12.320
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं ब्रह्मर्षिः सुमहातपाः। प्रातिष्ठत शुकः सिद्धिं हित्वा लोकांश्चतुर्विधान् ॥१२-३२०-१॥
Having thus spoken these words, the great sage of immense austerity, Śuka, renounced perfection and the four types of worlds and departed. (12-320-1)
तमो ह्यष्टविधं हित्वा जहौ पञ्चविधं रजः। ततः सत्त्वं जहौ धीमांस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥१२-३२०-२॥
Having abandoned the eightfold darkness, he gave up the fivefold passion. Then the wise one gave up goodness as well; it was as if something wonderful happened. (12-320-2)
ततस्तस्मिन्पदे नित्ये निर्गुणे लिङ्गवर्जिते। ब्रह्मणि प्रत्यतिष्ठत्स विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥१२-३२०-३॥
Then, in that eternal, qualityless, and characteristicless state of Brahman, he stood firm, shining like a smokeless fire. (12-320-3)
उलकापाता दिशां दाहा भूमिकम्पास्तथैव च। प्रादुर्भूताः क्षणे तस्मिंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥१२-३२०-४॥
Meteors fell, the directions burned, and earthquakes occurred likewise; all these appeared at that moment, and it seemed as if a wonder had happened. (12-320-4)
द्रुमाः शाखाश्च मुमुचुः शिखराणि च पर्वताः। निर्घातशब्दैश्च गिरिर्हिमवान्दीर्यतीव ह ॥१२-३२०-५॥
The trees and branches broke off, and the peaks and mountains were loosened; by the thunderous sounds, the mountain Himavat seemed as if it were splitting apart indeed. (12-320-5)
न बभासे सहस्रांशुर्न जज्वाल च पावकः। ह्रदाश्च सरितश्चैव चुक्षुभुः सागरास्तथा ॥१२-३२०-६॥
The thousand-rayed sun did not shine, nor did the fire blaze; the lakes and rivers were agitated, and so too were the oceans. (12-320-6)
ववर्ष वासवस्तोयं रसवच्च सुगन्धि च। ववौ समीरणश्चापि दिव्यगन्धवहः शुचिः ॥१२-३२०-७॥
Indra rained fragrant water like nectar, and the pure wind also blew, carrying a divine fragrance. (12-320-7)
स शृङ्गेऽप्रतिमे दिव्ये हिमवन्मेरुसम्भवे। संश्लिष्टे श्वेतपीते द्वे रुक्मरूप्यमये शुभे ॥१२-३२०-८॥
He was on the unrivaled, divine peak, born of Himavat and Meru, where two auspicious peaks, white and yellow, made of gold and silver, were joined together. (12-320-8)
शतयोजनविस्तारे तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च भारत। उदीचीं दिशमाश्रित्य रुचिरे संददर्श ह ॥१२-३२०-९॥
O Bhārata, in the beautiful northern direction, extending a hundred yojanas across and upwards, he indeed beheld it. (12-320-9)
सोऽविशङ्केन मनसा तथैवाभ्यपतच्छुकः। ततः पर्वतशृङ्गे द्वे सहसैव द्विधाकृते ॥ अदृश्येतां महाराज तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥१२-३२०-१०॥
He, with a mind free from doubt, Śuka approached in the same way. Then, O great king, the two mountain peaks were suddenly split in two; they appeared, and that seemed truly wondrous. (12-320-10)
ततः पर्वतशृङ्गाभ्यां सहसैव विनिःसृतः। न च प्रतिजघानास्य स गतिं पर्वतोत्तमः ॥१२-३२०-११॥
Then, suddenly he emerged from between the two mountain peaks, and the best of mountains did not obstruct his movement. (12-320-11)
ततो महानभूच्छब्दो दिवि सर्वदिवौकसाम्। गन्धर्वाणामृषीणां च ये च शैलनिवासिनः ॥१२-३२०-१२॥
Then a great sound arose in the sky among all the dwellers of heaven, the Gandharvas, the Ṛṣis, and those who live in the mountains. (12-320-12)
दृष्ट्वा शुकमतिक्रान्तं पर्वतं च द्विधाकृतम्। साधु साध्विति तत्रासीन्नादः सर्वत्र भारत ॥१२-३२०-१३॥
O Bhārata, seeing that Śuka had crossed and split the mountain in two, a cry of "Well done, well done" arose everywhere. (12-320-13)
स पूज्यमानो देवैश्च गन्धर्वैरृषिभिस्तथा। यक्षराक्षससङ्घैश्च विद्याधरगणैस्तथा ॥१२-३२०-१४॥
