Description of Shuka's Marriage and Related Matters

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.19.1)

शुक उवाच । सन्देहोऽयं महाराज वर्तते हृदये मम । मायामध्ये वर्तमानः स कथं निःस्पृहो भवेत् ॥ 19.1 ॥

śuka uvāca sandeho'yaṁ mahārāja vartate hṛdaye mama māyāmadhye vartamānaḥ sa kathaṁ niḥspṛho bhavet

Shuka said: This doubt remains in my heart, O great king: how can one, dwelling in the midst of Maya, ever be desireless?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.19.2)

शास्त्रज्ञानं च सम्प्राप्य नित्यानित्यविचारणम् । त्यजते न मनो मोहं स कथं मुच्यते नरः ॥ 19.2 ॥

śāstrajñānaṁ ca samprāpya nityānityavicāraṇam tyajate na mano mohaṁ sa kathaṁ mucyate naraḥ

Even having obtained scriptural knowledge and the discrimination of the eternal and the non-eternal, if the mind does not abandon its delusion, how is a man freed?

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.19.3)

अन्तर्गतं तमश्छेत्तुं शास्त्राद्बोधो हि न क्षमः । यथा न नश्यति तमः कृतया दीपवार्तया ॥ 19.3 ॥

antargataṁ tamaśchettuṁ śāstrādbodho hi na kṣamaḥ yathā na naśyati tamaḥ kṛtayā dīpavārtayā

Mere intellectual understanding from scripture is indeed not capable of cutting through the darkness within, just as darkness is not destroyed by merely speaking of a lamp.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.19.4)

अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु कर्तव्यः सर्वदा बुधैः । स कथं राजशार्दूल गृहस्थस्य भवेत्तथा ॥ 19.4 ॥

adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu kartavyaḥ sarvadā budhaiḥ sa kathaṁ rājaśārdūla gṛhasthasya bhavettathā

Freedom from malice toward all beings must ever be practiced by the wise; how, O tiger among kings, can that be so for a householder?

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.19.5)

वित्तैषणा न ते शान्ता तथा राज्यसुखैषणा । जयैषणा च सङ्ग्रामे जीवन्मुक्तः कथं भवेः ॥ 19.5 ॥

vittaiṣaṇā na te śāntā tathā rājyasukhaiṣaṇā jayaiṣaṇā ca saṅgrāme jīvanmuktaḥ kathaṁ bhaveḥ

Your craving for wealth is not stilled, nor likewise your craving for the pleasures of kingship, nor your craving for victory in battle — how, then, are you liberated while living?

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.19.6)

चौरेषु चौरबुद्धिस्तु साधुबुद्धिस्तु तापसे । स्वपरत्वं तवाप्यस्ति विदेहस्त्वं कथं नृप ॥ 19.6 ॥

caureṣu caurabuddhistu sādhubuddhistu tāpase svaparatvaṁ tavāpyasti videhastvaṁ kathaṁ nṛpa

You still hold the thought thief toward thieves, and saintly toward the ascetic; the sense of mine and another's still exists for you — how, then, O king, are you truly Videha?

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.19.7)

कटुतीक्ष्णुकषायाम्लरसान्वेत्सि शुभाशुभान् । शुभेषु रमते चित्तं नाशुभेषु तथा नृप ॥ 19.7 ॥

kaṭutīkṣṇukaṣāyāmlarasānvetsi śubhāśubhān śubheṣu ramate cittaṁ nāśubheṣu tathā nṛpa

You know the bitter, pungent, astringent, and sour tastes as good or bad; your mind delights in the good ones, and not likewise in the bad, O king.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.19.8)

जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तिश्च तव राजन् भवन्ति हि । अवस्थास्तु यथाकालं तुरीया तु कथं नृप ॥ 19.8 ॥

jāgratsvapnasuṣuptiśca tava rājan bhavanti hi avasthāstu yathākālaṁ turīyā tu kathaṁ nṛpa

Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep — these states, indeed, O king, occur to you in their proper time; how, then, O king, do you experience the Fourth transcendent state?

