Beautiful shines the land of Sarvar, where Dharma made his entry; blessed, blessed is that holy ground, blessed the forest on the bank of the Devha river.
Mango, kadamba, ashoka, and mango trees, jambu, lime, and guava too, karambi, kutti, and oleander, many berries and coconut palms --
there sarus cranes, swans, parrots, and peacocks, cuckoos and koels sing their song; the village, wrapped in so many trees, seemed to be another abode of Dharma itself.
There the town of Raikhatta shone, filled with unbroken joy; the people were happy in food and drink and prosperity, with no fear, no strife, and no grief.
The four castes dwelt there, and with them the town shone forth abundantly; Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras -- all had crossed the ocean of grief through dharma.
There dwelt Brahmins of Sarvariya lineage, filled with deep faith and devotion, merciful and generous of heart, free of sin, treasuries of merit.
Of high lineage and excellent conduct, ever devoted to their own dharma, of the Savarni gotra and the Sama Veda, of the Kauthumi branch, hear this distinction.
With three pravaras of good renown -- Bhargava, Vaitahavya, Savetasa -- of the village of Itar, honored priests of the local king,
very merciful Kanhirama had a son named Balashrama, who had studied the Vedas, scriptures and Puranas, pure of soul and wise.
Truthful, exceedingly self-controlled, steady and profound, devoted to dharma, of good conduct, contentment, generosity, and full of the virtue of peace --
such was the great-minded Balashrama, in whose house lived his fortunate, virtuous wife, devoted to her husband, of pure and holy heart.
Such a couple, treasuries of virtue -- there Dharma took incarnation. In the year Samvat 1796, in the era named Pramoda,
while the sun moved south along its path, in the season of autumn, in the bright fortnight of Kartik, on the eleventh day, a beautiful Wednesday,
under the Uttara Bhadrapada nakshatra, in Vraj yoga, in Vishti karana, under the constellation that removes disease, in Kumbha lagna, the fortunate woman gave birth to Dharmadev, of great wisdom.
Knowing that Dharma had taken birth, the three worlds rejoiced, the gods and sages became free of sorrow; the thirty-three crore gods came and offered praise with joined hands.
Brahma came with Brahmani, Shiva came with Girija his queen; Sharada and Shesha sang there, Shiva broke into the Tandava dance in his song.
Gandharvas and Apsaras sang, Siddhas, Charanas, and great sages came; celestial vehicles arrived from Vaikuntha, all to behold Dharma with their own eyes.
The gods rained down flowers, and many instruments sounded in the sky; drums and kettle-drums resounded, and word of it reached the liberated souls.
An immense celebration arose in the heavens, knowing Dharma had taken incarnation; as the sky resounded with joy, so on earth the devotees rejoiced.
Men and women were filled with bliss, for Dharma, the full moon, had appeared; women gathered from every home, singing songs of celebration and blessing.
Men and women held festivities, hanging garlands and toranas at every door; filling trays with pearls, the women went forth to welcome the merciful child.
Groups of women performed the welcoming ritual, and their faces filled with joy at the sight; then the mother returned to the house, and learned Brahmins were called for.
Having reckoned the time and the auspicious moment of birth, the Brahmins grew joyful in their hearts; they said, at such an hour has this child come, as if he brought happiness to all three worlds.
One who appears at such a moment is rightly called the very form of Dharma; therefore, they said, keep this well, and name him Devsharma.
Of exceedingly beautiful form, great-minded Devsharma; then Balashrama rejoiced greatly and gave gifts in his happiness.
He gave generously to Brahmins, beggars, and the needy, giving whatever was asked; the Brahmins, greatly pleased, returned each to their own homes.
Then the parents resolved in their minds to care for him with the greatest devotion; holding him with deep love in their hearts, they would not leave him even for a moment.
With loving hearts they cradled him, lovingly rocking him in the cradle; whatever household tasks they did, their attention remained fixed on the child.
With great joy they played with their son, feeding him milk and sweets; as time passed and he grew older, he began to speak with his mouth.
Whatever he spoke, in sweet childish babble, was dear to his mother's heart; the child, growing like the moon day by day, Devsharma grew ever more.
On the very day that Dharma took birth, the difficult time for the saints came to an end; the sinners at once began to suffer, and this came about suddenly.
In towns, villages, and hamlets across the earth, joy arose in abundance; the sacrificial fires burned smokeless, the air grew calm and the sky clear.
The hearts of true and righteous men became exceedingly pure and holy; the waters of rivers, wells, and stepwells, and all the lakes, became clean and clear.
The accomplished sages all attained happiness, and cast off unrighteousness from their hearts; rejoicing, they gave their blessing: may Dharma live for millions of years.
So the truly righteous attained happiness, while those of wicked deeds suffered; the strength of sinners and hypocrites was broken, and the minds of all turned toward dharma.
Dharma himself was of great fortitude, remaining steady of mind through joy and sorrow alike; hunger, suffering, cold and heat -- though felt in the body, did not disturb his mind.
Seeing this, his father Balashrama understood him to be a great yogi; when he reached eight years from birth, his father gave him the sacred thread.
When the father gave him the sacred thread, a great celebration was held; then Dharma took on the guise of a young student, and grew his five tufts of hair.
He studied the Vedas, scriptures, and Puranas, and himself became a wise scholar; when he reached twelve years of age, his father asked him lovingly:
My son, marry -- accept just this one request of mine; as virtuous as you are, my son, we must find a bride equal to you.
Thus ends the tenth chapter, named 'The Birth of Dharma,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.