कन्यान्नवेदविक्रेता नरघाती च हिंसकः
One who sells girls or Vedic knowledge, who kills men, and who is violent.
मातरं पितरं भार्यां गुरुपत्नीं गुरुं सुतम्
Mother, father, wife, guru’s wife, guru, and son—
कार्पण्याद्यो न पुष्णाति सञ्चयं कुरुते सदा
He who, out of miserliness, does not support them and always accumulates wealth.
दशनं वसनं यस्य समलं रूक्षमस्तकम्
Whose teeth, clothing, and head are dirty and rough.
मूत्रं पुरीषमुत्सृज्य यस्तत्पश्यति मन्दधीः
After passing urine or feces, the dull-minded one who looks at it.
अधौतपादशायी यो नग्नः शेतेऽतिनिद्रितः
He who lies down with unwashed feet, who sleeps naked, or sleeps excessively.
मूर्ध्नि तैलं पुरो दत्त्वा योऽन्यदङ्गमुपस्पृशेत्
Having placed oil on the head, he touches another limb before washing.
दत्त्वा तैलं मूर्ध्नि गात्रे विण्मूत्रं यः समुत्सृजेत्
After applying oil to the head or body, he who passes stool or urine.
तृणं छिनत्ति नखरैर्नखरैर्विलिखेन्महीम्
He who cuts grass with his nails or scratches the earth with his nails.
स्वदत्तां परदत्तां वा ब्रह्मवृत्तिं सुरस्य च
Whoever takes for himself what was given by himself or by others, whether it be Brahmin sustenance or that of the gods.
यत्कर्म दक्षिणाहीनं कुरुते मूढधीः शठः
Whatever act is performed without offering the prescribed gift, by the foolish and deceitful.
मन्त्रविद्योपजीवी च ग्रामयाजी चिकित्सकः
One who lives by mantra or knowledge, the village priest, or the physician.
विवाहं धर्मकार्यं वा यो निहन्ति च कोपतः
Whoever destroys a marriage or a righteous act out of anger—
इत्युक्त्वा सा महालक्ष्मीरन्तर्द्धानं जगाम ह
Having spoken thus, Mahalakshmi vanished from sight.
तां प्रणम्य सुराः सर्वे मुनयश्च मुदाऽन्विताः
All the gods and sages, filled with joy, bowed to her.
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः स्वर्गे बभूवुः पुष्पवृष्टयः
In heaven, drums resounded and showers of flowers fell.
इत्येवं कथितं वत्स लक्ष्मीचरितमुत्तमम्
Thus, O child, the excellent story of Lakshmi has been told.
नारद उवाच सर्वं श्रुतं त्वत्प्रसादाद्गणेशचरितं शुभम्
Narada said: By your grace, I have heard the auspicious story of Ganesha.
दन्तद्वययुतं वक्त्रं गजराजस्य बालके
O child of the king of elephants, with a face bearing two tusks—
कुतो गतोऽस्य दन्तोऽन्यस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Where did his other tusk go? You are worthy to tell this.
सूत उवाच एकदन्तस्य चरितं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे
The Suta said: He began to narrate the story of Ekadanta.
नारायण उवाच एकदन्तस्य चरितं सर्वमंगलमंगलम्
Narayana said: The story of Ekadanta is the most auspicious of all.
एकदा कार्त्तवीर्य्यश्च जगाम मृगयां मुने
Once, O sage, Kartavirya went hunting.
निशामुखे दिनेऽतीते तत्र तस्थौ वने नृपः
When night had passed, the king stayed in the forest.
प्रातः सरोवरे राजा स्नातः शुचिरलंकृतः
In the morning, the king bathed in the lake, pure and well-adorned.
मुनिर्ददर्श राजानं शुष्ककण्ठौष्ठतालुकम्
The sage saw the king, his throat, lips, and palate parched.
ननाम सम्भमाद्राजा मुनिं सूर्य्यसमप्रभम्
With respect, the king bowed to the sage, radiant as the sun.
वृत्तान्तं कथयामास राजा चानशनादिकम्
The king told the sage the story, including his hunger and fasting.
विज्ञाप्य तं मुनिश्रेष्ठः प्रययौ स्वालयं मुदा
Having informed him, the best of sages joyfully returned to his own abode.
उवाच सा मुनिं भीतं भयं किं ते मम स्थितौ
She said to the frightened sage, 'Why do you fear while I am present?'