered by desire, there in that forest, O lord of sages.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.21

सा तु कृत्वा तदा व्यासं कामसंविग्नमानसम् । शुकीभूया महारम्या घृताची समुपागमत्

sā tu kṛtvā tadā vyāsaṃ kāmasaṃvignamānasam / śukībhūyā mahāramyā ghṛtācī samupāgamat

But she, having thus made Vyāsa's mind agitated with desire, the lovely Ghṛtācī became a female parrot and approached (him).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.22

स तामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा रूपेणान्येनसंवृताम् । स्मरराजेनानुगतः सर्वगात्रातिगेन ह

sa tāmapsarasaṃ dṛṣṭvā rūpeṇānyenasaṃvṛtām / smararājenānugataḥ sarvagātrātigena ha

Seeing that apsaras clothed in another form, he was pursued by the king of love, who penetrated all his limbs.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.23

स तु महता निगृह्णन् हृच्छयं मुनिः । न शशाक नियन्तुं तं व्यासः प्रविसृतं मनः

sa tu mahatā nigṛhṇan hṛcchayaṃ muniḥ / na śaśāka niyantuṃ taṃ vyāsaḥ pravisṛtaṃ manaḥ

But the sage, restraining with great (effort) the desire lodged in his heart—Vyāsa could not hold back that mind which had gone forth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.24

भावित्वाञ्चैव भाव्यस्य घृताच्या वपुषा । हृतम् यत्नान्नियच्छतश्चापि मुने एतञ्चिकीर्षया

bhāvitvāñcaiva bhāvyasya ghṛtācyā vapuṣā / hṛtam yatnānniyacchataścāpi mune etañcikīrṣayā

And because of the inevitability of what was to be, his (mind) was carried off by Ghṛtācī's body, even as he strove to restrain it, O sage, while intent on making (fire).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.25

अरण्यामेव सहसा तस्य शुक्रमवापतत् । शुक्रे निर्मथ्यमाने ऽस्यां शुको जज्ञे महातपाः

araṇyāmeva sahasā tasya śukramavāpatat / śukre nirmathyamāne 'syāṃ śuko jajñe mahātapāḥ

Suddenly his semen fell right into the fire-drill; and as the semen was being churned in it, Śuka was born, of great austerity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.26

परमर्षिर्महायोगी अरणीगर्भसंभवः । यथैव हि समिद्धो ऽग्निर्भाति हव्यमुपात्तवान्

paramarṣirmahāyogī araṇīgarbhasaṃbhavaḥ / yathaiva hi samiddho 'gnirbhāti havyamupāttavān

A supreme seer, a great yogin, born from the womb of the fire-drill: just as a kindled fire blazes when it has received the oblation—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.27

तथा रूपः शुको जज्ञे प्रज्वलन्निव तेजसा । बिभ्रञ्चित्रं च विप्रेन्द्र रूपवर्णमनुत्तमम्

tathā rūpaḥ śuko jajñe prajvalanniva tejasā / bibhrañcitraṃ ca viprendra rūpavarṇamanuttamam

—of such a form was Śuka born, as if blazing with radiance, bearing, O best of brahmins, a wondrous and unsurpassed beauty of complexion.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.28

तं गङ्गां सरितां श्रेष्ठां मेरुपृष्ठे स्वरूपिणीम् । अभ्येत्य स्नापयामास वारिणा स्वेन नारद

taṃ gaṅgāṃ saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ merupṛṣṭhe svarūpiṇīm / abhyetya snāpayāmāsa vāriṇā svena nārada

Gaṅgā, best of rivers, came in her own bodily form on the ridge of Meru and bathed him with her own water, O Nārada.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.29

कृष्णाजिनं चान्तरिक्षाच्छुकार्थे भुव्यवापतत् । जगीयन्त च गन्धर्वा ननृतुञ्चाप्सरोगणाः

kṛṣṇājinaṃ cāntarikṣācchukārthe bhuvyavāpatat / jagīyanta ca gandharvā nanṛtuñcāpsarogaṇāḥ

And a black antelope skin fell from the sky to the earth for Śuka's sake; the gandharvas sang and the hosts of apsarases danced.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.30

देवदुन्दुभयश्चैव प्रावाद्यन्त महास्वनाः । विश्वावसुश्च गन्धर्वस्तथा तुंबुरुनारदौ

devadundubhayaścaiva prāvādyanta mahāsvanāḥ / viśvāvasuśca gandharvastathā tuṃburunāradau

