The Fate of the Seven Hunters

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.41.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । सप्त ते तपतां श्रेष्ठ स्वर्गे पितृगणाः स्मृताः । चत्वारो मूर्त्तिमन्तो वै त्रयश्चैव ह्यमूर्तयः

sanatkumāra uvāca sapta te tapatāṁ śreṣṭha svarge pitṛgaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ catvāro mūrttimanto vai trayaścaiva hyamūrtayaḥ

Sanatkumara said: O best of ascetics, seven classes of Pitrs are remembered in heaven — four of them possess form, and three are formless.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.41.2)

तान्यजन्ते देवगणा आद्या विप्रादयस्तथा । आप्याययन्ति ते पूर्वं सोमं योगबलेन वै

tānyajante devagaṇā ādyā viprādayastathā āpyāyayanti te pūrvaṁ somaṁ yogabalena vai

The foremost gods, brahmins, and others worship them; and it is they who, of old, satisfied the Moon through the power of their yoga.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.41.3)

तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिनां तु विशेषतः । सर्वेषां राजतं पात्रमथवा रजतान्वितम्

tasmācchrāddhāni deyāni yogināṁ tu viśeṣataḥ sarveṣāṁ rājataṁ pātramathavā rajatānvitam

Therefore shraddha offerings should especially be given for the sake of yogis; for all of them the vessel should be of silver, or set with silver.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.41.4)

दत्तं स्वधां पुरोधाय श्राद्धं प्रीणाति वै पितृन् । वह्नेराप्यायनं कृत्वा सोमस्य तु यमस्य वै

dattaṁ svadhāṁ purodhāya śrāddhaṁ prīṇāti vai pitṛn vahnerāpyāyanaṁ kṛtvā somasya tu yamasya vai

The shraddha offered with the invocation of Svadha satisfies the Pitrs; it brings satisfaction to Agni, to Soma, and indeed to Yama.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.41.5)

उदगायनमप्यग्नावग्न्यभावेऽप्सु वा पुनः । पितॄन्प्रीणाति यो भक्त्या पितरः प्रीणयन्ति तम्

udagāyanamapyagnāvagnyabhāve'psu vā punaḥ pitṝnprīṇāti yo bhaktyā pitaraḥ prīṇayanti tam

By making the sun-offering into fire — or, in the absence of fire, into water — whoever satisfies the Pitrs with devotion, him the Pitrs in turn satisfy.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.41.6)

यच्छन्ति पितरः पुष्टिं प्रजाश्च विपुलास्तथा । स्वर्गमारोग्यवृद्धिं च यदन्यदपि चेप्सितम्

yacchanti pitaraḥ puṣṭiṁ prajāśca vipulāstathā svargamārogyavṛddhiṁ ca yadanyadapi cepsitam

The Pitrs bestow nourishment, abundant progeny, heaven, the increase of health, and whatever else may be desired.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.41.7)

देवकार्यादपि मुने पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते । पितृभक्तोऽसि विप्रर्षे तेन त्वमजरामरः

devakāryādapi mune pitṛkāryaṁ viśiṣyate pitṛbhakto'si viprarṣe tena tvamajarāmaraḥ

O sage, even beyond service to the gods, service to the Pitrs is superior; you are devoted to the Pitrs, O sage among brahmins — for that very reason you are ageless and undying.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.41.8)

न योगेन गतिः सा तु पितृभक्तस्य या मुने । पितृभक्तिर्विशेषेण तस्मात्कार्या महामुने

na yogena gatiḥ sā tu pitṛbhaktasya yā mune pitṛbhaktirviśeṣeṇa tasmātkāryā mahāmune

O great sage, the state attained by one devoted to the Pitrs is not attained even through yoga; therefore, O great sage, devotion to the Pitrs must be practised above all.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.41.9)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । एवमुक्त्वाशु देवेशो देवानामपि दुर्लभम् । चक्षुर्दत्त्वा सविज्ञानं जगाम यौगिकीं गतिम्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evamuktvāśu deveśo devānāmapi durlabham cakṣurdattvā savijñānaṁ jagāma yaugikīṁ gatim

Markandeya said: Having thus spoken, the lord of gods swiftly bestowed the eye of knowledge — rare even for the gods — and himself departed by the path of yoga.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.41.10)

