Prefatory 0
In plain words
During Shankara’s journey in the western region, Prabhakara of Srivali brought his thirteen-year-old son to him. After offering their salutations, the father explained that the boy had been silent from childhood, taking no interest in activities and showing neither attraction nor aversion, nor concern for honour and dishonour. The boy remained prostrate. Shankara lifted him with his own hands, looked at him joyfully, and asked the question with which the hymn begins.
Word for word
While Sri Shankara, the world-teacher, was travelling victoriously in the western region, the Brahmin Prabhakara, who lived there in the village called Srivali, learned of the teacher’s arrival. Taking his thirteen-year-old son, he went, bowed before the Guru, rose and stood, and made his son also bow. He related how the boy had been mute from childhood, without engagement in anything and without liking, disliking, honour or dishonour. The teacher lifted with his hands the boy who remained lying [in prostration], looked at him with joy, and began to ask as follows.