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.19.9)

पदात्यश्वरथेभाश्च सर्वे वै वशगा मम । स्वाम्यहं चैव सर्वेषां मन्यसे त्वं न मन्यसे ॥ 19.9 ॥

padātyaśvarathebhāśca sarve vai vaśagā mama svāmyahaṁ caiva sarveṣāṁ manyase tvaṁ na manyase

'Foot-soldiers, horses, chariots, and elephants — all of these are indeed under my command, and I alone am the master of all' — do you think this, or do you not?

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.19.10)

मिष्टमत्सि सदा राजन्मुदितो विमनास्तथा । मालायां च तथा सर्पे समदृक् क्व नृपोत्तम ॥ 19.10 ॥

miṣṭamatsi sadā rājanmudito vimanāstathā mālāyāṁ ca tathā sarpe samadṛk kva nṛpottama

You always eat sweet food joyfully, and bland food with a downcast mind, O king; where, O best of kings, is your equal vision toward a garland and a serpent alike?

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.19.11)

विमुक्तस्तु भवेद्राजन् समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः । एकात्मबुद्धिः सर्वत्र हितकृत्सर्वजन्तुषु ॥ 19.11 ॥

vimuktastu bhavedrājan samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ ekātmabuddhiḥ sarvatra hitakṛtsarvajantuṣu

One is indeed liberated, O king, who regards a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as equal; who has the awareness of the one Self everywhere, and does good to all creatures.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.19.12)

न मेऽद्य रमते चित्तं गृहदारादिषु क्वचित् । एकाकी निःस्पृहोऽत्यर्थं चरेयमिति मे मतिः ॥ 19.12 ॥

na me'dya ramate cittaṁ gṛhadārādiṣu kvacit ekākī niḥspṛho'tyarthaṁ careyamiti me matiḥ

My mind today finds no delight anywhere in a household, a wife, and the rest; my resolve is to wander alone, utterly desireless.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.19.13)

निःसङ्गो निर्ममः शान्तः पत्रमूलफलाशनः । मृगवद्विचरिष्यामि निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः ॥ 19.13 ॥

niḥsaṅgo nirmamaḥ śāntaḥ patramūlaphalāśanaḥ mṛgavadvicariṣyāmi nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ

Free of attachment, free of the sense of mine, tranquil, subsisting on leaves, roots, and fruits, I shall wander like a wild deer, beyond the pairs of opposites, possessing nothing.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.19.14)

किं मे गृहेण वित्तेन भार्यया च सुरूपया । विरागमनसः कामं गुणातीतस्य पार्थिव ॥ 19.14 ॥

kiṁ me gṛheṇa vittena bhāryayā ca surūpayā virāgamanasaḥ kāmaṁ guṇātītasya pārthiva

What use have I, O king, whose mind is dispassionate and who is beyond the gunas, for a household, wealth, and a beautiful wife?

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.19.15)

चिन्त्यसे विविधाकारं नानारागसमाकुलम् । दम्भोऽयं किल ते भाति विमुक्तोऽस्मीति भाषसे ॥ 19.15 ॥

cintyase vividhākāraṁ nānārāgasamākulam dambho'yaṁ kila te bhāti vimukto'smīti bhāṣase

You are, I see, agitated with various forms of attachment in manifold ways; this appears, indeed, to me as mere pretense — while you say, 'I am liberated.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.19.16)

कदाचिच्छत्रुजा चिन्ता धनजा च कदाचन । कदाचित्सैन्यजा चिन्ता निश्चिन्तोऽसि कदा नृप ॥ 19.16 ॥

kadācicchatrujā cintā dhanajā ca kadācana kadācitsainyajā cintā niścinto'si kadā nṛpa

Sometimes there is anxiety born of enemies, sometimes anxiety born of wealth; sometimes anxiety born of the army — when, O king, are you ever free of anxiety?

