एवं पुण्यं समाकीर्णं ब्रह्मलक्ष्मसमायुतम् । स सुबाहुस्ततो राजा तया सुप्रियया सह
Thus, that meritorious place, filled with virtue and marked by the presence of Brahma, was entered by King Subahu together with his beloved.
प्रविवेश महापुण्यं तद्वनं सर्वकामदम् । भासमानो दिशः सर्वा यत्रास्ते सूर्यसंनिभः
He entered that most holy forest, bestower of all desires, shining in all directions, where one resplendent as the sun abided.
राजमानो महादीप्त्या परया सूर्यसंनिभः । योगासनसमारूढो योगपट्टेन संवृतः
Radiant with great brilliance, like the sun, seated in yogic posture, covered with a yogic cloth,
वामदेवऋषिश्रेष्ठो वैष्णवानां वरस्तथा । ध्यायमानो हृषीकेशं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
The foremost sage Vāmadeva, the best among Vaishnavas, was meditating on Hrishikesha, the giver of enjoyment and liberation.
वामदेवं महात्मानं तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिसत्तमम् । त्वरं गत्वा प्रणम्यैव स राजा प्रियया सह
Seeing that great-souled Vāmadeva, the best of sages, the king, together with his beloved, quickly approached and bowed.
वामदेवस्ततो दृष्ट्वा प्रणतं राजसत्तमम् । आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव राजानं प्रिययान्वितम्
Then Vāmadeva, seeing the excellent king bowing, greeted the king, accompanied by his beloved, with blessings.
उपवेश्यासने पुण्ये सुबाहुं राजसत्तमम् । आसनादि ततः पाद्यैरर्घपूजादिभिस्तथा
He seated Subahu, the excellent king, on a holy seat, and then honored him with water for the feet, offerings, and other rites.
मुनिना पूजितो भूपः प्रियया सह चागतः । अथ पप्रच्छ राजानं महाभागवतोत्तमम्
The king, who had come with his beloved, was honored by the sage; then the king asked the most exalted devotee.
वामदेव उवाच- त्वामहं विष्णुधर्मज्ञं विष्णुभक्तं नरोत्तमम् । जाने ज्ञानेन राजेंद्र दिव्येन चोलभूमिपम्
Vāmadeva said: I know you, O knower of Vishnu's dharma, O devotee of Vishnu, best of men, O king of Chola, by divine knowledge.
निरामयश्चागतोसि तार्क्ष्यया भार्यया सह । राजोवाच- निरामयश्चागतोऽस्मि प्राप्तो विष्णोः परं पदम्
You have arrived here free from affliction, together with your wife Tārkṣyā. The king said: I have come here free from affliction, having attained the supreme abode of Vishnu.
मया हि परया भक्त्या देवदेवो जनार्दनः । आराधितो जगन्नाथो भक्तिप्रीतः सुरेश्वरम्
Indeed, with supreme devotion, I have worshipped Janārdana, the god of gods, the Lord of the universe, who is pleased by devotion, O lord of the gods.
कस्मात्पश्याम्यहं तात न देवं कमलापतिम् । क्षुधा मे बाधते तात तृष्णातीव सुदारुणा
Why, then, O father, do I not see the god, the consort of Lakṣmī? Hunger torments me, father, and thirst is exceedingly severe.
ताभ्यां शांतिं न गच्छाव सुखं विंदाव नैव च । एतन्मेकारणं दुःखं संजातं मुनिसत्तम
Because of these two, I find no peace nor do I attain happiness; this alone, O best of sages, is the cause of my suffering.
तन्मे त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि प्रसादात्सुमुखो भव । वामदेव उवाच- त्वं तु भक्तोसि राजेंद्र श्रीकृष्णस्य सदैव हि
Therefore, tell me the reason for this and be gracious, showing a kind face. Vāmadeva said: You are always a devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, O king.
आराधितस्त्वया भक्त्या परया मधुसूदनः । भक्त्योपचारैः स्नानाद्यैर्गंधपुष्पादिभिस्तथा
By you, with supreme devotion, Madhusūdana has indeed been worshipped, with acts of devotion such as bathing, and with sandal, flowers, and the like.
न पूजितोऽथ नैवेद्यैः फलैश्च जगतांपतिः । दशमीं प्राप्य राजेंद्र त्वयैव च सदा कृतम्
But the Lord of the worlds has not been worshipped by you with offerings of food or fruits; on the tenth day, O king, you have always performed this.
