भीष्म उवाच स पन्नगपतिस्तत्र प्रययौ ब्राह्मणं प्रति। तमेव मनसा ध्यायन् कार्यवत्तां विचारयन्॥
Bhishma said Having said these words to his dear wife, the king of the Nagas proceeded to in exposition of an interview with him. As wondered as to that the business could be that had brought him to the Naga city.
तमतिक्रम्य नागेन्द्रो मतिमान् स नरेश्वर। प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं प्रकृत्या धर्मवत्सलः॥ भो भो क्षाम्याभिभाषे त्वां न रोषं कर्तुमर्हसि। इह त्वमभिसम्प्राप्तः कस्यार्थे किं प्रयोजनम्॥
Arrived before him, O king of men, that foremost of Nagas, devoted by his nature to virtue, addressed his guest in sweet words, saying,-0 Brahmana, do not give way to anger. I address you in peace! Do not be angry! For whom have you come here? What is your object?
आभिमुख्यादभिक्रम्य स्नेहात् पृच्छामि ते द्विजा विविक्ते गोमतीतीरे कं वा त्वं पर्युपाससे॥
Coming to you, I ask you in love, O twiceborn one! Whom do you worship in this retired spot on the banks of the Gomati?
ब्राह्मण उवाच धर्मारण्यं हि मां विद्धि नागं द्रष्टुमिहागतम्। पद्मनाभं द्विजश्रेष्ठ तत्र मे कार्यमाहितम्॥
The Brahmana said Know that my name is Dharmaranya; and that I have come here for seeing the Naga Padamanabha, O foremost O all twice-born persons! With him I have some business!
तस्य चाहमसांनिध्ये श्रुतवानस्मि तं गतम्। स्वजनात् तं प्रतीक्षामि पर्जन्यमिव कर्षकः॥
I have heard that he is not at home and that, therefore, I am not now near his present habitation. Like a Chataka waiting in expectation of the clouds, I am waiting for him whom I consider as dear to me!
तस्य चाक्लेशकरणं स्वस्तिकारसमाहितम्। आवर्तयामि तद् ब्रह्म योगयुक्तो निरामयः॥
For removing all evil from him and bringing about what is good to him, I am engaged in reciting the Vedas till he comes and am in Yoga and passing my time happily!
नाग उवाच अहो कल्याणवृत्तस्त्वं साधुः सज्जनवत्सलः। अवाच्यस्त्वं महाभाग परं स्नेहेन पश्यसि॥
The Naga said-Indeed, your conduct is highly good. Pious you are and devoted to the well being of all pious persons, O highly blessed Brahmana, every praise is due to you? You see the Naga with eyes of affection.
अहं स नागो विप्रर्षे यथा मां विन्दते भवान्। आज्ञापय यथा स्वैरं किं करोमि प्रियं तव॥
I am that Naga, O learned Rishi, whom you seek! Do you order me, as you wish, in respect of what is agreeable to you and what I should do for you!
भवन्तं स्वजनादस्मि सम्प्राप्तं श्रुतवानहम्। अतस्त्वां स्वयमेवाहं द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो द्विज॥
Having heard from any wife that you are here, I have to come this spot, O twice-born one, for seeing you!
सम्प्राप्तश्च भवानद्य कृतार्थः प्रतियास्यति। विस्रब्यो मां द्विजश्रेष्ठ विषये योक्तुमर्हसि॥
When you come here, you are certain to return hence with your object fulfilled. You should, O foremost of twice-born persons, cmploy me to any task with all confidence!
वयं हि भवता सर्वे गुणक्रीता विशेषतः। यस्त्वमात्महितं त्यक्त्वा मामेवेहानुरुध्यसे॥
All of us have certainly been purchased by you with your merits, since you disregarding what is for your own good, has employed your time in seeking the well-being of ourselves!
ब्राह्मण उवाच आगतोऽहं महाभाग तव दर्शनलालसः। कंचिदर्थमनर्थज्ञः प्रष्टुकामो भुजङ्गम्॥
The Brahmana said O highly blessed Naga, I have come here, actuated by the desire of seeing you! I have come here, ignorant as I am with all things, for asking you about something, O snake!
अहमात्मानमात्मस्थो मार्गमाणोऽऽत्मनो गतिम्। वासार्थिनं महाप्रज्ञं चलच्चित्तमुपास्मि ह॥
Relying on the Soul, I wish to attain to the Supreme Soul which is the end of the Individual Soul. I am neither attached to, nor dissociated from, the world.
प्रकाशितस्त्वं स्वगुणैर्यशोगर्भगभस्तिभिः। शशाङ्ककरसंस्पर्श«द्यैरात्मप्रकाशितैः॥
You shine with the effulgence of your own merits covered by fame,-with an effulgence that is as sweet as that of the moon.
तस्य मे प्रश्नमुत्पन्नं छिन्धि त्वमनिलाशन। पश्चात् कार्यं वदिष्यामि श्रोतुमर्हति तद् भवान्॥
O you who subsist on air only, do you first answer a question that I wish to put to you! Afterwards I shall inform you of the object with which I have come here.