अंत्यजातिषु म्लेच्छेषु तथा चांडालजातिषु। पतितो वान्नयोनिभ्यां न हंतव्यः कथंचन
Even among outcastes, foreigners, and those of the caṇḍāla caste, or one fallen from both parents, he must never be killed in any way.
सर्वजातिस्त्रियं गत्वा सर्वाभक्ष्यस्य भक्षणात्। द्विजत्वं न विनश्येत पुण्याद्विप्रो भवेत्पुनः
Even after going to women of all castes or eating all forbidden foods, the state of being twice-born is not lost; by merit, he becomes a brahmin again.
नारद उवाच-। ईदृशं दुष्कृतं कृत्वा पश्चात्पुण्यं समाचरेत्। कां गतिं यात्यसौ विप्रः सर्वलोकपितामह
Nārada said: After committing such evil, if he later performs virtuous acts, O ancestor of all worlds, what fate does that brahmin attain?
ब्रह्मोवाच-। कृत्वा सर्वाणि पापानि पश्चाद्यस्तु जितेंद्रियः। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः पुनर्ब्रह्मत्वमर्हति
Brahmā said: Having committed all sins, if afterwards he controls his senses, he is freed from all sins and becomes worthy of Brahmanhood again.
शृणु पुत्र कथां रम्यां विचित्रां च पुरातनीम्। कस्यचिद्ब्राह्मणस्यापि यौवनाढ्यः सुतोऽभवत्
Listen, my son, to a delightful and remarkable ancient tale: There was once a brahmin who had a son endowed with youth.
ततो यौवनसंपत्तेर्मोहाच्च पूर्वकर्मणः। चांडालीमगमत्सद्यस्तस्याः प्रियतरोऽभवत्
Then, due to the attainment of youth, delusion, and previous karma, he immediately went to a caṇḍālī woman and became dearer to her.
तस्यामुत्पादितास्तेन पुत्रा दुहितरस्तथा। स्वकुटुंबं परित्यज्य गृहे तस्याश्चिरं स्थितः
He fathered sons and daughters by her, abandoned his own family, and stayed in her house for a long time.
अन्या भक्ष्यं न चाश्नाति घृणया च सुरां त्यजेत्। तमुवाच सदा सा च भक्षयान्यतरां सुराम्
He would not eat other food, and out of disgust, he would avoid liquor; yet she always told him to eat other things and to drink liquor.
तामुवाच तदा शौचं गदितुं नार्हसि प्रिये। उत्कारो जायते तस्याः श्रवणात्सततं मम
Then he said to her, 'My dear, you should not speak of purity; whenever I hear it from her, I always feel revulsion.'
एकदा स मृगान्वेषात्श्रांतः सुप्तो गृहे दिवा। गृहीत्वा सा सुरां तस्य हसित्वा च मुखे ददौ
One day, exhausted from hunting, he slept at home during the day; she took liquor, laughed, and put it in his mouth.
ततो विप्रमुखादग्निः प्रजज्वाल समंततः। ज्वाला तु सकुटुबांतामदहच्च गृहं वसु
Then, from the front of the brahmin's house, fire blazed forth in all directions; its flames, crowned with smoke, consumed the house and its wealth.
हाहा कृत्वा समुत्थाय विललाप तदा द्विजः। विलापांते च जिज्ञासा समारब्धा च तेन हि
Crying out in distress, the brahmin arose and lamented; and when his lamentation ended, he began to inquire.
कुतश्चाग्निः समुद्भूतो गृहे दाहः कथं मम। ततः खे तमुवाचेदं तेजस्ते ब्राह्मणस्य च
"From where did this fire arise, and how did my house burn?" Then, from the sky, his own brilliance spoke to the brahmin.
कथिते तद्यथावृत्ते ब्राह्मणो विस्मयं गतः। विमृश्यार्थमुवाचेदं पुनः खेऽस्य हितं वचः
When the events were thus described, the brahmin was astonished; reflecting on the matter, he was again addressed from the sky with words for his welfare.
विप्रणष्टं सुतेजस्ते तस्माद्धर्मचरो भव। ततो मुनिवरान्गत्वा पप्रच्छात्महितं द्विजः
"Your brilliance is lost, O brahmin; therefore, practice righteousness." Then, seeking his own good, the brahmin went to the eminent sages and questioned them.
