अकर्तव्यं शतं कृत्वा पितृश्राद्धं करोति यः। सर्वपापक्षयस्तस्य स्वर्गं याति च मानवः
Even if one has committed a hundred forbidden acts, if he performs the ancestral śrāddha, all his sins are destroyed and the man attains heaven.
सर्वाभावे पितृतिथौ गोभ्यो घासं ददाति यः। फलं च पिंडदानस्य संप्राप्नोत्यधिकं नरः
If, in the absence of everything, on the ancestor's day one gives grass to cows, the man attains a result greater than that of offering the ancestral ball of food.
पुरा वैराटविषये रुरोदातीव दीनकः। पितृतिथौ स्वयं प्राप्ते सर्वाभावाच्च रोदिति
Long ago, in the land of Vairāṭa, a very destitute man wept; when the ancestor's day arrived, he cried because he had nothing at all.
रुदित्वा सुचिरं सोपि पप्रच्छ कोविदं द्विजं। ब्रह्मन्पितृतिथावद्य किंस्वित्कृत्वा हितं भवेत्
After weeping for a long time, he asked a learned brahmin: 'O brahmin, now that the ancestor's day has come, what should I do to bring benefit?'
वराटकश्च मे नास्ति धनं ब्रह्मविदांवर। उपदेशं च मे देहि येन धर्मे स्थितो ह्यहम्
I do not even have a single coin, O best of knowers of Brahman; please give me instruction by which I may remain established in righteousness.
द्विज उवाच-। गच्छ शीघ्रं वने तात मुहूर्ते कुतपेऽधुना। घासं पितरमुद्दिश्य गवे देहीति सत्वरम्
The twice-born said: Go quickly to the forest, dear one, at this very moment when the time for the funeral rite has come; offer grass to the cow, dedicating it to your father, and do so without delay.
ततस्तस्योपदेशेन गृहीत्वा घासपूलकम्। गवे दत्वा यथाहृष्टः पुष्ट्यर्थं पितुरेव च
Then, following his instruction, taking a bundle of grass, he gave it to the cow, as prescribed, for the nourishment of his father, and was gladdened.
एतत्पुण्यप्रसादेन गतोसौ सुरमंदिरम्। स्वर्गं च सुचिरं भुक्त्वा उत्पन्नो धनिनां कुले
By the merit arising from this act, he went to the abode of the gods; after enjoying heaven for a long time, he was born in the family of the wealthy.
धनवान्स पुरा पुण्यात्पितृयज्ञस्य कारणात्। स ददाति पितुः पिंडं सर्वस्वेन धनेन च
He became wealthy in a former life due to the merit of the ancestral offering; he gave the funeral cake to his father, offering all his wealth as well.
तत्रैकजन्मनोभ्यासाद्गतोसौ विष्णुमंदिरम्। भुक्त्वानन्तसुखं तत्र सार्वभौमोभवन्नृपः
By the force of practice over one birth, he attained the abode of Vishnu; having enjoyed endless happiness there, he became a universal emperor.
पितृयज्ञात्परो यस्माद्धर्मो नास्ति कथंचन। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन शक्त्या कुर्यादमत्सरः
Because there is no greater righteousness than the ancestral offering, one should, with all effort and without envy, perform it to the best of one's ability.
यः पठेद्धर्मसंतानं जनानामग्रतो नरः। विष्णुपद्या जले स्नानं प्रति लोके च लभ्यते
Whoever recites the lineage of righteousness before people attains, in this world, the benefit of bathing in the water at Vishnu's holy place.
जन्मजन्मकृतो येन महापातकसंचयः। तत्सर्वं प्रलयं याति सकृदुच्चरिते श्रुते
Whatever great heap of sins has been accumulated over many births, all that is destroyed by the mere utterance and hearing of this.
नरोत्तम उवाच- त्रिदशानां च देवानामन्येषां जगदीश्वरः। प्रभुः कर्ता च हर्त्ता च गोप्ता भर्त्ता पिता प्रसूः
The best of men said: Among the gods and other deities, he is the Lord of the universe—master, creator, destroyer, protector, supporter, father, and source.
अस्माकं वाक्श्रमो विष्णोः कथनेनैव युज्यते। किंतु कौतूहलं मेऽस्ति पिपासा वा क्षुधापि वा
Our speech is exhausted merely by describing Vishnu; yet I have curiosity, or perhaps thirst, or even hunger.
