द्विजो भूत्वा सप्तजनौ भारते वृषलीपतिः
Becoming a twice-born, for seven births in Bhārata he is the husband of a low-caste woman.
पुनः पुनः पापयोनिं नरकं च पुनः पुनः
Again and again he is born in sinful wombs, and again and again in hell.
पञ्चजन्मसु मण्डूको भवेच्छुद्धस्ततः क्रमात्
For five births he becomes a frog, and then, gradually, he is purified.
सुयज्ञ उवाच शूद्रान्नभोजने वाऽपि शूद्रस्त्रीगमनेऽपि च
Suyajña said: What fault is there for brāhmaṇas in eating food of a śūdra, or in intercourse with a śūdra woman?
ब्राह्मणानां च को दोषो वृषाणां वाहने तथा
And what fault is there for brāhmaṇas in carrying bulls?
पराशर उवाच असिपत्रे वसत्येव युगानामेकसप्ततिः
Parāśara said: He dwells in the Asipatra hell for seventy-one yugas.
ततो भवेद्गर्दभश्च मूषिकः सप्तजन्मसु
After that, for seven births, he becomes a donkey and a mouse.
जरत्कारुरुवाच स कृतघ्न इति ख्यातः प्रसिद्धो भारते नृप
Jaratkāru said: He is known as ungrateful, renowned thus in Bhārata, O king.
ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं तन्नित्यं वृषताडने
The sin of striking a bull is always equal to the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.
सूर्य्यातपे वाहयेद्यः क्षुधितं तृष्टितं वृषम् 2.51.
Whoever drives a hungry or thirsty bull under the heat of the sun—
अन्नं विष्ठा जलं मूत्रं विप्राणां वृषवाहिनाम्
Food, excrement, water, and urine of brāhmaṇas who ride bulls—
लालाकुण्डे वसत्येव यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ
He dwells in a pit of saliva as long as the moon and sun endure.
त्रिसन्ध्यं ताडयेत्तं च शूलेन यमकिङ्करः
At the three junctions of the day, Yama's servant strikes him with a spear.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्ठायां च कृमिर्भवेत्
For sixty thousand years, he becomes a worm in excrement.
पञ्चजन्मसु गृध्रश्च शृगालः सप्तजन्मसु
For five births one becomes a vulture, and for seven births a jackal.
भारद्वाज उवाच वयःप्रमाणां राजेन्द्र ब्रह्महत्यां लभेद्ध्रुवम्
Bhāradvāja said: O king, one certainly incurs the sin of killing a Brahmin by measuring age or stature.
तत्तुल्ययोनिभ्रमणात्तत्तुल्यनरकाच्छुचिः
By wandering in wombs of similar kind, and from similar hells, one becomes pure.
तावदेव भवेद्दोषः शूद्रश्राद्धान्नभोजने
The fault remains only as long as one eats food from a Śūdra's śrāddha offering.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच अहं वक्ष्यामि वेदोक्तं सावधानं निशामय ।।2.51.
Markandeya said: I will now speak what is declared in the Veda; listen attentively.
कृतघ्नानां प्रधानश्च यो विप्रो वृषलीपतिः
Among the ungrateful, the chief is the Brahmin who is the husband of a low-caste woman.
कृमिभक्ष्यो भवेद्विप्रो विह्वलो यमकिङ्करैः
Such a Brahmin, tormented by Yama's attendants, becomes food for worms.
ततश्च पुंश्चलीयोनौ कृमिर्भवति निश्चितम्
Then, certainly, he is born as a worm in the womb of a promiscuous woman.
सुयज्ञ उवाच श्लाघ्यो मे ब्राह्मशापश्च कस्य सम्पद्विनाऽऽपदम्
Suyajña said: Praiseworthy to me is the curse of a Brahmin—whose fortune is without misfortune?
धन्योऽहं कृतकृत्योऽहं सफलं जीवनं मम
I am blessed, I have accomplished my purpose, my life is fruitful.
श्रीपार्वत्युवाच तेषां किमूचुर्मुनयो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगाः
Śrī Pārvatī said: What did those sages, accomplished in the Veda and its branches, say?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच तत्र प्रवक्तुमारेभे ऋषिर्नारायणो महान्
Śrī Maheśvara said: There, the great sage Nārāyaṇa began to speak.
श्रीनारायण उवाच स कृतघ्न इति ज्ञेयः फलं च शृणु भूमिप
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: He is to be known as ungrateful; hear, O king, the result.
यावन्तो रेणवः सिक्ता विप्राणां नेत्रबिन्दुभिः
As many as the dust particles moistened by the tears of Brahmins—
तप्ताङ्गारं च तद्भक्ष्यं पानं वै तप्तमूत्रकम्
—so many times must he eat hot coals and drink scalding urine.
तदन्ते च महापापी विष्ठायां जायते कृमिः
At the end of that, the great sinner is born as a worm in excrement.