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.
वसाद्य ज्ञानमासाद्य परं मोक्षं गमिष्यसि
By dwelling there and gaining knowledge, you will attain supreme liberation.
उपायं तव वक्ष्यामस्तं निबोध महामते
I shall tell you the means; listen to it, O wise one.
दत्त्वोद्धर महाभाग भ्रातरं कृपयान्वितः
Give, O highly fortunate one, and rescue your brother with compassion.
तत्फलं प्रददौ तस्मै भ्रात्रे पापविमुक्तये
He gave that fruit to his brother for the removal of sin.
बभूव यमदूतास्तु तं त्यक्त्वा प्रपलायिताः
Then the messengers of Yama, abandoning him, fled away.
तदा सुमाली स्वर्यानमारुह्य मुमुदे मुने
At that time, O sage, Sumāli ascended to heaven and rejoiced.
अवापतुर्भृशं प्रीतिं समालिङ्ग्य परस्परम्
They experienced great joy, embracing each other.
गीयमानौ च गन्धर्वैर्विष्णुलोकं प्रजग्मतुः
Sung by the Gandharvas, they went to Viṣṇu's world.
यज्ञमाली चोषतुस्तौ कल्पमेकं मुदान्वितौ
Yajñamālī also dwelled there with him for one kalpa, filled with joy.
तत्रैव ज्ञानसंपन्नः परं मोक्षमुपागतः
There itself, endowed with knowledge, he attained supreme liberation.