श्रीसद्गुरुरुवाच
शालिहोत्र इति ख्यातो महात्मा मुनिपुङ्गवः ।
वीक्षारण्ये तपश्चक्रे वीक्षितुं विष्णुमव्ययम् ॥
The Sadguru said:
A great and eminent sage named Śālihotra performed penance in Vīkṣāraṇya (the forest of seeing) in order to see the imperishable Viṣṇu.
śrīsadgururuvāca
śālihotra iti khyāto mahātmā munipuṅgavaḥ |
vīkṣāraṇye tapaścakre vīkṣituṃ viṣṇumavyayam
शालिहोत्रः · śālihotraḥ — the sage named Śālihotra
इति · iti — thus
ख्यातः · khyātaḥ — renowned
महात्मा · mahātmā — great-souled one
मुनिपुङ्गवः · munipuṅgavaḥ — foremost among sages
वीक्षारण्ये · vīkṣāraṇye — in the forest of Vīkṣāraṇya
तपः · tapaḥ — penance
चक्रे · cakre — performed
वीक्षितुम् · vīkṣitum — to behold
विष्णुम् · viṣṇum — Lord Viṣṇu
अव्ययम् · avyayam — the imperishable one
शालिहोत्र इति ख्यातो महात्मा मुनिपुङ्गवः अव्ययं विष्णुं वीक्षितुं वीक्षारण्ये तपः चक्रे।
the sage named Śālihotra · thus · renowned · great-souled one · foremost among sages · in the forest of Vīkṣāraṇya · penance · performed · to behold · Lord Viṣṇu · the imperishable one
This verse introduces the protagonist, Sage Śālihotra, and establishes the setting of Vīkṣāraṇya, setting the stage for the divine encounter that defines the chapter.