नृपेन्द्रवचनं श्रुत्वा तमुवाच महामुनिः
Hearing the king's words, the great sage spoke to him.
किंत्वघमर्षणमन्त्रं तु जप्त्वाऽऽयाम्यचिरेण वै 4.25.
But, having recited the Aghamarṣaṇa mantra, I shall return very soon.
गते विप्रे तु राजर्षिश्चिन्तां प्राप दुरत्ययाम्
When the sage had departed, the royal seer fell into deep and inescapable anxiety.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र समायान्तं गुरुं मुदा
Meanwhile, his teacher arrived there, filled with joy.
नायाति मुनिशार्दूलः प्रयाति द्वादशी तिथिः शीघ्रं वद मुनिश्रेष्ठ भद्राभद्रं च मामिति
"The tiger among sages does not come; the twelfth lunar day is passing. Quickly tell me, best of sages, what is auspicious or inauspicious for me."
श्रुत्वा नृपोक्तिं त्वरितमुवाच मुनिपुंगवः
Hearing the king's words, the eminent sage spoke swiftly.
वशिष्ठ उवाच उपवासफलं हत्वा व्रतिनं हन्ति निश्चितम्
Vasiṣṭha said: "By destroying the merit of fasting, one certainly destroys the observer of the vow."
ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं भवेत्तस्य श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
It is heard in the scriptures that such a sin is equal to the killing of a Brahmin.
न भोजयित्वा मूढश्चेदतिथिं समुपस्थितम्
If a fool does not feed a guest who has arrived,
शतवर्षं तत्र तिष्ठन्नरश्चाण्डालतां व्रजेत्
That man, remaining there for a hundred years, attains the state of a caṇḍāla.
अतोऽतिसूक्ष्मं किं ब्रूमोऽधुना परम संकटे
Therefore, in such a very difficult situation, what more subtle thing can we say now?
उपवासफलं रक्ष कृष्णस्य चरणोदकम् 4.25.
Preserve the merit of the fast with the water from Kṛṣṇa's feet.
इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो विरराम महामुने
Having spoken thus, the son of Brahmā, the great sage, fell silent.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ब्रह्मन्नाजगाम मुनीश्वरः
Meanwhile, O Brahman, the lord of sages arrived.
ततः समुत्थितः शीघ्रं पुरुषोऽग्निशिखोपमः
Then, a man arose swiftly, blazing like the tip of a flame.
हरेश्चक्रं च तं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम्
Seeing the discus of Hari, shining like ten million suns,
दृष्ट्वा सुदर्शनं विप्रो दुद्राव भयविह्वलः
Beholding the Sudarśana, the sage fled, overcome by fear.
ब्रह्माण्डक्रमणं कृत्वा निर्विण्णोऽति भयाकुलः
Having traversed the universe, he became despondent, utterly overwhelmed by terror.
त्राहित्राहीत्येवमुक्त्वा विवेश ब्रह्मणः सभाम्
Crying out, 'Save me! Save me!' he entered the assembly of Brahmā.
सर्वं स कथयामास वृत्तान्तं मूलतो विधिम्
He related everything, the entire account from the beginning, to the Creator.
ब्रह्मोवाच रक्षिता यस्य भगवांस्तं को हन्ता जगत्त्रये
Brahmā said: He whom the Blessed Lord protects—who in all the three worlds can harm him?
क्षुद्राणां महतां चैव भक्तानां रक्षणाय च 4.25.
For the protection of both the humble and the great, and of the devotees as well.
यो मूढो वैष्णवं द्वेष्टि विष्णुप्राणसमं द्विज
O twice-born, the fool who hates a Vaiṣṇava, who is as dear as life to Viṣṇu,
शीघ्रं स्थानान्तरं गच्छ वत्स त्राणं न वाऽधुना
Quickly go elsewhere, my child; now there is no protection for you.
किं ब्रह्मलोकं ब्रह्माण्डं दग्धुं शक्तं क्षणेन यत्
What of Brahmā's world, or the cosmic egg, which can be burned to ashes in a moment?
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा ततो दुद्राव ब्राह्मणः
Hearing Brahmā's words, the brāhmaṇa fled from there.
कृपानिधान मां रक्षेत्युवाच शंकरं भिया
Out of fear, he cried to Śaṅkara, 'O ocean of mercy, protect me!'
उवाच दीनदीनेशः संहर्ता जगतां क्षणात्
The Lord of the distressed, who can destroy the worlds in an instant, spoke.
शंकर उवाच वेदज्ञाताऽसि सर्वज्ञ मूर्खतुल्यं तु कर्म ते
Śaṅkara said: You know the Vedas, you are all-knowing, yet your action is like that of a fool.
वेदेषु च पुराणेषु सेतिहासेषु सर्वतः
In the Vedas, the Purāṇas, and the Itihāsas, everywhere,