दत्तात्रेय उवाच। शृणु राजन्विचित्रं त्वमितिहासं पुरातनम् । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण वाजपेयफलं लभेत्
Dattatreya said: Listen, O King, to a wondrous and ancient tale, the mere remembrance of which bestows the fruit of a Vājapeya sacrifice.
अप्सरारूपसंपन्ना नाम्ना कांचनमालिनी । प्रयागे माघमासे सा स्नात्वा याति हरालयम्
There was an Apsaras of surpassing beauty named Kāñcanamālinī; in the month of Māgha, she bathed at Prayāga and then proceeded to the abode of Hara.
निकुंजे गिरिराजस्य तिष्ठता गिरिरूपिणा । दृष्टा गगनमारूढा तेन वृद्धेन रक्षसा
While she was in a grove on the king of mountains, she was seen ascending the sky by an aged Rākṣasa who had taken the form of a mountain.
तेजस्विनी सुहेमाभा सुश्रोणी दीर्घलोचना । चंद्रानना सुकेशी च पीनोन्नतपयोधरा
She was radiant, golden-hued, with beautiful hips, large eyes, a moon-like face, lovely hair, and full, high breasts.
तां दृष्ट्वा रूपसंपन्नामुवाच राक्षसस्तदा । का त्वं कमलपत्राक्षि कुत आगम्यते त्वया
Seeing her endowed with such beauty, the Rākṣasa spoke: Who are you, O lotus-eyed one? From where have you come?
आर्द्रं च वसनं कस्मात्सार्द्रा ते कबरी कुतः । कुत्र आगम्यते भीरु कुतस्ते खेचरी गतिः
Why are your garments wet, and why is your hair damp? From where do you come, O timid one, and how do you move through the sky?
केन पुण्येन वा भद्रे तव तेजोमयं वपुः । अतीवरूपसंपन्नं संभूतं च मनोहरम्
By what merit, O blessed one, do you possess this radiant, supremely beautiful and enchanting form?
त्वद्वस्त्रबिंदुपातेन मम मूर्ध्नि सुलोचने । क्षणेन ह्यगमच्छांतिं क्रूरं मे मानसं सदा
O bright-eyed one, by the mere fall of drops from your garment upon my head, my mind—always cruel—became peaceful in an instant.
नीरस्य महिमा कोऽयमेतद्व्याख्यातुमर्हसि । त्वं मे शीलवती भासि नाकृतिर्निर्गुणा भवेत्
What is the greatness of this water without taste? You should explain this to me. You appear to be virtuous; form does not arise without virtue.
अप्सरा उवाच। श्रूयतामप्सराश्चाहं भो रक्षः कामरूपिणी । प्रयागतश्चागताऽहं नाम्ना कांचनमालिनी
The Apsaras said: Listen, O Rākṣasa, I am an Apsaras, able to assume forms at will. I have come to Prayāga, and my name is Kāñcanamālinī.
आर्द्रः परिकरो मेऽतः सुस्नाताऽहं सितासिते । गंतव्यं तु मया रक्षः कैलासे तु नगोत्तमे
My girdle is wet because I have just bathed, O Rākṣasa, in the pure white and black waters. Now I must go to the supreme mountain, Kailāsa.
तत्रास्ते पार्वतीनाथः सुरासुरसुपूजितः । वेणीवारिप्रभावेण रक्षस्ते क्रूरता गता
There dwells the Lord of Pārvatī, worshipped by gods and asuras alike. By the power of water from my braid, O Rākṣasa, your cruelty has departed.
जाताहं येन पुण्येन गंधर्वस्य सुमेधसः । कन्यका दिव्यरूपा तु तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते
By what merit was I born, a maiden of divine form, to the Gandharva named Sumedhas? I will tell you everything.
कलिंगाधिपते राज्ञस्त्वहमासीच्च वेश्यका । रूपलावण्यसंपन्ना सौभाग्यमदगर्विता
In a previous birth, I was a courtesan in the city of the king of Kaliṅga, endowed with beauty and charm, yet not proud of my good fortune.
अन्यासां युवतीनां च तत्पुरेऽहं शिरोमणिः । तज्जन्मनि मया रक्षो भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथेच्छया
Among all the young women of that city, I was the foremost jewel. In that life, O Rākṣasa, I enjoyed pleasures as I wished.
