जयं शौर्यादिकं पुण्यं पुनःपापक्षयं व्रजेत्। एवमुर्व्यां तथा नाके नागलोके यमालये
Through valor and such, they attain victory and merit, and again, by the destruction of sin, they proceed; thus it is on earth, in heaven, in the world of serpents, and in the abode of Yama.
उग्रेण तपसा कश्चित्सुरत्वं लभते दिवि। वासुदेवं समाराध्य प्रह्लादः सुरपूजितः
By intense austerity, someone attains divinity in heaven; by worshipping Vāsudeva, Prahlāda was honored by the gods.
हरं तथान्धको दैत्यः स्तुत्वा तत्सभ्यकोऽभवत्। तस्यैव गणमुख्यत्वं लेभे भृंगी महाबलः
Likewise, the demon Andhaka, having praised Hara, became a member of his assembly; and Bhrṅgī, of great strength, obtained chiefship among his attendants.
एते चान्ये च बहवो बलिरिंद्रो भविष्यति। गच्छंति सद्गतिं तात इहामुत्र च सर्वदा
These and many others—Bali will become Indra—always attain the highest state, both here and hereafter.
केचिद्दैत्यकुले जाताः पृथिव्यां सुरसत्तमाः। भावयंति पितॄन्सर्वान्शतशोथ सहस्रशः
Some, though born in the family of demons, are excellent among the gods on earth; they honor all their ancestors by the hundreds and thousands.
एकेनापि सुपुत्रेण कुलत्राणं च धीमता। एकोपि वैष्णवः पुत्रः कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत्
Even one wise and virtuous son can protect the family; even a single Vaiṣṇava son can uplift ten million family members.
जितेंद्रियोपि धर्मात्मा द्विजदेवार्चने रतः। क्षये धर्मे कलौ शेषे पुरे जनपदेषु च
Even one self-controlled, righteous person, devoted to worshipping twice-born and gods, in the final decline of dharma in Kali, in the city or in the countryside—
एको रक्षति धर्मात्मा पुरे ग्रामं जनं कुलम्। विज्ञातृमेदुरं चासीद्ब्राह्मणानां पुरं महत्
A single righteous person protects the city, village, people, and family; there was once a great city of brāhmaṇas called Vijñātṛmedura.
तत्र सर्वे द्विजाः शश्वत्संध्योपासनतत्पराः। वेदपाठरता धीरा देवातिथिद्विजार्चकाः
There, all the twice-born are always devoted to worship at the times of twilight, intent on reciting the Vedas, steadfast, and worshippers of gods, guests, and Brahmins.
यज्ञव्रताग्निकर्माणः षट्कर्मपरिनिश्चयाः। अतिकृच्छ्रे च तेषां वै न पापे वर्तते मनः
Engaged in sacrifices, vows, and fire rituals, firmly established in the six duties, even in great hardship, their minds do not dwell in sin.
कुर्वंति सततं वीरा व्रतं यज्ञं सनातनम्। कदाचिद्दैवयोगाच्च गृहस्थश्च स कोविदः
The steadfast continually perform the eternal vow and sacrifice; and sometimes, by divine arrangement, even a householder becomes learned.
वह्नौ जुहोति विप्रर्षि राज्यं मंत्रेण मंत्रवित्। तस्मिन्काले च तस्यैव मूत्रकृच्छ्रं सुदारुणम्
The sage among Brahmins, skilled in mantras, offers oblations into the fire for the kingdom; at that time, he suffers from a severe urinary affliction.
तत्प्रोज्झितुं गतः सोपि रक्षार्थं स्थाप्य चेटिकाम्। तस्यास्त्वनवधानेन शुना चाज्यं च भक्षितम्
He went to relieve himself, leaving a maidservant to guard; due to her inattention, a dog consumed the ghee.
भिया तया ततः पात्रं स्वीयमूत्रेण संभृतम्। असंलक्ष्या जुहोदग्नौ स विप्रस्त्वरया ततः
Out of fear, she filled the vessel with her own urine; unnoticed, the Brahmin hurriedly poured it into the fire.
आश्चर्यं च ततो वह्नौ लक्षितं तेन तत्क्षणात्। कूटं हेममयं साक्षात्स्वर्णं जांबूनदप्रभं
Then, a marvel appeared in the fire at that very moment: a lump of pure gold, shining with the radiance of Jambunada gold.
