अर्चितातिथिराम्नातो वेदशास्त्रविशारदः । आहर्ता क्रतुसंघानां तापसानां प्रियः सदा
Honored guests according to tradition, skilled in Vedic scriptures, he was the arranger of many sacrificial rites and always dear to ascetics.
देवान्संतर्पयामास हव्यैर्हुतवहं चिरम् । न चोपलेभे धर्मात्मा शांतिमेकांतिकीं ततः
He satisfied the gods for a long time with offerings in the fire, yet that righteous soul did not attain absolute peace.
निःश्रेयसं स जिज्ञासुस्तापसाननुवासरम् । सिषेवे सत्यसंकल्पाननल्पैरेव कल्पकैः
Desiring the highest good, he served ascetics day after day, those steadfast in truth, with many proper observances.
एवमाचरतस्तस्य काले महति गच्छति । मुक्तकर्मा ततः कश्चित्प्रादुरासीत्पुरा भुवि
As he acted thus, with much time passing, someone freed from actions appeared on earth long ago.
अनुभूतनिराकांक्षी नासाग्रन्यस्तलोचनः । शांतचेताः परं ब्रह्म ध्यायन्नानंदनिर्भरः
Free from desire for experience, his gaze fixed at the tip of his nose, his mind tranquil, he meditated on the supreme Brahman, full of bliss.
पादौ तस्योपसंगृह्य प्रणतेनांतरात्मना । चकार विधिवत्तस्मै विद्वानतिथिसत्क्रियाम्
He approached and took hold of his feet, with a reverent heart, and performed the proper guest-honoring rites for him, as a learned man.
तं च शुद्धेन भावेन परितुष्टं तपस्विनम् । प्रणतः परिपप्रच्छ निर्वाणस्थितिमात्मनः
With pure intent, he questioned that satisfied ascetic, bowing, about the state of nirvana for himself.
स तस्मै कथयामास पुरेऽसौ पुरनामनि । मित्रवंतमजापालमुपदेष्टारमात्मवित्
He told him, in that ancient city, about Mitravan, the knower of self, the teacher of Ajapala.
स चाभिवंद्य तत्पादावेत्यसौ पुरमूर्जितम् । तस्योत्तरदिशोभागे ददर्श विपुलं वनम्
Having bowed and touched his feet, he entered that splendid city, and in its northern region he saw a vast forest.
मारुतांदोलितानेक कुसुमामोदसुंदरम् । उन्मत्तभ्रमरोद्गीत नादापूरितदिङ्मुखम्
Beautiful with many flowers swayed by the wind, fragrant, its directions filled with the sound of intoxicated bees singing.
तस्मिन्वने सरित्तीरे निषीदंतं शिलातले । मित्रवंतं ददर्शाथ सानंदस्तिमितेक्षणम्
In that forest, on the riverbank, seated on a stone, he saw Mitravan, joyful, with a gaze full of contentment.
अपि स्वाभाविकं वैरं हित्वान्योन्यं विरोधिभिः । सत्वैरावृतमुद्याने मंदस्यंदनभास्वति
Even natural enmity was set aside by opposing creatures; in the garden, surrounded by gentle animals, with the sun shining mildly.
शांतेषु मृगयूथेषु दशानंदमनोज्ञया । कृपानुविद्धया भूमिं निषिंचंतमिवामृतम्
Among peaceful herds of deer, with a delightful and blissful state, compassion seemed to pour onto the earth like nectar.
उपेत्य विनयेनामुमुन्मनाः प्रीतमानसः । किंचिदानम्रशिरसा तेनापि स तु सत्कृतः
Approaching with humility, his mind uplifted and joyful, he bowed his head slightly, and was honored by him as well.
उपतस्थे ततो विद्वान्मित्रवंतमनन्यधीः । समाप्तध्यानकालं स पर्यपृच्छत्समाहितः
Then the learned man, single-minded, approached Mitravan, and when his meditation was complete, he questioned him attentively.
