अविमुक्ते मृतः कश्चिन्नरकं नेति किल्बिषी । अविमुक्ते कृतं किंचित्पापं वज्री भवेद्दृढम्
It is said that one who dies in Avimukta, however sinful, does not go to hell; but any sin committed there becomes firm, like a thunderbolt.
वज्रलेपेन पापेन तेन मे जन्म राक्षसम् । रौद्रं क्रूरतरं पापं संभूतं हिमपर्वते
Because of that sin, fixed like a thunderbolt, my birth became demonic; a fierce, exceedingly cruel, sinful existence arose for me in the snowy mountains.
द्विर्जातो गृध्रयोनौ प्राक्त्रिर्व्याघ्रो द्विः सरीसृपः । एकवारमुलूकस्तु विड्वराहस्ततः परम्
Twice I was born in the lineage of vultures, previously thrice as a tiger, twice as a serpent; once as an owl, then as a wild boar thereafter.
इदं तु दशमं जन्म राक्षसं मम भामिनी । अतीतानि सहस्राणि वर्षाणि मम जन्मनः
This, O radiant lady, is my tenth birth as a rakshasa; thousands of years have passed in my births.
नास्ति मे निष्कृतिर्भद्रे एतस्माद्दुःखसागरात् । अत्र त्रियोजनं सुभ्रूर्निर्जंतु हि मया कृतम्
O gentle one, there is no remedy for me from this ocean of sorrow; here, O beautiful-browed one, I have made three yojanas devoid of living beings.
अनागसां च भूतानां बहूनां च कृतः क्षयः । कर्मणा तेन मे सुभ्रूर्दह्यते सततं मनः
I have destroyed many innocent creatures; because of that deed, O beautiful-browed one, my mind is constantly tormented.
त्वद्दर्शनसुधासिक्तं गतं शैत्यं मनो मम । तीर्थं फलति कालेन सद्यः साधुसमागमः
My mind, sprinkled with the nectar of seeing you, has found coolness; a holy place bears fruit in time, but the company of the virtuous does so immediately.
अतः सत्संगतिं सुभ्रूः प्रशंसंति मनीषिणः । एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं स्वदुःखं हृद्गतं मया
Therefore, O beautiful-browed one, the wise praise association with the virtuous; all this, my heart's sorrow, I have told you.
विरलः सज्जनः सुभ्रूः स्वात्मा यस्य न खिद्यते । जानास्यत्रोचितं त्वं हि किंचिन्नो वच्म्यतः परम्
Rare is the virtuous person, O beautiful-browed one, whose own self is not afflicted; you know what is proper here, so I will say nothing further.
अस्य दुःखोदधेः पारं कथं यामीति चिंतयन् । सज्जनानां समा भूतिः सर्वेषामुपजीवनम्
Thinking, 'How can I cross this ocean of sorrow?'—the company of the virtuous is the support and sustenance for all.
क्षीरार्णवः पयो दत्ते हंसाय न बकाय किम् । दत्तात्रेय उवाच। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दयार्द्रीकृतमानसा 6.127.
The ocean of milk gives its water to the swan, not to the crane. Dattatreya said: Thus, hearing his words, their hearts were softened with compassion.
धर्मदाने मतिं कृत्वा जगौ कांचनमालिनी । करिष्ये निष्कृतिं रक्ष इदानीं खलु मा शुचः
Having set her mind on the gift of righteousness, Kāñcanamālinī sang: I will make amends—protect me now, do not grieve.
प्रतिज्ञां तु दृढां कृत्वा यतिष्ये तव मुक्तये । बहवो हि कृता माघा वर्षे वर्षे यथाविधि
Having made a firm vow, I will strive for your liberation; for many Māgha observances have been performed by me each year, as prescribed.
श्रद्धापूर्वं मया भद्र ब्रह्मक्षेत्रे सितासिते । तां वदामि तु संख्यातिं तस्य धर्मस्य राक्षस
With faith, O blessed one, I have performed them in the sacred fields of Brahmā, both white and black; I will tell you the count of that merit, O Rākṣasa.
गूढो धर्मो हि कर्तव्य इत्यूचुर्विबुधा जनाः । आर्ते दानं प्रशंसंति मुनयो वेदवादिनः
Wise people have said that righteousness should be practiced in secret; sages who know the Vedas praise giving to those in distress.
सागरे वर्षतो भद्र किं मेघस्य फलं भवेत् । अनुभूतं मया रक्षः स्वयं तत्पुण्यजं फलम्
O blessed one, when it rains into the ocean, what fruit does the cloud gain? I myself have experienced the fruit born of that merit, O Rākṣasa.