तमूचुर्मुनयः सर्वे दानधर्मं समाचर। ऋषय ऊचुः-। पूयंते सर्वपापेभ्यो ब्राह्मणानि यमैर्व्रतैः
All the sages said to him, "Practice the virtue of charity." The seers said: "Brahmins are purified from all sins by vows and disciplines."
नियमान्शास्त्रदृष्टांश्च पूतत्वार्थमुपाचर। चांद्रायणांश्च कृच्छ्रांश्च तप्तकृच्छ्रान्पुनः पुनः
"Undertake the observances prescribed in the scriptures for purification, such as the Cāndrāyaṇa and Kṛcchra penances, and the heated Kṛcchra, again and again."
प्राजापत्यांश्च दिव्यांश्च दोषशोषाय सत्वरम्। गच्छ तीर्थानि पूतानि गोविंदाराधनं कुरु
"Also perform the Prājāpatya and divine penances quickly, to destroy faults; go to the sacred places and worship Govinda."
क्षयमेष्यंति पापानि न चिरेण समंततः। पुण्यतीर्थप्रभावाच्च गोविंदस्य प्रभावतः
"Your sins will soon be destroyed in all respects, by the power of the holy places and by the power of Govinda."
क्षयमेष्यंति पापानि ब्रह्मत्वं प्राप्स्यते भवान्। शृणु तात यथावृत्तं कथयामः पुरातनम्
"Your sins will be destroyed, and you will attain brahminhood; listen, dear one, as we recount an ancient tale as it happened."
आहारार्थी पुरा वत्स गरुडो विनतासुतः। पतंगोपि बहिः साक्षादंडान्निस्सृत्य शावकः
"Once, for the sake of food, O child, Garuḍa, the son of Vinatā, went out; and a fledgling bird, having left the egg, was outside as well."
क्षुधार्थी मातरं प्राह भक्ष्यं मे दीयतामिति। ततः पर्वतसंकाशं गरुडं च महाबलम्
"Hungry, he said to his mother, 'Give me something to eat.' Then, seeing Garuḍa, mighty as a mountain..."
दृष्ट्वा माता महाभागा तनयं हृष्टमानसा। क्षुधां ते बाधितुं पुत्र न शक्नोमि समंततः
His blessed mother, seeing her son, mighty as Garuḍa and delighted in mind, said, 'My son, I am unable to relieve your hunger at all.'
तव तातस्तपस्तेपे लौहित्यस्योत्तरे तटे। कश्यपो नाम धर्मात्मा साक्षाल्लोकपितामहः
"Your father, O child, performed austerities on the northern bank of the Lauhitya; his name is Kaśyapa, righteous and the very progenitor of beings."
तत्र गच्छस्व पितरं पृच्छ कामं यथा तव। अस्योपदेशतस्तात क्षुधा ते शममेष्यति
"Go there and ask your father whatever you desire; by his instruction, O child, your hunger will be appeased."
ततो मातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा वैनतेयो महाबलः। अगमत्पितुरभ्याशं समुहूर्तान्मनोजवः
Hearing his mother's words, the mighty son of Vinatā swiftly went to his father's presence in a moment.
दृष्ट्वा तातं मुनिश्रेष्ठं ज्वलंतमिव पावकम्। प्रणम्य शिरसा वाक्यमुवाच पितरं खगः
Seeing his father, the foremost sage, blazing like fire, the bird bowed his head and spoke these words to his father.
भक्षार्थी समनुप्राप्तः सुतोहं ते महात्मनः। क्षुधया पीडितो नाथ भक्ष्यं मे दीयतां प्रभो
"I have come, your son, seeking food, O great-souled one; afflicted by hunger, Lord, grant me something to eat."
ततो ध्यानं समालभ्य ज्ञात्वा तं विनतासुतं। पुत्रस्नेहाद्वचश्चेदं प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमः
Then, having entered meditation and recognizing him as the son of Vinatā, the eminent sage spoke these words out of affection for his son.
अनेकशतसाहस्रा निषादाः सरितांपतेः। तीरे तिष्ठंति पापिष्ठास्तान्संभक्ष्य सुखी भव1.47.
Countless thousands of wicked Niṣādas stand on the banks of the river; devour them and be happy.