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.19.17)

वैखानसा ये मुनयो मिताहारा जितव्रताः । तेऽपि मुह्यन्ति संसारे जानन्तोऽपि ह्यसत्यताम् ॥ 19.17 ॥

vaikhānasā ye munayo mitāhārā jitavratāḥ te'pi muhyanti saṁsāre jānanto'pi hyasatyatām

Even those sages, the Vaikhanasas, moderate in food, firm in their vows — even they become bewildered in this world, even while knowing its unreality.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.19.18)

तव वंशसमुत्थानां विदेहा इति भूपते । कुटिलं नाम जानीहि नान्यथेति कदाचन ॥ 19.18 ॥

tava vaṁśasamutthānāṁ videhā iti bhūpate kuṭilaṁ nāma jānīhi nānyatheti kadācana

O king, know that the title Videha, applied to those born in your line, is indeed a crooked, ironic name, never otherwise, at any time.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.19.19)

विद्याधरो यथा मूर्खो जन्मान्धस्तु दिवाकरः । लक्ष्मीधरो दरिद्रश्च नाम तेषां निरर्थकम् ॥ 19.19 ॥

vidyādharo yathā mūrkho janmāndhastu divākaraḥ lakṣmīdharo daridraśca nāma teṣāṁ nirarthakam

Just as a fool might be ironically called 'Vidyadhara', or one born blind called 'Sun', or a poor man called 'bearer of Lakshmi' — such names are meaningless.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.19.20)

तव वंशोद्भवा ये ये श्रुताः पूर्वे मया नृपाः । विदेहा इति विख्याता नामतः कर्मतो न ते ॥ 19.20 ॥

tava vaṁśodbhavā ye ye śrutāḥ pūrve mayā nṛpāḥ videhā iti vikhyātā nāmataḥ karmato na te

Whatever kings born in your lineage I have heard of before, renowned as Videha only by name — they are not so in deed.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.19.21)

निमिनामाभवद्राजा पूर्वं तव कुले नृप । यज्ञार्थं स तु राजर्षिर्वसिष्ठं स्वगुरुं मुनिम् ॥ 19.21 ॥

nimināmābhavadrājā pūrvaṁ tava kule nṛpa yajñārthaṁ sa tu rājarṣirvasiṣṭhaṁ svaguruṁ munim

There was, formerly, in your family, O king, a king named Nimi; that royal sage, for the sake of a sacrifice, invited his own teacher, the sage Vasishtha—

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.19.22)

निमन्त्रयामास तदा तमुवाच नृपं मुनिः । निमन्त्रितोऽस्मि यज्ञार्थं देवेन्द्रेणाधुना किल ॥ 19.22 ॥

nimantrayāmāsa tadā tamuvāca nṛpaṁ muniḥ nimantrito'smi yajñārthaṁ devendreṇādhunā kila

— he invited him then; the sage said to that king: 'I have already been invited for a sacrifice, indeed, by the lord of the gods himself.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.19.23)

कृत्वा तस्य मखं पूर्णं करिष्यामि तवापि वै । तावत्कुरुष्व राजेन्द्र सम्भारं तु शनैः शनैः ॥ 19.23 ॥

kṛtvā tasya makhaṁ pūrṇaṁ kariṣyāmi tavāpi vai tāvatkuruṣva rājendra sambhāraṁ tu śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

'Having fully completed his sacrifice, I shall then perform yours too, indeed; meanwhile, O king of kings, gather the materials slowly, slowly.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.19.24)

इत्युक्त्या निर्ययौ सोऽथ महेन्द्रयजने मुनिः । निमिरन्यं गुरुं कृत्वा चकार मखमुत्तमम् ॥ 19.24 ॥

ityuktyā niryayau so'tha mahendrayajane muniḥ nimiranyaṁ guruṁ kṛtvā cakāra makhamuttamam

Having said this, that sage then departed for the sacrifice of Mahendra; but Nimi, taking another as his priest, performed the excellent sacrifice without waiting.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.19.25)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कुपितोऽत्यर्थं वसिष्ठो नृपतिं पुनः । शशाप च पतत्वद्य देहस्ते गुरुलोपक ॥ 19.25 ॥

tacchrutvā kupito'tyarthaṁ vasiṣṭho nṛpatiṁ punaḥ śaśāpa ca patatvadya dehaste gurulopaka

Hearing this, Vasishtha, exceedingly enraged, cursed the king in turn: 'Let your body fall today, O despiser of your guru!'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.19.26)

राजापि तं शशापाथ तवापि च पतत्वयम् । अन्योन्यशापात्पतितौ तावेव च मया श्रुतम् ॥ 19.26 ॥

rājāpi taṁ śaśāpātha tavāpi ca patatvayam anyonyaśāpātpatitau tāveva ca mayā śrutam