कृतं पृच्छति येनैव वक्तव्यं तत्प्रियेण हि। अतीतं चैव जानाति कथं नाथ पतिव्रता
Whatever is asked should be spoken by the beloved; how does the chaste wife know the past, O Lord?
किं वा तस्यां प्रभावं च वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः। भगवानुवाच- कथितं मे पुरा वत्स पुनः कौतूहलं द्विज
Or, you ought to tell fully what her power is. The Blessed Lord said: I have told this before, dear one, but again you are curious, O twice-born.
कथयिष्यामि तत्सर्वं यत्ते मनसि वर्तते। पतिव्रता पतिप्राणा सदा पत्युर्हिते रता
I will tell you all that is in your mind. The chaste wife is devoted to her husband, always intent on her husband's welfare.
देवानामपि साऽऽराध्या मुनीनां ब्रह्मवादिनां। धवस्यैकस्य या नारी लोके पूज्यतमा स्मृता
She is to be worshipped even by the gods, by sages, and by those who know Brahman; the woman who is devoted to one husband is regarded as the most venerable in the world.
तस्या संमानने गुर्वी निभृता न भविष्यति। मध्यदेशे पुरा तात नगरी चातिशोभना
In honoring her, there will be no excess; in the central region, long ago, there was a very beautiful city.
तस्यां च ब्रह्मजातीया सेव्या नाम्नी पतिव्रता। तस्या धवोऽभवत्कुष्ठी पूर्वकर्मविरोधतः
There, among the Brahmin class, was a chaste woman named Sevya; her husband became afflicted with leprosy due to the opposition of former deeds.
गलद्व्रणास्य पत्युश्च नित्यं चर्यापरायणा। यद्यन्मनोरथं तस्य शक्त्या सा कुरुते भृशम्
Her husband's mouth was always oozing with sores, yet she was ever devoted to service; whatever desire he had, she fulfilled it to the utmost of her ability.
अर्चयेद्देववन्नित्यं स्नेहं कुर्यादमत्सरा। कदाचित्पथि गच्छंतीं वेश्यां परमसुंदरीम्
He should worship the gods daily, and act with affection, free from envy; once, while walking along the road, he saw a courtesan of exceptional beauty.
दृष्ट्वाऽतीवाभवन्मोहान्मन्मथाविष्टचेतनः। निश्श्वस्य सुतरां दीर्घं ततस्तु विमनाऽभवत्
Seeing her, his mind became utterly deluded, seized by passion; he sighed deeply and then became despondent.
श्रुत्वा गृहाद्विनिःसृत्य साध्वी पप्रच्छ तं पतिं। उन्मनास्त्वं कथं नाथ निःश्वासस्ते कथं विभो
Hearing this, the virtuous wife came out of the house and questioned her husband: 'Why are you so distracted, lord? Why do you sigh so, master?'
ब्रूहि मे यच्च कर्तव्यमकर्तव्यं च यत्प्रियम्। दयितं ते करिष्यामि त्वमेको मे गुरुः प्रियः
Tell me what should be done and what should not be done, and what is dear to you; I will do what you desire, for you alone are my teacher and beloved.
अभीष्टं वद मे नाथ यथाशक्ति करोम्यहम्। इत्युक्ते तामुवाचेदं वृथा किं भाषसे प्रिये
Speak your wish to me, lord; I will do it to the best of my ability; when she said this, he replied to her: 'Why do you speak in vain, dear?'
न शक्ता त्वं न चैवाहं मोघं वक्तुं न युज्यते। प्रष्टुं नाधिकरोषीति यथा दीर्घतरोः फलम्
You are not able, nor am I; it is not proper to speak uselessly; you do not have the right to ask, just as one standing on the ground desires the fruit of a tall tree.
भूमौ स्थित्वा तु खर्वात्मा समुद्धर्तुं प्रवांछति। तथा मे रमणी लोभान्मोहाद्यदभिवांछितम्
Standing on the ground, a person of short stature wishes to reach up and take the fruit of a tall tree; in the same way, out of longing and delusion, I desire something unattainable.
दंपत्योरपि दुःसाध्यमपयानं वदाम्यहम्। पतिव्रतोवाच- ज्ञात्वा तु त्वन्मनोवृत्तं शक्ताहं कार्यसाधने
Even for a married couple, I speak of something difficult to accomplish—departure; the devoted wife said: 'Knowing your heart's intent, I am able to fulfill the task.'