12.319
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
गिरिपृष्ठं समारुह्य सुतो व्यासस्य भारत। समे देशे विविक्ते च निःशलाक उपाविशत् ॥१२-३१९-१॥
O Bhārata, having climbed to the mountain-top, the son of Vyāsa sat down in a level and solitary place, free from pegs. (12-319-1)
धारयामास चात्मानं यथाशास्त्रं महामुनिः। पादात्प्रभृतिगात्रेषु क्रमेण क्रमयोगवित् ॥१२-३१९-२॥
The great sage, skilled in the method of sequential practice, maintained himself according to the scriptures, beginning with the feet and proceeding through the limbs in order. (12-319-2)
ततः स प्राङ्मुखो विद्वानादित्ये नचिरोदिते। पाणिपादं समाधाय विनीतवदुपाविशत् ॥१२-३१९-३॥
Then, facing east, the learned man, when the sun had just risen, sat down with his hands and feet placed together, displaying humility. (12-319-3)
न तत्र पक्षिसङ्घातो न शब्दो नापि दर्शनम्। यत्र वैयासकिर्धीमान्योक्तुं समुपचक्रमे ॥१२-३१९-४॥
There was no assembly of birds, no sound, nor even any sight; it was there that the wise Vaiyāsaki began to speak. (12-319-4)
स ददर्श तदात्मानं सर्वसङ्गविनिःसृतम्। प्रजहास ततो हासं शुकः सम्प्रेक्ष्य भास्करम् ॥१२-३१९-५॥
He saw that his self was free from all attachments. Then, seeing the Sun, Śuka smiled. (12-319-5)
स पुनर्योगमास्थाय मोक्षमार्गोपलब्धये। महायोगीश्वरो भूत्वा सोऽत्यक्रामद्विहायसम् ॥१२-३१९-६॥
He, once again taking up union for the attainment of the path to liberation, became the great lord of yogis and ascended into the sky. (12-319-6)
ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा देवर्षिं नारदं तदा। निवेदयामास तदा स्वं योगं परमर्षये ॥१२-३१९-७॥
Then, after circumambulating the divine sage Nārada, he informed the supreme sage of his own practice. (12-319-7)
दृष्टो मार्गः प्रवृत्तोऽस्मि स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु तपोधन। त्वत्प्रसादाद्गमिष्यामि गतिमिष्टां महाद्युते ॥१२-३१९-८॥
I have seen the path and have set forth; may well-being be to you, O possessor of austerity. By your favor, O greatly radiant one, I shall go to the desired path. (12-319-8)
नारदेनाभ्यनुज्ञातस्ततो द्वैपायनात्मजः। अभिवाद्य पुनर्योगमास्थायाकाशमाविशत् ॥१२-३१९-९॥
Having received permission from Nārada, the son of Dvaipāyana, after offering his salutations, once again entered into yoga and ascended into the sky. (12-319-9)
कैलासपृष्ठादुत्पत्य स पपात दिवं तदा। अन्तरिक्षचरः श्रीमान्व्यासपुत्रः सुनिश्चितः ॥१२-३१९-१०॥
Having arisen from the surface of Kailāsa, the splendid and resolute son of Vyāsa, moving in the sky, then fell to heaven. (12-319-10)
तमुद्यन्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं वैनतेयसमद्युतिम्। ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि मनोमारुतरंहसम् ॥१२-३१९-११॥
All beings saw him rising, the best of the twice-born, whose splendor equaled that of Garuḍa, and whose speed matched that of mind and wind. (12-319-11)
व्यवसायेन लोकांस्त्रीन्सर्वान्सोऽथ विचिन्तयन्। आस्थितो दिव्यमध्वानं पावकार्कसमप्रभः ॥१२-३१९-१२॥
With determination, he contemplated all three worlds, and then, having entered the divine path, shone with a radiance equal to that of fire and the sun. (12-319-12)
तमेकमनसं यान्तमव्यग्रमकुतोभयम्। ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि जङ्गमानीतराणि च ॥१२-३१९-१३॥
All beings, both moving and others, saw him proceeding with a single-minded, unagitated, and fearless mind. (12-319-13)
यथाशक्ति यथान्यायं पूजयां चक्रिरे तदा। पुष्पवर्षैश्च दिव्यैस्तमवचक्रुर्दिवौकसः ॥१२-३१९-१४॥
Then, according to their ability and propriety, they performed worship; the gods honored him with showers of divine flowers. (12-319-14)
तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिताः सर्वे गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः। ऋषयश्चैव संसिद्धाः परं विस्मयमागताः ॥१२-३१९-१५॥
Seeing him, all the groups of Gandharvas and Apsarases, as well as the sages and perfected beings, were filled with the utmost astonishment. (12-319-15)