तत्तु दास्यामि ते मित्र सद्यः पापविनाशनम् । निष्पीड्याथ ततो वस्त्रं जलं कृत्वा करांबुजे
That merit I will give to you, friend, which instantly destroys sin; then, wringing out a cloth, she placed water in the lotus of her hand.
ददौ सा माघजं पुण्यं तस्मै वृद्धाय रक्षसे । शृणु राजन्विचित्रं हि प्रभावं माघधर्मजम्
She gave that Māgha-born merit to the aged Rākṣasa; listen, O king, to the wondrous power arising from the observance of Māgha.
तदैवं प्राप्य तत्पुण्यं विमुक्ता राक्षसी तनुः । संभूतो देवताकारस्तेजो भास्करविग्रहः
Then, having obtained that merit, the Rākṣasa body was freed; a divine form appeared, radiant like the image of the sun.
देवयानं समारूढः सहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनः । द्योतमानस्तदा व्योम्नि भासयन्प्रभया दिशः
Mounted on the path of the gods, his eyes blossoming with joy, he shone in the sky, illuminating the directions with his radiance.
दिव्यरूपधरो रेजे द्वितीय इव भास्करः । ततोऽभिनंदयामास सतां कांचनमालिनीम्
Wearing a divine form, he shone like a second sun; then he joyfully praised Kāñcanamālinī among the virtuous.
भद्रे वेत्तीश्वरो देवः कर्मणां यः फलप्रदः । तत्त्वयोपकृतं सर्वं यत्र मे नास्ति निष्कृतिः
O blessed one, the Lord, the giver of the fruits of actions, knows all; all that you have done for me—there is no atonement left for me.
इदानीमपि कारुण्यात्प्रसीदानुग्रहं कुरु । शिक्षां विधेहि मे देवि सर्वनीतिमयीं शुभाम्
Now, out of compassion, be gracious and grant me your favor; instruct me, O goddess, in all the auspicious ways of righteousness.
सर्वधर्मकरीं नूनं न कुर्वे पातकं यथा । तां श्रुत्वा त्वदनुज्ञातः पश्चाद्यामि सुरालयम्
Teach me to perform all duties so that I never commit sin; having heard that from you and with your permission, I will later go to the abode of the gods.
दत्तात्रेय उवाच। एतन्निशम्य तेनोक्तं प्रियं धर्ममयं वचः । अतिप्रीत्याब्रवीद्धर्मं राजन्कांचनमालिनी
Dattatreya said: Hearing these dear, righteous words spoken by him, Kāñcanamālinī, overjoyed, spoke of righteousness, O king.
धर्मं भजस्व सततं त्यज भूतहिंसां सेवस्व साधुपुरुषान्जहि कामशत्रुम् । अन्यस्य दोषगुणकीर्तनमाशु हित्वा सत्यं वदार्चय हरिं व्रज देवलोकम्
Always follow righteousness, abandon harming living beings, serve the virtuous, conquer the enemy called desire; quickly give up speaking of others’ faults and virtues, speak the truth, worship Hari, and go to the world of the gods.
देहेऽस्थिमांसरुधिरे स्वमतिं त्यज त्वं जायासुतादिषु सदा ममतां विमुंच । पश्यानिशं जगदिदं क्षणभंगुरं हि वैराग्यभावरसिको भव योगनिष्ठः
Abandon attachment to your body made of bones, flesh, and blood; always renounce possessiveness toward wife, children, and others; see this world as ever fleeting, delight in the taste of detachment, and be steadfast in yoga.
प्रीत्या मया निगदितं तव धर्ममार्गं चित्तो निधेहि सकलं भवशीलयुक्तः । संत्यज्य राक्षसतनुं धृतदेवदेहो ज्योतिर्मयो व्रज यथासुखमाशु नाकम्
Out of affection I have told you the path of righteousness; fix your mind wholly upon it, be endowed with good conduct; abandoning the Rākṣasa body, having taken a divine form of light, go swiftly and happily to heaven.
श्रुत्वाधर्मं ततो हृष्टः संतुष्टो राक्षसोऽब्रवीत् । भवप्रमुदिता नित्यं सर्वदा शिवमस्तु ते
Hearing her righteous words, the delighted and contented demon said: May you always be joyful, and may well-being ever be yours.
आचन्द्रार्कं रमस्व त्वं कैलासे शिवसन्निधौ । उमयाऽखंडितं प्रेम तवास्तु वरवर्णिनि
Dwell on Kailāsa in the presence of Śiva as long as the moon and sun endure; may your love with Umā remain unbroken, O one of excellent complexion.