लोकानां कुश्रुतिर्वार्ता तेन पुण्यबलाच्छ्रुता। जनापवादमोक्षार्थं बुद्धिस्तस्याभवच्छुभा
The rumor of the people, whether good or bad, was heard by the power of his merit. For the sake of freeing her from public blame, his mind became auspicious.
दारूणि स्वयमाहृत्याजिज्वलत्स महानलम्। एतस्मिन्नंतरे तात राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
He himself gathered wood and kindled a great fire. Meanwhile, O dear one, the valiant prince—
आगमत्तद्गृहं सद्यः सोपश्यत्तं च योषितम्। प्रोत्फुल्लवदनां नारीं प्रविषादगतं नरं
At once came to that house and saw the woman. The woman, her face blooming, saw the man who had entered.
अनयोर्मानसं ज्ञात्वा राजपुत्रोवदद्वचः। किं न संभाषसे मां च मित्रकं चिरमागतम्
Knowing their thoughts, the prince spoke these words: 'Why do you not speak to me, your friend, who has come after a long time?'
अब्रवीत्सोपि धर्मात्मा राजपुत्रमनष्टधीः। यत्कृतं दुष्करं कर्म मया त्वद्धितकारणात्
That righteous-souled one, his mind unshaken, spoke to the prince: 'The difficult deed I performed was for your benefit.'
सर्वं व्यर्थमहं मन्ये जनानां च प्रवादतः। अद्य वह्निमहं यास्ये प्रपश्यंतु नरास्सुराः
I consider all the talk of people to be in vain; today I shall enter the fire—let men and gods witness this.
इत्युक्त्वा स महाभागः प्रविवेश हुताशनम्। विशतस्तस्य वह्नौ न कुसुमं चिकुरालये
Having spoken thus, that illustrious one entered the sacrificial fire; as he entered the flames, not a single hair on his head was harmed.
नांगमस्यानलोधाक्षीन्न च वस्त्रं न कुंतलम्। खे च देवा मुदा सर्वेसाधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्
Neither his body, nor his garments, nor his hair were scorched by the fire; and in the sky, all the gods exclaimed with joy, 'Well done! Well done!'
अपतन्पुष्पवर्षाणि तस्य मूर्ध्नि समंततः। यैर्यैश्च दुष्कृतं वाक्यं गदितं तावुभौ प्रति
Showers of flowers fell all around upon his head; and for those who had spoken wicked words against the two,
तेषां मुखे प्रजायंते कुष्ठानि विविधानि च। तत्रागत्य च देवाश्च वह्नेराकृष्यतं मुदा
Various kinds of leprosy appeared on their faces; and the gods, having come there, joyfully drew near the fire.
अपूजयन्सुपुष्पैश्च मुनयो विस्मयं गताः। सर्वैर्मुनिवरैरेवं मनुष्यैर्विविधैस्तदा
The sages, filled with wonder, worshipped him with beautiful flowers; and so did all the foremost sages and various people at that time.
अर्च्यते तु महातेजाः स च सर्वानपूजयत्। सज्जनाद्रोहकं नाम कृतं देवासुरैर्नृभिः
That great-souled one was worshipped by all, and he in turn honored everyone; the act called 'injury to the virtuous' was committed by gods, asuras, and men.
तस्य पादरजः पूता सस्यपूर्णा धराभवत्। सुराश्चाहुश्च तं तत्र भार्या ते संप्रगृह्यताम्
Sanctified by the dust of his feet, the earth became abundant with crops; and there the gods said, 'Let your wife be restored to you.'
एतस्य सदृशो लोके न भूतो न भविष्यति। नास्तीति सांप्रतं पृथ्व्यां कामलोभाजितः पुमान्
No one like him has ever existed in the world, nor will there ever be; at present, there is no man on earth overcome by desire and greed like him.
देवासुरमनुष्याणां रक्षसां मृगपक्षिणाम्। कीटादीनां च सर्वेषां काम एष सुदुर्जयः
Among gods, asuras, humans, rakshasas, beasts, birds, and all insects, this desire is exceedingly hard to conquer.
कामाल्लोभात्तथाक्रोधान्नित्यं सत्त्वेषु जायते। संसारबंधकः कामो ह्यकामो न क्वचिद्भवेत्
From desire, greed, and anger constantly arise among beings; desire is the bond of worldly existence—without desire, it cannot exist anywhere.
