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.
सोंऽधे तमसि मज्जेत यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्द्दश
He sinks into utter darkness for as many ages as there are fourteen Indras.
प्रजासंरक्षणं त्यक्त्वा चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्
Abandoning the protection of subjects, which grants the fruit of the four aims of life,
शूद्राणां द्विजसेवा च लोकरक्षा महीभृताम्
Service to twice-born by Śūdras, and protection of the world by kings,
अज्ञानाद्वा प्रमादाच्च पतितः स न संशयः
Whether by ignorance or by negligence, he falls—of this there is no doubt.
सुबुद्ध्याचारशीलश्च वेदोक्तं त्यजति द्विजाः
A twice-born who, though of good intellect, conduct, and character, abandons what is enjoined by the Veda,
एकान्तशीलो नृपतिर्भृत्यः कर्मविवर्जितः
A king who is solitary, or a servant who abstains from action,
अयं हि नियमोपेतो हरिपूजनतत्परः
This one, indeed, is endowed with discipline and devoted to the worship of Hari.
व्यपोह्य हरिपूजां वै ब्रह्महत्यां तु विन्दति
But if he abandons the worship of Hari, he incurs the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa.
अन्नात्प्रभवति प्राणः प्राणाद्देहविचेष्टनम्
From food arises life; from life, the activity of the body.
एवं ज्ञात्वा मया राजा बोध्यमानो न बुद्ध्यति
Even though I have explained this to the king, he does not understand.