सर्वतीर्थमयी माता सर्वदेवमयः पिता। मातरं पितरं चैव यस्तु कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम्
The mother embodies all sacred places, the father embodies all deities; whoever circumambulates mother and father.
प्रदक्षिणीकृता तेन सप्तद्वीपा वसुंधरा। जानुनी च करौ यस्य पित्रोः प्रणमतः शिरः
By that act, the earth with its seven continents is circumambulated; for one who bows with knees and hands to his parents, his head touches the ground.
निपतंति पृथिव्यां च सोक्षयं लभते दिवं। तयोश्चरणयोर्यावद्रजश्चिह्नानि मस्तके
He falls to the earth and attains heaven without decay; as long as the marks of dust from their feet remain on his head.
प्रतीके च विलग्नानि तावत्पूतः सुतस्तयोः। पादारविंदसलिलं यः पित्रोः पिबते सुतः
As long as those marks remain attached to his body, the son is purified; whoever drinks the water from his parents’ lotus feet.
तस्य पापक्षयं याति जन्मकोटिशतार्जितं। धन्योसौ मानवो लोके पूतोसौ सर्वकल्मषात्
His sins, accumulated over hundreds of millions of births, are destroyed; that man is blessed in the world and purified from all faults.
विनायकत्वमाप्नोति जन्मनैकेन मानवः। पितरौ लंघयेद्यस्तु वचोभिः पुरुषाधमः
A man attains the state of Vināyaka in a single birth; but the lowest of men who transgresses his parents with words.
निरये च वसेत्तावद्यावदाभूतसंप्लवं। पित्रोरनर्चनं कृत्वा भुंक्ते यस्तु सुताधमः
He dwells in hell until the dissolution of the world, who, being a wicked son, fails to honor his parents.
क्रिमिकूपेथ नरके कल्पांतमुपतिष्ठति। रोगिणं चापि वृद्धं च पितरं वृत्तिकर्शितम्
He remains in the pit of worms in hell for a kalpa, who causes his father to suffer from illness, old age, or deprivation.
विकलं नेत्रकर्णाभ्यां त्यक्त्वा गच्छेच्च रौरवम्। अंत्यजातिषु म्लेच्छेषु चांडालेष्वपि जायते
Abandoning his father who is impaired in eyes or ears, he goes to the Raurava hell, and is born among outcastes, foreigners, and even among the lowest.
पित्रोरपोषणं कृत्वा सर्वपुण्यक्षयो भवेत्। नाराध्य पितरौ पुत्रस्तीर्थदेवान्भजन्नपि
By neglecting the care of his parents, all merit is destroyed; even if the son worships holy places and gods, without honoring his parents, it is fruitless.
तयोर्न फलमाप्नोति कीटवद्रमते महीम्। कथयामि पुरावृत्तं विप्राः शृणुत यत्नतः
He does not obtain the fruit of those acts, and wanders the earth like an insect; I shall recount an ancient event, O Brahmins, listen attentively.
यं श्रुत्वा न पुनर्मोहं प्रयास्यथ पुनर्भुवि। पुरासीच्च द्विजः कश्चिन्नरोत्तम इति स्मृतः
Hearing this, you will not again fall into delusion in future births; formerly, there was a certain Brahmin, remembered as the best among men.
स्वपितरावनादृत्य गतोसौ तीर्थसेवया। ततः सर्वाणि तीर्थानि गच्छतो ब्राह्मणस्य च
Disregarding his parents, he went to serve holy places; then, as he visited all the sacred sites, the Brahmin’s
आकाशे स्नानचेलानि प्रशुष्यंति दिने दिने। अहंकारोऽविशत्तस्य मानसे ब्राह्मणस्य च
His bathing garments dried in the sky day by day; pride entered the mind of that Brahmin.
मत्समो नास्ति वै कश्चित्पुण्यकर्मा महायशाः। इत्युक्ते चानने तस्य अहदच्च बकस्तदा
He said, 'There is none equal to me in virtuous deeds and great fame'; when he spoke thus, a crane replied to him.