The king too then cursed him in return: 'Let this body of yours fall likewise!' — through their mutual curses, both of them fell — this indeed I have heard.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.19.27)

विदेहेन च राजेन्द्र कथं शप्तो गुरुः स्वयम् । विनोद इव मे चित्ते विभाति नृपसत्तम ॥ 19.27 ॥

videhena ca rājendra kathaṁ śapto guruḥ svayam vinoda iva me citte vibhāti nṛpasattama

O king of kings, how could a Videha, one supposedly beyond the body, himself curse his own guru? This seems, in my mind, O best of kings, almost a joke.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.19.28)

जनक उवाच । सत्यमुक्तं त्वया नात्र मिथ्या किञ्चिदिदं मतम् । तथापि शृणु विप्रेन्द्र गुरुर्मम सुपूजितः ॥ 19.28 ॥

janaka uvāca satyamuktaṁ tvayā nātra mithyā kiñcididaṁ matam tathāpi śṛṇu viprendra gururmama supūjitaḥ

Janaka said: What you have said is true; this notion is not at all false. Even so, listen, O lord of brahmins: my guru is duly honored by me regardless.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.19.29)

पितुः सङ्गं परित्यज्य त्वं वनं गन्तुमिच्छसि । मृगैः सह सुसम्बन्धो भविता ते न संशयः ॥ 19.29 ॥

pituḥ saṅgaṁ parityajya tvaṁ vanaṁ gantumicchasi mṛgaiḥ saha susambandho bhavitā te na saṁśayaḥ

You wish to abandon your father's company and go to the forest; you will surely form close bonds there with deer — there is no doubt of this.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.19.30)

महाभूतानि सर्वत्र निःसङ्गः क्व भविष्यसि । आहारार्थं सदा चिन्ता निश्चिन्तः स्याः कथं मुने ॥ 19.30 ॥

mahābhūtāni sarvatra niḥsaṅgaḥ kva bhaviṣyasi āhārārthaṁ sadā cintā niścintaḥ syāḥ kathaṁ mune

The great elements are everywhere; where will you be free of attachment? There will be constant worry for the sake of food — how, O sage, will you be free of worry?

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.19.31)

दण्डाजिनकृता चिन्ता यथा तव वनेऽपि च । तथैव राज्यचिन्ता मे चिन्तयानस्य वा न वा ॥ 19.31 ॥

daṇḍājinakṛtā cintā yathā tava vane'pi ca tathaiva rājyacintā me cintayānasya vā na vā

Just as there is anxiety for you, even in the forest, over your staff and antelope-skin, so too is my anxiety over the kingdom — whether I think of it, or not, it makes no difference.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.19.32)

विकल्पोपहतस्त्वं वै दूरदेशमुपागतः । न मे विकल्पसन्देहो निर्विकल्पोऽस्मि सर्वथा ॥ 19.32 ॥

vikalpopahatastvaṁ vai dūradeśamupāgataḥ na me vikalpasandeho nirvikalpo'smi sarvathā

You indeed, struck by doubt and imagination, have come from a distant land; there is no doubt of imagination in me — I am, in every way, free of such mental constructs.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.19.33)

सुखं स्वपिमि विप्राहं सुखं भुञ्जामि सर्वथा । न बद्धोऽस्मीति बुद्।ह्ध्याहं सर्वदैव सुखी मुने ॥ 19.33 ॥

sukhaṁ svapimi viprāhaṁ sukhaṁ bhuñjāmi sarvathā na baddho'smīti bud|hdhyāhaṁ sarvadaiva sukhī mune

I, O brahmin, sleep happily, and eat happily, in every way; with the understanding 'I am not bound,' I am ever happy, O sage.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.19.34)

त्वं तु दुःखी सदैवासि बद्धोऽहमिति शङ्कया । इति शङ्कां परित्यज्य सुखी भव समाहितः ॥ 19.34 ॥

tvaṁ tu duḥkhī sadaivāsi baddho'hamiti śaṅkayā iti śaṅkāṁ parityajya sukhī bhava samāhitaḥ

But you are ever unhappy, through the doubt 'I am bound.' Abandoning this doubt, become happy, composed.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.19.35)