मोहितं तत्पुरं सर्वं मया यौवनसंपदा । रत्नानि च विचित्राणि भूषणानि धनानि च
By the power of my youth, I enchanted the entire city, acquiring various jewels, ornaments, and wealth.
वासांसि चित्ररूपाणि कर्पूरागुरुचंदनम् । एतच्चोपार्जितं सर्वं मया मोहनरूपया
I obtained all manner of beautiful garments, camphor, aloe, and sandalwood—all this was gained by me through the power of enchantment.
नाहं जानामि हेम्नोंतं स्वनिवासे निशाचर । संसेवंते युवानो मे चरणौ कामपीडिताः
O night-wanderer, I do not know the limit of gold in my own house; young men, tormented by desire, served at my feet.
मया ते वंचिताः सर्वे सर्वस्वेन तु मायया । अन्योन्यस्पर्धाभावेन मृताः केचित्तु कामिनः
By my illusion, I deceived them all, taking everything from them; some died in rivalry with each other, and some were overcome by desire.
इत्थं तन्नगरे रम्ये सकले मे गतिस्तदा । प्राप्ते तु वार्द्धके काले शुशोच हृदयं मम । न दत्तं न हुतं जप्तं न व्रतं चरितं मया
Thus, in that beautiful city, all my pursuits were fulfilled; but when old age arrived, my heart grieved: I had not given, nor sacrificed, nor recited, nor observed any vow.
नाराधितो मया देवश्चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदः। न मया पूजिता देवी दुर्गा दुर्गतिनाशिनी । सर्वपापहरो विष्णुर्न स्मृतो भोगलुब्धया
I did not worship the god who grants the fruits of the four aims of life; nor did I honor the goddess Durga, destroyer of misfortune; nor did I remember Vishnu, remover of all sins, being greedy for pleasure.
न च संतर्पिता विप्रा न कृतं प्राणिनां हितम् । अणुमात्रमिदं पुण्यं न कृतं च प्रमादतः
Nor did I satisfy the Brahmins, nor did I act for the welfare of living beings; not even the smallest merit was performed by me, due to heedlessness.
पातकं तु कृतं भद्र तेन मे दह्यते मनः । बहुधैवं विलप्याहं ब्राह्मणं शरणं गता
But sin was committed, O auspicious one, and because of that my mind is tormented; lamenting in many ways, I sought refuge with a Brahmin.
ब्रह्मण्यं वेदविद्वांसं तस्य राज्ञः पुरोहितम् । स हि पृष्टो मया रक्षः कथं मे निष्कृतिर्भवेत्
He was devoted to Brahman, learned in the Vedas, and the priest of the king; I asked him how I could find atonement for my wrongs.
पापस्यास्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ कथं यास्यामि सद्गतिम् । स्वेनैव कर्मणा तप्तां वराकीं दीनमानसाम्
O best of twice-born, how can I attain a good path from this sin? I am afflicted by my own actions, wretched and with a distressed mind.
पापपंकनिमग्नां त्वं मामुद्धर कचग्रहैः । मयि कारुण्यंजं वारि वर्षहर्षदृशा द्विज
Lift me out of the mire of sin with the hook of your teachings; let the water of compassion fall upon me from your joyful eyes, O Brahmin.
सज्जने साधवः सर्वे साधुः साधुरसज्जने । इत्यसौ मद्वचः श्रुत्वा चकारानुग्रहं मयि
All virtuous people are good to the good, and the good are also good to the wicked; hearing my words, he showed me his favor.
द्विज उवाच। निषिद्धाचरणं जाने सर्वं तेऽहं वरानने । कुरु मे सत्वरं वाक्यं याहि क्षेत्रं प्रजापते
The Brahmin said: I know all your forbidden deeds, O beautiful one; quickly follow my advice and go to the field of Prajapati.
तत्र गत्वा कुरु स्नानं तेन पापक्षयस्तव । सर्वं मनोगतं भद्रे त्वदीयं शोचितं मया
Go there and bathe; by that, your sins will be destroyed. All your worries, O auspicious one, have been considered by me.
नाहमन्यत्प्रपश्यामि यत्ते पापप्रणाशनम् । प्रायश्चित्तं परं तीर्थे स्नानं च ऋषिभिः स्मृतम्
I see no other means for the destruction of your sin; the supreme atonement, remembered by the sages, is bathing at the holy place.