दुःखेन महताविष्टश्चिंतयानो मुहुर्मुहुः । समागतं महात्मानं तमुवाच पिता मम
Overwhelmed by great sorrow, reflecting again and again, my father spoke to that noble soul who had arrived.
भवंतं दुःखसंतप्तमिति जानामि सुव्रत । कस्माद्दुःखी भवाञ्जातस्तस्मात्त्वं कारणं वद
O virtuous one, I know you are afflicted by suffering; tell me, for what reason have you become sorrowful?
एतद्वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा च्यवनस्य महात्मनः । तमुवाच महात्मानं पितरं मम सुव्रतः
Hearing these words from the great Cyavana, the virtuous one spoke to my noble father.
वेदशर्मा महाप्राज्ञ सर्वदुःखस्य कारणम् । मम भार्या महासाध्वी पातिव्रत्यपरायणा
Vedaśarma, wise and learned, said: The cause of all my sorrow is that my wife, a great and devoted woman, steadfast in fidelity—
अपुत्रा सा हि संजाता मम वंशो न विद्यते । एतत्ते कारणं प्रोक्तं प्रश्नितोस्मि यतस्त्वया
—has become childless, and my lineage does not continue; this is the reason, as you have asked me.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तः कश्चित्सिद्धः समागतः । मम पित्रा तथा तेन ह्युत्थाय वेदशर्मणा
At that moment, a certain accomplished sage arrived, and my father, together with him, rose to greet Vedaśarma.
द्वाभ्यामपि च सिद्धोसौ पूजितो भक्तिपूर्वकैः । उपहारैस्स भोज्यान्नैर्वचनैर्मधुराक्षरैः
Both of them worshipped that sage with deep devotion, offering gifts, fine foods, and words sweetly spoken.
द्वाभ्यामन्तर्गतं पृष्टं पूर्वोक्तं च यथा त्वया । उभौ तौ प्राह धर्मात्मा ससखं पितरं मम
Asked by both, as you had previously inquired, that righteous sage spoke to my father and his companion.
धर्मस्य कारणं सर्वं मयोक्तं ते तथा किल । धर्मेण प्राप्यते पुत्रो धनं धान्यं तथा स्त्रियः
I have told you the entire cause of dharma, just as it is; by dharma one attains a son, wealth, grain, and wives.
ततस्तेन कृतं धर्मं संपूर्णं वेदशर्मणा । तस्माद्धर्मात्सुसंजातं महत्सौख्यं सपुत्रकम्
Then, Vedaśarma performed complete dharma, and from that dharma arose great happiness, together with a son.
तेन संगप्रसंगेन ममैष मतिनिश्चयः । यथा कांत तव प्रोक्तं मयैव च परं शुभम्
From that association and its influence, this is my firm conviction, as you have declared, and as I myself have spoken, for the highest good.
तस्माच्छ्रुतं महासिद्धात्सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । विप्रधर्मं समाश्रित्य अनुवर्त्तस्व सर्वदा
Therefore, having heard from the great sage that which dispels all doubts, always follow the dharma of the brahmins.
सोमशर्मोवाच- धर्मेण कीदृशो मृत्युर्जन्म चैव वदस्व मे । उभयोर्लक्षणं कांते तत्सर्वं हि वदस्व मे
Somaśarma said: By dharma, what kind of death and birth occur? Tell me, beloved, the characteristics of both—tell me all of this.
सुमनोवाच- सत्य शौच क्षमा शांति तीर्थपुण्यादिकैस्तथा । धर्मश्च पालितो येन तस्य मृत्युं वदाम्यहम्
Sumana said: Truth, purity, forgiveness, peace, and merit from holy places—by these, and by upholding dharma, I will tell you of his death.
रोगो न जायते तस्य न च पीडा कलेवरे । न श्रमो वै न च ग्लानिर्न च स्वेदो भ्रमस्तथा
He does not suffer disease, nor pain in the body; there is no fatigue, no exhaustion, no sweating, nor confusion.
