महादेव उवाच कृतापराधं दीनं च पाहीमं शरणागतम् ।। 4.25.
Mahadeva said: Protect this one, who is distressed and has committed an offense, who has come to you for refuge.
पार्वत्युवाच सर्वेषामीश्वरस्त्वं च रक्ष विप्रं कृतागसम्
Parvati said: You are the Lord of all; protect the Brahmin who has committed a transgression.
धर्म उवाच शिशुहेतोः शिशुं हन्ति पितेत्येवं कुतः प्रभो
Dharma said: For the sake of a child, one kills a child—how can this be, O Lord?
इंद्र उवाच अपराधफलं भूतमधुना पातुमर्हसि
Indra said: Now you must bear the fruit of the offense that has occurred.
रुद्र उवाच कृतकुण्ठस्य मूलस्य पालनं कर्तुमर्हसि
Rudra said: You ought to protect the root of what has been made blunt.
दिक्पाल उवाच अपराधशमं कृत्वा सदा पाति सदीश्वरः
The Guardians of the Directions said: Having forgiven the offense, the Lord always protects.
ग्रहा ऊचुः पीडां कुर्मो वयं शश्वत्पश्चात्त्वं पातुमर्हसि
The Planets said: We always inflict suffering, but afterwards, you ought to protect.
मुनय ऊचुः दण्डं विधातुमेकस्य भवेल्लज्जा स्वजातिषु
The Sages said: To punish one of one's own kind would bring shame among one's kin.
अत्रिरुवाच न कं बिभेति त्रैलोक्ये तेजस्वी तेजसा तव
Atri said: In the three worlds, none fears anyone, O radiant one, because of your brilliance.
लक्ष्मीरुवाच स्तुवन्ति देव विप्राश्च न विप्रं हन्तुमर्हसि
Lakshmi said: The gods and Brahmins praise you; you should not harm the Brahmin.
सरस्वत्युवाच भगवन्स्वामी सर्वेषां सर्वांश्च पातुमर्हसि ।। 4.25.
Sarasvati said: O Lord, master of all, you ought to protect everyone.
पार्षदा ऊचुः भवेत्सर्वापदो यान्ति पाहीमं शरणागतम्
The Attendants said: All calamities may come; protect this one who has sought refuge.
नर्तका ऊचुः भिक्षां नः सांप्रतं देहि परित्राणं द्विजस्य च
The Dancers said: Grant us alms now, and deliver the twice-born as well.
एतेषां स्तवनं श्रुत्वा प्रभुः शरणवत्सलः
Hearing their praises, the Lord, who is compassionate to those who seek refuge—
श्रीभगवानुवाच विप्ररक्षां करिष्यामि युष्माकमाज्ञया ध्रुवम्
The Blessed Lord said: I will surely protect the Brahmin, by your command.
किं त्वयं यातु वैकुण्ठादम्बरीषालयं पुनः
But now, let him go from Vaikuntha to Ambarisha's abode again.
विप्रस्तस्यातिथिर्भूत्वा निर्दोषं शप्तुमुद्यतः
That Brahmin, having become his guest, was prepared to curse him though he was faultless.
पूर्णं वर्षमयं भीतो भ्रमत्येव भुवं मुदा
For a full year, he wandered the earth in fear, yet with joy.
ततोऽहमुपवासी च भक्तोपवासकारणात्
Then I too observed a fast, for the sake of the devotees' fasting.
ममाशिषा मुनिश्रेष्ठः सद्यो भवतु विज्वरः
By my blessing, O best of sages, may you at once be free from fever.
अहमेवाद्य निश्चिन्तः सुखं भोक्ष्यामि निश्चितम् 4.25.
Today, I am truly carefree and will certainly eat happily.
लक्ष्मीदत्तं च यद्द्रव्यं न चाहं भोक्तुमीश्वरः
As for the wealth given by Lakshmi, I am not entitled to enjoy it.
हे मुनीन्द्र महाप्राज्ञ गच्छ वत्स नृपालयम्
O chief of sages, greatly wise one, go now, child, to the king's palace.
इत्युक्त्वा श्रीहरिस्तूर्णं ययौ स्वान्तःपुरं मुदा
Having spoken thus, Shri Hari quickly entered his inner chambers with joy.
ब्राह्मणश्च मनोयायी जगाम नृपमन्दिरम्
And the brahmin, following his intention, went to the king's palace.
उपोष्य वत्सरं राजा शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः
Having fasted for a year, the king's throat, lips, and palate were parched.
उत्थाय संभ्रमात्सद्यः प्रणम्य सादरं मुदा
Rising up in haste, he immediately bowed with respect and joy.
भुक्त्वा तुष्टो द्विजश्रेष्ठो युयुजे परमाशिषम्
Having eaten, the best of brahmins, being satisfied, bestowed the highest blessing.
उवाच पथि विप्रेन्द्रो मनसा विस्मयाकुलः
On the way, the foremost brahmin, his mind filled with wonder, spoke.
नारद उवाच पराभवो मुनेश्चैव नृपत्राणं हरेरहो
Narada said: O, what a defeat for the sage, and what a deliverance for the king by Hari!