भज त्वं चारुसर्वांगि पितरं मम सुंदरि । एवमाकर्णितं तस्य मायया वेदशर्मणः
'O beautiful one with lovely limbs, unite with my father, O fair one.' Thus Vedaśarman, by illusion, spoke to her.
स्त्र्युवाच- जरया पीडितस्यापि नैवेच्छामि कदाचन । सश्लेष्ममुखरोगस्य व्याधिग्रस्तस्य सांप्रतम्
The woman said: 'Even though he is afflicted by old age, I do not desire him at any time, now stricken with phlegm, throat disease, and illness.'
शिथिलस्यापि चार्तस्य तस्य वृद्धस्य संगमम् । भवंतं रंतुमिच्छामि करिष्ये तव सुप्रियम्
'Though he is weak and suffering, I do not wish union with that old man; I wish to enjoy with you, I will do what pleases you greatly.'
भवंतं रूपसौभाग्यैर्गुणरत्नैरलंकृतम् । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नं दिव्यरूपं महौजसम्
'You, adorned with beauty, fortune, and jewel-like virtues, possessed of divine marks, divine form, and great energy—'
किं करिष्यसि तातेन वृद्धेन शृणु मानद । ममांगभोगभावेन सर्वं प्राप्स्यसि दुर्लभम्
'What will you do with that old father? Listen, O honorable one; by enjoying my body, you will obtain all that is difficult to attain.'
यद्यत्त्वमिच्छसे विप्र तद्ददामि न संशयः । एतद्वाक्यं महच्छ्रुत्वा अप्रियं पापसंकुलम्
'Whatever you desire, O brāhmaṇa, I will give without doubt.' Hearing these words, great, unpleasant, and filled with sin—
वेदशर्मोवाच- अधर्मयुक्तं ते वाक्यमयुक्तं पापमिश्रितम् । नेदृशं मां वदेर्देवि पितृभक्तिमनागसम्
Vedaśarman said: 'Your words are unrighteous, improper, and mixed with sin; do not speak thus to me, O goddess, devoted to my father and innocent.'
पितुरर्थं समायातस्त्वामहं प्रार्थये शुभे । अन्यदेवं न वक्तव्यं भज त्वं पितरं मम
'I have come for my father's sake, and I request you, O auspicious one; do not speak otherwise—unite with my father.'
यद्यत्त्वमिच्छसे देवि त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरम् । तत्तद्दद्मि न संदेहो देवराज्याधिकं शुभे
O goddess, whatever you desire in the three worlds, whether moving or unmoving, I grant it to you—there is no doubt. Even greater than the kingdom of the gods, O auspicious one.
स्त्र्युवाच- एवं समर्थो दातुं मे पितुरर्थे यदा भवान् । तदा मे दर्शयाद्यैव सेंद्रास्त्वं समहेश्वरान्
The woman spoke: Since you are able to give me anything for my father's sake, then today, show me—together with Indra and the great gods—that you are their equal.
दातुमेवं समर्थोसि दुर्लभं सांप्रतं किल । किं ते बलं महाभाग दर्शयस्व त्वमात्मनः
You are indeed capable of granting what is presently difficult to obtain. What is your strength, O highly fortunate one? Show me your own power.
वेदशर्मोवाच- पश्य पश्य बलं देवि प्रभावं तपसो मम । मयाहूताः समायाता इंद्राद्याः सुरसत्तमाः
Vedaśarma said: Behold, behold my strength, O goddess, the power of my austerity. Summoned by me, the foremost gods, including Indra, have arrived.
वेदशर्माणमूचुस्ते किं कुर्मो हि द्विजोत्तम । यमेवमिच्छसे विप्र तं ददामो न संशयः
The gods spoke to Vedaśarma: What shall we do, O best of twice-born? Whatever you desire, O Brahmin, we will grant it—there is no doubt.
वेदशर्मोवाच- यदि देवाः प्रसान्ना मे प्रसादसुमुखा यदि । ददंतु विमलां भक्तिं पादयोः पितुरेव मे
Vedaśarma said: If the gods are gracious to me, if their faces are kindly disposed, let them grant me pure devotion at the feet of my father.
एवमस्तु सुराः सर्वे यथायातास्तथा गताः । तमुवाच तथा दृष्ट्वा दृष्टं ते तपसो बलम्
So be it, said all the gods, and as they had come, so they departed. Then she spoke, having seen it: You have witnessed the power of austerity.
