गंगातीरे स्थितं पुण्यमाश्रमस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । तेजोज्वालासमाकीर्णं द्वितीयमिव भास्करम्
On the bank of the Ganges stood a holy sage, the best of twice-born, dwelling in his hermitage, surrounded by a blaze of splendor, like a second sun.
राजमानं महात्मानं ब्रह्मण्यं च द्विजोत्तमम् । भक्त्या प्रणम्य विप्रेशं दंडवच्च पुनः पुनः
Beholding that great-souled, illustrious, and Brahman-devoted sage, the king bowed before the lord of brahmins with devotion, prostrating himself again and again.
तमुवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मसूनुरकल्मषः । उपाविशासने पुण्ये सुखेन सुमहामते
That sinless son of Brahma, radiant with great energy, spoke to him: 'Sit comfortably on this auspicious seat, O one of great wisdom.'
एवमुक्त्वा स योगींद्रः पुनः प्राह तपोधनम् । गृहे पुत्रेषु ते वत्स दारभृत्येषु सर्वदा
Having said this, the lord of yogis again addressed the ascetic: 'O child, is all well in your house, with your sons, wife, and servants at all times?'
क्षेममस्ति महाभाग पुण्यकर्मसु चाग्निषु । निरामयोसि चांगेषु धर्मं पालयसे सदा
'Is all secure, O highly fortunate one, with your meritorious rituals and sacred fires? Are you free from illness in your limbs, and do you always uphold righteousness?'
एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः पुनः प्राह सुशर्मणम् । किं करोमि प्रियं कार्यं सुप्रियं ते द्विजोत्तम
Having spoken thus, the wise one again said to Suśarman: 'What dear or most pleasing thing may I do for you, O best of brahmins?'
एवं संभाषितं विप्रं विरराम स कुंभजः । तस्मिन्नुक्ते महाभागे वसिष्ठे मुनिपुंगवे
Thus addressed, the sage Kuṃbhaja ceased speaking to the brahmin; and when the great and illustrious Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, was thus addressed—
स होवाच महात्मानं वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यं सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा
He spoke to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, best among ascetics: 'O revered one, kindly listen to my words with a serene mind.'
यदि मे सुप्रियं कार्यं त्वयैव मुनिपुंगव । मम प्रश्नार्थसंदेहं विच्छेदय द्विजोत्तम
'If you truly wish to do what is most pleasing for me, O foremost of sages, resolve my question and doubt, O best of brahmins.'
दारिद्र्यं केन पापेन पुत्रसौख्यं कथं नहि । एतन्मे संशयं तात कस्मात्पापाद्वदस्व मे
'By what sin does poverty arise, and why is there no happiness from sons? Tell me, father, from what sin this doubt of mine arises.'
महामोहेन संमुग्धः प्रियया बोधितो द्विज । तयाहं प्रेषितस्तात तव पार्श्वं समातुरः
'Deluded by great ignorance, I was instructed by my beloved wife; sent by her, father, I have come to your side, afflicted.'
तत्सर्वं हि समाचक्ष्व सर्वसंदेहनाशकम् । मुक्तिदाता भवस्व त्वं ममसंसारबंधनात्
'Tell me all that destroys every doubt; be the giver of liberation to me from the bondage of worldly existence.'
वसिष्ठ उवाच- पुत्रा मित्राण्यथ भ्राता अन्ये स्वजनबांधवाः । पंचभेदास्तु संभेदात्पुरुषस्य भवंति ते
Vasiṣṭha said: 'Sons, friends, brothers, and other relatives—these fivefold groups arise for a person through association.'
ते ते सुमनया प्रोक्ताः पूर्वमेव तवाग्रतः । ऋणसंबंधिनः सर्वे ते कुपुत्रा द्विजोत्तम
'All these, previously described to you with a cheerful mind, are bound by debts; all of them are bad sons, O best of brahmins.'
पुत्रस्य लक्षणं पुण्यं तवाग्रे प्रवदाम्यहम् । पुण्यप्रसक्तो यस्यात्मा सत्यधर्मरतः सदा
'Now I shall tell you, in your presence, the marks of a virtuous son: one whose soul is devoted to merit, always delighting in truth and righteousness.'