And the divine drums resounded with a great noise, and the gandharva Viśvāvasu, and likewise Tumburu and Nārada,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.31

हाहाहूहूश्च गन्धर्वौं तुष्टुवुः शुकसंभवम् । तत्र शक्रपुरोगाश्च लोकपालाः समागताः

hāhāhūhūśca gandharvauṃ tuṣṭuvuḥ śukasaṃbhavam / tatra śakrapurogāśca lokapālāḥ samāgatāḥ

and the gandharvas Hāhā and Hūhū praised the birth of Śuka; there the guardians of the worlds, led by Śakra, assembled,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.32

देवा देवर्षथयश्चटैव तथा ब्रह्मर्षयो ऽपि च । दिव्यानि सर्वपुष्पाणि प्रववर्ष च मारुतः

devā devarṣathayaścaṭaiva tathā brahmarṣayo 'pi ca / divyāni sarvapuṣpāṇi pravavarṣa ca mārutaḥ

and the gods and the divine seers, and likewise the brahmin seers too; and the wind rained down all manner of celestial flowers.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.33

जङ्गमं स्थावरं चैव प्रहृष्टमभवज्जगत् । तं महात्मा स्वयं प्रीत्या देव्या सह महाद्युतिः

jaṅgamaṃ sthāvaraṃ caiva prahṛṣṭamabhavajjagat / taṃ mahātmā svayaṃ prītyā devyā saha mahādyutiḥ

The world, moving and unmoving, became delighted; him the great-souled one of great splendour, himself, with affection, together with the Goddess—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.34

जातमात्रं मुनेः पुत्रं विधिनोपानयत्तदा । तस्य देवेश्वरः शक्तो दिव्यमद्भुतदर्शनम्

jātamātraṃ muneḥ putraṃ vidhinopānayattadā / tasya deveśvaraḥ śakto divyamadbhutadarśanam

—the sage's son, just born, he then initiated according to rule; and to him the lord of the gods, Śakra, (gave) a divine (water-pot), wondrous to behold,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.35

ददौ कमण्डलुं प्रीत्या देवा वासांसि चाभितः । हंसाश्च शतपत्राश्च सारसाश्च सहस्रशः

dadau kamaṇḍaluṃ prītyā devā vāsāṃsi cābhitaḥ / haṃsāśca śatapatrāśca sārasāśca sahasraśaḥ

he gave a water-pot with affection, and the gods (gave) garments all round; and geese and śatapatra birds and cranes by the thousands

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.36

प्रदक्षिणमवर्तन्त शुकाश्चाषाश्च नारद । आरणे यस्तदा दिव्यं प्राप्य जन्म महामुनिः

pradakṣiṇamavartanta śukāścāṣāśca nārada / āraṇe yastadā divyaṃ prāpya janma mahāmuniḥ

circled him to the right, and parrots and blue jays too, O Nārada; and the great sage, having then obtained a divine birth in the fire-drill,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.37

तत्रैवोवास मेधावी व्रतचारी समाहितः । उत्पन्नमात्रं तं वेदाः सरहस्याः ससंग्रहाः

tatraivovāsa medhāvī vratacārī samāhitaḥ / utpannamātraṃ taṃ vedāḥ sarahasyāḥ sasaṃgrahāḥ

There the wise one dwelt, observing vows, composed in mind; and as soon as he was born the Vedas, together with their esoteric parts and their compendia,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.38

उपतस्थुर्मुनिश्रेष्ठं यथास्य पितरं तथा । बृहस्पतिं स वव्रे च वेदवेदाङ्गभाष्यवित्

upatasthurmuniśreṣṭhaṃ yathāsya pitaraṃ tathā / bṛhaspatiṃ sa vavre ca vedavedāṅgabhāṣyavit

waited upon that best of sages just as they did upon his father; and he, who knew the Vedas, the Vedic ancillaries and their exposition, chose Bṛhaspati

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.39

उपाध्यायं द्विजश्रेष्ठ धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् । सो ऽधीत्य वेदानखिलान्सरहस्यान्ससंग्रहान्

upādhyāyaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha dharmamevānucintayan / so 'dhītya vedānakhilānsarahasyānsasaṃgrahān

as his teacher, O best of the twice-born, meditating upon dharma alone; and having studied all the Vedas together with their esoteric parts and compendia,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.40

इतिहासं च कार्त्स्न्येन वेदशास्त्राणि चाभितः । गुरवे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा समावृत्तो महामुनिः

itihāsaṃ ca kārtsnyena vedaśāstrāṇi cābhitaḥ / gurave dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā samāvṛtto mahāmuniḥ

and the traditional lore in its entirety and the Vedic treatises on every side, the great sage, having given the teacher his fee, returned home (from studentship).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.41