शृणु भीष्म पुरा भूयो भारद्वाजात्मजा द्विजाः । योगधर्ममनुप्राप्य भ्रष्टा दुश्चरितेन वै

śṛṇu bhīṣma purā bhūyo bhāradvājātmajā dvijāḥ yogadharmamanuprāpya bhraṣṭā duścaritena vai

Listen again, O Bhishma: long ago, sons of Bharadvaja's lineage, though they had attained the yogic dharma, fell from it through evil conduct.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.41.11)

वाग्दुष्टः क्रोधनो हिंस्रः पिशुनः कविरेव च । खसृषः पितृवर्ती च नामभिः कर्मभिस्तथा

vāgduṣṭaḥ krodhano hiṁsraḥ piśunaḥ kavireva ca khasṛṣaḥ pitṛvartī ca nāmabhiḥ karmabhistathā

Foul of speech, wrathful, violent, slanderous, and named Kavi, Khasṛpa, and Pitṛvartī — such were the seven brothers, so named after their deeds.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.41.12)

कौशिकस्य सुतास्तात शिष्या गर्गस्य चाभवन् । पितर्युपरते सर्वे प्रवसन्तस्तदाभवन्

kauśikasya sutāstāta śiṣyā gargasya cābhavan pitaryuparate sarve pravasantastadābhavan

O son, they were the sons of Kaushika and disciples of Garga; when their teacher passed away, all of them became wanderers, living away from home.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.41.13)

विनियोगाद् गुरोस्तस्य गां दोग्ध्रीं समकालयन् । समानवत्सां कपिलां सर्वेऽन्यायागतास्तदा

viniyogād gurostasya gāṁ dogdhrīṁ samakālayan samānavatsāṁ kapilāṁ sarve'nyāyāgatāstadā

By their guru's earlier allotment, a milking cow — a tawny cow with her calf of like colour — had come into their charge; but at that time all of them, wrongfully, gathered around her.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.41.14)

तेषां पथि क्षुधार्तानां बाल्यान्मोहाच्च भारत । क्रूरा बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना तां गां वै हिंसितुं तदा

teṣāṁ pathi kṣudhārtānāṁ bālyānmohācca bhārata krūrā buddhiḥ samutpannā tāṁ gāṁ vai hiṁsituṁ tadā

O descendant of Bharata, tormented by hunger on the road, and through the delusion of youth, a cruel intention arose in them — to kill that very cow.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.41.15)

तां कविः खसृपश्चैव याचेते नैति वै तदा । न चाशक्यास्तु ताभ्यां वा तदा वारयितुं निजाः

tāṁ kaviḥ khasṛpaścaiva yācete naiti vai tadā na cāśakyāstu tābhyāṁ vā tadā vārayituṁ nijāḥ

Kavi and Khasṛpa pleaded against it, but the others would not agree; nor were those two able to restrain their own brothers.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.41.16)

पितृवर्ती तु यस्तेषां नित्यं श्राद्धाह्निको द्विजः । स सर्वानब्रवीत्कोपात् पितृभक्तिसमन्वितः

pitṛvartī tu yasteṣāṁ nityaṁ śrāddhāhniko dvijaḥ sa sarvānabravītkopāt pitṛbhaktisamanvitaḥ

Among them, the one named Pitṛvartī — a brahmin ever devoted to the daily shraddha rite and filled with devotion to the Pitrs — angrily said to all of them:

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.41.17)

यद्यशक्यं प्रकर्तव्यं पितृनुद्दिश्य साध्यताम् । प्रकुर्वन्तो हि श्राद्धं तु सर्व एव समाहिताः

yadyaśakyaṁ prakartavyaṁ pitṛnuddiśya sādhyatām prakurvanto hi śrāddhaṁ tu sarva eva samāhitāḥ

"If an impossible act must be done, let it be accomplished by dedicating it to the Pitrs." So resolving, all of them, with due care, undertook to perform a shraddha rite.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.41.18)

एवमेषा च गौर्धर्मं प्राप्स्यते नात्र संशयः । पितॄनभ्यर्च्य धर्मेण नाधर्मो नो भविष्यति

evameṣā ca gaurdharmaṁ prāpsyate nātra saṁśayaḥ pitṝnabhyarcya dharmeṇa nādharmo no bhaviṣyati

"In this way this cow too shall attain to dharma — there is no doubt of it; and by worshipping the Pitrs according to rite, no unrighteousness shall come to us."

