सो ऽपि संचिन्त्य मनसा क्षणादेव पितामहः तेषां प्रवृत्तमखिलं पुण्ये दारुवने पुरा
Pitamaha, reflecting in his mind, immediately recalled all that had happened long ago in the holy Daru forest.
उत्थाय प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रणिपत्य भवाय च उवाच सत्वरं ब्रह्मा मुनीन्दारुवनालयान्
Rising, with joined palms, bowing to Bhava, Brahma quickly addressed the sages dwelling in the Daru forest.
धिग् युष्मान् प्राप्तनिधनान् महानिधिम् अनुत्तमम् वृथाकृतं यतो विप्रा युष्माभिर् भाग्यवर्जितैः
Shame upon you, who have reached your end, missing the supreme and incomparable treasure; for you Brahmins, deprived of fortune, have acted in vain.
यस्तु दारुवने तस्मिंल् लिङ्गी दृष्टो ऽप्यलिङ्गिभिः युष्माभिर् विकृताकारः स एव परमेश्वरः
The one seen by you in the Daru forest, bearing the linga, though appearing deformed to you, is indeed the supreme Lord.
गृहस्थैश् च न निन्द्यास्तु सदा ह्यतिथयो द्विजाः विरूपाश् च सुरूपाश् च मलिनाश्चाप्यपण्डिताः
Householders should never despise guests, O twice-born; whether deformed or handsome, dirty or unlearned.
सुदर्शनेन मुनिना कालमृत्युरपि स्वयम् पुरा भूमौ द्विजाग्र्येण जितो ह्यतिथिपूजया
Even Death and Time were once conquered on earth by the foremost Brahmin Sudarshana, through the worship of guests.
अन्यथा नास्ति संतर्तुं गृहस्थैश् च द्विजोत्तमैः त्यक्त्वा चातिथिपूजां ताम् आत्मनो भुवि शोधनम्
Otherwise, there is no crossing over for householders and excellent Brahmins, if they abandon the worship of guests, which purifies one's self on earth.
गृहस्थो ऽपि पुरा जेतुं सुदर्शन इति श्रुतः प्रतिज्ञामकरोज्जायां भार्यामाह पतिव्रताम्
It is heard that Sudarshana, even as a householder, once vowed in Jayā, saying to his wife, who was devoted to her husband.
सुव्रते सुभ्रु सुभगे शृणु सर्वं प्रयत्नतः त्वया वै नावमन्तव्या गृहे ह्यतिथयः सदा
O virtuous one, of beautiful brows, and fortunate, listen carefully to everything: you must never disregard guests in your home at any time.
सर्व एव स्वयं साक्षाद् अतिथिर्यत्पिनाकधृक् तस्मादतिथये दत्त्वा आत्मानमपि पूजय
Every guest is, in truth, directly the bearer of the Pināka; therefore, after giving to the guest, you should even honor him as your own self.
एवमुक्त्वाथ संतप्ता विवशा सा पतिव्रता पतिमाह रुदन्ती च किमुक्तं भवता प्रभो
Having spoken thus, she, distressed and helpless, that devoted wife, weeping, said to her husband: 'Master, what have you said?'
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुनः प्राह सुदर्शनः देयं सर्वं शिवायार्ये शिव एवातिथिः स्वयम्
Hearing her words, Sudarśana spoke again: 'Everything should be given, noble one, to Śiva; for Śiva himself is the guest.'
तस्मात्सर्वे पूजनीयाः सर्वे ऽप्यतिथयः सदा एवमुक्ता तदा भर्त्रा भार्या तस्य पतिव्रता
Therefore, all guests must always be honored; thus instructed by her husband, the devoted wife...
शेषामिवाज्ञामादाय मूर्ध्ना सा प्राचरत्तदा परीक्षितुं तथा श्रद्धां तयोः साक्षाद् द्विजोत्तमाः
Taking his command as if it were the remainder of a sacred offering, she then acted accordingly, O best of twice-born, in order to test their faith directly.
धर्मो द्विजोत्तमो भूत्वा जगामाथ मुनेर्गृहम् तं दृष्ट्वा चार्चयामास सार्घ्याद्यैरनघा द्विजम्
Dharma, taking the form of a distinguished Brāhmaṇa, then went to the sage's house; seeing him, the sinless wife worshipped the Brāhmaṇa with water for washing the feet and other offerings.
सम्पूजितस्तया तां तु प्राह धर्मो द्विजः स्वयम् भद्रे कुतः पतिर्धीमांस् तव भर्ता सुदर्शनः
Having been duly honored by her, Dharma, the Brāhmaṇa himself, spoke: 'O blessed one, where is your wise husband, Sudarśana?'
अन्नाद्यैरलमद्यार्ये स्वं दातुमिह चार्हसि सा च लज्जावृता नारी स्मरन्ती कथितं पुरा
With sufficient food and drink, O noble lady, you should also offer yourself here; but she, the woman, covered with modesty, remembered what had been said before.
भर्त्रा न्यमीलयन्नेत्रे चचाल च पतिव्रता किंचेत्याह पुनस्तं वै धर्मे चक्रे च सा मतिम्
With her eyes lowered by her husband, the devoted wife trembled; then, pondering what to do, she again addressed him, fixing her mind on Dharma.
निवेदितुं किलात्मानं तस्मै पत्युरिहाज्ञया एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भर्ता तस्या नार्याः सुदर्शनः
By her husband's command, she was about to offer herself to him; at that moment, her husband Sudarśana...
गृहद्वारं गतो धीमांस् तामुवाच महामुनिः एह्येहि क्व गता भद्रे तमुवाचातिथिः स्वयम्
The wise great sage Sudarśana, having come to the doorway of the house, called out to her: 'Come, come, O blessed one, where have you gone?' The guest himself then spoke to him.
भार्यया त्वनया सार्धं मैथुनस्थो ऽहमद्य वै सुदर्शन महाभाग किं कर्तव्यमिहोच्यताम्
'Today, Sudarśana, O greatly fortunate one, I am here with your wife for union; tell me, what should be done now?'
सुरतान्तस्तु विप्रेन्द्र संतुष्टो ऽहं द्विजोत्तम सुदर्शनस्ततः प्राह सुप्रहृष्टो द्विजोत्तमः
'O best of Brāhmaṇas, the act of love is complete; I am satisfied,' said the distinguished Brāhmaṇa. Then Sudarśana, greatly delighted, spoke to the best of Brāhmaṇas.
भुङ्क्ष्व चैनां यथाकामं गमिष्ये ऽहं द्विजोत्तम हृष्टो ऽथ दर्शयामास स्वात्मानं धर्मराट् स्वयम्
'Enjoy her as you wish; I will depart, O best of Brāhmaṇas.' Then, rejoicing, the king of Dharma revealed his true form.
प्रददौ चेप्सितं सर्वं तमाह च महाद्युतिः एषा न भुक्ता विप्रेन्द्र मनसापि सुशोभना
He granted all that was desired and, shining greatly, spoke: 'O best of Brāhmaṇas, she has not been enjoyed by me, not even in thought.'
मया चैषा न संदेहः श्रद्धां ज्ञातुमिहागतः जितो वै यस्त्वया मृत्युर् धर्मेणैकेन सुव्रत
'There is no doubt that I have not touched her; I came here to test your faith. By you, O virtuous one, death has truly been conquered by Dharma alone.'
अहो ऽस्य तपसो वीर्यम् इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ च सः तस्मात्तथा पूजनीयाः सर्वे ह्यतिथयः सदा
Saying, 'Ah, the power of his austerity!' he departed; therefore, all guests must always be honored in this way.
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन भाग्यहीना द्विजोत्तमाः तमेव शरणं तूर्णं गन्तुमर्हथ शङ्करम्
What more need be said, O best of twice-born? Those bereft of fortune should swiftly seek refuge in Śaṅkara alone.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणो ब्राह्मणर्षभाः ब्रह्माणमभिवन्द्यार्ताः प्रोचुराकुलितेक्षणाः
Hearing these words of Brahmā, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, distressed and with troubled eyes, bowed to Brahmā and spoke:
नापेक्षितं महाभाग जीवितं विकृताः स्त्रियः दृष्टो ऽस्माभिर् महादेवो निन्दितो यस्त्वनिन्दितः
O greatly fortunate one, our lives are disregarded and the women are distraught; we have seen Mahādeva, who is blameless, yet we have reviled him.
शप्तश् च सर्वगः शूली पिनाकी नीललोहितः अज्ञानाच्छापजा शक्तिः कुण्ठितास्यनिरीक्षणात्
He who is all-pervading, the wielder of the trident, bearer of the bow Pināka, the blue-red one, has been cursed; through ignorance, the power of our curse is rendered ineffective by merely beholding him.