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.
एवं बहुतिथे काले शतसंख्ये गते सति । शिवशर्मा पितस्यैव भक्तिं दृष्ट्वा विचिंत्य वै
Thus, when a long time had passed—numbering in the hundreds of years—Śivaśarmā, seeing his father's devotion, began to reflect.
मया वै पूर्वमित्युक्तं सुपुत्रं यज्ञसंज्ञकम् । मातृखंडानिमान्पुत्र यत्र तत्र क्षिपस्व हि
"As I said before, O son named Yajña, wherever you find these pieces of your mother's body, cast them there."
मद्वाक्यं पालितं तेन कृता न मातरि कृपा । एतत्स्वल्पतरं दुःखं निर्जीवे घातमिच्छतः
He obeyed my command, but showed no compassion for his mother; this slight sorrow is nothing for one who desires to kill the lifeless.
साहसं तु कृतं तेन पुत्रेण वेदशर्मणा । अस्याधिकमहं मन्ये यतोऽयं चलते न च
But this daring act was done by my son Vedaśarmā; I consider this even greater, for he does not waver.
निमेषमात्रमेवापि साहसं कारयेत्पुनः । अपरं सत्यसंपन्नं प्रभावं तपसः पुनः
Even for the briefest moment, he would again perform a daring deed; and again, the true power of his austerity is seen.
नित्यं समाराधनेपि अधिकं चास्य दृश्यते । तस्मादस्य परीक्षा च समये तपसः कृता
Though he constantly renders service, still something greater is seen in him; therefore, his austerity was tested at the proper time.
भक्तिभावात्तथा सत्यान्नैव पुत्रः प्रणश्यति । मायया च निजांगेऽपि कुष्ठरोगो निदर्शितः
Because of devotion and truthfulness, the son is never destroyed; yet, by illusion, leprosy was shown even on his own body.
श्लेष्ममूत्रमलानां च घृणां नैव करोति च । व्रणान्विशोधयेन्नित्यं स्वहस्तेन महायशाः
He feels no disgust for phlegm, urine, or excrement; the greatly renowned one always cleans the wounds with his own hand.
पादसंवाहनं दद्याच्छौचं चैव महामतिः । दुःसहं वचनं मह्यं दारुणं सहते सदा
He gives foot massages and attends to cleanliness, being of great intelligence; he always endures harsh and terrible words from me.
भर्त्सने ताडने चैव सदाभीष्टप्रवाचकः । एवं दुःखसमाचारो मम पुत्रो महामतिः
Whether rebuked or struck, he always speaks what is pleasing; thus, my son, though of great intelligence, endures a life of suffering.