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.41.19)

एवमुक्ताश्च ते सर्वे प्रोक्षयित्वा च गां तदा । पितृभ्यः कल्पयित्वा तु ह्युपायुञ्जत भारत

evamuktāśca te sarve prokṣayitvā ca gāṁ tadā pitṛbhyaḥ kalpayitvā tu hyupāyuñjata bhārata

O descendant of Bharata, so saying, all of them sprinkled the cow with consecrating water, dedicated her to the Pitrs, and then made use of her.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.41.20)

उपयुज्य च गां सर्वे गुरोस्तस्य न्यवेदयन् । शार्दूलेन हता धेनुर्वत्सा वै गृह्यतामिति

upayujya ca gāṁ sarve gurostasya nyavedayan śārdūlena hatā dhenurvatsā vai gṛhyatāmiti

Having consumed the cow, all of them reported to their guru's household: "The cow was slain by a tiger — let the calf be taken in her place."

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.41.21)

आर्जवात्स तु तं वत्सं प्रतिजग्राह वै द्विजः । मिथ्योपचारतः पापमभूत्तेषां च गोघ्नताम्

ārjavātsa tu taṁ vatsaṁ pratijagrāha vai dvijaḥ mithyopacārataḥ pāpamabhūtteṣāṁ ca goghnatām

That brahmin, out of simple honesty, accepted the calf in good faith; but through their false dealing the sin of cow-slaughter attached itself to them.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.41.22)

ततः कालेन कियता कालधर्ममुपागताः । ते सप्त भ्रातरस्तात बभूवुः स्वायुषः क्षये

tataḥ kālena kiyatā kāladharmamupāgatāḥ te sapta bhrātarastāta babhūvuḥ svāyuṣaḥ kṣaye

O son, after some time had passed, when their span of life was exhausted, those seven brothers came to the law of time — that is, to death.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.41.23)

ते वै क्रूरतया हैंस्त्र्यात्स्वानार्यत्वाद् गुरोस्तथा । उग्रहिंसाविहाराश्च जाताः सप्त सहोदराः

te vai krūratayā haiṁstryātsvānāryatvād gurostathā ugrahiṁsāvihārāśca jātāḥ sapta sahodarāḥ

Through their cruelty, their violent nature, their ignoble conduct, and their deceit toward their guru, those seven brothers were born as creatures given to fierce violence.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.41.24)

लुब्धकस्य सुतास्तावद् बलवन्तो मनस्विनः । जाता व्याधा दशार्णेषु सप्त धर्मविचक्षणाः

lubdhakasya sutāstāvad balavanto manasvinaḥ jātā vyādhā daśārṇeṣu sapta dharmavicakṣaṇāḥ

They became the sons of a strong and spirited hunter — seven hunters born in the land of Dashārna, who yet were discerning of dharma.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.41.25)

स्वधर्मनिरताः सर्वे मृगा मोहविवर्जिताः । आसन्नुद्वेगसंविग्ना रम्ये कालञ्जरे गिरौ

svadharmaniratāḥ sarve mṛgā mohavivarjitāḥ āsannudvegasaṁvignā ramye kālañjare girau

Then again they became deer, free of delusion, steadfast in their own natural way, dwelling in agitation of heart upon the lovely mountain of Kalanjara.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.41.26)

तमेवार्थमनुध्याय ज्ञातिस्मरणसम्भवम् । आसन्वनचराः क्षान्ता निर्द्वन्द्वा निष्परिग्रहाः

tamevārthamanudhyāya jñātismaraṇasambhavam āsanvanacarāḥ kṣāntā nirdvandvā niṣparigrahāḥ

Meditating on that very truth born of the memory of their former birth, they became forest-dwellers — patient, free from the pairs of opposites, and without possessions.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.41.27)

ते सर्वे शुभकर्माणः सद्धर्माणो वनेचराः । विधर्माचरणैर्हीना जातिस्मरणसिद्धयः

te sarve śubhakarmāṇaḥ saddharmāṇo vanecarāḥ vidharmācaraṇairhīnā jātismaraṇasiddhayaḥ

