न मन्युतीर्थसदृशं पावनं हि महामुने यत्र साक्षान् मन्युरूपी सर्वदा शंकरः स्थितः तत्र स्नानं च दानं च स्मरणं सर्वकामदम्
O great sage, there is no holy place as purifying as Manyutīrtha, where Śaṃkara himself, in the form of Manyu, always abides; bathing, giving, or remembering there grants all desires.
सारस्वतं नाम तीर्थं सर्वकामप्रदं शुभम् भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नॄणां सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
There is a sacred place called Sārasvata, bestowing all desires, auspicious, granting enjoyment and liberation to people, and destroying all sins.
सर्वरोगप्रशमनं सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकम् तत्रेमं शृणु वृत्तान्तं विस्तरेणाथ नारद
It removes all diseases and bestows all accomplishments; now, O Nārada, listen in detail to this account there.
पुष्पोत्कटात् पूर्वभागे पर्वतो लोकविश्रुतः शुभ्रो नाम गिरिश्रेष्ठो गौतम्या दक्षिणे तटे
To the east of Puṣpotkaṭa is a mountain renowned in the world, called Śubhra, the best of mountains, on the southern bank of the Gautamī.
शाकल्य इति विख्यातो मुनिः परमनैष्ठिकः तस्मिञ् शुभ्रे पुण्यगिरौ तपस् तेपे ह्य् अनुत्तमम्
There, on that auspicious and holy mountain, the sage named Śākalya, famed for supreme renunciation, performed excellent austerities.
तपस्यन्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं गौतमीतीरम् आश्रितम् सर्वे भूतगणा नित्यं प्रणमन्ति स्तुवन्ति तम्
All the hosts of beings constantly bow and praise that best of twice-born, engaged in austerity, dwelling on the bank of the Gautamī.
अग्निशुश्रूषणपरं वेदाध्ययनतत्परम् ऋषिगन्धर्वसुमनःसेविते तत्र पर्वते
Devoted to serving fire and intent on Vedic study, he was served on that mountain by seers, gandharvas, and divine spirits.
तस्मिन् गिरौ महापुण्ये देवद्विजभयंकरः यज्ञद्वेषी ब्रह्महन्ता परशुर् नाम राक्षसः
On that most holy mountain, there was a demon named Paraśu, terrifying to gods and twice-born, a hater of sacrifice and slayer of Brahmins.
कामरूपी विचरति नानारूपधरो वने क्षणं च ब्रह्मरूपेण कदाचिद् व्याघ्ररूपधृक्
He wanders in the forest, taking on various forms at will; sometimes he appears as a Brahmin, sometimes as a tiger.
कदाचिद् देवरूपेण कदाचित् पशुरूपधृक् कदाचित् प्रमदारूपः कदाचिन् मृगरूपतः
Sometimes he takes the form of a god, sometimes of an animal, sometimes as a woman, and sometimes as a deer.
कदाचिद् बालरूपेण एवं चरति पापकृत् यत्रास्ते ब्राह्मणो विद्वाञ् शाकल्यो मुनिसत्तमः
Sometimes he takes the form of a child; thus, this evildoer roams where the learned Brahmin, the eminent sage Śākalya, resides.
तम् आयाति महापापी परशू राक्षसाधमः शुचिष्मन्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं परशुर् नित्यम् एव च
That most wicked demon Paraśu approaches the pure and excellent Brahmin, Śākalya, again and again.
नेतुं हन्तुं प्रवृत्तो ऽपि न शशाक स पापकृत् स कदाचिद् द्विजश्रेष्ठो देवान् अभ्यर्च्य यत्नतः
Though intent on taking or killing him, that evildoer could not succeed; once, that best of Brahmins, having worshipped the gods with care—
भोक्तुकामः किलायातस् तत्रायात् परशुर् मुने ब्रह्मरूपधरो भूत्वा शिथिलः पलितो ऽबली कन्याम् आदाय कांचिच् च शाकल्यं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Desiring food, Paraśu came there, O sage, taking the form of a Brahmin—weak, gray-haired, and feeble—bringing a certain maiden, and spoke to Śākalya:
भोजनस्यार्थिनं विद्धि मां च कन्याम् इमां द्विज आतिथ्यकाले संप्राप्तं कृतकृत्यो ऽसि मानद
Know me, O Brahmin, as one seeking food, and this maiden as well; at the time of hospitality, having arrived, you are accomplished, O giver of honor.
