मन्दरे पर्वतश्रेष्ठे हरिवासरभोजनम्
On Mandara, the foremost mountain, the meal of Hari's day,
क्षुद्रशास्त्रोपदेशेन लोलुपेन वरानने
Through the teaching of inferior doctrines by a greedy one, O beautiful-faced one,
न शङ्खेन पिबेत्तोयं न हन्यात्कूर्मसूकरौ
One should not drink water with a conch, nor kill turtles or boars.
अगम्यागमने देवि अभक्ष्यस्य च भक्षणे
O Devi, approaching forbidden women and eating what is prohibited—
जानन्नपि कथं देवि भोक्ष्ये ऽहं हरिवासरे
Even knowing, O Devi, how could I eat on the day sacred to Hari?
अभक्ष्येण समः प्रोक्तः किं पुनश्चात्तनक्रिया
It is said that eating what is prohibited is equal; what then of deliberate eating?
मूलं फलं पयस्तोयमुपभोज्यं मुनीश्वरैः
Roots, fruits, milk, and water are fit for consumption by great sages.
ज्वरिणां लङ्घनं शस्तं धार्मिकाणामुपोषणम्
Fasting is recommended for those with fever; for the righteous, abstinence is upheld.
ज्वरमध्ये कृतं पथ्यं निधनाय प्रकल्पते
What is suitable during fever, if taken, leads to destruction.
माग्रहं कुरु वामोरु व्रतभङ्गो भवेन्मम
Do not insist, O slender-thighed one; breaking my vow would result.
न चान्यद्रोचते राजन्विना वै भोजनं तव
Nothing else pleases, O king, except your food.
न च वेदेषु दृष्टो ऽयमुपवासो हरेर्दिने
This fasting on Hari's day is not found in the Vedas.
वेदबाह्य कथं धर्मं भवांश्चरितुमिच्छति
How do you wish to practice a dharma outside the Vedas?
उवाच मानसे क्रुद्धः प्रहसन्निव भूपते
He spoke in his mind, angry, yet smiling, O king.
यज्ञकर्मक्रिया वेदः स्मृतिर्वेदो गृहाश्रमे
Sacrificial rites are from the Veda; tradition is the Veda in the householder's life.
पुराणपुंरुषाज्जातं यथेदं जगदद्भुतम्
Just as this wondrous world arose from the primeval man of the Purāṇa—
वेदार्थादधिकं मन्ये पुराणार्थं वरानने
O beautiful-faced one, I consider the meaning of the Purāṇas greater than that of the Vedas.
बिभेत्यल्पश्रुताद्वेदो मामयं प्रहरिष्यति
The Veda fears those of little learning; it may strike me.
तिथिवृद्धिक्षयो वापि पर्वग्रहविनिर्णयः
The increase or decrease of lunar days, and the determination of festivals and planetary conjunctions—
यन्न दृष्टं हि वेदेषु तत्सर्वं लक्ष्यते स्मृतौ
Whatever is not seen in the Vedas is all found in the tradition.
प्रायश्चित्तं तु हत्यायामातुरस्यौषधं प्रिये
Atonement for killing is like medicine for the sick, dear one.
यद्वेदैर्गीयते सुभ्रु उपाङ्गैर्यत्प्रगीयते
What is sung in the Vedas, O beautiful-browed one, and what is recited with their subsidiary parts—
रटन्तीह पुराणानि भूयो भूयो वरानने
She repeatedly chants the Purāṇas here, O lovely-faced one.
पुराणमन्यथा मत्वा तिर्यग्योनिमवाप्नुयात्
One who regards the Purāṇa otherwise will attain a birth among animals.
पितरं को न वन्देत मातरं को न पूजयेत्
Who would not honor their father? Who would not revere their mother?
को हि दूषयते वेदं ब्राह्मणं को निपातयेत्
Who would defile the Veda? Who would cast down a brāhmaṇa?
को गच्छेत्परदारान् हि को भुङ्क्ते हरिवासरे
Who would go to another’s wife? Who would eat on Hari’s day?
यद्भोजनेनात्मनिपातकारिणा यमस्य रवातेषु चिरं सुलोचने
By eating food from one who acts wickedly, O bright-eyed one, one suffers long in Yama’s realms.
येषां वाक्येन युक्तो ऽयं राजा कुर्याद्धि भोजनम्
By whose words this king is guided, he should indeed take food.
गौतमादीन्समाहूय मोहिनीपार्श्वमानयत
Summon Gautama and the others, and bring them to Mohinī’s side.