विस्मृत्य सह जामात्रा वाणिज्याय ययौ पुनः सूत उवाच अथ साधुः समादाय रत्नानि विविधानि च
Forgetting, together with his brother-in-law, he again set out for trade; the Sūta said: Then the sage gathered various jewels.
नौकाः संस्थाप्य स ययौ देशाद्देशान्तरं प्रति
He arranged the ships and set out from one country to another.
कुर्वन्क्रयं विक्रयं च चिरं तस्थौ महामनाः 3.2.28.
Engaged in buying and selling, he stayed there for a long time with a great mind.
ततः कर्मविपाकेन तापमापाचिराद्वणिक्
Then, as a result of karma, the merchant soon experienced distress.
ज्ञात्वा निद्रागतान्सर्वान्हृतं चौरैर्महाधनम्
He saw that while all were asleep, great wealth had been stolen by thieves.
प्रातःकृत्यं नृपः कृत्वा सदः संप्राविशच्च सः
Having performed his morning duties, he entered the assembly.
उवाच स तदा वाक्यं शृणुष्व त्वं धरा पते
Then he spoke these words: 'Listen, O lord of the earth.'
मुमुषुश्चौरा गतास्सर्वे न जानीमो वयं नृप
'All the thieves have escaped; we do not know, O king.'
उवाच क्रोधताम्राक्षो यूयं संयात मा चिरम्
With eyes reddened in anger, he said, 'You all come here at once.'
नो चेद्धनिष्ये सगणानिति दूतान्समादिशत्
'Otherwise, I will kill you along with your followers,' he ordered the messengers.
बहुयत्नैर्न संशोध्य द्रव्यं चोरसमन्वितम्
Despite many efforts, the goods mixed with the thieves could not be recovered.
हन्ता मां सगणं राजा किं करोमि कुतः सुखम्
'The king will kill me along with my group; what can I do, where is happiness for me?'
नर्मदायां च मरणं शिवलोकप्रदायकम् 3.2.28.
'Death at the Narmada grants attainment of Shiva's world.'
विदेशिनोऽस्य वणिजो ददर्श विपुलं धनम्
A foreign merchant saw his abundant wealth.
चौरोऽयमिति निश्चित्य तौ बबंधात्मरक्षणात्
Thinking, 'He is a thief,' they bound him for the sake of protecting themselves.
प्रतिकूले हरौ तस्मिन्राज्ञापि न विचारितम्
Even the king did not consider that he was opposed to Hari.
कारागारे लोहमयैः शृंखलैरंगपादयोः
In prison, with iron chains on his limbs and feet,
जामात्रा सहितः साधुर्विललाप भृशं मुहुः
The virtuous one, together with his brother-in-law, lamented greatly and repeatedly.
क्व स्थिता च सुता भार्या पश्य धातुर्विपर्ययम्
Where are my daughter and wife now? See the reversal of fate.
मया बहुतरं धातुर्विप्रियं हि पुराकृतम्
Indeed, I have done much that is displeasing to fate in the past.
समं श्वशुरजामात्रौ द्वादशेषु विषादिनौ
Together, father-in-law and brother-in-law, both were distressed for twelve days.
शृण्वंति सुधियो नित्यं ते वसंति हरेः पदम्
Those wise ones who always listen dwell in the abode of Hari.
प्रतिकूले हरौ तस्मिन्यास्यन्ति निरयान्बहून्
Those who are opposed to Hari will go to many hells.
धर्मो यज्ञो नृपश्चौरः सर्वे लक्ष्मीप्रियंकराः
Dharma, sacrifice, king, and thief—all are dear to Lakshmi.
मातृभ्यो देवताभ्यश्च स्वधा स्वाहेति वै मखः
To the mothers and to the gods, the offering is indeed 'svadha' and 'svaha' in the sacrifice.
द्वयोर्हन्ता हि चोरः स ते सर्वे धर्मकिंकराः
Of the two, the thief is the killer; all these are servants of dharma.
सत्यहीनस्य तत्साधोर्धनं यत्तद्ग्रहे स्थितम्
The wealth of that virtuous one, devoid of truth, which was kept in the house,
वासोलंकरणादीनि विक्रीय बुभुजे किल
He sold garments, ornaments, and the like, and indeed consumed them.
अथैकस्मिन्दिने कन्या भोजनाच्छादनं विना
Then, on one day, the daughter was without food and clothing.
प्रार्थयंतं जगन्नाथं दृष्ट्वा सा प्रार्थयद्धरिम्
Seeing him praying to the Lord of the universe, she too prayed to Hari.