All of them were of virtuous deeds, righteous forest-dwellers, free from unrighteous conduct, and endowed with the power to recall their former births.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.41.28)

पूर्वजातिषु यो धर्मः श्रुतो गुरुकुलेषु वै । तथैव चास्थिता बुद्धिः संसारेऽपि निवर्तने

pūrvajātiṣu yo dharmaḥ śruto gurukuleṣu vai tathaiva cāsthitā buddhiḥ saṁsāre'pi nivartane

The dharma that had been heard in the teachers' households in their former births — even in this state of withdrawal from the world, their intellect remained fixed upon it exactly the same.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.41.29)

गिरिमध्ये जहुः प्राणाँल्लब्धाहारास्तपस्विनः । तेषां तु पतितानां च यानि स्थानानि भारत

girimadhye jahuḥ prāṇā~llabdhāhārāstapasvinaḥ teṣāṁ tu patitānāṁ ca yāni sthānāni bhārata

O descendant of Bharata, those ascetics, sustaining themselves on whatever food they found, gave up their lives in the midst of that mountain; and the very spots where those fallen creatures lay,

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.41.30)

तथैवाद्यापि दृश्यन्ते गिरौ कालञ्जरे नृप । कर्मणा तेन ते जाताः शुभाशुभविवर्जकाः

tathaivādyāpi dṛśyante girau kālañjare nṛpa karmaṇā tena te jātāḥ śubhāśubhavivarjakāḥ

O king, are seen to this very day upon Mount Kalanjara in just that form; and through that deed's power they took birth in a state set apart from both merit and demerit.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.41.31)

शुभाच्छुभतरां योनिं चक्रवाकत्वमागताः । शुभे देशे शरद्वीपे सप्तैवासञ्जलौकसः

śubhācchubhatarāṁ yoniṁ cakravākatvamāgatāḥ śubhe deśe śaradvīpe saptaivāsañjalaukasaḥ

Passing to a birth more auspicious even than the merely auspicious — that of the cakravāka bird — all seven became water-dwelling birds in the fair land known as Sharadvipa.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.41.32)

त्यक्त्वा सहचरीधर्मं मुनयो धर्मधारिणः । निःसङ्गो निर्ममश्शान्तो निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः

tyaktvā sahacarīdharmaṁ munayo dharmadhāriṇaḥ niḥsaṅgo nirmamaśśānto nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ

Abandoning the way of the mated pair, they became sage-like, upholders of dharma — free from attachment, free from possessiveness, tranquil, beyond the pairs of opposites, and without possessions.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.41.33)

निवृत्तिनिर्वृतश्चैव शकुना नामतः स्मृताः । ते ब्रह्मचारिणः सर्वे शकुना धर्मचारिणः

nivṛttinirvṛtaścaiva śakunā nāmataḥ smṛtāḥ te brahmacāriṇaḥ sarve śakunā dharmacāriṇaḥ

Content in renunciation itself, they came to be known by the name "Śakuna"; all of them, as celibate birds of that name, lived a life of righteous conduct.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.41.34)

जातिस्मराः सुसंवृद्धाः सप्तैव ब्रह्मचारिणः । स्थिता एकत्र सद्धर्मा विकाररहिताः सदा

jātismarāḥ susaṁvṛddhāḥ saptaiva brahmacāriṇaḥ sthitā ekatra saddharmā vikārarahitāḥ sadā

Endowed with the memory of their former births, those seven celibate ones flourished well, dwelling together in one place — righteous, and ever free from change.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.41.35)

विप्रयोनौ तु यन्मोहान्मिथ्यापचरितं गुरौ । तिर्यग्योनौ तथा जन्म श्राद्धाज्ज्ञानं च लेभिरे

viprayonau tu yanmohānmithyāpacaritaṁ gurau tiryagyonau tathā janma śrāddhājjñānaṁ ca lebhire

Because of the false conduct committed toward their guru through delusion in their brahmin birth, they took birth in the animal kingdom; yet through the power of the shraddha they had performed, knowledge too came to them by stages.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.41.36)

तथा तु पितृकार्यार्थं कृतं श्राद्धं व्यवस्थितैः । तदा ज्ञानं च जातिं च क्रमात्प्राप्तं गुणोत्तरम्

tathā tu pitṛkāryārthaṁ kṛtaṁ śrāddhaṁ vyavasthitaiḥ tadā jñānaṁ ca jātiṁ ca kramātprāptaṁ guṇottaram

