Dashaka 19

पृथोस्तु नप्ता पृथुधर्मकर्मठ:
प्राचीनबर्हिर्युवतौ शतद्रुतौ ।
प्रचेतसो नाम सुचेतस: सुता-
नजीजनत्त्वत्करुणाङ्कुरानिव ॥१॥

Prithu's great grand son Praacheenbarhis, who was reputed for his undertakings for the good of the world had the young lady Shatadruti for his wife. From her, as though sprouts of Thy compassion ,ten noble minded sons were born to him known by the group name of Prachetas.

पितु: सिसृक्षानिरतस्य शासनाद्-
भवत्तपस्याभिरता दशापि ते
पयोनिधिं पश्चिममेत्य तत्तटे
सरोवरं सन्ददृशुर्मनोहरम् ॥२॥

Commanded by their father to multiply the species, these ten brothers, being firm believers in the importance of Thy worship, went to the western sea to meditate. On the shore of that sea they saw a beautiful lake.

तदा भवत्तीर्थमिदं समागतो
भवो भवत्सेवकदर्शनादृत: ।
प्रकाशमासाद्य पुर: प्रचेतसा-
मुपादिशत् भक्ततमस्तव स्तवम् ॥३॥

Then, Thy greatest devotee, Lord Shiva who is always eager to see Thy devotees, came to this holy lake of Thine and appearing before the Prachetaas, taught them a great hymn in praise of Thee.

स्तवं जपन्तस्तममी जलान्तरे
भवन्तमासेविषतायुतं समा: ।
भवत्सुखास्वादरसादमीष्वियान्
बभूव कालो ध्रुववन्न शीघ्रता ॥४॥

These devotees chanting the hymn, spent ten thousand years in water, in Thy worship and meditation on Thee. For the attainment of the bliss of Thy realisation, they had to spend this long period in austerities unlike Dhruva who got it very quickly.

तपोभिरेषामतिमात्रवर्धिभि:
स यज्ञहिंसानिरतोऽपि पावित: ।
पिताऽपि तेषां गृहयातनारद-
प्रदर्शितात्मा भवदात्मतां ययौ ॥५॥

By the increasing strength of their penance, their father Praacheenbarhis also became purified who had slain many animals in the sacrificial fires. Naarada who had gone to his house, gave him the knowledge of Aatman by which he attained a form like Thine.

कृपाबलेनैव पुर: प्रचेतसां
प्रकाशमागा: पतगेन्द्रवाहन: ।
विराजि चक्रादिवरायुधांशुभि-
र्भुजाभिरष्टाभिरुदञ्चितद्युति: ॥६॥

By virtue of Thy compassion alone, Thou appeared before the Prachetas. Thou were seated on Thy vehicle Garuda, having eight arms, holding the resplendent discus and other divine weapons and spreading lustre all around.

प्रचेतसां तावदयाचतामपि
त्वमेव कारुण्यभराद्वरानदा: ।
भवद्विचिन्ताऽपि शिवाय देहिनां
भवत्वसौ रुद्रनुतिश्च कामदा ॥७॥

Out of Thy infinite compassion, Thou gave the Prachetas boons,even without their asking. May even Thy thought be for the benefit of the humans and confer welfare on them, and may the Rudra hymn be the fulfiller of all desires.

अवाप्य कान्तां तनयां महीरुहां
तया रमध्वं दशलक्षवत्सरीम् ।
सुतोऽस्तु दक्षो ननु तत्क्षणाच्च मां
प्रयास्यथेति न्यगदो मुदैव तान् ॥८॥

Being highly pleased with the Prachetas Thou blessed them that they would get the daughter of the trees as their wife. They would lead a happy life with her for ten lakh of years. Also that they would have a son named Daksha and soon thereafter they would attain Thee.

ततश्च ते भूतलरोधिनस्तरून्
क्रुधा दहन्तो द्रुहिणेन वारिता: ।
द्रुमैश्च दत्तां तनयामवाप्य तां
त्वदुक्तकालं सुखिनोऽभिरेमिरे ॥९॥

Then the Prachetas who were angered by the dense growth of the trees which were covering the surface of the whole earth and causing obstruction, started to burn them. They were dissuaded by Brahmaa to do so. Obligingly the trees gave them their daughter in marriage and they lived with her happily for the time specified by Thee.

अवाप्य दक्षं च सुतं कृताध्वरा:
प्रचेतसो नारदलब्धया धिया ।
अवापुरानन्दपदं तथाविध-
स्त्वमीश वातालयनाथ पाहि माम् ॥१०॥

After begetting the son Daksha and performing several sacrificial rites and having received the highest knowledge from Naarada they attained liberation. O Lord! O Lord of Guruvaayur! Who are of such merciful nature, grant protection to me.