उग्रं तपः समारेभे ब्रह्मचारी समाहिताः । देवतानामृषीणां च बाल्ये ऽपि सुमहातपाः

ugraṃ tapaḥ samārebhe brahmacārī samāhitāḥ / devatānāmṛṣīṇāṃ ca bālye 'pi sumahātapāḥ

He undertook fierce austerity, a celibate student, composed; even in boyhood he was of very great austerity (as reckoned) among gods and seers,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.42

संमत्रणीयो जन्यश्च ज्ञानेन तपसा तथा । न त्वस्य रमते बुद्धि राश्रमेषु मुनीश्वर

saṃmatraṇīyo janyaśca jñānena tapasā tathā / na tvasya ramate buddhi rāśrameṣu munīśvara

and one to be consulted and honored for his knowledge and austerity; but his mind took no delight in the (householder) stages of life, O lord of sages,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.43

त्रिषु गार्हस्थ्यमूलेषु मोक्षधर्मानुदर्शिनः । स मोक्षमनुचिन्त्यैव शुकः पितरमभ्यगात्

triṣu gārhasthyamūleṣu mokṣadharmānudarśinaḥ / sa mokṣamanucintyaiva śukaḥ pitaramabhyagāt

in the three that have the householder state as their root, since he looked to the dharma of liberation. Reflecting on liberation alone, Śuka approached his father,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.44

प्राहाभिवाद्य च तदा श्रेयोर्ऽथी विनयान्वितः । मोक्षधर्मेषु कुशलो भगवान् प्रब्रवीतु मे

prāhābhivādya ca tadā śreyor'thī vinayānvitaḥ / mokṣadharmeṣu kuśalo bhagavān prabravītu me

and then, having saluted him, seeking what is best, filled with modesty, he said: "Let the reverend lord, who is skilled in the dharmas of liberation, declare to me

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.45

यथैव मनसः शान्तिः परमा संभवेन्मुने । शृत्वा पुत्रस्य वचनं परमर्षिरुवाच तम्

yathaiva manasaḥ śāntiḥ paramā saṃbhavenmune / śṛtvā putrasya vacanaṃ paramarṣiruvāca tam

how the supreme peace of the mind may come about, O sage." Having heard his son's words, the supreme seer said to him:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.46

अधीष्व मोक्षशास्त्रं वै धर्मांश्च विविधानपि । पितुर्निदेशाज्जग्राह शुको ब्रह्मविदां वरः

adhīṣva mokṣaśāstraṃ vai dharmāṃśca vividhānapi / piturnideśājjagrāha śuko brahmavidāṃ varaḥ

"Study the treatise on liberation, and the various dharmas too." At his father's direction Śuka, the best of the knowers of brahman, took up (that study),

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.47

योगशास्त्रं च निखिलं कापिलं चैव नारद । शतं ब्राह्म्या श्रिया युक्तं ब्रह्मतुल्यपराक्रमम्

yogaśāstraṃ ca nikhilaṃ kāpilaṃ caiva nārada / śataṃ brāhmyā śriyā yuktaṃ brahmatulyaparākramam

and the whole science of yoga, and that of Kapila too, O Nārada — (he) endowed with the splendor of brahman, whose might equaled brahman's, a hundred (fold)...

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.48

मेने पुत्रं यथा व्यासो मोक्षशास्त्रविशारदम् । उवाच गच्छेति तदा जनकं मिथिलेश्वरम्

mene putraṃ yathā vyāso mokṣaśāstraviśāradam / uvāca gaccheti tadā janakaṃ mithileśvaram

When Vyāsa judged his son to be proficient in the treatise on liberation, he then said, "Go to Janaka, the lord of Mithilā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.49

स ते वक्ष्यति मोक्षार्थं निखिलेन नराधिपः । पितुर्नियोगादगमज्जनकं मेथखिलं नृपम्

sa te vakṣyati mokṣārthaṃ nikhilena narādhipaḥ / piturniyogādagamajjanakaṃ methakhilaṃ nṛpam

That king will tell you the whole matter of liberation." At his father's command he went to king Janaka of Mithilā,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.50

प्रष्टुं धर्मस्य निष्टां वै मोक्षस्य च परायणम् । उक्तश्च मानुषेण त्वं तथा गच्छेत्यविस्मितः

praṣṭuṃ dharmasya niṣṭāṃ vai mokṣasya ca parāyaṇam / uktaśca mānuṣeṇa tvaṃ tathā gacchetyavismitaḥ

in order to ask about the final ground of dharma and the highest resort of liberation. And he was told: "You are to go thus, in human fashion, unastonished.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.51