He was worshipped by the gods, gandharvas, sages, as well as by the hosts of yakṣas, rākṣasas, and the groups of vidyādharas. (12-320-14)
दिव्यैः पुष्पैः समाकीर्णमन्तरिक्षं समन्ततः। आसीत्किल महाराज शुकाभिपतने तदा ॥१२-३२०-१५॥
O great king, at that time, when the parrot descended, the sky was indeed covered on all sides with divine flowers. (12-320-15)
ततो मन्दाकिनीं रम्यामुपरिष्टादभिव्रजन्। शुको ददर्श धर्मात्मा पुष्पितद्रुमकाननाम् ॥१२-३२०-१६॥
Then the righteous-souled Śuka, approaching from above, saw the beautiful Mandakini, delightful with blossoming trees. (12-320-16)
तस्यां क्रीडन्त्यभिरताः स्नान्ति चैवाप्सरोगणाः। शून्याकारं निराकाराः शुकं दृष्ट्वा विवाससः ॥१२-३२०-१७॥
There, delighted, groups of apsarases play and bathe; seeing Shuka, who was formless and appeared as emptiness, without clothing. (12-320-17)
तं प्रक्रमन्तमाज्ञाय पिता स्नेहसमन्वितः। उत्तमां गतिमास्थाय पृष्ठतोऽनुससार ह ॥१२-३२०-१८॥
Seeing him set forth, the father, filled with affection, took the supreme path and followed behind him indeed. (12-320-18)
शुकस्तु मारुतादूर्ध्वं गतिं कृत्वान्तरिक्षगाम्। दर्शयित्वा प्रभावं स्वं सर्वभूतोऽभवत्तदा ॥१२-३२०-१९॥
But Śuka, having ascended upwards from the wind and moved through the sky, having displayed his own power, then became one with all beings. (12-320-19)
महायोगगतिं त्वग्र्यां व्यासोत्थाय महातपाः। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण शुकाभिपतनं ययौ ॥१२-३२०-२०॥
The great ascetic, having risen from Vyāsa, in but the briefest instant, attained the supreme state of great yoga, following the path of Śuka. (12-320-20)
स ददर्श द्विधा कृत्वा पर्वताग्रं शुकं गतम्। शशंसुरृषयस्तस्मै कर्म पुत्रस्य तत्तदा ॥१२-३२०-२१॥
He saw that Śuka had gone, having split the mountain-top in two. Then the sages praised to him that deed of his son. (12-320-21)
ततः शुकेति दीर्घेण शैक्षेणाक्रन्दितस्तदा। स्वयं पित्रा स्वरेणोच्चैस्त्रीँल्लोकाननुनाद्य वै ॥१२-३२०-२२॥
Then, the student cried out "śuka" in a long tone; his father himself, with a loud voice, made the three worlds resound. (12-320-22)
शुकः सर्वगतो भूत्वा सर्वात्मा सर्वतोमुखः। प्रत्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भोःशब्देनानुनादयन् ॥१२-३२०-२३॥
The parrot, having become all-pervading, the self of all, and facing in all directions, the righteous-souled one replied, resounding with the sound 'bhoḥ'. (12-320-23)
तत एकाक्षरं नादं भो इत्येव समीरयन्। प्रत्याहरज्जगत्सर्वमुच्चैः स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥१२-३२०-२४॥
He caused the one-syllabled sound "bho" to resound, and thus drew in the entire world, both immobile and mobile, aloud. (12-320-24)
ततः प्रभृति चाद्यापि शब्दानुच्चारितान्पृथक्। गिरिगह्वरपृष्ठेषु व्याजहार शुकं प्रति ॥१२-३२०-२५॥
From that time, even today, the sounds uttered separately on the backs of mountain caves were addressed to Śuka. (12-320-25)
अन्तर्हितः प्रभावं तु दर्शयित्वा शुकस्तदा। गुणान्सन्त्यज्य शब्दादीन्पदमध्यगमत्परम् ॥१२-३२०-२६॥
Śuka, having disappeared after displaying his power, then abandoned all qualities and sense objects such as sound, and attained the supreme state. (12-320-26)
महिमानं तु तं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रस्यामिततेजसः। निषसाद गिरिप्रस्थे पुत्रमेवानुचिन्तयन् ॥१२-३२०-२७॥
But when he saw the greatness of his son, who possessed immeasurable brilliance, he sat down on the mountain plateau, thinking only of his son. (12-320-27)
ततो मन्दाकिनीतीरे क्रीडन्तोऽप्सरसां गणाः। आसाद्य तमृषिं सर्वाः सम्भ्रान्ता गतचेतसः ॥१२-३२०-२८॥