अन्तरिक्षचरः कोऽयं तपसा सिद्धिमागतः। अधःकायोर्ध्ववक्त्रश्च नेत्रैः समभिवाह्यते ॥१२-३१९-१६॥
Who is this being that moves in the sky, who has attained perfection through austerity? With his body downward, face upward, and carried along by his eyes. (12-319-16)
ततः परमधीरात्मा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः। भास्करं समुदीक्षन्स प्राङ्मुखो वाग्यतोऽगमत् ॥ शब्देनाकाशमखिलं पूरयन्निव सर्वतः ॥१२-३१९-१७॥
Then, the supremely steadfast one, renowned in the three worlds, gazed intently at the sun, faced east, and proceeded in silence. His voice seemed to fill the entire sky everywhere. (12-319-17)
तमापतन्तं सहसा दृष्ट्वा सर्वाप्सरोगणाः। सम्भ्रान्तमनसो राजन्नासन्परमविस्मिताः ॥ पञ्चचूडाप्रभृतयो भृशमुत्फुल्ललोचनाः ॥१२-३१९-१८॥
O king, when all the groups of apsarases suddenly saw him falling upon them, they became greatly astonished and agitated in mind; Pañcachūḍā and the others had their eyes wide open in amazement. (12-319-18)
दैवतं कतमं ह्येतदुत्तमां गतिमास्थितम्। सुनिश्चितमिहायाति विमुक्तमिव निःस्पृहम् ॥१२-३१९-१९॥
Which deity, indeed, having attained this highest state, comes here with certainty, like one liberated and free from desire? (12-319-19)
ततः समतिचक्राम मलयं नाम पर्वतम्। उर्वशी पूर्वचित्तिश्च यं नित्यमुपसेवते ॥ ते स्म ब्रह्मर्षिपुत्रस्य विस्मयं ययतुः परम् ॥१२-३१९-२०॥
Then he crossed over the mountain called Malaya. Urvaśī and Pūrvacitti, who always serve there, were filled with great wonder at the son of the Brahmarṣi. (12-319-20)
अहो बुद्धिसमाधानं वेदाभ्यासरते द्विजे। अचिरेणैव कालेन नभश्चरति चन्द्रवत् ॥ पितृशुश्रूषया सिद्धिं सम्प्राप्तोऽयमनुत्तमाम् ॥१२-३१९-२१॥
Indeed, when a twice-born is engaged in Vedic study with concentrated intellect, in a short time he rises in the world like the moon in the sky. By serving his father, he has attained the highest perfection. (12-319-21)
पितृभक्तो दृढतपाः पितुः सुदयितः सुतः। अनन्यमनसा तेन कथं पित्रा विवर्जितः ॥१२-३१९-२२॥
He, the son who was devoted to his father, firm in austerity, and very beloved by his father, with an undistracted mind—how was he deprived by his father? (12-319-22)
उर्वश्या वचनं श्रुत्वा शुकः परमधर्मवित्। उदैक्षत दिशः सर्वा वचने गतमानसः ॥१२-३१९-२३॥
When Śuka, the knower of supreme dharma, heard Urvaśī's words, his mind absorbed in her speech, he looked all around. (12-319-23)
सोऽन्तरिक्षं महीं चैव सशैलवनकाननाम्। आलोकयामास तदा सरांसि सरितस्तथा ॥१२-३१९-२४॥
He then gazed upon the mid-space and the earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves, as well as the lakes and rivers. (12-319-24)
ततो द्वैपायनसुतं बहुमानपुरःसरम्। कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वा निरीक्षन्ते स्म देवताः ॥१२-३१९-२५॥
Then, with great respect, all the goddesses with folded hands gazed upon the son of Dvaipāyana; the deities indeed looked at him. (12-319-25)
अब्रवीत्तास्तदा वाक्यं शुकः परमधर्मवित्। पिता यद्यनुगच्छेन्मां क्रोशमानः शुकेति वै ॥१२-३१९-२६॥
Śuka, the knower of supreme dharma, then spoke these words to them: "If my father follows me, calling out 'Śuka', indeed." (12-319-26)
ततः प्रतिवचो देयं सर्वैरेव समाहितैः। एतन्मे स्नेहतः सर्वे वचनं कर्तुमर्हथ ॥१२-३१९-२७॥
Therefore, all of you who are attentive should give a reply. Out of affection for me, all of you ought to speak these words. (12-319-27)
शुकस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा दिशः सवनकाननाः। समुद्राः सरितः शैलाः प्रत्यूचुस्तं समन्ततः ॥१२-३१९-२८॥
When they heard Śuka's words, the directions with their sacrificial forests, the oceans, rivers, and mountains all responded to him from every side. (12-319-28)
यथाज्ञापयसे विप्र बाढमेवं भविष्यति। ऋषेर्व्याहरतो वाक्यं प्रतिवक्ष्यामहे वयम् ॥१२-३१९-२९॥
O brāhmaṇa, as you command, so it shall certainly be. We will respond to the statement spoken by the sage. (12-319-29)
