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.
धर्मनिष्ठा तपोनिष्ठा मातस्त्वं भव सर्वदा । मास्तु लोभः शरीरे ते आपन्नार्ति सदा हर
O mother, always be steadfast in righteousness and austerity; let there be no greed in your body, and may you always remove the suffering of those in distress.
इत्युक्त्वा तु प्रणम्याथ सतां कांचनमालिनीम् । जगाम राक्षसः स्वर्गं गंधर्वैर्बहुभिः स्तुतः
Having spoken thus, he bowed to the virtuous lady adorned with gold, and the demon departed to heaven, praised by many Gandharvas.
देवकन्यास्तदागत्य ववर्षुः पुष्पवृष्टिभिः । तस्याः कांचनमालिन्या मूर्ध्नि हर्षसमाकुलाः
Then the celestial maidens arrived and showered a rain of flowers, overwhelmed with joy, upon the head of that golden-garlanded one.
तामालिंग्य ततः प्रोचुः कन्यकास्तु प्रियं वचः । कृतं भद्रे त्वया चित्रं राक्षसस्य विमोक्षणम्
Embracing her, the maidens spoke affectionate words: 'O blessed one, you have performed a wondrous deed in liberating the demon.'
दुष्टस्यास्य भयात्कश्चिद्विशत्यस्मिन्न कानने । अधुना निर्भया ह्यत्र विचरामो यथासुखम्
'Because of fear of that wicked one, no one would enter this forest; now, we may roam here without fear, as we please.'
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं राजंस्तासां कांचनमालिनी । हृष्टा तेनैव दानेन कृतकृत्या तदा सती
Hearing those words, O King, Kāñcanamālinī was gladdened by her own act of charity and felt fulfilled at that moment.
तं राक्षसं कांचनमालिनीवरा गन्धर्वकन्या परिमोच्य सत्वरम् । क्रीडंत्यमूभिः प्रययौ हरालयं प्रीत्या सपूर्णा च परोपकारया
Having swiftly released that demon, the best among the Gandharva maidens, Kāñcanamālinī, joyfully went to the abode of Hara, her heart full from her act of kindness.
संवादमेनं वरकन्यकेरितं भक्त्या परं यः शृणुयाच्च मानवः । न बाध्यते जातु सदा स राक्षसैर्धर्मे मतिस्तस्य भृशं हि जायते
Whoever, with devotion, hears this conversation spoken by the noble maiden, is never troubled by demons and his mind becomes firmly established in righteousness.
पार्वत्युवाच। द्वीपेऽस्मिन्यानि तीर्थानि तानि मे वद सुव्रत । द्वीपानां द्वीपराजोऽयं सर्वदा भुवि निर्मितः । संख्यया त्वं वद स्वामिन्कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि
Pārvatī said: On this island, what are the sacred places? Tell me, O virtuous one. This is the king of islands, always established on earth. Out of kindness to me, Master, tell me their number.
महादेव उवाच। सर्वगः सर्वभूतेषु द्रष्टव्यः सर्वतो भुवि । सप्तलोकेषु यत्किंचिद्दृश्यते सचराचरम्
Mahādeva said: He is all-pervading and should be seen in all beings, everywhere on earth; whatever is seen in the seven worlds, moving or unmoving.