Thus, because of the shraddha duly performed for the sake of the Pitrs, they attained, stage by stage, knowledge and birth of ever higher quality.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.41.37)

पूर्वजातिषु यद्ब्रह्म श्रुतं गुरुकुलेषु वै । तथैव संस्थित ज्ञानं तस्माज्ज्ञानं समभ्यसेत्

pūrvajātiṣu yadbrahma śrutaṁ gurukuleṣu vai tathaiva saṁsthita jñānaṁ tasmājjñānaṁ samabhyaset

The Vedic knowledge heard in the teachers' households in former births remained fixed in that very form; therefore knowledge should be constantly practised.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.41.38)

सुमनाश्च सुवाक्छुद्धः पञ्चमश्छिद्रदर्शकः । स्वतन्त्रश्च सुयज्ञश्च कुलीङ्गा नामतः स्मृताः

sumanāśca suvākchuddhaḥ pañcamaśchidradarśakaḥ svatantraśca suyajñaśca kulīṅgā nāmataḥ smṛtāḥ

Sumanas, Suvākśuddha, the fifth called Chidradarśī ("seer of flaws"), Svatantra, and Suyajña — by these names they came to be known as kulīṅga birds.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.41.39)

तेषां तत्र विहङ्गानां चरतां धर्मचारिणाम् । सुवृत्तमभवत्तत्र तच्छृणुष्व महामुने

teṣāṁ tatra vihaṅgānāṁ caratāṁ dharmacāriṇām suvṛttamabhavattatra tacchṛṇuṣva mahāmune

O great sage, hear now what fair event befell those righteously-living birds as they wandered there.

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.41.40)

नीपानामीश्वरो राजा प्रभावेण समन्वितः । श्रीमानन्तःपुरवृतो वनं तत्राविवेश ह

nīpānāmīśvaro rājā prabhāveṇa samanvitaḥ śrīmānantaḥpuravṛto vanaṁ tatrāviveśa ha

The lord and king of the Nipa people, a man of majesty and splendour, entered that forest surrounded by the ladies of his household.

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.41.41)

स्वतन्त्रश्चक्रवाकः स स्पृहयामास तं नृपम् । दृष्ट्वा यान्तं सुखोपेतं राज्यशोभासमन्वितम्

svatantraścakravākaḥ sa spṛhayāmāsa taṁ nṛpam dṛṣṭvā yāntaṁ sukhopetaṁ rājyaśobhāsamanvitam

Among them, the cakravāka named Svatantra, seeing that king passing by in happiness and endowed with the splendour of a kingdom, conceived a longing for such a state.

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.41.42)

यद्यस्ति सुकृतं किञ्चित्तपो वा नियमोऽपि वा । खिन्नोऽहमुपवासेन तपसा निश्चलेन च

yadyasti sukṛtaṁ kiñcittapo vā niyamo'pi vā khinno'hamupavāsena tapasā niścalena ca

"If there is in me — wearied by fasting and unwavering austerity — any merit, any austerity or observance of vows whatsoever,

Verse 43 (shiva.uma.41.43)

तस्य सर्वस्य पूर्णेन फलेनापि कृतेन हि । सर्वसौभाग्यपात्रश्च भवेयमहमीदृशः

tasya sarvasya pūrṇena phalenāpi kṛtena hi sarvasaubhāgyapātraśca bhaveyamahamīdṛśaḥ

then by the full fruit of all that, and of what I have done, may I too become the vessel of just such complete good fortune."

Verse 44 (shiva.uma.41.44)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । ततस्तु चक्रवाकौ द्वावासतुः सहचारिणौ । आवां वै सचिवौ स्याव तव प्रियहितैषिणौ

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tatastu cakravākau dvāvāsatuḥ sahacāriṇau āvāṁ vai sacivau syāva tava priyahitaiṣiṇau

Markandeya said: Then his two companion cakravākas came forward and said, "We two shall become your well-wishing ministers."

Verse 45 (shiva.uma.41.45)

तथेत्युक्त्वा तु तस्यासीत्तदा योगात्मनो गतिः । एवं तौ चक्रवाकौ च स्ववाक्यं प्रत्यभाषताम्

tathetyuktvā tu tasyāsīttadā yogātmano gatiḥ evaṁ tau cakravākau ca svavākyaṁ pratyabhāṣatām

Saying "So be it," his yogic passage came to pass that very instant; and thus the two cakravākas spoke their own words to him.