त एव धन्या लोके ऽस्मिन् येषाम् अतिथयो गृहात् पूर्णाभिलाषा निर्यान्ति जीवन्तो ऽपि मृताः परे
Those alone are blessed in this world whose guests leave their house with fulfilled desires, whether living or dead.
भोजने तूपविष्टे तु आत्मार्थं कल्पितं तु यत् अतिथिभ्यस् तु यो दद्याद् दत्ता तेन वसुंधरा
When one is seated for a meal, whatever is set aside for oneself—if someone gives that to guests, by that gift the earth is given.
एतच् छ्रुत्वा तु शाकल्यो ददामीत्य् एवम् अब्रवीत् आसने चोपवेश्याथाज्ञानात् तं परशुं द्विजम्
Hearing this, Shakalya said, 'I will give,' and so spoke; then, seating the twice-born on the seat, as instructed, he gave him the axe.
यथान्यायं पूजयित्वा शाकल्यो भोजनं ददौ आपोशनं करे कृत्वा परशुर् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Having honored Shakalya properly, he gave him food; after washing his hands, Parashu spoke these words.
दूराद् अभ्यागतं श्रान्तम् अनुगच्छन्ति देवताः तस्मिंस् तृप्ते तु तृप्ताः स्युर् अतृप्ते तु विपर्ययः
The gods follow one who has come from afar, weary; when he is satisfied, they are satisfied; if he is not, the opposite occurs.
अतिथिश् चापवादी च द्वाव् एतौ विश्वबान्धवौ अपवादी हरेत् पापम् अतिथिः स्वर्गसंक्रमः
The guest and the slanderer—these two are kin to all; the slanderer takes away sin, the guest brings passage to heaven.
अभ्यागतं पथि श्रान्तं सावज्ञं यो ऽभिवीक्षते तत्क्षणाद् एव नश्यन्ति तस्य धर्मयशःश्रियः
Whoever looks upon a weary traveler who has arrived on the road with contempt, in that very moment his righteousness, fame, and prosperity are destroyed.
तस्माद् अभ्यागतः श्रान्तो याचे ऽहं त्वां द्विजोत्तम दास्यसे यदि मे कामं तद् भोक्ष्ये ऽहं न चान्यथा
Therefore, O best of twice-born, I am weary and have come to you; I ask you—if you grant my wish, I will eat; otherwise, I will not.
दत्तम् इत्य् एव शाकल्यो भुङ्क्ष्वेत्य् एवाह राक्षसम् ततः प्रोवाच परशुर् अहं राक्षससत्तमः
'Given,' said Shakalya, and 'Eat,' said the Rakshasa; then Parashu spoke: 'I am the foremost of Rakshasas.'
नाहं द्विजस् तव रिपुर् न वृद्धः पलितः कृशः बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि वर्षाणि त्वां प्रपश्यतः
'I am not a twice-born, nor your enemy, nor old, nor gray, nor emaciated; many years have passed as I have watched you.'
शुष्यन्ति मम गात्राणि ग्रीष्मे स्वल्पोदकं यथा तस्मान् नेष्ये सानुगं त्वां भक्षयिष्ये द्विजोत्तम
'My limbs are drying up, as in summer with little water; therefore, I will take you along with your followers and eat you, O best of twice-born.'
श्रुत्वा परशुवाक्यं तच् छाकल्यो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing Parashu's words, Shakalya spoke.
ये महाकुलसंभूता विज्ञातसकलागमाः तत् प्रतिश्रुतम् अभ्येति न जात्व् अत्र विपर्ययम्
Those born in great families, who know all the scriptures, always fulfill what they have promised; there is never any deviation in this.
यथोचितं कुरु सखे तथापि शृणु मे वचः निहन्तुम् अप्य् उद्यतेषु वक्तव्यं हितम् उत्तमैः
'Do as is proper, friend; yet listen to my words: even when one is about to be killed, the wise must speak what is beneficial.'
ब्राह्मणो ऽहं वज्रतनुः सर्वतो रक्षको हरिः पादौ रक्षतु मे विष्णुः शिरो देवो जनार्दनः
'I am a Brahmin, with a body like a thunderbolt; Hari protects me on all sides. May Vishnu guard my feet, may Janardana, the god, guard my head.'