गृहीत्वा तन्मुदा विप्रः पापयोगं चकार ह। पप्रच्छ विस्मयाद्दासीं कथमेतद्वद प्रिये
The Brahmin joyfully took it and committed a sinful act; astonished, he asked the maid, 'Tell me, dear, how did this happen?'
मुदा तत्र यथावृत्तं कथितं तु तया द्विज। ततो नित्यं यथाकालं तच्च तस्य प्रवर्तते
With joy, she told him what had happened; from then on, at the proper time, the same thing occurred for him regularly.
समृद्धिरद्भुता गेहे लोकविस्मयकारिणी। ततः परस्पराच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वैरेव च तत्पुरे
Extraordinary prosperity arose in the house, causing wonder among the people; then, hearing of it from one another, all in that city learned of it.
कृतं कर्म दुराचारं श्रुत्वा लोभादसाधुभिः। गुरुलोभाच्च सुमहत्स्वांते पंकं विशत्यपि
Hearing of the act, the wicked, driven by greed, performed it; due to excessive greed, even the greatest entered the mire at the end.
पंकादेव भयान्मोहान्मतिभ्रंशोऽभवत्ततः। अथ किल्बिषकूटेन दग्धमेव पुरं च तत्
From the mire, out of fear and delusion, their intellect was lost; then, the city was burned by the heap of sin.
स्त्रियो दुष्टा जना दुष्टाः सर्वे पापबलात्तदा। वृद्धो ज्ञाता द्विजस्तत्र तत्कार्ये न मतिं दधौ
At that time, all the women and people, corrupted by the power of sin, were wicked; the aged Brahmin there did not set his mind on that act.
तस्य भार्या तदा साध्वी पुरुदुःखेन संयुता। भर्तारं कृच्छ्रसन्तप्ता पुरकार्यं जगाद सा
His virtuous wife, afflicted by much sorrow, spoke to her husband, tormented by hardship, about the city's affairs.
ब्राह्मण्युवाच-। कष्टं मे वर्तते नाथ दृष्ट्वा त्वां दुःखसंयुतम्। ग्रामाचारमिमं यद्वाप्यऽपरं कर्तुमर्हसि
The Brahmin woman said: 'It is hard for me, lord, seeing you afflicted with sorrow; you ought to perform this village custom or some other.'
ततस्तत्र स दोषज्ञः स्मित्वा वचनमब्रवीत्। यस्तु जीवति पापेन त्यक्त्वा धर्मं परं हितम्
Then, the one who knew the fault smiled and spoke: 'He who lives by sin, abandoning righteousness, brings great harm.'
स वैधेयो महाभागे प्रगच्छत्यपुनर्भवम्। एते विप्रा दुराचाराः सदारास्सपरिच्छदाः
Such a one, O noble lady, is to be rejected, and goes to a state from which there is no return; these Brahmins are wicked in conduct, with wives and possessions.
अतिपातकयोगाच्च महापातकसंमताः। सह पापेन महता प्रयास्यंति रसातलम्
Because of their connection with grave offenses, they are considered great sinners; together with their great sin, they will go to the netherworld.
अंतेऽपुनर्भवं प्राप्यापराधांतो न विद्यते। अहमेकोत्र तिष्ठामि स्वपुण्यपरिरक्षणात्
At the end, having attained non-return, there is no further fault; I alone remain here, preserving my own merit.
ततस्सा तमुवाचेदं लोकहास्यवचस्तव। वक्तुमर्हसि नश्चाग्रे न पुरोऽन्यस्य कस्यचित्
Then she spoke to him these words, a matter of ridicule among people: you ought to speak to us in private, not before anyone else.
द्विज उवाच-। यदि यास्यामि चान्यत्र इतोऽहं तत्क्षणात्प्रिये। सवित्तैः स्वजनैरेव पुरीयास्यत्यथोगतिम्
The Brahmin said: If I go elsewhere from here this very moment, dear one, then with my wealth and my own people, the city will also go and attain its course.
इत्युक्त्वा परमप्रीतः संगृह्य च धनं स्वकम्। क्षिप्रं स च तया सार्धं ययौ सीमांतरं द्विजः
Having spoken thus, greatly pleased, and taking his own wealth, the Brahmin quickly departed with her to the border.