Verse 46 (shiva.uma.41.46)

यस्मात्कर्म ब्रुवाणस्त्वं योगधर्ममवाप्य तम् । एवं वरं प्रार्थयसे तस्माद्वाक्यं निबोध मे

yasmātkarma bruvāṇastvaṁ yogadharmamavāpya tam evaṁ varaṁ prārthayase tasmādvākyaṁ nibodha me

"Since, though you had attained the yogic dharma, you have spoken thus of such a deed and asked for such a boon — therefore hear my word:

Verse 47 (shiva.uma.41.47)

राजा त्वं भविता तात काम्पिल्ये नगरोत्तमे । एतौ ते सचिवौ स्यातां व्यभिचारप्रधर्षितौ

rājā tvaṁ bhavitā tāta kāmpilye nagarottame etau te sacivau syātāṁ vyabhicārapradharṣitau

O son, you shall become king in the excellent city named Kampilya; these two shall be your ministers — but afflicted by misconduct."

Verse 48 (shiva.uma.41.48)

न तानूचुस्त्रयो राज्यं चतुरः सहचारिणः । स प्रसादं पुनश्चक्रे तन्मध्ये सुमनाब्रवीत्

na tānūcustrayo rājyaṁ caturaḥ sahacāriṇaḥ sa prasādaṁ punaścakre tanmadhye sumanābravīt

Three of them did not consent to that talk of kingship; the fourth companion did. Then he graciously bestowed his favour once more; and among them Sumanas spoke:

Verse 49 (shiva.uma.41.49)

अन्तवान् भविता शापः पुनर्योगमवाप्स्यथ । सर्वसत्त्वरुतज्ञश्च स्वतन्त्रोऽयं भविष्यति

antavān bhavitā śāpaḥ punaryogamavāpsyatha sarvasattvarutajñaśca svatantro'yaṁ bhaviṣyati

"Even this curse shall have its end — you shall attain to yoga once again; and this one, understanding the cries of all creatures, shall be known as Svatantra."

Verse 50 (shiva.uma.41.50)

पितृप्रसादाद्युष्माभिः सम्प्राप्तं सुकृतं भवेत् । गां प्रोक्षयित्वा धर्मेण पितृभ्यश्चोपकल्पिताः

pitṛprasādādyuṣmābhiḥ samprāptaṁ sukṛtaṁ bhavet gāṁ prokṣayitvā dharmeṇa pitṛbhyaścopakalpitāḥ

By the grace of the Pitrs, this merit has come to all of you; for it was by duly sprinkling the cow according to rite that you were established for the sake of the Pitrs.

Verse 51 (shiva.uma.41.51)

अस्माकं ज्ञानसंयोगः सर्वेषां योगसाधनम् । इदं च वाक्यं संरब्धं श्लोकमेकमुदाहृतम्

asmākaṁ jñānasaṁyogaḥ sarveṣāṁ yogasādhanam idaṁ ca vākyaṁ saṁrabdhaṁ ślokamekamudāhṛtam

This very communion of knowledge among us all is, for everyone, the means of yoga; and this one verse has been uttered as its essential word —

Verse 52 (shiva.uma.41.52)

पुरुषान्तरितं श्रुत्वा ततो योगमवाप्स्यथ । इत्युक्त्वा स तु मौनोऽभूद्विहङ्गः सुमना बुधः

puruṣāntaritaṁ śrutvā tato yogamavāpsyatha ityuktvā sa tu mauno'bhūdvihaṅgaḥ sumanā budhaḥ

"Only by hearing it spoken through another person shall you attain to yoga." Having said this, the wise bird Sumanas fell silent.

Verse 53 (shiva.uma.41.53)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । लोकानां स्वस्तये तात शन्तनुप्रवरात्मज । इत्युक्तं तच्चरित्रं मे किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca lokānāṁ svastaye tāta śantanupravarātmaja ityuktaṁ taccaritraṁ me kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Markandeya said: O son, best of Shantanu's line, for the welfare of the worlds I have related to you this account; what more do you wish to hear now?