पतिरेव परो बन्धुः परमं जीवनं मम
My husband alone is my supreme kin, my highest life.
त्रायस्व बन्धुरहितां बालापत्यां जनेश्वर
O lord of people, protect me, bereft of kin, a child with no offspring.
दुहिताहं भगवतस्त्राहि मां पतिदानतः
I am the daughter of the blessed one—save me by granting my husband.
वदन्तीति महाप्राज्ञाः प्राणदानं कुरुष्व मे
The wise declare thus: grant me the gift of life.
एवं संप्रार्थ्यमानो ऽपि ब्राह्मण्या राक्षसो द्विजम् अभक्षयकृष्णसारशिशुं व्याघ्रो यथा बलात्
Even though thus entreated, the demon devoured the twice-born sage, as a tiger seizes a black antelope calf by force.
पूर्वशापहतं भूपमशपत्क्रोधिता पुनः
Enraged, she cursed the king again, who was already afflicted by a previous curse.
तस्मात्स्त्रीसङ्गमं प्रात्पस्त्वमपि प्राप्स्यसे मृतिम्
Therefore, because of union with a woman, you too shall certainly meet death.
राक्षसत्वं ध्रुवं ते ऽस्तु मत्पतिर्भक्षितो यतः
May you surely attain the state of a demon, since my husband was devoured.
प्रमन्युः प्राहि विसृजन्कोपादङ्गारसंचयम्
Pramanyu, filled with anger, released a shower of embers in his wrath.
एकस्यैवापराधस्य शापस्त्वेको ममोचितः
For a single offense, only one curse from me is fitting.
पिशाचयोनिमद्यैव याहि पुत्रसमन्विता
Now, together with your son, go at once to a birth among the spirits.
क्षुधार्ता सुस्वरं भीमारुरोदापत्यसंयुता
Hungry, with a dreadful voice, she wailed terribly, surrounded by her children.
जग्मतुर्नर्मदातीरे वनं राक्षससेवितम्
They went to a forest on the bank of the Narmada, frequented by demons.
तत्रास्ते दुःखसंतत्पः कश्चिल्लोकविरोधकृत्
There dwelt someone, tormented by sorrow, who acted in opposition to the world.
उवाच क्रोधबहुलो वटस्थो ब्रह्मराक्षसः
A brahma-rakshasa, full of rage, standing beneath a banyan tree, spoke.
ईदृशौ केन पापेन जातौ मे ब्रुवतां ध्रुवम्
By what sin, tell me truly, have such as these been born to me?
सर्वं निवेदयित्वास्मै पश्चादेतदुवाच ह
After telling him everything, he then spoke as follows.
सख्युर्ममाति स्नेहेन तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Out of great affection for my friend, you should tell me all of this.
स हि पापपालं भुङ्क्ते यातनास्तु युगायुतम्
He who commits a sinful act endures torment for ten thousand ages.
तस्मान्मित्रेषु मतिमान्न कुर्याद्वंयनं कदा
Therefore, a wise man should never deceive his friends.
उवाच प्रीतिमापन्नो धर्मवाक्यानि नारद
Narada, pleased, spoke words of righteousness.
सोमदत्त इति ख्यातो नान्मा धर्मपरायणः
I am known as Somadatta, devoted to righteousness.
औदासीन्यं गुरोः कृत्वा प्रात्पवानीदृशीं गतिम्
Having shown indifference to my teacher, I have attained such a state.
मया तु भक्षिता विप्राः शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः
But I have devoured Brahmins by the hundreds and thousands.
जगत्रासकरो नित्यं मांसाशनपरायणः
He who constantly causes fear in the world and is devoted to eating meat,
मयानुभूतमेतद्धि ततः श्रीमान्न चाचरेत्
This has been experienced by me; therefore, O illustrious one, one should not act thus.
तद्वदस्व सरवे सर्वं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
In the same way, tell me everything, Sarave, for I have great curiosity.
यातानहं कथयिष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमनाः सरवे
I have come; I will tell you—listen attentively, O Sarave.
शास्त्रवक्ता धर्मवक्ता नीतिशास्त्रोपदेशकः
One who expounds scripture, who teaches righteousness, and who instructs in the science of ethics,
व्रतोपदेशकश्चैव भयत्रातान्नदो हि च
One who instructs in vows, who protects from fear, and who gives food,