न प्रभावेण गन्तव्यमन्तरिक्षचरेण वै । आर्जवेनैव गन्तव्यं न सुखाय क्षणात्त्वया

na prabhāveṇa gantavyamantarikṣacareṇa vai / ārjavenaiva gantavyaṃ na sukhāya kṣaṇāttvayā

You must not go by (your yogic) power, travelling through the air; you must go straightforwardly, not in an instant for your own ease.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.52

न द्रष्टव्या विशेषा हि विशेषा हि प्रसंगिनः । अहॄङ्कारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन्नराधिपे

na draṣṭavyā viśeṣā hi viśeṣā hi prasaṃginaḥ / ahṝṅkāro na kartavyo yājye tasminnarādhipe

Nor should distinctions be observed, for distinctions produce attachment; no self-assertion is to be made toward that king who is fit to be officiated for.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.53

स्थातव्यं वसथे तस्य स ते छेत्स्यति संशयम् । स धर्मकुशलो राजा मोक्षशास्त्रविशारदः

sthātavyaṃ vasathe tasya sa te chetsyati saṃśayam / sa dharmakuśalo rājā mokṣaśāstraviśāradaḥ

You should stay in his dwelling; he will cut off your doubt. That king is skilled in dharma and proficient in the treatise on liberation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.54

यथा यथा च ते ब्रूयात्तत्कार्यमविशङ्कया । एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जगाम मिथिलां मुनिः

yathā yathā ca te brūyāttatkāryamaviśaṅkayā / evamuktaḥ sa dharmātmā jagāma mithilāṃ muniḥ

And whatever he tells you, that is to be done without hesitation." Thus addressed, that sage of righteous soul went to Mithilā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.55

पभ्द्यां शक्तोन्तरिक्षेण क्रान्तुं भूमिं ससागराम् । सगिरीं श्चाप्यतिक्रम्य भारतं वर्षमासदत्

pabhdyāṃ śaktontarikṣeṇa krāntuṃ bhūmiṃ sasāgarām / sagirīṃ ścāpyatikramya bhārataṃ varṣamāsadat

Though able to traverse the earth with its oceans through the air, (he went) on foot; and crossing over the mountains too, he reached the land of Bhārata.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.56

स देशान्विविधान्स्फीतानतिक्रम्य महामुनिः । विदेहान्वै समासाद्य जनकेन समागमत्

sa deśānvividhānsphītānatikramya mahāmuniḥ / videhānvai samāsādya janakena samāgamat

That great sage, having passed beyond various prosperous lands, reached the Videhas and met with Janaka.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.57

राजद्वारं समासाद्य द्वारपालैर्निवारितः ॥ट तस्थौ तत्र महायोगी क्षुत्पिपासादिवर्जितः

rājadvāraṃ samāsādya dvārapālairnivāritaḥ //ṭa tasthau tatra mahāyogī kṣutpipāsādivarjitaḥ

Having reached the king's gate, he was stopped by the gatekeepers; there the great yogin stood, free from hunger, thirst and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.58

आतपे ग्लानिरहितो ध्यानयुक्तश्च नारद । तेषां तु द्वारपालानामेकस्तत्र व्यवस्थितः

ātape glānirahito dhyānayuktaśca nārada / teṣāṃ tu dvārapālānāmekastatra vyavasthitaḥ

(He stood) in the sun's heat without weariness, absorbed in meditation, O Nārada; and one of those gatekeepers took his stand there.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.59

मध्यङ्गतमिवादित्यं दृष्ट्वा शुकमवस्थितम् । जूजयित्वा यथान्यायमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः

madhyaṅgatamivādityaṃ dṛṣṭvā śukamavasthitam / jūjayitvā yathānyāyamabhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ

Seeing Śuka standing (there) like the sun come to mid-heaven, having honoured (him) as is proper and saluted (him) with palms joined,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.60

प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्षआं द्वितीयां राजवेश्मनः । तत्रान्तःपुरसंबद्धं महच्चैत्रग्थोपमम्

prāveśayattataḥ kakṣaāṃ dvitīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ / tatrāntaḥpurasaṃbaddhaṃ mahaccaitragthopamam

he then admitted (him) into the second court of the royal palace; there, adjoining the inner apartments, (was) a great (garden) resembling the Caitraratha grove,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.61