देहोऽयं मम बन्धोऽयं न ममेति च मुक्तता । तथा धनं गृहं राज्यं न ममेति च निश्चयः ॥ 19.35 ॥

deho'yaṁ mama bandho'yaṁ na mameti ca muktatā tathā dhanaṁ gṛhaṁ rājyaṁ na mameti ca niścayaḥ

'This body is mine' — that is bondage; 'it is not mine' — that is liberation. Likewise, the firm conviction 'wealth, house, and kingdom are not mine' is liberation too.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.19.36)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य शुकः प्रीतमनाभवत् । आपृच्छ्य तं जगामाशु व्यासस्याश्रममुत्तमम् ॥ 19.36 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya śukaḥ prītamanābhavat āpṛcchya taṁ jagāmāśu vyāsasyāśramamuttamam

Suta said: Hearing his words, Shuka's mind became pleased; taking leave of him, he went at once to Vyasa's excellent hermitage.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.1.19.37)

आगच्छन्तं सुतं दृष्ट्वा व्यासोऽपि सुखमाप्तवान् । आलिङ्ग्याघ्राय मूर्धानं पप्रच्छ कुशलं पुनः ॥ 19.37 ॥

āgacchantaṁ sutaṁ dṛṣṭvā vyāso'pi sukhamāptavān āliṅgyāghrāya mūrdhānaṁ papraccha kuśalaṁ punaḥ

Seeing his son arriving, Vyasa too became happy; embracing him, smelling his head, he again inquired after his welfare.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.1.19.38)

स्थितस्तत्राश्रमे रम्ये पितुः पार्श्वे समाहितः । वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः ॥ 19.38 ॥

sthitastatrāśrame ramye pituḥ pārśve samāhitaḥ vedādhyayanasampannaḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ

He stayed there in that lovely hermitage, composed, at his father's side, accomplished in Vedic study, learned in all the shastras.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.1.19.39)

जनकस्य दशां दृष्ट्वा राज्यस्थस्य महात्मनः । स निर्वृतिं परां प्राप्य पितुराश्रमसंस्थितः ॥ 19.39 ॥

janakasya daśāṁ dṛṣṭvā rājyasthasya mahātmanaḥ sa nirvṛtiṁ parāṁ prāpya piturāśramasaṁsthitaḥ

Having seen the state of the great-souled Janaka, established in his kingdom, he, having attained supreme peace, remained settled in his father's hermitage.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.1.19.40)

पितॄणां सुभगा कन्या पीवरी नाम सुन्दरी । शुकश्चकार पत्नीं तां योगमार्गस्थितोऽपि हि ॥ 19.40 ॥

pitṝṇāṁ subhagā kanyā pīvarī nāma sundarī śukaścakāra patnīṁ tāṁ yogamārgasthito'pi hi

Shuka made his wife a beautiful, fortunate daughter of the Pitrs, named Pivari, even though he was established in the path of yoga.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.1.19.41)

स तस्यां जनयामास पुत्रांश्चतुर एव हि । कृष्णं गौरप्रभं चैव भूरिं देवश्रुतं तथा ॥ 19.41 ॥

sa tasyāṁ janayāmāsa putrāṁścatura eva hi kṛṣṇaṁ gauraprabhaṁ caiva bhūriṁ devaśrutaṁ tathā

He begot in her indeed four sons: Krishna, and likewise Gauraprabha, Bhuri, and Devashruta.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.1.19.42)

कन्यां कीर्तिं समुत्पाद्य व्यासपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । ददौ विभ्राजपुत्राय त्वणहाय महात्मने ॥ 19.42 ॥

kanyāṁ kīrtiṁ samutpādya vyāsaputraḥ pratāpavān dadau vibhrājaputrāya tvaṇahāya mahātmane

That mighty son of Vyasa, having also begotten a daughter, Kirti, gave her to the great-souled Anuha, son of Vibhraja.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.1.19.43)

अणुहस्य सुतः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मदत्तः प्रतापवान् । ब्रह्मज्ञः पृथिवीपालः शककन्यासमुद्भवः ॥ 19.43 ॥

aṇuhasya sutaḥ śrīmānbrahmadattaḥ pratāpavān brahmajñaḥ pṛthivīpālaḥ śakakanyāsamudbhavaḥ

