मद्यपानप्रमत्तश्च गोमांसा दीन्यभक्षयत्
Intoxicated with drinking wine, he ate cow flesh and other wretched things.
राज्ञापि बाधितो विप्रप्रपेदे निर्जनं वनम्
Harassed even by the king, the Brahmin fled to a deserted forest.
अवारितं ददावन्नं सत्सङ्गगतकल्मषः
Tainted by the company of the virtuous, he gave food without restraint.
अपालयत्प्रयत्नेन सदा धर्मपरायणः
Always devoted to righteousness, he cared for them with great effort.
सत्पात्रदाननिष्टस्य धर्ममार्गप्रवर्तिनः
For one who is devoted to giving to worthy recipients and who follows the path of righteousness,
कल्पवृक्षफलं सर्वममरैरेव भुज्यते
All the fruits of the wish-fulfilling tree are indeed enjoyed only by the immortals.
नित्यं विष्णुगृहे सम्यक्परिचर्य्यापरो ऽभवत्
He was always fully engaged in service within the house of Vishnu.
यज्ञमाली सुमाली च ह्येककाले मृतावुभौ
Yajñamālī and Sumālī, both died at the same time.
हरिः संप्रेषयामास विमानं पार्षदा वृतम्
Hari sent a celestial chariot, surrounded by attendants.
पूज्यमानः सुरगणैः स्तूयमानो मुनीश्वरैः
He was honored by hosts of gods and praised by great sages.
कामधेन्वा पुष्यमाणश्चित्राभरणभूषितः
Adorned with wondrous ornaments and nourished by the wish-fulfilling cow,
गच्छन्विष्णुपदं दिव्यंमनुजं पथि दृष्टवान्
While going on the divine path to Vishnu’s abode, he saw a man on the way.
इतस्ततः प्राधावन्तं विलपन्तमनाथवत्
He saw him running here and there, lamenting like one who is helpless.
क्रोशन्तं च सुदन्तं च दृष्ट्वा मनसि विव्यथे
Seeing him crying and well-restrained, he was troubled in his mind.
को ऽयं भटैर्बाध्यमानं इत्यपृच्छत्कृताञ्जलिः
With joined palms, he asked, 'Who is this being tormented by the guards?'
असौ सुमाली भ्राता ते पापात्मेति समब्रुवन्
They replied, 'This is Sumālī, your brother, who is sinful.'
मनसा दुःखमापन्नः पुनः पप्रच्छ नारद
Distressed in his mind, he asked again, O Nārada,
तदुपायंबदध्वं मे यूयं हि ममबान्धवाः
'Tell me the means for this, for you are indeed my kinsmen.'
सतां साप्तपदी मैत्री सत्सतां त्रिपदी तथा
Among the virtuous, friendship is established by seven steps; among the good, even by three steps.
सत्सतामपि ये संतस्तेषां मैत्रघी पदे पदे
Even among the good, those who are together—at every step, there is friendship and enmity.
यतो ऽयं मम भ्रातापि मुच्यते तदिहोच्यताम्
Therefore, since this is my brother, if he can be released, let it be told here.
पुनः स्मितामुखाः प्रोचुर्यज्ञमालिहरिप्रियम्
Then, with smiling faces, they spoke to Yajñamālī, beloved of Hari.
उपायं तव वक्ष्यामः सुमालिप्रेममुक्तिदम्
I shall tell you a means, O Sumāli, that grants love and liberation.
प्रवक्ष्यामः समासेन तच्छ्रणुष्व समाहितः
I will explain it briefly; listen attentively.
त्वया कृतानि पापानि अहन्त्यगणितानि वै
The sins you have committed are indeed countless.
एकदा बन्धुभिस्त्यक्तः शोकसंतापपीडितः
Once, abandoned by your relatives, you were afflicted by grief and sorrow.
तदा वृष्टिरभूत्तत्र तत्स्थानं पङ्किलं ह्यभूत
At that time, there was a rain there, and the place became muddy.
उपलेपनतां प्राप्तं तत्स्थानं विष्णुमन्दिरे
That place, having become smeared, was in a temple of Viṣṇu.
दंशितश्चैव सर्पेण प्राप्तं पञ्चत्वमेव च
Bitten by a snake, you met your death.
विप्रजन्म त्वया प्राप्तं हरि भक्तिस्तथाचला
You attained birth as a brāhmaṇa, and unwavering devotion to Hari.