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?
मूक उवाच-। किं कुप्यसि वृथा विप्र न बकोहं तवाधुना। कोपस्सिद्ध्यति ते तावद्बकेनान्यत्र किंचन
Muka said: Why do you become angry in vain, Brahmin? I am not your crane now. Your anger will succeed only as much as a crane's elsewhere.
गगने स्नानशाटी ते न शुष्यति न तिष्ठति। वचनं खात्ततः श्रुत्वा मद्गृहं चागतो भवान्
Your bathing cloth in the sky neither dries nor remains; hearing these words, you have come to my house.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठ वदिष्यामि नोचेद्गच्छ पतिव्रतां। तां च दृष्ट्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ दयितं ते फलिष्यति
Stay, stay, I will speak; otherwise, go to the chaste woman. Upon seeing her, O best of Brahmins, your desire will be fulfilled.
ततस्तस्यगृहाद्विष्णुर्द्विजरूपधरो विभुः। विनिस्सृत्य द्विजं प्राह गेहं तस्याः प्रयाम्यहं
Then, from his house, Vishnu, taking the form of a Brahmin, the Lord, emerged and said to the Brahmin: I am going to her house.
स विमृश्य द्विजश्रेष्ठस्तेन सार्धं चचाल ह। गच्छंतं तमुवाचेदं हरिं विप्रेति विस्मितः
Having considered, the best of Brahmins went together with him; as they went, he spoke to Hari, astonished, saying:
किर्थं च त्वया विप्र चांडालस्य गृहोदरे। सदा संस्थीयते तात योषाजनवृते मुदा
Why, O Brahmin, do you always remain in the house of a Chandala, surrounded joyfully by women?
हरिरुवाच-। इदानीं मानसं शुद्धं न भूतं भवतो ध्रुवम्। पतिव्रतादिकं दृष्ट्वा पश्चाज्ज्ञास्यसि मां किल
Hari said: Now your mind is certainly not pure; after seeing the chaste woman and others, you will indeed know me.
विप्र उवाच-। पतिव्रता च का तात किं वा तस्याश्श्रुतं महत्। येनाहं तत्र गच्छामि कारणं वद मे द्विज
The Brahmin said: Who is this chaste woman, O father, and what great thing have I not heard about her? For what reason am I going there? Tell me, Brahmin.
हरिरुवाच-। नदीनां जाह्नवी श्रेष्ठा प्रमदानां पतिव्रता। मनुष्याणां प्रजापालो देवानां च जनार्दनः
Hari said: Among rivers, the Ganga is supreme; among women, the chaste wife; among men, the progenitor; among gods, Janardana.
पतिव्रता च या नारि पत्युर्नित्यं हिते रता। कुलद्वयस्य पुरुषानुद्धरेत्सा शतं शतं५० 1.50.
A chaste woman is she who is always devoted to her husband's welfare; she uplifts hundreds upon hundreds of men from both families.