नमो नमस्ते गोविन्द बुधश्रवण संज्ञक
Salutations, salutations to Govinda, known as Budha-Shravana.
एवं संपूज्य गोविंद ब्राह्मणं पूजयेत्ततः पुराणज्ञे विशेषेण विधिवत्संप्रदापयेत्
Having thus worshipped Govinda, he should then honor the Brahmana, and especially give to one learned in the Puranas, according to the prescribed method.
द्वादश्यां श्रवणे युक्ते अशेषाहस्करान्विते
On the twelfth day, when Shravan is joined with all the rays of the sun,
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Sri Krishna said: Here too, I will cite an ancient legend.
देशो दशार्णको नाम तस्य भागे तु पश्चिमे
There is a region named Dasharna; in its western part,
सुतप्तसिकता भूमिर्यत्र दुष्टा महोरगाः 4.75.
The ground is scorched sand, where fierce serpents dwell.
शमीखदिरपालाशकरीरैः पीलुभिः सह
With shami, khadira, palasha, and kari trees, together with pilu trees,
दग्धप्राणिगणाकीर्णा यत्र भूर्द्दृश्यते क्वचित्
The land is seen, at times, filled with the remains of burnt creatures.
कदाचिदपि दृश्यंते भ्राम्यन्तो हि विहगमाः उत्कृत्तजीविता राजन्दृश्यंते विहगोत्तमाः
Sometimes birds are seen wandering, O King; the best of birds are seen with their lives cut short.
तृषातुराश्च सहसा मृगाः सैकतमागताः
Thirsty animals suddenly come to the sandy ground.
तस्मिंस्तथाविधे देशे कश्चिद्दैववशाद्वणिक्
In such a place, by the will of fate, a certain merchant arrived.
पिशाचान्मलिनांस्तीक्ष्णान्निर्मांसान्भीमदर्शनान्
He saw ghouls, filthy, fierce, fleshless, and terrifying to behold.
बभ्रामोद्भ्रांतहृदयः क्षुत्तृषाभ्रमकर्षितः
The merchant wandered, his heart disturbed, tormented by hunger and thirst.
अथ प्रेतान्ददर्शासौ तृष्णाव्याकुलितेंद्रियान्
Then he saw ghosts, their senses agitated by burning thirst.
प्रेतस्कंधसमारूढमेकं प्रेतं ददर्श ह
He saw one ghost mounted on the shoulder of another ghost.
आगच्छन्तं तमव्यग्रं स्रुतुशब्दपुरःसरम् 4.75.
He saw it approaching, unhurried, preceded by the sound of dripping.
स दृष्ट्वाथ वणिक्छ्रेष्ठमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing the chief merchant, that ghost spoke these words:
तमुवाच वणिग्धीमान्सार्थभ्रष्टस्य चैव मे
The wise merchant said to him, 'I have lost my caravan.'
तृष्णा मां बाधतेऽत्यर्थं क्षुद्दुनोति भृशं तथा अत्रोपायं न पश्यामि जीवेयं येन केनचित्
'Thirst torments me greatly, and hunger pains me intensely; here I see no means by which I might survive.'
पुंनागमिममाश्रित्य प्रतीक्षस्व मुहूर्तकम्
'Rely on this path for men and wait a little while.'
कृतातिथ्यो यथालाभं गमिष्यसि यथासुखम्
'Having honored your guest as you are able, you will go on your way as you please.'
मध्याह्नसमये प्राप्ते ततस्तं देशमागतः दध्योदनसमायुक्तो वर्धमानेन संयुतः
When midday came, he arrived at that place, accompanied by curds and rice, and joined by Vardhamāna.
आगते करके तस्मिन्प्रादादतिथये तदा वितृष्णो विज्वरश्चैव क्षणेन समपद्यत
When the bowl arrived, he gave it then to the guest; at once he became free from thirst and fever.
ततस्तु प्रेतसंघस्य भोक्तुकामस्य वै ददौ
Then he gave it to the group of ghosts who wished to eat.
अतिथिं तर्पयित्वा च प्रेतलोकं च सर्वशः
Having satisfied the guest and all the realm of ghosts,
तस्य भुक्तवतश्चान्नं पानीयं च क्षयं ययौ 4.75.
When he had eaten, both the food and water were exhausted.
आश्चर्यमेतत्परमं वनेऽस्मिन्प्रतिभाति मे
'This is a most wondrous thing that appears to me in this forest.'
स्तोकेन च तथान्नेन बिभर्षि सुबहून्पृथक्
'With so little food, you support so many, each one separately.'
अपरं च कथं चेह मम पापपरिक्षयः तृप्तश्चासि कथं ग्रासमात्रेण च शुभव्रत
And furthermore, how has my store of sin diminished here, and how are you satisfied, O virtuous one, with only a single morsel of food?
कस्त्वमस्यां सुघोरायामटव्यां तु कृतालयः
Who are you, who has made your dwelling in this exceedingly dreadful forest?