12.319
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
giripṛṣṭhaṃ samāruhya suto vyāsasya bhārata। same deśe vivikte ca niḥśalāka upāviśat ॥12-319-1॥
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)
dhārayāmāsa cātmānaṃ yathāśāstraṃ mahāmuniḥ। pādātprabhṛtigātreṣu krameṇa kramayogavit ॥12-319-2॥
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)
tataḥ sa prāṅmukho vidvān āditye nacirodite। pāṇipādaṃ samādhāya vinītavad upāviśat ॥12-319-3॥
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)
na tatra pakṣisaṅghāto na śabdo nāpi darśanam। yatra vaiyāsakir dhīmān yoktuṃ samupacakrame ॥12-319-4॥
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)
sa dadarśa tad-ātmānaṃ sarva-saṅga-viniḥsṛtam। prajahāsa tato hāsaṃ śukaḥ samprekṣya bhāskaram ॥12-319-5॥
He saw that his self was free from all attachments. Then, seeing the Sun, Śuka smiled. (12-319-5)
sa punaryogamāsthāya mokṣamārgopalabdhaye। mahāyogīśvaro bhūtvā so'tyakrāmad vihāyasam ॥12-319-6॥
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)
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā devarṣiṃ nāradaṃ tadā। nivedayāmāsa tadā svaṃ yogaṃ paramarṣaye ॥12-319-7॥
Then, after circumambulating the divine sage Nārada, he informed the supreme sage of his own practice. (12-319-7)
dṛṣṭo mārgaḥ pravṛtto'smi svasti te'stu tapodhana. tvatprasādādgamiṣyāmi gatimiṣṭāṃ mahādyute ॥12-319-8॥
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)
nāradenābhyanujñātastato dvaipāyanātmajaḥ। abhivādya punaryogamāsthāyākāśamāviśat ॥12-319-9॥
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)
kailāsapṛṣṭhādutpatya sa papāta divaṃ tadā। antarikṣacaraḥ śrīmān vyāsaputraḥ suniścitaḥ ॥12-319-10॥
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)
tamudyantaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ vainateyasamadyutim। dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni manomārutaraṃhasam ॥12-319-11॥
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)
vyavasāyena lokāṃs trīn sarvān so 'tha vicintayan। āsthito divyam adhvānaṃ pāvakārkasamaprabhaḥ ॥12-319-12॥
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)
tam ekamanasaṃ yāntam avyagram akutobhayam। dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni jaṅgamāni itarāṇi ca ॥12-319-13॥
All beings, both moving and others, saw him proceeding with a single-minded, unagitated, and fearless mind. (12-319-13)
yathāśakti yathānyāyaṃ pūjayāṃ cakrire tadā। puṣpavarṣaiś ca divyaiḥ tam avacakrur divaukasah ॥12-319-14॥
Then, according to their ability and propriety, they performed worship; the gods honored him with showers of divine flowers. (12-319-14)
taṃ dṛṣṭvā vismitāḥ sarve gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ। ṛṣayaścaiva saṃsiddhāḥ paraṃ vismayamāgatāḥ ॥12-319-15॥
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)
antarikṣacaraḥ ko'yaṁ tapasā siddhimāgataḥ। adhaḥkāyordhvavaktraś ca netraiḥ samabhivāhyate ॥12-319-16॥
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)
tataḥ paramadhīrātmā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ। bhāskaraṃ samudīkṣan prāṅmukho vāgyato'gamata ॥ śabdenākāśamakhilaṃ pūrayanniva sarvataḥ ॥12-319-17॥
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)
tam āpatantaṃ sahasā dṛṣṭvā sarvāpsarogaṇāḥ। sambhrāntamanaso rājann āsan paramavismitāḥ॥ pañcachūḍāprabhṛtayo bhṛśam utphullalocanāḥ॥12-319-18॥
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)
daivataṃ katamaṃ hy etad uttamāṃ gatim āsthitam। suniścitam iha āyāti vimuktam iva niḥspṛham ॥12-319-19॥
Which deity, indeed, having attained this highest state, comes here with certainty, like one liberated and free from desire? (12-319-19)
tataḥ samaticakrāma malayaṃ nāma parvatam। urvaśī pūrvacittiś ca yaṃ nityam upasevate ॥ te sma brahmarṣiputrasya vismayaṃ yayatuḥ param ॥12-319-20॥
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)
aho buddhisamādhānaṃ vedābhyāsarate dvije। acireṇaiva kālena nabhaścarati candravat ॥ pitṛśuśrūṣayā siddhiṃ samprāpto'yamanuttamām ॥12-319-21॥
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)
pitṛbhakto dṛḍhatapāḥ pituḥ sudayitaḥ sutaḥ। ananyamanasā tena kathaṃ pitrā vivarjitaḥ ॥12-319-22॥
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)
urvaśyā vacanaṃ śrutvā śukaḥ paramadharmavit। udaikṣata diśaḥ sarvā vacane gatamānasaḥ ॥12-319-23॥
When Śuka, the knower of supreme dharma, heard Urvaśī's words, his mind absorbed in her speech, he looked all around. (12-319-23)
so'ntarikṣaṃ mahīṃ caiva saśailavanakānanām। ālokayāmāsa tadā sarāṃsi saritastathā ॥12-319-24॥
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)
tato dvaipāyanasutaṃ bahumānapuraḥsaram। kṛtāñjalipuṭāḥ sarvā nirīkṣante sma devatāḥ ॥12-319-25॥
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)
abravīttās tadā vākyaṃ śukaḥ paramadharmavit। pitā yady anugacchen māṃ krośamānaḥ śuketi vai ॥12-319-26॥
Śuka, the knower of supreme dharma, then spoke these words to them: "If my father follows me, calling out 'Śuka', indeed." (12-319-26)
tataḥ prativaco deyaṃ sarvaireva samāhitaiḥ। etanme snehataḥ sarve vacanaṃ kartumarhatha ॥12-319-27॥
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)
śukasya vacanaṃ śrutvā diśaḥ savanakānanāḥ। samudrāḥ saritaḥ śailāḥ pratyūcustam samantataḥ ॥12-319-28॥
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)
yathājñāpayase vipra bāḍhamevaṃ bhaviṣyati। ṛṣervyāharato vākyaṃ prativakṣyāmahe vayam ॥12-319-29॥
O brāhmaṇa, as you command, so it shall certainly be. We will respond to the statement spoken by the sage. (12-319-29)
