सुबुद्धिरतिधर्मिष्ठो धर्महीनश्च पातकी । स्वधर्मनिरतो विप्रः परमाच्च हुताशनात्
One with good intellect is exceedingly righteous, while one devoid of righteousness is sinful; a Brahmin devoted to his own duty is superior even to fire.
पवित्रश्चातितेजस्वी तस्मद्भीताः सुराः सदा । नदीषु च यथा गङ्गा तीर्थेषु पुष्करं यथा
He is pure and of immense brilliance; therefore, the gods are always fearful of him, just as the Ganga among rivers, and Pushkara among sacred places.
पुरीषु च यथा काशी यथा ज्ञानिषु शंकरः । शास्त्रेषु च यथा वेदा यथाऽश्वत्थश्च पादपे
Just as Kashi among cities, Shiva among the wise, the Vedas among scriptures, and the Ashvattha among trees.
मम पूजा तपस्यासु व्रतेष्वनशनं यथा । तथा जातिषु सर्वासु ब्राह्मणाः श्रेष्ठ एव च
Just as fasting is supreme among austerities and vows, so too, among all castes, the Brahmins are indeed the best.
विप्रणदेषु तीर्थानि पुण्यानि च व्रतानि च । विप्रपादरजः शुद्धं पापव्याधिविमर्दनम्
Among Brahmins are found holy places and virtuous vows; the dust of a Brahmin's feet is pure, destroying sin and disease.
शुभाशीर्वचनं तेषां सर्वकल्याणकारणम् । एतत्ते कथितं तात विपाकः कर्मणामहो
Their auspicious words are the cause of all well-being; thus, O dear one, I have told you the result of actions.
यथाश्रुतं यथाज्ञातं तदशेषं निणामय। शुत्वा धर्मविपाकं च वाचकाय सुवर्णकम्
As heard and as known, so let it be fully understood; after hearing the result of righteousness, give gold to the reciter.
दद्यात्तस्मै च रौप्यं च वस्त्रं ताम्बूलमेव च । सुवर्णशतकं दद्यात्सद्यो देही च गोकुलम्
One should give him silver, cloth, and betel as well; one should immediately give a hundred pieces of gold and also Gokula.
अथ षडशीतितमोऽध्यायः नन्द उवाच केदारकन्याप्रस्तावात्कथितं कर्मकीर्तनम् । कृत्यास्त्रीणां प्रसङ्गेन तद्व्यासेन वद प्रभो
Chapter eighty-six begins. Nanda said: From the account of Kedara's daughter, the praise of deeds was spoken; by the context of women's duties, O master, explain that through Vyasa.
केदारकन्या सा का वा को वा केदारभूपतिः । कस्य वंशेचतज्जन्म तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Who is Kedara's daughter, who is she, and who is King Kedara? From whose lineage was she born? Please explain that to me.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच पुरातु ब्रह्मणाः पुत्रो मनुः स्वांयभुवस्तथा । तस्य स्त्री शतरूपा च धन्या मान्या च योषिताम्
Sri Krishna said: In ancient times, Manu, the son of Brahma, was born from Svayambhuva; his wife was Shatarupa, blessed and honored among women.
प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ तयोः पुत्रौ बभूवतुः । उत्तानपादपुत्रश्च ध्रुव एव महायशाः
Priyavrata and Uttanapada were their two sons; and Uttanapada's son was Dhruva, renowned and illustrious.
तत्पुत्रो नन्दसावर्णिः केदारश्च तदात्मजः । सप्तद्वीपपतिः श्रीमान्केदारो वैष्णवः स्वयम्
His son was Nandasavarni, and Kedara was his son; Kedara, the lord of the seven islands, was himself a Vaishnava.
तस्य रक्षानिमित्तेन सत्सभायां सुदर्शनम् । गवां लक्षं शुद्धं स्वर्णशृङ्गं च भूषितम्
For the sake of protection, in the noble assembly, Sudarshana was given a hundred thousand pure cows adorned with golden horns.
वह्निशुद्धानि वस्त्राणि दत्तानि वरुणेन च । सुवर्णानां तथा लक्षं सर्वसस्यां वसुंधराम्
Garments purified by fire were given by Varuna; likewise, a hundred thousand pieces of gold and all the crops of the earth.