The glorious and mighty son of Anuha was Brahmadatta, a knower of Brahman, a protector of the earth, born of the daughter of Shakra.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.1.19.44)

कालेन कियता तत्र नारदस्योपदेशतः । ज्ञानं परमकं प्राप्य योगमार्गमनुत्तमम् ॥ 19.44 ॥

kālena kiyatā tatra nāradasyopadeśataḥ jñānaṁ paramakaṁ prāpya yogamārgamanuttamam

After some time, there, through the instruction of Narada, having attained the highest knowledge and the unsurpassed path of yoga,

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.1.19.45)

पुत्रे राज्यं निधायाथ गतो बदरिकाश्रमम् । मायाबीजोपदेशेन तस्य ज्ञानं निरर्गलम् ॥ 19.45 ॥

putre rājyaṁ nidhāyātha gato badarikāśramam māyābījopadeśena tasya jñānaṁ nirargalam

— having placed the kingdom in his son's care, he went to Badarikashrama; through the instruction of the seed-mantra of Maya, his knowledge became unobstructed.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.1.19.46)

नारदस्य प्रसादेन जातं सद्यो विमुक्तिदम् । कैलासशिखरे रम्ये त्यक्त्वा सङ्गं पितुः शुकः ॥ 19.46 ॥

nāradasya prasādena jātaṁ sadyo vimuktidam kailāsaśikhare ramye tyaktvā saṅgaṁ pituḥ śukaḥ

By the grace of Narada, that knowledge instantly became liberation-giving; on the lovely peak of Kailasa, having left his father's company, Shuka,

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.1.19.47)

ध्यानमास्थाय विपुलं स्थितः सङ्गपराङ्मुखः । उत्पपात गिरेः शृङ्गात्सिद्धिं च परमां गतः ॥ 19.47 ॥

dhyānamāsthāya vipulaṁ sthitaḥ saṅgaparāṅmukhaḥ utpapāta gireḥ śṛṅgātsiddhiṁ ca paramāṁ gataḥ

— having entered into vast meditation, remaining averse to all attachment, sprang up from the peak of the mountain, and attained the supreme accomplishment.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.1.19.48)

आकाशगो महातेजा विरराज यथा रविः । गिरेः शृङ्गं द्विधा जातं शुकस्योत्पतने तदा ॥ 19.48 ॥

ākāśago mahātejā virarāja yathā raviḥ gireḥ śṛṅgaṁ dvidhā jātaṁ śukasyotpatane tadā

Moving through the sky, of great splendor, he shone like the sun; the peak of the mountain split in two, then, at Shuka's ascent.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.1.19.49)

उत्पाता बहवो जाताः शुकश्चाकाशगोऽभवत् । अन्तरिक्षे यथा वायुः स्तूयमानः सुरर्षिभिः ॥ 19.49 ॥

utpātā bahavo jātāḥ śukaścākāśago'bhavat antarikṣe yathā vāyuḥ stūyamānaḥ surarṣibhiḥ

Many portents occurred, and Shuka became a mover through the sky, like the wind in the atmosphere, praised by the divine sages.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.1.19.50)

तेजसातिविराजन्वै द्वितीय इव भास्करः । व्यासस्तु विरहाक्रान्तः क्रन्दन्पुत्रेति चासकृत् ॥ 19.50 ॥

tejasātivirājanvai dvitīya iva bhāskaraḥ vyāsastu virahākrāntaḥ krandanputreti cāsakṛt

Shining exceedingly with splendor, like a second sun, Vyasa, however, overcome with the anguish of separation, cried out repeatedly, 'My son! My son!'

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.1.19.51)

गिरेः शृङ्गे गतस्तत्र शुको यत्र स्थितोऽभवत् । क्रन्दमानं तदा दीनं व्यासं मत्वा श्रमाकुलम् ॥ 19.51 ॥

gireḥ śṛṅge gatastatra śuko yatra sthito'bhavat krandamānaṁ tadā dīnaṁ vyāsaṁ matvā śramākulam

He went to the mountain peak, there where Shuka had been standing; seeing Vyasa there crying, wretched, overcome with fatigue,

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.1.19.52)