देवैस्तु नास्ति मे कार्यं यदि दातुमिहेच्छसि । यन्मां नयसि गुर्वर्थं तत्कुरुष्व मम प्रियम्
I have no business with the gods; if you wish to give, then do as you please for the sake of your teacher—fulfill my desire.
देहि त्वं स्वं शिरो विप्र स्वहस्तेन निकृत्य वै । वेदशर्मोवाच- धन्योहमद्य संजातो मुक्तश्चैव ऋणत्रयात्
Give your own head, O Brahmin, severed by your own hand. Vedaśarma said: Today I am blessed, freed from the three debts.
स्वशिरो देवि दास्यामि गृह्यतां गृह्यतां शुभे । शितेन तीक्ष्णधारेण शस्त्रेण द्विजसत्तमः
O goddess, I will give my own head; take it, take it, O auspicious one. With a sharp, keen-edged weapon, the best of Brahmins.
निकृत्य स्वं शिरश्चाथ दत्तं तस्यै प्रहस्य च । रुधिरेण प्लुतं सा च परिगृह्य गता मुनिम्
Then, severing his own head, he gave it to her with a smile. She, drenched in blood, took it and went to the sage.
स्त्र्युवाच- तवार्थे प्रेषितं विप्र पुत्रेण वेदशर्मणा । एतच्छिरः संगृहाण निकृत्तं चात्मनात्मनः
The woman spoke: For your sake, O Brahmin, Vedaśarma's son has been sent. Take this head, severed by himself, for your own self.
उत्तमांगं प्रदत्तं मे पितृभक्तेन तेन ते । तवार्थे द्विजशार्दूल मामेवं परिभुंक्ष्व वै
The highest part has been given to me by him, devoted to his father. For your sake, O tiger among Brahmins, enjoy me thus.
तस्य तैर्भ्रातृभिर्दृष्टं साहसं वेदशर्मणः । वेपितांगत्वमापन्नास्ते बभूवुः परस्परम्
When his brothers saw Vedaśarma's bold act, they became trembling in their limbs and were disturbed among themselves.
मृता नो धर्मसाध्वी सा माता सत्यसमाधिना । अयमेव महाभागः पितुरर्थे मृतः शुभः
Our mother, righteous in dharma, has died with steadfast truth. This highly fortunate one has died for his father's sake, O auspicious one.
धन्योयं धन्यतां प्राप्तः पितुरर्थे कृतं शुभम् । एवं संभाषितं तैस्तु भ्रातृभिः पुण्यचारिभिः
This one is blessed, has attained blessedness, having done what is good for his father. Thus spoke those brothers, who were engaged in virtuous conduct.
समाकर्ण्य द्विजो वाक्यं ज्ञात्वा भक्तिपरायणम् । निकृत्तं च शिरस्तेन पुत्रेण वेदशर्मणा
Hearing the words of the Brahmin, knowing his devotion, and that his head had been severed by his son, Vedaśarma,
धर्मशर्माणमाहाथ शिर एतत्प्रगृह्यताम्
Dharmaśarma then spoke: Take up this head.
सूत उवाच- तदादाय महात्माऽसौ निर्जगाम त्वरान्वितः । पितृभक्त्या तपोभिश्च सत्यार्जवबलेन सः
Sūta said: Taking that, the great-souled one departed swiftly, empowered by devotion to his father, austerity, truth, uprightness, and strength.
धर्ममाकृष्टवांश्चैव धर्मशर्मा ततस्तदा । समाकृष्टस्तु वै धर्मस्तपसा तस्य धीमतः
Then, at that time, Dharmaśarmā drew Dharma toward himself; and Dharma, indeed, was attracted by the austerity of that wise one.
धर्मशर्माणमायातं इदं वचनमब्रवीत् । कस्मात्त्वया समाहूतो धर्मशर्मन्समागतः
Dharma spoke this word to Dharmaśarmā, who had approached: 'For what reason have you summoned me, Dharmaśarmā, and brought me here?'
तन्मे कथय कार्यं त्वं तत्करोमि न संशयः । धर्मशर्मोवाच- यद्यस्ति गुरुशुश्रूषा यदि निष्ठाऽचलं तपः
'Tell me your purpose; I will do it without doubt.' Dharmaśarmā said: 'If there is service to the guru, and if your austerity is steadfast—'