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.
तीर्थमुत्सादयंति स्म तीर्थकाका दुरासदाः। विना विप्रं निषादेषु भक्षय त्वमलक्षितं
The difficult-to-approach crows of the holy place have been polluting the sacred site; except for the brāhmaṇa, consume the Niṣādas unnoticed.
इत्युक्तः प्रययौ पक्षी भक्षयामास तांस्ततः। अलक्ष्यभावो विप्रोपि गिलितस्तेन पक्षिणा
Thus instructed, the bird departed and began to devour them; the brāhmaṇa, being unnoticed, was swallowed by the bird.
स तस्य गलके गाढं लालगीति द्विजस्तदा। वमितुं गिलितुं चापि न शशाक द्विजोत्तमः
The brāhmaṇa was tightly lodged in its throat, unable to vomit or swallow, the foremost of twice-born unable to act.
गत्वाथ पितरं प्राह किमेतदिति मे पितः। लग्नं मे गलके सत्वं प्रतिकर्तुं न शक्नुयां
Then, going to his father, he said: 'Father, what is this? Something is stuck in my throat and I am unable to expel it.'
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कश्यपस्तमुवाच ह। मयोक्तं ते पुरा वत्स ब्राह्मणोयं न बुध्यसे
Hearing these words, Kaśyapa replied: 'I told you before, child, this is a brāhmaṇa, but you did not understand.'
इत्युक्त्वा च मुनिर्धीमान्द्विजं प्राह स धार्मिकः। आगच्छ त्वं ममासन्नं हितं ते प्रवदाम्यहं
Having said this, the wise sage addressed the righteous brāhmaṇa: 'Come near to me; I will tell you what is beneficial for you.'
तमुवाच तदा विप्रः कश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम्। ममैते सुहृदो नित्यं सर्वे संबंधिनः प्रियाः
Then the brāhmaṇa spoke to Kaśyapa, the foremost sage: 'All these are my constant friends and dear relatives.'
श्वशुराः स्यालकाश्चाप्तास्सबालाश्च तथापरे। एतैः सह प्रयास्यामि निरयं चापि वा शिवम्
Fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, close associates, children, and others—together with them I will go, whether to hell or to auspiciousness.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मितः कश्यपोऽब्रवीत्। द्विजानां च कुले जातश्चांडालैः पतितो भवान्
Hearing these words, Kaśyapa, astonished, said: 'Though born in the family of brāhmaṇas, you have fallen among the cāṇḍālas.'
पुरुषास्ते प्रतिष्ठंते घोरे च निरये ध्रुवम्। चिराय निष्कृतिस्तेषां नैवास्तीह कथंचन
Those people remain in dreadful hell, certainly; for a long time, there is no expiation for them at all.