अनेनैव जितं सर्वं भुवनानि चतुर्दश। अमुष्य हृदये नित्यं वासुदेवो मुदास्थितः
By this alone, all the fourteen worlds have been conquered; in his heart, Vasudeva always dwells with joy.
एवं स्पृष्ट्वाथ दृष्ट्वा तं मनुष्याः सर्वकल्मषात्। पूयंते ह्यनघाश्चैव लभंते चाक्षयां दिवम्
Thus, whoever touches or beholds him is purified from all sin; they become spotless and attain the eternal heaven.
एवमुक्त्वा गता देवा विमानैश्च दिवं मुदा। मनुष्याः प्रययुस्तुष्टा दंपती स्वगृहं तथा
Having spoken thus, the gods departed joyfully to heaven in their celestial cars; and the people, pleased, returned home with the couple.
दिव्यं चक्षुस्तदा तस्य चासीद्देवान्स पश्यति। त्रैलोक्यस्य च वार्त्तां च जानाति लीलया भृशम्
At that time, he obtained divine sight and saw the gods; he easily came to know all the affairs of the three worlds.
ततस्तस्य च वीथ्यां च दृष्टस्तेन सहैव सः। स पप्रच्छ मुदा तं च धर्मोद्देशं हितं वद
Then, as he was seen on the road, he joyfully asked him, 'Tell me the teaching of righteousness that is beneficial.'
सज्जनाद्रोह उवाच-। गच्छ बाडव धर्मज्ञ वैष्णवं पुरुषोत्तमम्। तं च दृष्ट्वा त्वभीष्टं ते सांप्रतं च फलिष्यति
Sajjanadroha said: 'Go, O Bhadava, knower of dharma, to the supreme Vaishnava; having seen him, your desired wish will now be fulfilled.'
बकस्य निधनं यद्वा वस्त्रस्याशोषणं तथा। जानीषे चापरो यश्च कामस्तेऽस्ति हृदिस्थितः
Just as you know the death of a crane or the drying of a garment, so too you know another desire that remains in your heart.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनमागतो वैष्णवं प्रति। विष्णुरूपद्विजेनैव सार्द्धं तेन मुदा ययौ
Hearing these words addressed to the devotee of Vishnu, he joyfully went together with that twice-born one who had taken the form of Vishnu.
अपश्यत्पुरुषं शुद्धं ज्वलंतं च पुरःस्थितम्। सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा
He saw before him a pure man, shining, endowed with all auspicious marks, blazing with his own radiance.
अब्रवीत्स च धर्मात्मा ध्यानस्थं च हरेः प्रियम्। वदनो यद्यद्वृत्तं वै दूरात्त्वां चागतो ह्यहम्
That righteous one spoke to the devotee of Hari, who was absorbed in meditation: 'Tell me whatever has happened, for I have come to you from afar.'
वैष्णव उवाच-। प्रसन्नस्ते सुरश्रेष्ठो दानवारीश्वरः सदा। दृष्ट्वा त्वां च मनोऽस्माकं हृष्यतीवाधुना द्विज
The Vaiṣṇava said: 'The best of gods, the lord of the enemies of the Dānavas, is always gracious to you; seeing you, our minds are now truly gladdened, O twice-born.'
कल्याणं चातुलं तेद्य फलिष्यति मनोरथः। सुरवर्त्मनि ते नित्यं चेलं शुष्यति नान्यथा
Today your unparalleled good fortune will bear fruit; on the path of the gods, your garment will always dry—never otherwise.
दृष्ट्वा देवं सुरश्रेष्ठं मम गेहे हरिं स्थितम्। इत्युक्ते वैष्णवेनाथ स तु तं पुनब्रवीत्
Having seen the best of gods, Hari, standing in my house—when the Vaiṣṇava had spoken thus, he again addressed him.
क्वासौ विष्णुः स्थितो नित्यं दर्शयाद्य प्रसादतः। वैष्णव उवाच-। अस्मिन्देवगृहे रम्ये प्रविश्य परमेश्वरम्१५० 1.50.
'Where is that eternal Viṣṇu? Show him to me today by your grace.' Vaiṣṇava said: 'Enter this beautiful temple and behold the Supreme Lord.'