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.'
चित्रगुप्तोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं धर्मराजसमीपतः। कर्मणा मनसा पूतो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छतु
Citragupta spoke these words in the presence of the king of righteousness: 'Purified by action and mind, let him go to the world of Vishnu.'
स तच्छ्रुत्वा पुनश्चाह तस्य विज्ञाय कारणम्। स्मितः प्रीत्या प्रसन्नात्मा गच्छ गच्छाच्युतालयम्
Hearing this, and knowing the reason, he again said with a smile, his mind pleased: 'Go, go to the abode of the Imperishable.'
विमानं सुरलोकाच्च स्वागतं वर्णकर्बुरम्। समारुह्य गतः स्वर्गं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
Ascending a celestial chariot, radiant and beautifully adorned, he went to heaven—a place from which return is rare.
तस्मात्किष्कुप्रमाणं हि दत्तं येनालिकं पुरा। स तु राज्यान्वयं स्वर्गं महांतं चानुगच्छति
Therefore, whoever once gave land the size of a plough's measure, he attains both the succession of the kingdom and great heaven.
तथैव गोप्रचारं तु दत्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते। या गतिर्गोप्रदस्यैव ध्रुवं तस्य भविष्यति
Likewise, by giving pasture for cows, one does not fall from heaven; the destiny of one who gives pasture to cows will surely be his.
व्यामैकं गोप्रचारं तु मुक्तं येन सुधीमता। तस्य स्वर्गं भवेदिष्टं किमन्यैः पुरुभाषितैः
Whoever, being wise, grants even a single vyama of cow-pasture, his desired heaven will be obtained—what need is there for many words?
गोप्रचारं यथाशक्ति यो वै त्यजति हेतुना। दिनेदिने ब्रह्मभोज्यं पुण्यं तस्य शताधिकम्
Whoever, to the best of his ability, gives up cow-pasture for a reason, his merit is a hundred times greater than that of one who daily feeds Brahmins.
तस्माद्गवां प्रचारं तु मुक्त्वा स्वर्गान्न हीयते। यश्छिनत्ति द्रुमं पुण्यं गोप्रचारं छिनत्यपि
Therefore, by granting pasture for cows, one does not fall from heaven; but whoever cuts down a sacred tree also destroys cow-pasture.
तस्यैकविंशपुरुषाः पच्यंते रौरवेषु च। गोचारघ्नं ग्रामगोपः शक्तो ज्ञात्वा तु दण्डयेत्
For him, twenty-one generations are tormented in the hells called Raurava; the village protector, knowing this, should punish the destroyer of cow-pasture.
छेत्तारं धर्मवृक्षाणां विशेषाद्गोप्रचारघम्। तस्य दंडे सुखं तस्य तस्मात्तं दंडयेत्तु सः
Especially the one who cuts down trees of righteousness, and the destroyer of cow-pasture—his punishment brings him happiness, therefore he should indeed be punished.