सुविभक्तजलाक्रीडं रम्यं पुष्पितपादपम् । दर्शयित्वासने स्थाप्य राजानं च व्यजिज्ञपत्

suvibhaktajalākrīḍaṃ ramyaṃ puṣpitapādapam / darśayitvāsane sthāpya rājānaṃ ca vyajijñapat

with well-laid-out water-sports, delightful, with flowering trees. Having shown (it to him) and seated (him) on a seat, he informed the king.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.62

श्रुत्वा राजा शुकं प्राप्तं वारस्त्रीः स न्ययुङ्क्त च । सेवायै तस्य भावस्य ज्ञानाय मुनिसतम

śrutvā rājā śukaṃ prāptaṃ vārastrīḥ sa nyayuṅkta ca / sevāyai tasya bhāvasya jñānāya munisatama

Hearing that Śuka had arrived, the king appointed courtesans to attend upon him, in order to know his disposition, O best of sages.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.63

तं चारुकेश्यः शुश्रेण्यस्तरुण्यः प्रियदर्शनाः । सूक्ष्मरक्तांबरधरास्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाः

taṃ cārukeśyaḥ śuśreṇyastaruṇyaḥ priyadarśanāḥ / sūkṣmaraktāṃbaradharāstaptakāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ

(Women) with lovely hair, fair-hipped(?), young, pleasing to look at, wearing fine red garments, adorned with refined gold,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

NarP 1 58.64

संलापालापकुशाला भावज्ञाः सर्वकोविदाः । परं पञ्चाशतस्तस्य पाद्यादीनि व्यकल्पयन्

saṃlāpālāpakuśālā bhāvajñāḥ sarvakovidāḥ / paraṃ pañcāśatastasya pādyādīni vyakalpayan

skilled in conversation and repartee, knowing (men's) moods, expert in everything—fully fifty of them—arranged for him the water for the feet and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.65

देश कालोपपन्नेन साध्वन्नेनाप्यतर्पयन् । तस्य भुक्तवतस्तात तास्ततः पुरकाननम्

deśa kālopapannena sādhvannenāpyatarpayan / tasya bhuktavatastāta tāstataḥ purakānanam

They satisfied (him) with good food suited to the place and time; and when he had eaten, dear one, they then (showed) him the city's grove,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.66

सुरम्यं दर्शयामासुरेकैकत्वेन नारद । क्रीडन्त्यश्च हसंत्यश्च गायन्त्यश्चैव ताः शुकम्

suramyaṃ darśayāmāsurekaikatvena nārada / krīḍantyaśca hasaṃtyaśca gāyantyaścaiva tāḥ śukam

most delightful, they showed (it to him) one by one, O Nārada; and they, playing and laughing and singing, (attended) Śuka,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.67

उदारसत्वं सत्वज्ञाःसर्वाः पर्य्यचरंस्तदा । आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा जितक्रोधो जितेन्द्रियः

udārasatvaṃ satvajñāḥsarvāḥ paryyacaraṃstadā / āraṇeyastu śuddhātmā jitakrodho jitendriyaḥ

(him) of noble nature—all of them, knowing (men's) natures, waited upon (him) then; but the son of the forest-dweller, pure of soul, having conquered anger and his senses,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.68

ध्यानस्थ एव सततं न हृष्यति न कुप्यति । पादशौचं तु कृत्वा वै शुकः संध्यामुपास्य च

dhyānastha eva satataṃ na hṛṣyati na kupyati / pādaśaucaṃ tu kṛtvā vai śukaḥ saṃdhyāmupāsya ca

remaining constantly in meditation, neither rejoiced nor grew angry. Having washed his feet and worshipped at the twilight, Śuka

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.69

निषसादासने पुण्ये तमेवार्थं व्यचिन्तयत् । पूर्वरात्रे तु तत्रासौ भूत्वा ध्यानपरायणः

niṣasādāsane puṇye tamevārthaṃ vyacintayat / pūrvarātre tu tatrāsau bhūtvā dhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

sat down on a holy seat and pondered that very matter; in the first part of the night he became there intent on meditation,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

NarP 1 58.70

मध्यरात्रे यथान्याय्यं निद्रामाहारयत्प्रभुः । ततः प्रातः समुत्थाय कृत्वा शौचमनन्तरम्

madhyarātre yathānyāyyaṃ nidrāmāhārayatprabhuḥ / tataḥ prātaḥ samutthāya kṛtvā śaucamanantaram

and in the middle of the night the master took sleep as is proper; then, rising at dawn and performing his purifications directly after,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition