इह जन्मकृतं वापि परजन्मकृतं तथा
Whether produced by this birth or by another birth,
मम पुण्यं वद ब्रह्मन् विचार्य स्वमनीषया
O Brahmin, tell me my merit, having considered with your own wisdom.
विद्वत्सु पूजा द्विजदानशक्तिर्मन्ये ऽहमेतत्सुकृतप्रसूतम्
Among the learned, I am honored; I have the power to give gifts to twice-borns—indeed, I think this arises from good deeds.
चिन्तयित्वा क्षणं ज्ञात्वा कारणं तमुचाव ह
Having reflected for a moment and understood the reason, he spoke thus:
दारिर्द्येण पराभूतो दुष्टया भार्यया तथा
Defeated by poverty and also by a wicked wife,
निवसन्दुःखसंतप्तो बहुवर्षाणि पार्थिव
afflicted by the suffering of dwelling, for many years, O king,
ततः सर्वाणि तीर्थानि परक्रम्य महीपते
then, having visited all the sacred places, O lord of the earth,
तत्र स्नातं त्वया विप्रसंगेन यमुनाजले
there, you bathed with the company of Brahmins in the waters of the Yamuna.
मन्दिरे च वराहस्य कथ्यमानां कथां नृप
And in the temple of Varaha, O king, you listened to the story being told.
चतुर्भिः पारणैर्यस्य निष्पत्तिस्तु विधीयते
By four fasts, its completion is prescribed.
लक्ष्मीभर्ता जगन्नाथो निःशेषाघौघनाशनः
The consort of Lakshmi, the Lord of the universe, is the destroyer of all heaps of sin.
अशून्यशयनं पुण्यं गृहे वृद्धिकरं परम्
A bed that is never empty is supremely meritorious and brings prosperity to the household.
सुखमीदृग्विधं लोके दुर्लभं प्रतिभाति मे
Such happiness as this seems to me exceedingly rare in the world.
ग्राह्यमेतद्व्रतं पुण्यं जन्ममृत्युजरापहम्
This virtuous vow, which removes birth, death, and old age, should be accepted.
शय्यादानैर्वस्त्रदानैस्तथा ब्राह्मणभोजनैः
By giving beds, by giving garments, and by feeding Brahmins—
इमानेवाग्रतः पुण्यास्त्वयोक्तान्विस्तराच्छृणु
Now listen as I explain these very acts of merit to you in detail.
पूर्वजन्मनि देवेशस्त्वयाशून्येन पूजितः
In a previous birth, O lord of the gods, you were worshipped with an unempty bed.
अवश्यं प्राप्यसे राजन् विष्णोः सायुज्यतां ध्रुवम्
You will surely and certainly attain union with Vishnu, O king.
संपदां प्रभवोपेतो ज्ञातेरुत्कर्षणार्थकः
Endowed with prosperity, you are destined to bring about the elevation of your lineage.
अवश्यं सर्वयोग्यो ऽसि भक्तो ऽसि त्वं जनार्दने
You are certainly fit for all attainments; you are a devotee of Janardana.
तत्राश्चर्याण्यनेकानि द्रष्टुकामस्तवाज्ञया
There, by your command, I wish to witness many wondrous things.
राज्यशासनजं भारं दुर्वहं यच्च भूमिपैः
The burden of rule, which arises from kingship, is difficult for rulers to bear.
तच्छत्वा वचनं राज्ञो वामदेवो ऽब्रवीदिदम्
Then, in response to the king's words, Vamadeva spoke as follows.
यत्क्लेशात्पितरं प्रेम्णा विमोचयति सर्वदा
Whoever, out of love, always frees his father from suffering—
तस्य भागीरथीस्नानमहन्यहनि जायते
For him, bathing in the Ganges occurs every single day.
नो शुद्धिस्तस्य पुत्रस्य इतीत्थं वैदिकी श्रुतिः
But the son of such a one is not purified—so declares the Vedic revelation.
हरिप्रसादात्ते जातो वंशे पुत्रः स पुण्यकृत्
By the grace of Hari, a son was born in your lineage, a doer of merit.
ययौ शीघ्रगतिः श्रीमान्सदागतिरिव स्वयम्
He departed swiftly, resplendent, as if he himself were the very path to the good.
सर्वाश्चर्याणि राजेन्द्रः सरांस्युपवनानि च
All wonders, O King, as well as all lakes and gardens,
भ्रामयित्वा गिरिं श्वेतं गन्धमादनमेव च
having circled Mount Śveta and also Gandhamādana,