अयाज्ययाजकं चैव नालपेत्सर्वदा व्रती
One who observes vows should never converse with someone who does not perform sacrifices or who conducts them improperly.
भिषजं काव्यकर्त्तारं देवद्विजविरोधिनम्
Nor with a physician, a poet, or one who opposes the gods and the twice-born.
व्रतोपवासनिरतो वाङ्मात्रेणापि नार्चयेत्
One devoted to vows and fasting should not even verbally honor such persons.
उपवासपरो भूत्वा परां सिद्धिमवान्पुयात्
By being devoted to fasting, one attains the highest accomplishment and becomes purified.
नास्तु विष्णुसमं दैवं तपो नानशनात्परम्
There is no deity equal to Viṣṇu, no austerity greater than fasting.
नास्ति ज्ञानसमो लाभो लाभो न च धर्म समः पिता
There is no gain equal to knowledge, nor any gain equal to righteousness, nor any father equal to righteousness.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Here, too, they recite this ancient legend.
पुरा हिगालवो नाम मुनिः सत्यपरायणः
Long ago, there was a sage named Gālava, devoted to truth.
बहुवृक्षसमाकीर्णे गजभल्लुनिषेविते
He lived in a place thickly covered with many trees and frequented by elephants and deer.
कन्दमूलफलैः पूर्णे मुनिवृन्दनिषेदिते
It was filled with roots, tubers, and fruits, and was inhabited by groups of sages.
तस्याभवद्भद्रशील इति ख्यातः सुतो वशी
He had a son, self-controlled and renowned as Bhadraśīla.
बालक्राडनकाले ऽपि भद्रशीलो महामतिः
Even in his childhood play, Bhadraśīla, of great intelligence,
वयस्यान्बोधयेच्चापि विष्णुः पूज्यो नरैः सदा
would instruct his companions that Viṣṇu should always be worshipped by people.
एवं ते बोधितास्तेन शिशवो ऽपि मुनीश्वर
Thus, even as children, O best of sages, they were instructed by him.
अर्चयन्ति महाभागा विष्णुभक्तिपरायणाः
Those noble ones, devoted to Viṣṇu, worshipped with great faith.
सर्वेषां जगतां स्वस्ति भूयादित्यब्रवीदिदम्
He said, 'May there be well-being for all the worlds.'
एकादशीति संकल्प्यव्रतं यच्छति केशवे
He undertook the vow of Ekādaśī and offered it to Keśava.
अपृच्छद्विस्मयाविष्टः समालिङ्ग्य तपोनिधिः
Astonished, the storehouse of austerity embraced him and asked.
चरितं मङ्गलं यत्ते योगिनामपि दुर्लभम्
Your conduct is auspicious and rare, even among yogis.
निर्द्धन्द्वो निर्ममः शान्तो हरिध्यानपरायाणः
Free from dualities, without possessiveness, peaceful, devoted to meditation on Hari.
विनापि महतां सेवां हरिभक्तिर्हि दुर्लभा
Even without serving great souls, devotion to Hari is difficult to obtain.
प्रवर्त्तते मतिर्वत्स कथं ते ऽलौकिकी कृतिः
O child, how did your extraordinary resolve arise?
जायते भगवद्भक्तिस्तदहं विस्मयं गतः
Devotion to the Blessed Lord has arisen; therefore, I am filled with wonder.
भद्रशीलो मुनिश्रेष्ठः पित्रैवं सुविकल्पितैः
Bhadraśīla, the best of sages, thus carefully questioned his father.
स्वानभ्रुतं यथाव्रतं सर्वं पित्रे न्यवेदयत्
He reported to his father everything he had undertaken, just as it had been performed.
जातिस्मरत्वाज्जानामि यमेन परिभाषितम्
Because I remember my past births, I know what was spoken by Yama.
उवाच प्रीतिमापन्नो भद्रशीलं महामतिम्
He, pleased, spoke to Bhadraśīla, who possessed great wisdom.
कस्य वा केन वा हेतोस्तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Of whom, or for what reason, all this—you ought to tell.
धर्मकीर्तिरिति ख्यातो दत्तात्रघेयेण शासितः
Known as Dharmakīrti, instructed by Dattātreya’s command.
अधर्माश्च तथा धर्मा मया तु बहवः कृताः
Both unrighteous and righteous acts have been performed by me in great number.