मायां कृत्वा महाप्राज्ञो भार्यया सह तं सुतम् । कुष्ठरोगातुरो भूत्वा तस्य भार्या च तादृशी
The wise one, by his power, together with his wife, made himself and his son appear afflicted with leprosy; his wife also became the same.
मांसपिंडोपमौ जातौ द्वावेतौ मायया कृतौ । संनिधिं तस्य घोरस्य विप्रस्य सोमशर्मणः
By illusion, both of them became like lumps of flesh, and they approached the presence of the noble Soma Sharma.
समागतौ हि तौ दृष्ट्वा सर्वतो हि सुदुःखितौ । कृपया परयाविष्टः सोमशर्मा महायशाः
Seeing them come together, miserable in every way, Soma Sharma, renowned, was overcome with great compassion.
तयोः पादं नमस्कृत्य भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । भवादृशौ न पश्यामि तपसाभिसमन्वितम्
Bowing at their feet with devotion, his head bent in reverence, he said: I have not seen anyone like you, endowed with such austerity.
गुणव्रातैः सुपुण्यैश्च किमिदं वर्तितं त्वयि । दासवद्देवताः सर्वा वर्तंते सर्वदा तव
By what multitude of virtues and great merits has this come to pass for you? All the gods always serve you like servants.
आदेशं प्राप्य विप्रेंद्र आकृष्टास्तेजसा तव । तवांगे केन पापेन गदोयं वेदनान्वितः
Having received your command, O best of Brahmins, they are drawn by your radiance. By what sin has this disease, full of pain, arisen on your body?
संजातो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तन्मे कथय कारणम् । इयं पुण्यवती माता महापुण्या पतिव्रता
O foremost of Brahmins, tell me the reason for this. This mother is virtuous, greatly meritorious, and devoted to her husband.
या हि भर्तृप्रसादेन त्रैलोक्यं कर्तुमिच्छति । सा कथं दुःखमाप्नोति किं नास्ति तपसः फलम्
She who, by her husband's grace, wishes to accomplish the three worlds—how does she encounter suffering? Is there no fruit of austerity?
रागद्वेषौ परित्यज्य विविधेनापि कर्मणा । या च शुश्रूषते कांतं देववद्गुरुवत्सला
She who, having abandoned attachment and aversion, serves her beloved in every way, with the devotion of a goddess and the affection of a disciple—
सा कथं दुःखमाप्नोति कुष्ठरोगं सुदुःखदम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- मा शुचस्त्वं महाभाग भुज्यते कर्मजं फलम्
How does she experience suffering, the great pain of leprosy? Śivaśarma said: Do not grieve, O greatly fortunate one; the fruit of karma is being experienced.
नरेण कर्मयुक्तेन पापपुण्यमयेन हि । शोधनं च कुरुष्व त्वमुभयो रोगयुक्तयोः
Indeed, by a man engaged in karma, composed of both sin and merit, purification must be performed for both who are afflicted with disease.
शुश्रूषणं महाभाग यदि पुण्यमिहेच्छसि । एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये सोमशर्मा महायशाः
If you desire merit, O greatly fortunate one, then serve. When these auspicious words were spoken, Somaśarmā, renowned, said—
शुश्रूषां वा करिष्यामि युवयोः पुण्ययुक्तयोः । मया पापेन दुष्टेन कृपणेन द्विजोत्तम
I will serve both of you, endowed with merit. By me, sinful, wicked, and miserable, O best of twice-born—
किं कर्तव्यमिहाद्यैव यो गुरुं न हि पूजयेत् । एवमाभाष्य दुःखाद्वा तयोर्दुःखेन दुःखितः
What should be done here today by one who does not honor the guru? Having spoken thus, distressed by their suffering, he was pained by their pain.
श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषं च उभयोः पर्यशोधयत् । पादप्रक्षालनं चक्रे अंगसंवाहनं तथा
He cleansed the phlegm, urine, and excrement of both; he washed their feet and massaged their limbs as well.
