कांतारे दुस्तरे पंके पुरुशंकुसमाकुलं। आलिं कृत्वा भवेत्पूतो देवत्वं याति मानवः
In a difficult forest, in deep mud, filled with obstacles for men, by building a bridge, one becomes purified and attains divinity.
वितस्तौ तु लभेत्स्वर्गं दिव्यं वर्षशतं समम्। एवं संख्याविधानेन नरः स्वर्गान्न हीयते
For each span, one obtains heaven for a hundred divine years; thus, by this rule of enumeration, a man is never deprived of heaven.
कदाचित्पंकयोगाच्च स्वर्गाद्भुवि विजायते। तदा भट्टारकः श्रीमान्रोगशोकविवर्जितः
Sometimes, due to association with mud, one is born on earth from heaven; then, the blessed lord is free from disease and sorrow.
पंकादौ संक्रमांश्चैव कृत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते। सर्वपापं क्षयं तस्य संप्रयाति दिनेदिने
By constructing crossings at the beginning of the mud, one is not deprived of heaven; all his sins are destroyed, and he attains it day by day.
तथालिसंक्रमाणां च फलं तुल्यं प्रकीर्तितम्। धनप्राणाव्ययेनैव धीमता क्रियते सदा
Likewise, the result of transferring merit is said to be equal; the wise always perform it by expending wealth or life.
श्रूयतां यत्पुरावृत्तमाख्यानं वृद्धसंमतं। कश्चिच्चोरो महाभीष्मे स्तेयकर्मणि चोद्यतः
Hear now a story from the past, approved by the elders: there was once a certain thief, greatly feared, intent on the act of stealing.
कांतारे गोशिरः स्थाप्य क्रांत्वा स्तेयं गतो ह्यसौ। धनापहरणं कृत्वा गृहस्थस्य च तेन हि
In a wilderness, he placed a cow’s head, committed theft, and departed; by taking away the wealth of a householder, he did so.
गतः स्वमंदिरं तत्र जना गच्छंति वर्त्मनि। सर्वेषामेकपादस्य सुखं भवति निश्चितं
He went to his own house, while people traveled along the road; for all of them, the comfort of walking on one foot was certain.
एकपादे ह्रदे दुर्गे तारकं गोशिरः परम्। चांद्रायणं च तत्तस्य कांतारे संस्थितं शिरः
On one foot, in a pond or fortress, the cow’s head is a raft; and the Cāndrāyaṇa fast is that head placed in the wilderness.
ततश्चोरस्य निधने चित्रगुप्तप्रणीतके। धर्मस्य फलमात्रं तु एतस्य च न विद्यते
Then, upon the thief’s death, led by Citragupta, there was only the fruit of his deeds; for him, nothing else remained.
न दैवं पैतृकं कार्यं तीर्थं स्नानं द्विजार्चनं। दानं गुरुजने मानं ज्ञानं परहितं शुभम्
No divine, ancestral, or ritual act, no bathing at holy places, worship of twice-born, giving, respect to elders, knowledge, or good done for others—
मनसा न कृतं तेन क्रियया च कथं पुनः। कृतं साहसिकं स्तेयं परदाराभिमर्शनम्
None of these were done by him in mind, so how could they be done in action? What he did was bold theft and the violation of another’s wife.
भूतमिथ्यापवादं च साधुनिंदा परं तथा। एवं शतसहस्रं तु तथा गोहरणं कृतम्
He uttered false accusations about the past, slandered the virtuous, and likewise committed the theft of cows a hundred thousand times.
तत्राह धर्मराजस्तु कालानलसमप्रभः। नयतैनं फलं शूरा दुर्गतिं चापुनर्भवम्
There, the Lord of Dharma, shining like the fire of time, said: 'Take him, heroes, to his result—misery and no rebirth.'
एतस्मिन्नंतरेऽवोचच्चित्रगुप्तोनुकंपकः। अस्त्यस्य गोशिरः पुण्यं किचिन्नाथ क्षमाधुना
At that moment, compassionate Citragupta spoke: 'Is there any merit at all for this cow’s head, O Lord? Forgive now.'
