तस्य पुत्रश्च सुरथश्चक्रवर्त्ती बृहच्छ्रवाः
His son was Suratha, the universal emperor, of great fame.
भेजे पुरा विष्णुमायां पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते
Long ago, he resorted to Viṣṇu's māyā in the sacred land of Bhārata.
वैश्येन सार्धं स महाञ्ज्ञानिनां मुनिसत्तम
Together with a Vaiśya, O best of sages, who was a great knower.
तस्य पुत्रो महायोगी द्रुमिणो ज्ञानिनां वरः
His son was Drumi, a great yogi and foremost among the wise.
कृत्वा समाधिं संप्राप ज्ञानिनां वैष्णवाग्रणीः
Having entered into samādhi, he attained the foremost place among the Vaiṣṇava knowers.
स च कोटिसुवर्णं च नित्यं दत्त्वा जलं पपौ
He gave a crore of gold and daily drank water.
राजा लेभे मनुत्वं च राज्यं निष्कण्टकं मुने
The king attained the status of Manu and a kingdom free from obstacles, O sage.
नारद उवाच वैश्यो मुक्तिं मेधसश्च तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Nārada said: You should explain to me the liberation of the Vaiśya and Medhas.
श्रीनारायण उवाच स्वायम्भुवमनोर्वंश्यः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: He was of the lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu, truthful, and master of his senses.
अक्षौहिणीनां शतकं गृहीत्वा सैन्यमेव च
Having gathered a hundred divisions of troops and his army,
युद्धं बभूव नियतं पूर्णमब्दं च नारद
A constant battle took place for a full year, O Nārada.
एकाकी सुरथो भीतो नन्दिना च बहिष्कृतः
Suratha, alone and fearful, was expelled by Nandin.
ददर्श तत्र वैश्यं च पुष्पभद्रानदीतटे
There he saw the Vaiśya on the bank of the Puṣpabhadrā river.
वैश्येन सार्द्धं नृपतिरगच्छन्मेधसाश्रमम्
Together with the Vaiśya, the king went to the hermitage of Medhas.
ददर्श तत्र नृपतिर्मुनिं तं तीव्रतेजसम्
There, the king saw that sage, blazing with intense energy.
राजा ननाम वैश्यश्च शिरसा मुनिपुङ्गवम्
The king and the Vaiśya bowed their heads to the eminent sage.
प्रश्नं चकार कुशलं जातिनाम पृथक्पृथक् 2.62.
They asked auspicious questions, each stating their caste and name separately.
सुरथ उवाच बहिर्भूतः स्वराज्याच्च नन्दिना बलिनाऽधुना
Suratha said: Driven out from my own kingdom by the powerful Nandin,
किमुपायं करिष्यामि कथं राज्यं भवेन्मम
What means should I employ? How can my kingdom be restored to me?
अयं वैश्यः समाधिश्च स्वगृहाच्च बहिष्कृतः
This Vaiśya, Samādhi, too, has been expelled from his own house.
ब्राह्मणाय ददौ नित्यं रत्नकोटिं दिने दिने
He gave a crore of jewels daily to the Brāhmaṇa.
कोपान्निराकृतस्तैश्च पुनरन्वेषितः शुचा
Out of anger, he was rejected by them, and later sought again in grief.
पुत्राश्च पितृशोकेन गृहं त्यक्त्वा ययुर्वनम्
His sons, afflicted by grief for their father, abandoned their home and went to the forest.
सुदुर्लभं हरेर्दास्यं वैश्यस्यास्य च वाञ्छितम्
The service of Hari, so difficult to attain, was desired by this Vaiśya.
श्रीमेधा उवाच निर्गुणस्य च कृष्णस्य त्रिगुणा विश्वमाज्ञया
Śrī Medhā said: By the command of Kṛṣṇa, who is beyond qualities, the world of three qualities exists.
कृपां करोति येषां सा धर्मिणां च कृपामयी
He bestows compassion upon those who are righteous, and she, full of mercy, does the same.
येषां मायाविनां माया न करोति कृपां नृप 2.62.
O King, for those who are deluded by illusion, Māyā does not show compassion.
नश्वरेऽनित्यसंसारे भ्रामयेद्बर्बरा सदा
In this perishable, impermanent world, they are always made to wander in confusion.
देवमन्यं निषेवन्ते तन्मन्त्रं च जपंति च
They worship other gods and recite their mantras as well.
सप्तजन्मसु संसेव्य देवताश्च हरेः कलाः
For seven lifetimes, they serve the deities who are but portions of Hari.