स्नानस्थानादिकं सोपि तयोर्भक्त्यान्वितः स्वयम् । द्वावेतौ हि गुरू विप्रः सोमशर्मा महायशाः
He himself, filled with devotion, attended to their bathing and other needs. Somaśarmā, the illustrious Brahmin, considered both as his gurus.
तीर्थं नयति धर्मात्मा स्कंधमारोप्य सत्तमः । द्वावेतौ हि स्वहस्तेन स्नापयित्वा तु मंगलैः
The righteous one carried both, the best, on his shoulders to the sacred place. With his own hands, he bathed them with auspicious rites.
सुमंत्रैर्वेदविच्चैव स्नानस्य विधिपूर्वकम् । तर्पणं च पितॄणां तु देवतानां तु पूजनम्
With excellent mantras and Vedic knowledge, he performed the prescribed bathing, the offering to the ancestors, and the worship of the deities.
द्वाभ्यामपि स धर्मात्मा स कारयति नित्यशः । स्वयं होमं ददात्यग्नौ पचत्यन्नमनुत्तमम्
That righteous one had both of them perform these acts daily; he himself offered oblations into the fire and cooked excellent food.
संज्ञापयति सुप्रीतौ द्वावेतौ च महागुरू । शय्यासने च तौ विप्रः प्रस्वापयति नित्यशः
He made both the revered elders rest contentedly, and the Brahmin daily put them to sleep on a bed and seat.
वस्त्रपुष्पादिकं सर्वं ताभ्यां नित्यं प्रयच्छति । तांबूलं बहुगंधाढ्यमुभयोरर्पयेत्स तु
He always gave them all garments, flowers, and such things; he offered both of them betel with abundant fragrance.
सोमशर्मा महाभागस्ताभ्यामपि च पूरयेत् । मूलं पयः सुभक्ष्याद्यं नित्यमेव ददात्यसौ
Somaśarmā, greatly fortunate, also fulfilled their needs, always giving them roots, milk, and excellent food.
तयोस्तु वांछितं नित्यं सोमशर्मा महायशाः । अनेन क्रमयोगेन नित्यमेव प्रसादयेत्
Of these two, Somaśarmā, greatly renowned, always obtains what he desires; by this method and order, he should continually propitiate them.
सोमशर्मा सुधर्मात्मा पितरौ परिपूजयेत् । सोमशर्माणमाहूय पिता कुत्सति निष्ठुरः
Somaśarmā, whose nature is righteous, should honor his parents; but when Somaśarmā is summoned, his father reproaches him harshly.
निंदितैर्निष्ठुरैर्वाक्यैस्ताडयेन्मुनिसन्निधौ । कृतकार्ये कृते पुण्ये नित्यमेव सुते पुनः
With words that are reproachful and cruel, he strikes him in the presence of the sages; even when the task is accomplished and merit is gained, he does so again and again to his son.
न कृतं शोभनं मह्यं त्वयैव कुलपांसन । एवं नानाविधैर्वाक्यैर्निष्ठुरैर्दुःखदायकैः
"You have done nothing good for me, you disgrace of the family!"—thus, with various kinds of harsh and painful words.
अताडयद्दंडघातैः शिवशर्मा सदातुरः । एवं कृतेपि धर्मात्मा नैव कुप्यति कर्हिचित्
He would even strike Śivaśarmā, who was always afflicted, with blows of a stick; yet, even when treated thus, the righteous one never became angry at any time.
मनसा वचसा चैव कर्मणा त्रिविधेन च । संतुष्टः सर्वदा सोपि पितरं परिपूजयेत्
With mind, speech, and deed—by all three—he remained always content, and he continued to honor his father.
तद्वत्स सोमशर्मा वै मातरं च दिनेदिने । यज्ज्ञात्वा शिवशर्मा च चरितं स्वीयमीक्षते
In the same way, Somaśarmā would daily honor his mother; knowing this, Śivaśarmā would reflect upon his own conduct.
अमृतं मत्कृते चापि आनीतं विष्णुशर्मणा । पुण्ययुक्तः स धर्मात्मा पितृभक्तिपरः सदा
For my sake, nectar was even brought by Viṣṇuśarmā; endowed with merit, that righteous one was always devoted to his parents.