क्रोधाच्चैवेरितस्तस्य स शशाप द्विजो बकम्। पपात च बकः पृथ्व्यां स भस्मीभूतविग्रहः
Angered by the crane, the Brahmin cursed it; the crane fell to the earth, its body reduced to ashes.
भीर्द्विजेंद्रं महामोहः प्राविशच्चांतकर्मणि। ततः पापाच्च विप्रस्य चेलं खं च न गच्छति
Fear and great delusion seized the Brahmin at the moment of death; then, because of his sin, his garment and self did not ascend to the sky.
विषादमगमत्सद्यस्ततः खं तमुवाच ह। गच्छ बाडव चांडालं मूकं परमधार्मिकम्
He immediately fell into despair; then the sky spoke to him: 'Go, O Brahmin, to the mute outcaste, the most unrighteous.'
तत्र धर्मं च जानीषे क्षेमं ते तद्वचो भवेत्। खाच्च तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गतोसौ मूकमंदिरम्
'There you will learn righteousness; your welfare will come from his words.' Hearing this, the Brahmin went to the abode of the mute.
शुश्रूषंतं च पितरौ सर्वारंभान्ददर्श सः। ददतं शीतकाले च सम्यगुष्णं जलं तयोः
He saw the mute serving his parents in every undertaking, giving them properly heated water in the cold season.
तैलतापनतांबूलं तथा तूलवतीं पटीम्। नित्याशनं च मिष्टान्नं दुग्धखंडं तथैव च
He provided oil for massage, betel, and soft cotton cloth, daily sweet food, milk, and sugar likewise.
दापयंतं वसंते च मधुमालां सुगंधिकां। अन्यानि यानि भोग्यानि कृत्यानि विविधानि च
He gave them fragrant garlands in spring, and various enjoyable and necessary things.
उष्णे चावीजयत्सोपि नित्यं च पितरावपि। ततस्तयोः प्रचर्यां च कृत्वा भुंक्तेथ सर्वदा
He fanned them in the heat, and always served his parents; after caring for them, he would eat.
श्रमस्य वारणं कुर्यात्संतापस्य तथैव च। एभिः पुण्यैः स्थितो विष्णुस्तस्य गेहोदरे चिरम्
He would relieve their fatigue and distress; by these merits, Vishnu dwelled for a long time in his household.
अंतरिक्षे च क्रीडंतमाधारस्तंभवर्जिते। तस्यापि भवने नित्यं स्थितं त्रिभुवनेश्वरं
In the sky, playing in a place without any supporting pillars, in his house too, always resides the Lord of the three worlds.
विप्ररूपधरं कांतं नान्यैर्भूतं च सत्परम्। तेजोमयं महासत्वं शोभयंतं च मंदिरं
Assuming the form of a Brahmin, charming, not seen by others, truly supreme, radiant, of great strength, illuminating the temple.
दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमापन्नो विप्रः प्रोवाच मूककम्। विप्र उवाच-। आसन्नं च ममागच्छ त्वयैवेच्छामि शाश्वतं
Seeing this, the Brahmin was astonished and spoke to Muka: The Brahmin said: Come near to me, for I desire what is eternal from you.
हितं मे सर्वलोकानां तत्वतो वक्तुमर्हसि। मूक उवाच-। पित्रोरर्चां करोम्यद्य कथमायामि तेंतिकं
You should speak to me, for the good of all worlds, the truth as it is. Muka said: Today I am performing worship for my parents; how can I come to you now?
अर्चयित्वा तु पितरौ कृत्यं ते करवाणि वै। तिष्ठ मे द्वारदेशे च आतिथ्यं ते करोम्यहम्
After worshipping my parents, I will surely do what you require; wait for me at the doorway, I will offer you hospitality.
इत्युक्ते चैव चांडाले चुकोप ब्राह्मणस्तदा। ब्राह्मणं मां परित्यज्य किं कार्यमधिकं तव
When this was said by the Chandala, the Brahmin then became angry: By abandoning me, a Brahmin, what greater duty do you have?