The Life of Ballālasena 2.8

Om, reverence to Śiva.
Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa, and to Nara, the best of men,
and to the goddess Sarasvatī, and to Vyāsa, one should then utter [the word] “Success!”

Om, reverence to the blessed Vāsudeva.
Reverence be to Siṃhagiri, the master endowed with wondrous power,
by whom King Ballāla was led onto the eternal path.

Formerly, illustrious Ballālasena sat at ease in the supreme city of Gauḍa,
in an assembly blazing with the splendor of diverse gems.

With hair whose tips were dark and curled, adorned with quivering ringlets,
the lotus of whose faces was drunk by the bee-like eyes of the courtiers,

with the expanse of their breasts clad in bodices, with tinkling bangles and bracelets,
well dressed, with lovely limbs all over, with slightly red lips,

revealing their armpits, like women dancing with their hands,
[attendant women] served the king there with the breezes of moving chowries.

Nobles and princes, eloquent paramours, and others,
as well as Brahmins of great splendor, attended upon Ballāla.

With songs, circle dances, and graceful dances, deer-eyed dancing girls
and female dancers skilled in musical instruments delighted him with instrumental music.

Once a sage, knowing the Vedas, the Vedāṅgas, the Upaniṣads, and the Dharmaśāstras,
versed in the Itihāsas and Purāṇas, revered by the world,

intelligent, prudent, eloquent, guru of the great king,
a master of yoga, extremely wise, expert in all sacred sciences,

a Bhaṭṭa named Siṃhagiri, surrounded by his disciples,
illumining all directions, blazing with supreme splendor,

desiring to see King Ballāla seated in the assembly, swift as thought,
wandering through the region of Vadarikāśrama, arrived at that assembly.

Seeing the sage greeting him with blessings of victory,
the king quickly rose up from his seat and bowed down at the feet of the sage.

Then, having offered him a seat, the ruler of the earth, with devotion and affection,
honored him carefully with riches and gems according to his wishes.

Honored by King Ballāla, the sage, delighted in mind,
then inquired of the ruler of men about his health and well-being.

Approaching Valadeva with a smile, the best of sages,
having honored him appropriately, then inquired after his welfare.

With a rejoiced mind, the king, exceedingly pleased,
said to the sage, Bhaṭṭa Siṃhagiri, the ascetic radiant with splendor:

“Today my life has become fruitful, and my great house has been purified;
by your arrival alone, the night has brought an auspicious dawn.”

Then, perceiving that sage of rigorous vows to be rested,
as he sat comfortably, the ruler of the earth, sitting nearby, spoke:

The king said:
“Reverend sir, who know all the scriptures, all-knowing, who know all reality,
nothing is unknown to you; please speak out of compassion.

Tell me, O sage, of the origin of the four classes, the auspicious gotras and lineages, etc.,
and the origin of the mixture of classes.”

Hearing these words of the king, his face bright with satisfaction,
that one of great splendor, the son of Nārāyaṇa, then replied.

Siṃhagiri said:
“Just as the store of asceticism, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana [Vyāsa],
spoke to the royal sages desirous to hear, O king, so shall I tell you today.

In holy Vadarikāśrama, in an abode amidst a forest of deodars,
crowded with various birds and deer, an abode of peace and beauty,

the royal sages bowed down and approached Vyāsa, who was at ease—
who had offered oblations, knew the three times, was a great sage, and lived forever.

The royal sages said:
‘We went to the Naimiṣa forest, and also to the city of Vārāṇasī,
[yet] you were not seen, nor Śuka, nor Sūti, nor Śaunaka and the others.

By good fortune you, reverend sir, are seen here today on the mountain after a long time,
as Kṛṣṇa is seen by the devoted who have sought him for a very long time.

Formerly, O son of Satyavatī, the Veda was divided by you,
and the Itihāsas and Purāṇas were recited out of compassion.

The Dharmaśāstras have also been recited, and the Kali age is now present.
Though [named] Kṛṣṇa (dark), you have turned white with gray hair.

Therefore, O Brahmin, O great sage, yourself recite to us today
the Purāṇa, O knower of the truth of dharma, for we are worthy of your grace.

We will certainly not leave you without the narration of a Purāṇa;
you are bound at the feet by the ropes of devotion and made helpless.’

Hearing their words, he, smiling slightly as it were,
the best among the masters of speech, said: ‘Let it be heard, I shall tell you.’

Thus ends the eighth chapter, titled “Vyāsa's Purāṇa,” in the Vallālacarita.

Now begins the ninth chapter.