सर्वभूतगतः साक्षी प्रतिशब्दमदात्तदा । तत्राद्यापि गिरेः शृङ्गे प्रतिशब्दः स्फुटोऽभवत् ॥ 19.52 ॥

sarvabhūtagataḥ sākṣī pratiśabdamadāttadā tatrādyāpi gireḥ śṛṅge pratiśabdaḥ sphuṭo'bhavat

Shuka, the witness abiding in all beings, gave back an echo then; and there, on that mountain peak, a clear echo remains even today.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.1.19.53)

रुदन्तं तं समालक्ष्य व्यासं शोकसमन्वितम् । पुत्र पुत्रेति भाषन्तं विरहेण परिप्लुतम् ॥ 19.53 ॥

rudantaṁ taṁ samālakṣya vyāsaṁ śokasamanvitam putra putreti bhāṣantaṁ viraheṇa pariplutam

Seeing him weeping, Vyasa, filled with grief, crying out, 'Son! Son!', overwhelmed with separation,

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.1.19.54)

शिवस्तत्र समागत्य पाराशर्यमबोधयत् । व्यास शोकं मा कुरु त्वं पुत्रस्ते योगवित्तमः ॥ 19.54 ॥

śivastatra samāgatya pārāśaryamabodhayat vyāsa śokaṁ mā kuru tvaṁ putraste yogavittamaḥ

Shiva came there and enlightened the son of Parashara: 'Vyasa, do not grieve; your son is most learned in yoga.'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.1.19.55)

परमां गतिमापन्नो दुर्लभां चाकृतात्मभिः । तस्य शोको न कर्तव्यस्त्वयाशोकं विजानता ॥ 19.55 ॥

paramāṁ gatimāpanno durlabhāṁ cākṛtātmabhiḥ tasya śoko na kartavyastvayāśokaṁ vijānatā

'He has attained the supreme state, hard to attain by those whose selves are untrained; you, who understand true sorrowlessness, should not grieve for him.'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.1.19.56)

कीर्तिस्ते विपुला जाता तेन पुत्रेण चानघ । व्यास उवाच । न शोको याति देवेश किं करोमि जगत्पते ॥ 19.56 ॥

kīrtiste vipulā jātā tena putreṇa cānagha vyāsa uvāca na śoko yāti deveśa kiṁ karomi jagatpate

'Your fame has become vast through that son, O sinless one.' Vyasa said: 'My sorrow does not depart, O lord of gods; what shall I do, O lord of the world?'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.1.19.57)

अतृप्ते लोचने मेऽद्य पुत्रदर्शनलालसे । महादेव उवाच । छायां द्रक्ष्यसि पुत्रस्य पार्श्वस्थां सुमनोहराम् ॥ 19.57 ॥

atṛpte locane me'dya putradarśanalālase mahādeva uvāca chāyāṁ drakṣyasi putrasya pārśvasthāṁ sumanoharām

'My eyes today are unsated, still longing for the sight of my son.' Mahadeva said: 'You shall see the image of your son, most enchanting, standing at your side.'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.1.19.58)

तां वीक्ष्य मुनिशार्दूल शोकं जहि परन्तप । सूत उवाच । तदा ददर्श व्यासस्तु छायां पुत्रस्य सुप्रभाम् ॥ 19.58 ॥

tāṁ vīkṣya muniśārdūla śokaṁ jahi parantapa sūta uvāca tadā dadarśa vyāsastu chāyāṁ putrasya suprabhām

'Beholding that, O tiger among sages, cast off your sorrow, O scorcher of foes.' Suta said: Then Vyasa beheld the radiant image of his son.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.1.19.59)

दत्त्वा वरं हरस्तस्मै तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । अन्तर्हिते महादेवे व्यासः स्वाश्रममभ्यगात् ॥ 19.59 ॥

dattvā varaṁ harastasmai tatraivāntaradhīyata antarhite mahādeve vyāsaḥ svāśramamabhyagāt

Having granted him this boon, Hara vanished right there; when Mahadeva had vanished, Vyasa returned to his own hermitage,

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.1.19.60)

शुकस्य विरहेणापि तप्तः परमदुःखितः ॥ 19.60 ॥

śukasya viraheṇāpi taptaḥ paramaduḥkhitaḥ

— still burning, even so, with the separation from Shuka, in the greatest sorrow.