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.
मोहिनी सहिता राज्ञा ववन्दे कार्यतत्परा
Mohinī, together with the king, respectfully greeted them, intent on her task.
आसनेषु महीपाल ज्वलदग्निसमप्रभाः
On their seats, O ruler of the earth, they shone with the brilliance of blazing fire.
वयं समागता देवि नानाशास्त्रविशारदाः
We have assembled, O goddess, skilled in various scriptures.
तच्छत्वा वचनं तेषां मोहिनी ब्रह्मणः सुता
Mohinī, daughter of Brahmā, heard their words.
संदेहस्तु जडौ ह्येष स्वल्पो वा स्वमतिर्यथा
This doubt is in the dull or small-minded, as their own understanding allows.
अन्नाधारमिदं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्
Food is the support of all this world, both stationary and moving.
कर्कन्धुमात्रं प्रहुतं पुरोडाशं हि देवताः
Even a small offering of karkandhu fruit or puroḍāśa is accepted by the gods.
पिपीलिकापि क्षुधिता मुखेनादाय तण्डुलम्
Even a hungry ant takes a grain of rice with its mouth.
अयं खादति नान्नाद्यं संप्राप्ते हरिवासरे
He who eats food on the day of Hari's observance does not partake of food.
विधावानां यतीनां च युज्यते व्रतसेवनम्
For those who are devoted to vows and for ascetics, the observance of vows is proper.