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,
उपनेता निषेक्ता च संस्कर्त्ता मित्रसत्तम
One who initiates, who performs the consecration, who conducts the sacraments, O best of friends,
एते हि गुरवः प्रोक्ताः पूज्या वन्द्यश्च सादरम्
These are declared to be gurus, worthy of honor and to be respectfully saluted.
तुल्याः सर्वे ऽप्युत सरवे तद्यथावद्धि ब्रूहि मे
All these are indeed equal, O Sarave; tell me this properly.
गुरुमाहात्म्यकथनं श्रवणं चानुमोदनम्
Narrating the greatness of the guru, listening to it, and giving approval—
एते समानपूजार्हाः सर्वदा नात्र संशयः
All these are always worthy of equal honor; there is no doubt about this.
अध्यापकाश्च वेदानां मन्त्रव्याख्याकृतस्तथा
Those who teach the Vedas and those who explain the mantras likewise,
यः पुराणानि वदति धर्मयुक्तानि पणडितः
The learned one who recites the Purāṇas imbued with righteousness,
देवपूजार्हकर्माणि देवतापूजने फलम्
The acts worthy of worshipping the gods, and the fruit of worshipping the deities,
सर्ववेदार्थसाराणि पुराणानीति भूपते
The Purāṇas, O king, are the essence of the meanings of all the Vedas.
यः संसारार्णत्वं तर्त्तुमुद्योगं कुरुते नरः
The person who makes an effort to cross the ocean of worldly existence,