कामांधो राक्षसं हत्वा स्वपत्नीं प्राह निर्भयाम्
Blinded by desire, he slew the demon and spoke fearlessly to his wife.
साह भोः शृणु भूपाल विद्याधरसुता ह्यहम्
She said, 'O king, listen! I am indeed the daughter of a Vidyādhara.'
नागता भोजने काले पितृमात्रोश्च मंदिरे
I did not come at the time of the meal, nor to the house of my father and mother.
अद्य कृष्णचतुर्दश्यां त्वां भजिष्यति राक्षसः
Today, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, the demon will seize you.
तदाहं रोदनं कृत्वा ब्रवीमि पितरं प्रति
Then, weeping, I spoke to my father.
स होवाच कुमारि त्वं वीरभुक्ता भविष्यसि
He said, 'O daughter, you will be enjoyed by a hero.'
त्वदाज्ञयाहं यास्यामि भो राजन्पितृमंदिरे
By your command, O king, I will go to my father's house.
त्वया सार्द्धं गमिष्यामि गृहं विद्याधरस्य तत् 3.2.11.
With you, I will go to the house of the Vidyādhara.
तदा तु नगरे तस्मिन्नृणां जातो महोत्सवः पञ्चत्वमगमत्तूर्णं कुतो हेतोर्हि तद्वद
Then, in that city, a great festival arose among the people; but suddenly, death befell them—tell me, for what reason?
नृपं स हृदि संध्यात्वा राज्यभंगभयातुरः
He reflected in his heart upon the king, troubled by the fear of losing his kingdom.
विषयी यो हि भूपालस्तस्य राज्यविनाशनम्
For the king who is given to sensual pleasures, the destruction of his kingdom is certain.
राजंश्चूडापुरे रम्ये भूपश्चूडामणिः स्मृतः
In the beautiful city of Cūḍāpura, there was a king known as Cūḍāmaṇi.
देवस्वामी गुरुस्तस्य वेदवेदांगपारगः
His teacher was Devasvami, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
शिवमाराधयामास पुत्रार्थे वरवर्णिनी
The radiant woman worshipped Shiva for the sake of a son.
हरिस्वामीति विख्यातो जातो देवांशवान्बली
A son named Harisvami was born, famed, powerful, and possessing a portion of the gods.
रूपलावण्यिका नाम्ना तत्पत्नी हि सुरांगना
His wife, called Rupalavanyika, was a celestial maiden.
एकदा पतिना सार्द्धं वसन्ते कुसुमाकरे
Once, together with her husband, she dwelled in spring, the season of blossoming flowers.
सुकलो नाम गंधर्वस्तस्या रूपेण मोहितः
A Gandharva named Sukala was captivated by her beauty.
प्रबुद्धः स तु तां नारीं मृगयामास विह्वलः
Awakened, he sought after that woman, overcome with longing.
संन्यस्य विषयान्सर्वान्हरिध्यानपरायणः
Renouncing all sensual pleasures, he devoted himself to meditation on Hari.
प्रपच्य पायसमपि वटवृक्षमुपाश्रितः भोजनं च ततो राजन्सर्पेण गरलीकृतम् ।। 3.2.12.
Having cooked rice pudding, he took shelter beneath a banyan tree; but, O King, the food was poisoned by a snake.
ततो यतिः समायातो भुक्त्वा मदमुपाययौ
Then a mendicant arrived, ate, and became intoxicated.
त्वया प्रदत्तं मूर्खेण पायसं विषमिश्रितम्
You, foolish one, gave rice pudding mixed with poison.
इत्युक्त्वा मरणं प्राप्य शिवलोकमुपाययौ
Having spoken thus, he died and attained the realm of Shiva.
इत्युक्त्वा स तु वेतालो राजानमिदब्रवीत्
Having said this, the Vetala addressed the king.
अतो दोषी हि भुजगो ब्रह्महत्यां न चाप्तवान्
Therefore, the snake is at fault, but did not incur the sin of killing a Brahmin.
बुभुक्षिते ददौ भिक्षां स द्विजो दैवमोहितः
The Brahmin, deluded by fate, gave alms to the hungry.
आत्मना च कृतं पापं भोक्तव्यं सर्वदा जनैः
The sin committed by oneself must always be experienced by people.
ब्रह्महत्या तदा ज्ञेया विषदत्तेन सा तथा
At that time, the killing of a Brahmin should be understood as caused by the one who gave the poison.
यैर्नरैः कथिता वार्ता ब्रह्महत्या त्वया कृता
By those men who narrated the story, the sin of killing a Brahmin has been committed by you.