दिव्यरूपधरा भूत्वा गंधर्वा ब्राह्मणास्तथा । वेदपाठसमायुक्ता गीतज्ञानविशारदाः
Assuming a divine form, gandharvas and brahmins, skilled in reciting the Vedas and expert in the knowledge of song, approach.
तस्य पार्श्वं समायांति स्तुतिं कुर्वंति चातुलाम् । स्वस्थो हि आसने युक्तो देवपूजारतः किल
They come near him, offering abundant praise, as he sits at ease, devoted to the worship of the gods.
तीर्थं च लभते प्राज्ञः स्नानार्थं धर्मतत्परः । अग्न्यागारे च गोस्थाने देवतायतनेषु च
The wise one, intent on dharma, attains holy waters for bathing, whether at the fire altar, in the cow pen, or in the temples of the gods.
आरामे च तडागे च यत्राश्वत्थो वटस्तथा । ब्रह्मवृक्षं समाश्रित्य श्रीवृक्षं च तथा पुनः
In a garden or by a pond, wherever there is an ashvattha or banyan tree, taking refuge in the sacred tree, and likewise in the tree of fortune,
अश्वस्थानं समाश्रित्य गजस्थानगतो नरः । अशोकं चूतवृक्षं च समाश्रित्य यदास्थितः
Taking shelter at the place of the ashvattha, or at the place of the elephant, a person who stands by the ashoka or mango tree,
संनिधौ ब्राह्मणानां च राजवेश्मगतोथवा । रणभूमिं समाश्रित्य पूर्वं यत्र मृतो भवेत्
In the presence of brahmins, or within the royal palace, or having taken refuge in the battlefield, where one has previously died,
मृत्युस्थानानि पुण्यानि केवलं धर्मकारणम् । गोग्रहं तु सुसंप्राप्य तथा चामरकंटकम्
The places of death are auspicious, solely for the sake of dharma; having attained the cow enclosure and likewise the amara thorn,
शुद्धधर्मकरो नित्यं धर्मतो धर्मवत्सलः । एवं स्थानं समाप्नोति यदा मृत्युं समाश्रितः
One who always acts with pure dharma, devoted to righteousness, attains such a place when death is embraced.
मातरं पश्यते पुण्यं पितरं च नरोत्तमः । भ्रातरं श्रेयसा युक्तमन्यं स्वजनबांधवम्
The noble man sees his virtuous mother and father, his brother endowed with excellence, and other relatives of his own people.
बंदीजनैस्तथा पुण्यैः स्तूयमानं पुनःपुनः । पापिष्ठं नैव पश्येत मातृपित्रादिकं पुनः
Praised again and again by virtuous attendants, he never sees the most sinful, nor his mother, father, and others again.
गीतं गायंति गंधर्वाः स्तुवंतिस्तावकाः स्तवैः । मंत्रपाठैस्तथा विप्रा माता स्नेहेन पूजयेत्
The Gandharvas sing songs, the devotees praise with hymns, the brahmins recite mantras, and the mother worships with affection.
पितास्वजनवर्गाश्च धर्मात्मानं महामतिम् । एवं दूताः समाख्याताः पुण्यस्थानानि ते विभो
The father and groups of relatives honor the righteous one of great wisdom; thus, messengers have been described, and these are the auspicious places, O mighty one.
प्रत्यक्षान्पश्यते दूतान्हास्यस्नेहसमाविलान् । न च स्वप्नेन मोहेन क्लेदयुक्तेन नैव सः
He sees the messengers directly, filled with laughter and affection; nor is he troubled by dreams, delusion, or distress.
धर्मराजो महाप्राज्ञो भवंतं तु समाह्वयेत् । एह्येहि त्वं महाभाग यत्र धर्मः स तिष्ठति
The wise king of dharma summons him: 'Come, come, O greatly fortunate one, to the place where dharma abides.'
तस्य मोहो न च भ्रांतिर्न ग्लानिः स्मृतिविभ्रमः । जायते नात्र संदेहः प्रसन्नात्मा स तिष्ठति
He has neither delusion nor confusion, nor fatigue or loss of memory; there is no doubt here, and he remains with a clear mind.