शुद्धिविज्ञानसंपन्नस्तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरः । सर्वकर्मसुसंधीरो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः
'Endowed with purity and knowledge, austere, foremost among speakers, steadfast in all actions, and devoted to study of the Vedas.'
स सर्वशास्त्रवेत्ता च देवब्राह्मणपूजकः । याजकः सर्वयज्ञानां दाता त्यागी प्रियंवदः
'He knows all the scriptures, worships gods and brahmins, performs all sacrifices, is generous, selfless, and speaks kindly.'
विष्णुध्यानपरो नित्यं शांतो दांतः सुहृत्सदा । पितृमातृपरोनित्यं सर्वस्वजनवत्सलः
'Always intent on meditation upon Viṣṇu, ever peaceful, self-controlled, always a friend, ever devoted to father and mother, and affectionate to all his kin.'
कुलस्य तारको विद्वान्कुलस्य परिपोषकः । एवं गुणैश्च संयुक्तः सपुत्रः सुखदायकः
A learned man is the savior of his family, the nourisher of his lineage; endowed with such qualities, together with sons, he brings happiness.
अन्ये संबंधसंयुक्ताः शोकसंतापदायकाः । एतादृशेन किं कार्यं फलहीनेन तेन च
Others, bound only by relation, bring sorrow and distress; what use is such a one, who is fruitless?
आयांति यांति ते सर्वे तापं दत्वा सुदारुणम् । पुत्ररूपेण ते सर्वे संसारे द्विजसत्तम
They come and go, all of them, causing severe pain; all these, in the form of sons, O best of twice-born, exist in the world.
पूर्वजन्मकृतं पुण्यं यत्त्वया परिपालितम् । तत्सर्वं हि प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामद्भुतं पुनः
The merit you accumulated and preserved in your previous birth, I shall now recount in full—listen again to this wondrous tale.
वसिष्ठ उवाच- भवाञ्छूद्रो महाप्राज्ञ पूर्वजन्मनि नान्यथा । कृषिकर्त्ता ज्ञानहीनो महालोभेन संयुतः
Vasiṣṭha said: You were a Śūdra, O wise one, in your former birth, not otherwise; a farmer, lacking knowledge, filled with great greed.
एकभार्या सदा द्वेषी बहुपुत्रो ह्यदत्तवान् । धर्मं नैव विजानासि सत्यं नैव परिश्रुतम्
Having one wife, always hostile, with many sons you gave nothing; you did not know righteousness, nor had you ever heard of truth.
दानं नैव त्वया दत्तं शास्त्रं नैव प्रतिश्रुतम् । कृता नैव त्वया तीर्थे यात्रा चैव महामते
You never gave gifts, nor did you study scripture; you never undertook pilgrimages to holy places, O wise one.
एवं कृतं त्वया विप्र कृषिमार्गं पुनः पुनः । पशूनां पालनं सर्व गवां चैव द्विजोत्तम
Thus you repeatedly engaged in farming, O brāhmaṇa, and in caring for all animals and cows, O best of twice-born.
महिषीणां तथाऽश्वानां पालनं च पुनः पुनः । एवं पू र्वंकृतं कर्म त्वयैव द्विजसत्तम
Likewise, you repeatedly tended buffaloes and horses; such was the work you did before, O best of brāhmaṇas.
विपुलं च धनं तद्वल्लोभेन परिसंचितम् । तस्य व्ययं सुपुण्येन न कृतं तु त्वया कदा
You amassed great wealth, gathered out of greed; yet you never spent it for meritorious acts.
पात्रे दानं न दत्तं तु दृष्ट्वा दुर्बलमेव च । कृपां कृत्वा न दत्तं तु भवता धनमेव च
You did not give charity to the worthy, even when seeing the weak; you did not give out of compassion, but only hoarded your wealth.
गोमहिष्यादिकं सर्वं पशूनां संचितं त्वया । विक्रीय च धनं विप्र संचितं विपुलं त्वया
All the cows, buffaloes, and other animals were gathered by you; selling them, O brāhmaṇa, you amassed great wealth.