एकभक्तं न दत्तं तु ब्राह्मणाय सुभोजनम् । एकादशीं तु संप्राप्य न कृतं भोजनं त्वया
You have not given a good meal to a brāhmaṇa devoted to Viṣṇu; and on the eleventh day, you have not offered food yourself.
विष्णुमुद्दिश्य विप्राय न दत्तं भोजनं त्वया । अन्नं चामृतरूपेण पृथिव्यां संस्थितं सदा
You have not given food to a brāhmaṇa, dedicating it to Viṣṇu; food, which is ever established on earth in the form of nectar.
अन्नदानं विशेषेण कदा दत्तं न हि त्वया । ओषध्यश्च महाराज नानाभेदास्तु ताः शृणु
Especially, you have never given the gift of food; and as for the various kinds of herbs, O great king, listen to them.
कटु तिक्त कषायाश्च मधुराम्लाश्च क्षारकाः । हिंग्वाद्योपस्कराः सर्वे नानारूपाश्च भूपते
Bitter, pungent, astringent, sweet, sour, and salty—along with all condiments like asafoetida, O king, in their various forms.
अमृताज्जज्ञिरे सर्वा ओषध्यः पुष्टिहेतवः । अन्नमेव सुसंस्कृत्य औषधव्यंजनान्वितम्
All these nourishing herbs, sources of strength, are born from nectar; food, well-prepared and combined with medicinal vegetables,
देवेभ्यो विष्णुरूपेभ्य इति संकल्प्य दीयते । पितृभ्यो विष्णुरूपेभ्यो हस्ते च ब्राह्मणस्य हि
is to be given with the resolve, 'to the gods in the form of Viṣṇu,' and to the ancestors in the form of Viṣṇu, and into the hand of a brāhmaṇa.
अतिथिभ्यस्ततो दत्वा परिजनं प्रभोजयेत् । स्वयं तु भुंजते पश्चात्तदन्नममृतोपमम्
After giving to guests, one should feed one's attendants; then, afterwards, one may eat that food oneself, which is like nectar.
प्रेत्य दुःखं न चैवास्ति तस्य सौख्यं तु भूपते । ब्राह्मणाः पितरो देवाः क्षत्ररूपाश्च भूपते
After death, there is no suffering for him, O king, but happiness; brāhmaṇas, ancestors, gods, and kṣatriyas, O king,
यथा हि कर्षकः कश्चित्सुकृषिं कुरुते सदा । तद्वन्मर्त्यः कृषिं कुर्यात्क्षेत्रे विप्रास्यके नृप
Just as a farmer always cultivates a good field, so should a mortal cultivate the field of a brāhmaṇa, O king.
स्वभावलांगलेनापि श्रद्धा शस्त्रेण भेदयेत् । वृषभौ तु मतौ नित्यं बुद्धिश्चैव तपस्तथा
With the plough of one's own nature and the weapon of faith, one should break up the field; the two bulls are considered to be intellect and austerity.
सत्यज्ञानानुभावीशः शुद्धात्मा तु प्रतोदकः । विप्रनाम्नि महाक्षेत्रे नमस्कारैर्विसर्जयेत्
Truth, knowledge, experience, and lordship are the goad, and the pure self; in the great field named 'brāhmaṇa,' one should sow with reverence.
स्फोटयेत्कल्मषं नित्यं कृषिको हि यथा नृप । क्षेत्रस्य उद्यमे युक्तो विष्णुकामः प्रसादयेत्
Just as a farmer always removes impurities, so should one, O king, continually destroy sin; being diligent in the field, desiring Viṣṇu, one attains his favor.
तद्वद्वाक्यैः शुभैः पुण्यैर्विप्रांश्चापि प्रसादयेत् । पर्वतीर्थाप्तिकालश्च घनरूपोभिवर्षणे
In the same way, one should please the Brahmins with auspicious and virtuous words; and when the time for sowing in the mountain fields arrives, and the clouds pour down rain,
वप्तुकामो भवेत्क्षेत्री ततः क्षेत्रे प्रवापयेत् । तद्वद्भूपप्रसन्नाय विप्राय परिदीयते
the farmer, desiring to sow, irrigates the field; likewise, a gift is made to a Brahmin who is pleased, O King.