भूप पुत्रेणार्थसिद्धं कृतं तस्माच्च भूपतेः
The king's son accomplished the purpose, and thus it was done by the king.
रजोवतीं सुतां दृष्ट्वा न विवाहेत यो नरः
A man who, seeing Rājovatī, the daughter, does not marry her—
गांधर्वं च विवाहं वै कामिन्या च कृतं यया
And the gāndharva marriage was performed by her, out of desire.
अदृष्टदोषां यः कन्यां विवेकेन विना त्यजेत्
He who, without discernment, abandons a maiden who is without visible fault—
इति श्रुत्वा? स वैतालो धर्मगाथां नृपेरिताम्
Hearing thus, the Vetāla recited the verse on dharma as prompted by the king.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराणे प्रतिसर्गपर्वणि चतुर्युगखण्डापरपर्याये नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pratisarga Parvan, in the section called the Caturyuga-khaṇḍa-aparaparvāya, the first chapter.
द्विजवर्यः स वैतालो वचः प्राह प्रसन्नधीः
The excellent twice-born Vetāla, with a clear mind, spoke these words.
एकदा यमुनातीरे धर्मस्थलपुरी शुभा
Once, on the bank of the Yamunā, was the auspicious city of Dharmasthala.
गुणाधिपो महीपालस्तत्र राज्यं चकार वै
The king, lord of virtues, ruled there over the kingdom.
तस्य पत्नी सुशीला च पतिव्रतपरायणा
His wife was Suśīlā, devoted to her husband and virtuous.
तस्यानुजा मधुमती शीलरूपगुणान्विता
His younger sister, Madhumatī, possessed virtue, beauty, and good qualities.
भ्राता? बभ्राम तौ सर्वं चिनुतश्च सुतावरम्
Her brother wandered everywhere, seeking the best suitor for his sister.
पठनार्थे तु काश्यां वै सत्त्वशीलः स्वयं गतः
For the purpose of study, Sattvaśīla himself went to Kāśī.
वामनो नाम विख्यातो रूपशीलवयोवृतः
A renowned man named Vāmana, distinguished by appearance, virtue, and age.
भोजनं छादनं पानं स्वप्नं त्यक्त्वा च विह्वला
She neglected food, clothing, drink, and sleep, overcome with distress.
दृष्ट्वा सुशीला तं बाला वामनं ब्राह्मणं तथा 3.2.2.
Suśīlā, the young girl, saw that brāhmaṇa Vāmana.
हरिशर्मा प्रयोगे च द्विजं दृष्ट्वा त्रिविक्रमम्
Hariśarmā, in ritual, saw the brāhmaṇa Trivikrama.
सत्यशीलस्तु काश्यां वै गुरुपुत्रं च केशवम्
Satyaśīla, in Kāśī, and Keśava, the guru's son.
माघकृष्णत्रयोदश्यां भृगौ लग्नं शुभं स्मृतम्
On the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Māgha, the auspicious Bhṛgu alignment was remembered.
तस्मिन्काले तु सा कन्या भुजगेनैव दंशिता
At that time, the maiden was bitten by a serpent.
तदा ते ब्राह्मणा यत्नं कारयामासुरुत्तमम्
Then those brāhmaṇas undertook the utmost effort.
हरिशर्मा तु तत्सर्वं कृत्वा वेदविधानतः
Hariśarmā performed all those rites according to the Vedic injunctions.
त्रिविक्रमस्तु बहुधा दुःखं कृत्वा स्मरानुगः
Trivikrama, following the god of love, suffered greatly in many ways.
केशवस्तु महादुःखी प्रियास्थीनि गृहीतवान्
Keśava, overwhelmed by grief, took the bones of his beloved.
भस्मग्राही वामनस्तु विरहाग्निप्रपीडितः
Vāmana, gathering ashes, was afflicted by the fire of separation.
एकदा सरयूतीरे लक्ष्मणाख्यपुरे शुभे 3.2.2.
Once, on the bank of the Sarayu, in the auspicious city called Lakṣmaṇa.
तस्मिन्दिने रामशर्मा शिवध्यानपरायणः
On that day, Rāmaśarmā was devoted to the meditation of Śiva.
तस्य पत्नी विशालाक्षी रचित्वा बहुभोजनम्
His wife, Viśālākṣī, having prepared a great feast,
तस्मिन्काले च तद्बालो मृतः पापवशंगतः
At that time, their child died, overcome by the force of sin.
न रोदनं त्यक्तवती पुत्रशोकाग्नितापिता
She did not weep, though tormented by the fire of grief for her son.