मणिरत्नं च मुक्ताश्च हीरकं परमं तथा । माणिक्यामश्वरत्नानां लक्षं लक्षं चहस्तिनाम्
He gave jewels, pearls, and supreme diamonds; a hundred thousand rubies, and a hundred thousand elephants.
रौप्यं प्रवालं मिष्टान्नं शतधान्याचलं वरम् । नित्यं नित्यं ब्राह्मणेम्यो ददौ च रत्नभूषणाम्
Silver, coral, sweet food, and the best mountain of grains; he always gave gems and ornaments to the Brahmins.
शतलक्षं ब्राह्मणानां भोजयामास नित्यशः । जलभोजनपात्राणि सुवर्णानां ददौ नृपः
He fed a hundred thousand Brahmins daily; the king gave golden vessels for water and food.
सुवर्णानां यज्ञसूत्रमङ्गुलीयकमुत्तमम् । आसनं स्वर्णरत्नानां ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ मुदा
He joyfully gave the Brahmins a sacrificial thread and a ring of gold, as well as a seat made of gold and precious gems.
ब्राह्मणानां च लक्षं च सूपकारं नृपस्य च । ब्राह्मणानां द्विलक्षं च परिवेषणकारकम्
He provided one hundred thousand cooks for the Brahmins and the king, and two hundred thousand servers for the Brahmins.
घृतकुल्या मधुकुल्या दधिकुल्या मनोहराः । गुडकुल्या दुग्धकुल्या नित्यं प्रार्थनमीप्सितम्
He offered delightful heaps of ghee, honey, curds, jaggery, and milk, always fulfilling the desired requests.
प्रातरारभ्य संध्यान्तं विप्राणां भोजनं तथा । दुःशिनां भिक्षुकाणां च धनदानं यथोचितम्
From morning until evening, he arranged meals for the Brahmins, and gave wealth as appropriate to the needy and beggars.
फलमूलाशनो राजा वैष्णवश्च जितेन्द्रियः । सर्व मदर्पणं कृत्वाऽजपन्मां च दिवानिशम्
The king, a Vaishnava who had mastered his senses, ate only fruits and roots, dedicating everything to me and reciting my name day and night.
एकदा सूपकारश्च तमुवाच नृपेश्वरम् । विप्राणां भोजनायैव दशलक्षमुपस्थितम्
One day, the chief cook spoke to the king: 'Ten hundred thousand are assembled for the Brahmins' meal.'
भुञ्जते ब्राह्मणाश्चाद्य रूक्षमन्नं वद प्रभो । कुर्वन्तु भक्षणं ते वै विप्राः सूपादिना नृप
'Today the Brahmins eat dry food, O lord; let them eat with soup and other dishes, O king.'
चतुर्योजनपर्यन्तमधिकारो नृपस्य च । यो राजा तच्छतसुणः स एव मण्डलेश्वरः
The king's domain extended for four yojanas; the king who receives a hundredfold tax is the lord of the region.
तत्तद्दशगुणो राजा राजेन्द्रः परिकीर्तितः । राजेन्द्राणां पञ्चलक्षं नित्यं केदारसंसदि
That king is renowned as ten times greater; among the royal lords, five hundred thousand always assemble in the field.
अमूल्यरत्नमाणिक्यं मुक्ताहीरं मणीश्वरम् । गजरत्नमश्वरत्नं केदाराय करं ददौ
He gave to Kedara a tribute of priceless jewels, rubies, pearls, diamonds, and the finest gems, as well as elephant and horse gems.
कमलाकलया जाता यज्ञकुण्डसमुद्भवाः । वह्रिशुद्धांसुकाधाना रत्नभूषणभूषिता
Born from the lotus and the sacrificial fire, adorned with pure garments and jeweled ornaments, they shone brightly.
कामुकी कामिनीश्रेष्ठा कन्या कमललोचना । कन्याऽस्मि ते महाराजेत्युवाच नृपतिं च सा
A maiden, supreme among lovers, lotus-eyed, said to the king: 'I am your daughter, O great king.'