देवशर्मोवाच। आत्मानं वेत्तुमिच्छामि तदमुष्मिन्मनोरथे । लब्धसिद्धिमुपायं मामुपदेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि
Devaśarman said: I wish to know the self; in this desire of mine, you should instruct me in the means to attain success.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। परामृश्य क्षणं सोऽपि मित्रवानिदमब्रवीत् । मित्रवानुवाच। विद्वन्विद्धि पुरावृत्तमुच्यमानमिदं मया
The Blessed Lord said: After reflecting for a moment, Mitravan spoke this. Mitravan said: Wise one, know that I will tell you what happened long ago.
अस्ति गोदावरीतीरे प्रतिष्ठानाभिधं पुरम् । तत्र दुर्दमनामासीदन्वये च मनीषिणाम्
On the bank of the Godāvarī, there is a city called Pratiṣṭhāna; there, among the wise, was one named Durdama.
तत्रास्ति विक्रमो नाम सेव्यमानो महीपतिः । दानानि प्रत्यहं गृह्णन्वर्त्तते उदरंभरः
There is a king named Vikrama there, who, being served, lives only to fill his belly, accepting gifts every day.
कालेन कालपाशेन बद्धानीतो यमालयम् । निरयेषु समग्रेषु यातना अनुभूय च
Bound by the noose of time, he is led to the abode of Yama, and, having experienced all the torments in hell,
कस्मिंश्चित्स कुले जातो दुर्वृत्तानां द्विजन्मनाम् । भवांतरानुवर्तिन्या विद्यया स पुरस्कृतः
Born in some family of ill-behaved twice-born, he was honored by knowledge that followed him from a previous birth.
उपयेमे दुराधर्षां कन्यकामधमे कुले । कालेन सा वयो हित्वा शैशवं यौवनं ययौ
He married a difficult-to-approach maiden from a lowly family; in time, she left childhood behind and reached youth.
पीनस्तनी च सुश्रोणी मदविह्वललोचना । पतिं न सेहे दुर्वृत्तं चकमे स्वपतीन्परान्
Full-breasted, beautiful-hipped, her eyes intoxicated with passion, she could not endure her wicked husband and desired other men.
वृत्तिमाहर्तुकामस्मिन्निर्गता सा पुराद्बहिः । संगता कामुकेनासौ चिरं चांडालजन्मना
Desiring to obtain her livelihood, she left the house, and for a long time lived with a lover born in a low caste.
दधे गर्भमसौ तस्मात्सा च कन्योपपद्यते । सैव भार्यापि तस्यासीत्पूर्वपापप्रसंगतः
She conceived from him, and a daughter was born; that very daughter became his wife, due to the influence of previous sin.
सैव वृद्धा ततः काले डाकिनी समजायत । कुसंगात्कुमतिर्जाता दुष्टनारीप्रसंगतः
In time, she grew old and became a ḍākinī; from bad company, a wicked mind arose, from association with an evil woman.
चखाद व्याधितं व्याधमसृगास्वादलालसा । भ्रमंती विपिने घोरे जनैर्दृष्ट्वा बहिष्कृता
Craving the taste of blood, she devoured the sick and the hunters, wandering in the dreadful forest, cast out by people who saw her.
परेतलोकमासाद्य व्याधौ व्याघ्रोऽभ्यवर्त्तत । नरकान्दारुणान्भुक्त्वा जीवहिंसा प्रभावतः
Reaching the world of the dead, she was reborn as a tiger among hunters; because of the effect of violence toward living beings, she endured terrible hells.
सापि कालेन दुष्टात्मा मृत्युवेगमुपागता । निरयानेत्य दुर्द्धर्षानजाजायत मद्गृहे
In time, that wicked soul, seized by the force of death, came from hell and was born in my house, hard to subdue.
तामन्या अप्यहं विद्वन्पालयन्काननांतरे । अपश्यन्द्वीपिनं घोरं जिघांसंतमिवाखिलम्
O wise one, while I was caring for her in the forest, I saw a fierce leopard, as if intent on killing everything.