नृपो द्वादशवार्षिक्यं लभेत्पुण्योदयं क्षितौ। तथाह धर्मराजस्तं गच्छ मर्त्यं दुरात्मक
A king, after twelve years, may attain the rise of merit on earth; so said the Lord of Dharma to him: 'Go, wicked one, to the mortal world.'
अकंटकं च राज्यं च भुंक्ष्व द्वादशवत्सरम्। यद्धृतं गोशिरो मार्गे मुक्तस्तस्यैव कारणात्
'Enjoy a kingdom free of thorns for twelve years; because the cow’s head was placed on the path, he is released for that reason.'
पुनरत्र समागम्य संगंता चापुनर्भवम्। ततः कृतांजलिर्देवमुवाच दुःखपीडितः
Then, after returning here again, he will reach union and not be reborn; then, with hands joined, afflicted by sorrow, he addressed the god.
धर्मराजानुकंपा च मय्येवं पापकारिणि। कुरु नाथ त्वनाथे च जानामि प्रीतिपूर्वकम्
'O Lord, the compassion of the Lord of Dharma for me, a doer of evil, and for the helpless—I know it is with true affection.'
धर्मराजस्तु तं चाह बाढमेवमितो व्रज। स्मरिष्यसि स्ववृत्तांतं मत्प्रसादात्सुदुःखितः
Then the Lord of Dharma said to him: 'So be it—go from here; by my grace, you will remember your past, though greatly afflicted.'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे चैव मोचितः किंकरेण हि। तस्य जन्माभवत्कौ च दुर्विधे चातिवाणिके
At that moment, he was released by an attendant; he was born as a son to a wicked and exceedingly greedy merchant.
आजन्मविविधं दुःखं भुक्तं पूर्वविकर्मतः। भुक्त्वा क्लेशं महांतं च एकविंशतिहायनम्
From birth, he endured various sufferings due to his former misdeeds; having suffered great torment for twenty-one years—
तस्मिन्राष्ट्रे मृतो भूपः स्वकर्मपरिपीडितः। एतस्मिन्नंतरेऽमात्यैः समालोक्य सुमंत्रिभिः
In that kingdom, the king died, afflicted by the consequences of his own actions; meanwhile, the ministers, together with wise counselors, observed this.
अनेक परिमर्शैस्तु पृथिव्यां भ्रमणं कृतम्। तमावृण्वंश्च ते सद्यः सर्वेषां पुरतो दृढम्
After much deliberation and wandering across the land, they immediately and firmly appointed him in the presence of all.
ततो राज्याभिषेकश्च कृतस्तैस्तु विमत्सरैः। स च राज्यं च संश्रित्य धर्मराजवरेण च
Then, those free from envy performed the royal consecration for him; and he, relying on the kingdom and the noble king of righteousness—
अकरोदालिकं कर्म शिलाबद्धं च मृण्मयम्। संक्रमं जलदुर्गे च तरणिं च तथापरे
He constructed a raised embankment, a stone-bound and earthen structure; a passage in the water-fort, and also a boat for crossing.
वापीकूपतटाकानि प्रपाराम महीरुहं। कृतवान्विविधं यज्ञं दानपुण्यमतः परम्
He made wells, ponds, reservoirs, rest-houses, and planted great trees; he performed various sacrifices and acts of charity, and other meritorious deeds.
स्मरंश्च पूर्वकर्म्माणि सर्वपापक्षयाय वै। कृतं बहुविधं धर्मं व्रतानि विविधानि च
Remembering his past actions, he performed many kinds of righteous deeds and various vows, all for the destruction of all sins.
सुराणां ब्राह्मणानां च गुरूणां चैव तर्पणात्। पापात्पूतो ययौ गेहं धर्मराजस्य धीमतः
By offering satisfaction to the gods, the Brahmins, and the elders, he was purified from sin and went to the home of the wise king of righteousness.
सयानस्थं ततो दृष्ट्वा क्रोधरक्तेक्षणोऽभवत्। स च तं प्रांजलिं प्राह भो धर्म कुरु तारणम्
Seeing him lying down, his eyes red with anger, he (the king) with joined palms said: 'O Dharma, grant me deliverance.'