सुवर्णो हृदि संज्ञाय मत्प्रिया ब्रह्मवत्सला
Suvarna, realizing in his heart that his beloved was dear to Brahma,
इति श्रीभीविष्ये महापुराणे प्रतिसर्गपर्वणि चतुर्युगखण्डापरपर्याये कलियु गीयेतिहासमुच्चये विंशोऽध्याय
Thus ends the twentieth chapter, the summary of the history of the Kali age, in the section concerning the other cycles of the Four Ages, within the Pratisarga Parvan of the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana.
सूत उवाच जयस्थलपुरे रम्ये वर्धमानो नृपोभवत्
Sūta said: In the beautiful city of Jayasthala, there was a king named Vardhamāna.
तस्य ग्रामेवसद्विप्रो वेदवेदांगपारगः
In his village lived a brāhmaṇa who was well-versed in the Vedas and their branches.
चत्वारश्चात्मजास्तस्य चतुर्भागपरायणाः
He had four sons, each devoted to a different quarter of learning.
कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन निर्द्धनत्वं च ते गताः
Once, by the force of fate, they all fell into poverty.
ऊचू रमा कथं नष्टा तद्वदस्व पितः प्रिय
They said, 'O dear father, tell us how our wealth was lost.'
द्यूतो धनव्ययकरः पापमूलो महाखलः द्यूतकर्मप्रभावेण त्वदीयद्रव्यसंक्षयः
Gambling, the root of sin and great wickedness, causes loss of wealth; through the influence of gambling, your possessions have been destroyed.
धनोपायेन भोः पित्रोर्वाक्यं कुरु मतिं प्रति
O sons, seek a means of livelihood; follow your parents' advice with discernment.
हे पुत्र कुलट त्वं वै वेश्यासंगं महाशुभम्
O son, you are a libertine, associating with courtesans, which is most inauspicious.
विषयिन्मांसमदिरे नित्यपापविवर्धिके
Indulgence in sensual pleasures, meat, and wine ever increases sin.
तस्मात्त्वं प्रभुमीशानं विष्णुं जिष्णुं जगत्पतिम् 3.2.21.
Therefore, you should worship the supreme lord Viṣṇu, the victorious, the lord of the universe.
नास्तिकत्वं देवनिंदा परित्यज्य मतिं कुरु
Abandon atheism and reviling of the gods; set your mind rightly.
आत्मनोंगानि देवाश्च सर्वजीवगुहाशयाः
The gods dwell within the limbs of the self and in the hearts of all living beings.
इति ते वचनं श्रुत्वा गतास्तीर्थान्तरं प्रति
Hearing these words, they went to another holy place.
वर्षांते च महादेवो विद्यां संजीवनीं ददौ
At the end of the year, the great god gave them the knowledge of reviving the dead.
मृतव्याघ्रास्थिनि श्रेष्ठं मंत्रपूतांबु चाक्षिपत्
He sprinkled mantra-purified water on the best of tiger bones.
तस्योपर्य्येव कुलटो मंत्रपूतं पयोऽक्षिपत्
Then the libertine poured mantra-purified milk upon them.
विषयी चाक्षिपच्चैव तस्योपरि जलं शुभम्
The sensualist also poured pure water upon them.
सुप्तं व्याघ्रं च संज्ञाय नास्तिकस्तु जलं ददौ
The atheist, seeing the tiger asleep, poured water upon it.
सूत उवाच राजन्मूर्खो हि कस्तेषां श्रुत्वा राजाब्रवीदिदम्
Sūta said: O King, having heard this, the king spoke these words—who among them is truly the fool?
बोधितो येन स व्याघ्रः स मूर्खस्त्वधिको मतः 3.2.21.
He who instructed the tiger is considered even more foolish.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराणे प्रतिसर्गपर्वणि चतुर्युगखण्डापरपर्याये कलियुगीयेतिहा ससमुच्चय एकविंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, the summary of the Kali Yuga narrative, in the Caturyuga Section of the Pratisarga Parvan of the illustrious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa.
अहं पूर्वभवे चासं क्षत्रसिंहो महीपतिः
In a previous birth, I was Kṣatrasiṃha, a king.
तस्य ग्रामे वसद्विप्रो वेदवेदांगपारगः
In his village lived a brāhmaṇa, learned in the Vedas and their branches.
उभकौ तनयौ तस्य सर्वविद्याविशारदौ शाक्तोऽभवत्तदनुजो मोहनो नाम श्रुतः
He had two sons, both skilled in all branches of knowledge; the younger, known as Mohana, became devoted to Śakti.
कदाचित्क्षत्रसिंहस्तु यज्ञार्थी यज्ञहेतवे स्वयं च कारयामास च्छागमेधं सुरप्रियम्
Once, Kṣatrasiṃha, desiring a sacrifice for the sake of the ritual, himself arranged a goat-sacrifice, dear to the gods.
शंभुदत्तस्तु वृद्धात्मा शिवभक्तिपरायणः
Śaṃbhudatta, of mature spirit, was devoted to the worship of Śiva.
हव्यैः सुसंस्कृतै रम्यैश्चकार हवनं मुदा
With well-prepared and delightful offerings, he joyfully performed the fire-ritual.
लीलाधरस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा छागं च मरणोन्मुखम्
Līladhara, seeing that goat about to meet its death,