ये पिबंति नरा राजन्यमुनासलिलं शुभम् । पंचगव्यसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम्
What need is there for thousands of offerings of the five products of the cow for those men who drink the pure water of the royal Yamuna?
कोटितीर्थसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम् । तत्र दानं च होमश्च सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्
What need is there for thousands of visits to millions of sacred fords? There, every gift and sacrifice becomes a million times more fruitful.
नारद उवाच-। अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्निषधे नगरे वरे
Narada said: Here I will recount to you an ancient legend. Long ago, in the Krita age, O King, in the excellent city of Nishadha—
आसीद्वैश्यः कुबेराभो नामतो हेमकुंडलः । कुलीनः सत्क्रियो देवद्विजपावकपूजकः
There was a merchant named Hemakundala, who was like Kubera in wealth; noble by birth, devoted to good deeds, and a worshipper of gods, brahmins, and fire.
कृषिवाणिज्यकर्त्तासौ विविधक्रयविक्रयी । गोघोटकमहिष्यादि पशुपोषणतत्परः
He engaged in agriculture and trade, buying and selling various goods, and was devoted to the care of cows, horses, buffaloes, and other animals.
पयो दधीनि तक्राणि गोमयानि तृणानि च । काष्ठानि फलमूलानि लवणाद्रा र्!दिपिप्पली
He always sold milk, curds, buttermilk, cow dung, grass, wood, fruits, roots, salt, ginger, and long pepper.
धान्यानि शाकतैलानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । धातूनिक्षुविकारांश्च विक्रीणीते स सर्वदा
He constantly sold grains, vegetables, oils, various kinds of cloth, metals, sugarcane products, and their derivatives.
इत्थं नानाविधैर्वैश्य उपायैरपरैस्तथा । उपार्जयामास सदा अष्टौ हाटककोटयः
Thus, by these and other various means of a merchant, he always amassed eight crores of gold.
एवं महाधनः सोथ हाकर्णपलितोभवत् । पश्चाद्विचार्य संसारक्षणिकत्वं स्वचेतसि
Thus, having become very wealthy, he grew old and gray-haired; then, reflecting in his mind on the transience of worldly life—
तद्धनस्य षडंशेन धर्मकार्यं चकार सः । विष्णोरायतनं चक्रे गृहं चक्रे शिवस्य च
He used one-sixth of that wealth for acts of righteousness; he built a temple for Vishnu and a house for Shiva.
तडागं खानयामास विपुलं सागरोपमम् । वाप्यश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च बहुधा तेन कारिताः
He had a great tank dug, vast as the ocean, and caused many wells and ponds to be made.
वटाश्वत्थाम्रकंकोल जंबू निंबादि काननम् । स्वसत्वेन तदा चक्रे तथा पुष्पवनं शुभम्
He established groves of banyan, sacred fig, mango, jujube, rose-apple, neem, and other trees, and also created a beautiful flower garden with his own wealth.
उदयास्तमनं यावदन्नपानं चकार सः । पुराद्बहिश्चतुर्दिक्षु प्रपां चक्रेऽतिशोभनाम्
From sunrise to sunset, he provided food and drink; and outside the city, in all four directions, he built a most splendid rest house.
पुराणेषु प्रसिद्धानि यानि दानानि भूपते । ददौ तानि सधर्म्मात्मा नित्यं दानपरस्तदा
He gave all the gifts renowned in the ancient scriptures, O King, always intent on righteousness and constantly devoted to giving.
यावज्जीवकृते पापे प्रायाश्चित्तमथाकरोत् । देवपूजापरो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकः
For every sin committed in his life, he performed atonement; he was always devoted to worshipping the gods and daily honored guests.
तस्येत्थं वर्त्तमानस्य संजातौ द्वौ सुतौ नृप । तौ सुप्रसिद्ध नामानौ श्रीकुंडल विकुंडलौ
While he was living in this way, two sons were born to him, O King; both became well-known by the names Shrikuṇḍala and Vikuṇḍala.
