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,
प्रोक्तवान्सर्वधर्माश्च पुराणेषु महीपते
All the dharmas have been declared in the Purāṇas, O king.
पुराणानि महाबुद्धे इहामुत्र सुखाय हि
The Purāṇas, O wise one, are indeed for happiness in this world and the next.
तस्य स्यान्निर्मला बुद्धिर्भूयो धर्मपरायणः
His mind becomes pure, and he is ever devoted to righteousness.
विष्णुभक्तनृणां भूप धर्मे बुद्धिः प्रवर्त्तते
O King, among devotees of Vishnu, discernment toward righteousness arises.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां ये फलान्यभिलिप्सवः
Those who desire the fruits of righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation—
अहं तु गौतममुनेः सर्वज्ञाद्रूह्यवादिनः
As for me, I am the one who, out of pride, spoke against the all-knowing sage Gautama.
कदाचित्परमेशस्य पूजां कर्त्तुमहं गतः
Once, I went to perform worship of the Supreme Lord.
स तु शान्तो महाबुद्धिर्गौन्तमस्तेजसां निधिः
That Gautama, tranquil and of great wisdom, was a treasury of brilliance.
यस्त्वर्चितो मया देवः शिवः सर्वजगद्गुरुः
The god Shiva, teacher of the entire universe, whom I worshipped—
ज्ञानतो ऽज्ञानतो वापि यो ऽवज्ञां कुरुते गुरोः
Whoever, knowingly or unknowingly, shows disrespect to the teacher—