Then, on the bank of the Mandākinī, the groups of apsarases who were playing, upon approaching that sage, all became agitated and lost their composure. (12-320-28)
जले निलिल्यिरे काश्चित्काश्चिद्गुल्मान्प्रपेदिरे। वसनान्याददुः काश्चिद्दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम् ॥१२-३२०-२९॥
Some hid themselves in the water; some approached the bushes; some, having seen him, the best of sages, took their garments. (12-320-29)
तां मुक्ततां तु विज्ञाय मुनिः पुत्रस्य वै तदा। सक्ततामात्मनश्चैव प्रीतोऽभूद्व्रीडितश्च ह ॥१२-३२०-३०॥
But when the sage realized his son's freedom from attachment, and his own attachment, he became both pleased and ashamed. (12-320-30)
तं देवगन्धर्ववृतो महर्षिगणपूजितः। पिनाकहस्तो भगवानभ्यागच्छत शङ्करः ॥१२-३२०-३१॥
The Lord Śaṅkara, holding the Pināka bow, surrounded by gods and gandharvas and honored by groups of great sages, approached him. (12-320-31)
तमुवाच महादेवः सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः। पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तं कृष्णद्वैपायनं तदा ॥१२-३२०-३२॥
Then Mahadeva spoke these words with gentle consolation to Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, who was afflicted by grief for his son. (12-320-32)
अग्नेर्भूमेरपां वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चैव ह। वीर्येण सदृशः पुत्रस्त्वया मत्तः पुरा वृतः ॥१२-३२०-३३॥
A son, equal in strength to Agni, earth, waters, Vāyu, and the atmosphere, was formerly chosen by you from me. (12-320-33)
स तथालक्षणो जातस्तपसा तव सम्भृतः। मम चैव प्रभावेन ब्रह्मतेजोमयः शुचिः ॥१२-३२०-३४॥
He, thus characterized, was born through your austerity, produced by you; and by my power, he is pure, composed of the radiance of Brahman. (12-320-34)
स गतिं परमां प्राप्तो दुष्प्रापामजितेन्द्रियैः। दैवतैरपि विप्रर्षे तं त्वं किमनुशोचसि ॥१२-३२०-३५॥
He has attained the supreme state, which is difficult to attain even for those whose senses are not conquered, even by the gods, O sage among the twice-born; why do you grieve for him? (12-320-35)
यावत्स्थास्यन्ति गिरयो यावत्स्थास्यन्ति सागराः। तावत्तवाक्षया कीर्तिः सपुत्रस्य भविष्यति ॥१२-३२०-३६॥
Your imperishable fame, along with your son, will endure as long as the mountains and oceans exist. (12-320-36)
छायां स्वपुत्रसदृशीं सर्वतोऽनपगां सदा। द्रक्ष्यसे त्वं च लोकेऽस्मिन्मत्प्रसादान्महामुने ॥१२-३२०-३७॥
O great sage, by my grace, you will always see a shadow like your own son, never departing from you in this world. (12-320-37)
सोऽनुनीतो भगवता स्वयं रुद्रेण भारत। छायां पश्यन्समावृत्तः स मुनिः परया मुदा ॥१२-३२०-३८॥
O Bhārata, that sage, having been persuaded by the venerable Rudra himself, returned, and seeing the shadow, was filled with supreme joy. (12-320-38)
इति जन्म गतिश्चैव शुकस्य भरतर्षभ। विस्तरेण मयाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ॥१२-३२०-३९॥
O best of the Bharatas, thus I have described in detail the birth and journey of Śuka, as you asked me. (12-320-39)
एतदाचष्ट मे राजन्देवर्षिर्नारदः पुरा। व्यासश्चैव महायोगी सञ्जल्पेषु पदे पदे ॥१२-३२०-४०॥
O king, this was formerly related to me by the divine sage Nārada, and also by Vyāsa, the great yogi, in every conversation at every step. (12-320-40)
इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं मोक्षधर्मार्थसंहितम्। धारयेद्यः शमपरः स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम् ॥१२-३२०-४१॥
Whoever, intent on tranquility, upholds this meritorious history, a collection relating to mokṣa, dharma, and artha, he attains the supreme state. (12-320-41)
