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.
प्रासादं कुरुते यस्तु विष्णुलिंगस्य मानवः। त्रिकांडं पंचकाडं च सुशोभं सुघटान्वितम्
Whoever constructs a temple for the liṅga of Viṣṇu—one that is three or five stories high, beautiful, and well-built—
इतोऽधिकं तु यो दद्यान्मृन्मयं वा दृषन्मयम्। वसुवृत्तिसुपूर्णं च सुरम्यं दिव्यभूतलम्
Or if someone gives even more, whether made of clay or stone, filled with abundant wealth and exceedingly delightful, with a divine foundation—
प्रतिष्ठाकर्मसंपन्नं किङ्करादिभिरावृतम्। सुलिंगमिष्टदेवस्य विष्णोरेव विशेषतः
Complete with the rite of installation, attended by servants and others, for the liṅga of the chosen deity—especially for Viṣṇu—
कृत्वा च विष्णुसायुज्यं समाप्नोति नरोत्तमः। तथैव प्रतिमां कृत्वा हरेरन्यतरस्य च
Having done this, the best of men attains union with Viṣṇu; likewise, by making an image of Hari or any other form—
कृत्वा देवकुलं रम्यं यत्फलं लभते नरः। न तन्मखसहस्रैस्तु दानैर्भुवि व्रतादिभिः
The fruit a man gains by building a beautiful temple for the deity cannot be obtained on earth by a thousand sacrifices, gifts, or vows.
कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च। प्रासादे रत्नसंयुक्ते संपूर्णद्रव्यसंकुले
For thousands of millions of aeons, and even hundreds of millions more, in a temple adorned with jewels and filled with all kinds of riches—
स वसेत्कामगे याने सर्वलोकमनोहरे। स्वर्गाच्च्युतो भवेद्राजा सार्वभौमो गुणैर्वशी
He dwells in a vehicle of his choosing, enchanting to all worlds; when he falls from heaven, he becomes a universal monarch, master of virtues.
शिवलिंगे तु प्रासादं कारयित्वा स्वशक्तितः। यदुक्तं विष्णुलिंगे तु तज्ज्ञेयं शिववेश्मनि
By having a temple built for the liṅga of Śiva, according to one's ability, the same should be understood as said for the house of Śiva as for the liṅga of Viṣṇu.
भुंक्ते भोगं महाभागो मनःशर्मकरं परम्। रामाभिरामसंपूर्णं सर्वतः सुखदं दिवि५० 1.59.
He enjoys supreme pleasures, bringing the highest joy to the mind, filled with the delight of Rāma, granting happiness everywhere in heaven.
उर्व्यामक्षयभोग्यानि नृपो वाथ महाधनी। हरस्य प्रतिमां यश्च कृत्वा देवगृहे नरः
On earth, he enjoys inexhaustible pleasures, whether as a king or a wealthy man, who has made an image of Hara in the temple of the gods.