तयोर्मूर्ध्नि गृहं त्यक्त्वा जगाम तपसे वनम् । तत्राराध्य परं देवं गोविंदं वरदं प्रभुम्
After leaving his home to those two, he went to the forest for ascetic practice; there he worshipped the supreme Lord Govinda, the bestower of boons.
तपःक्लिष्ट शरीरोऽसौ वासुदेवमनाः सदा । प्राप्तः स वैष्णवं लोकं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति
His body worn by austerity, his mind always fixed on Vasudeva, he attained the Vaishnava world, where, having gone, one never grieves.
अथ तस्य सुतौ राजन्महामान समन्वितौ । तरुणौ रूपसंपन्नौ धनगर्वेण गर्वितौ
Then, O King, his two sons, filled with great pride, were young, handsome, and arrogant because of their wealth.
दुःशीलौ व्यसनासक्तौ धर्मकर्माद्यदर्शकौ । न वाक्यं चागतौ मातुर्वृद्धानां वचनं तथा
Of bad character, addicted to vice, they disregarded all duties of righteousness and did not heed the words of their mother or the advice of elders.
कुमार्गगौ दुरात्मानौ पितृमित्रनिषेधकौ । अधर्मनिरतौ दुष्टौ परदाराभिगामिनौ
They followed evil paths, were wicked at heart, opposed their father's friends, engaged in unrighteous acts, were corrupt, and pursued other men's wives.
गीतवादित्रनिरतौ वीणावेणुविनोदिनौ । वारस्त्रीशतसंयुक्तौ गायंतौ चेरतुस्तदा
Devoted to singing and playing instruments, delighting in the lute and flute, they wandered about, accompanied by hundreds of courtesans, singing.
चाटुकारजनैर्युक्तौ बिंबोष्ठीषु विशारदौ । सुवेषौ चारुवसनौ चारुचंदनरूषितौ
Surrounded by flatterers, skilled in charming women with red lips, well-dressed, adorned in beautiful garments, and smeared with fragrant sandalwood paste.
तथा सुगंधिमालाढ्यौ कस्तूरीलक्ष्मलक्षितौ । नानालंकारशोभाढ्यौ मौक्तिकाहारहारिणौ
Thus, adorned with fragrant garlands, marked with musk and saffron, resplendent with various ornaments, and wearing pearl necklaces.
गजवाजिरथौघेन क्रीडंतौ तावितस्तदा । मधुपानसमायुक्तौ परस्त्रीरतिमोहितौ
At that time, they played with herds of elephants, horses, and chariots, indulged in drinking wine, and were infatuated with the pleasures of other men's wives.
नाशयंतौ पितृद्रव्यं सहस्रं ददतुः शतम् । तस्थतुः स्वगृहे रम्ये नित्यं भोगपरायणौ
They squandered their father's wealth, giving away a thousand for a hundred, and remained always in their splendid home, devoted to enjoyment.
इत्थं तु तद्धनं ताभ्यां विनियुक्तमसद्व्ययैः । वारस्त्री विट शैलूष मल्ल चारण बंदिषु
In this way, that wealth was wasted by them on improper expenses—on courtesans, pimps, actors, wrestlers, spies, and bards.
अपात्रे तद्धनं दत्तं क्षिप्तं बीजमिवोषरे । न सत्पात्रे च तद्दत्तं न ब्राह्मणमुखे हुतम्
That wealth was given to the unworthy, cast away like seed on barren ground; it was not given to the worthy, nor offered into the mouth of a Brahmin.
नार्चितो भूतभृद्विष्णुः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः । उभयोरेव तद्द्रव्यमचिरेण क्षयं ययौ
They did not worship Vishnu, the sustainer of beings, destroyer of all sins; thus, all their wealth was soon lost.
ततस्तौ दुःखमापन्नौ कार्पण्यं परमं गतौ । शोचमानौ तु मुह्यंतौ क्षुत्पीडादुःखपीडितौ
Then, they fell into misery, reached the utmost poverty, and, afflicted by hunger and sorrow, they grieved and became bewildered.