मावजानीहि सामीप्ये गंगा त्रिदशमानिताम् । यदिच्छसि महाभाग सेवितैषा प्रदास्यति
Do not disregard the Gaṅgā, honored by the gods, who is near at hand; if you desire, O highly fortunate one, she will grant what is sought by her worshippers.
तिर्यंचोऽपि विना ज्ञानाज्जले चेत्स्युर्गतासवः । भवेयुस्तर्हि ते ब्रह्म सा कथं त्यज्यते त्वया
Even animals, without knowledge, if they die in her waters, become Brahman—how then can you abandon her?
शिवशर्मोवाच- निशम्यैतद्वचस्तातस्ततो मम ऋतप्रियः । उवास सदने सर्वविषयेभ्यः पराङ्मुखः
Śivaśarman said: Hearing these words, my truth-loving father then dwelt in the house, turning away from all worldly matters.
त्रिषु कालेषुं गगायां प्रत्यहं स्नानमाचरन् । पुराणं स्याद्गृहे यत्र तत्र याति स नित्यशः
At the three times of day, he bathed daily in the Gaṅgā; wherever the Purāṇa was in the house, he would always go there.
एकदाकर्णयन्धीरो यमुनातीर्थगौरवम् । तत्र शुश्राव माहात्म्यमस्यतीर्थस्य पुत्र सः
Once, hearing of the greatness of the Yamunā's sacred place, that steadfast one heard the glory of that holy site, O son.
अविमुक्त हरिद्वार प्रयागेभ्यश्च पुष्करात् । अयोध्याद्वारिका कांची मथुराभ्यस्तथान्यतः
From Avimukta, Haridvāra, Prayāga, Puṣkara, Ayodhyā, Dvārakā, Kāñcī, Mathurā, and elsewhere—
सर्वतीर्थमयस्यास्य पुण्यं शतगुणाधिकम् । कथितं तेन विदुषा सुतेनाकर्ण्यमत्पिता
The merit of this place, which contains the essence of all sacred waters, is said by that learned son—having heard it, my father— to be a hundred times greater.
त्यक्त्वा गृहमगादत्र तीर्थे सर्वैरलक्षितः । आवामिव महाभागो गोविंदपदसेवकः
Leaving his home, unnoticed by all, he came here to this holy place— that great soul, a servant at the feet of Govinda, just like us.
अत्रागत्य महाभागो मत्पिता मोक्षवांछया । निगमोद्बोधके तीर्थे त्रिकालं स्नानमाचरन्
Arriving here, my noble father, desiring liberation, performed the ritual bath at the Tirtha that awakens the Vedas, three times a day.
उवास कतिचिन्मासानत्र तीर्थोत्तमे हि सः
He stayed here for several months at this most excellent of holy places.
कुर्वन्निजक्रियां धीमान्निस्पृहोप्यजवेश्मनि । एकदा सहसा तस्य ज्वरोऽभूदतिदारुणः
Wise and free from desire, performing his own duties in a simple dwelling, one day he was suddenly struck by a most terrible fever.
महत्या पीडया तस्य मुमोह गतचेतनः । मुहूर्तं स पिता मुह्यं तदवस्थो व्यतिष्ठित
Afflicted by great pain, he lost consciousness; for a moment, my father remained in that state, senseless.
पश्चात्समागतप्राणो विचिंत्य यदिदं तदा । अहो मे कष्टमापन्नं दूरे पुत्रः स धार्मिकः
Later, when his life returned, he reflected on what had happened: 'Alas, I have fallen into distress, and my righteous son is far away.'
यो मां ज्वरवितप्तांगमाश्वासयति बुद्धिमान् । अगम्यागमनं पापं कृतं यन्मे सुदारुणम्
'He, wise, would comfort me as my body burns with fever; but I have committed the grave sin of going where I should not.'
प्रायश्चित्तं न तस्यापि कृतं कामे गतिर्भवेत् । आगमिष्यति पुत्रो मे तस्मै दास्यामि वस्विति
'I have not performed atonement for that; perhaps there will be no good destination for me. My son will come, and to him I will give my wealth.'
यन्मया गोपितं गेहे न दृष्टं च तदप्यहम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- इति चिंतयतस्तस्य पान्थो वर्षेण पीडितः
'What I have kept hidden at home, what I have not seen— that, too, I will give.' Shivaśarma said: While he was thinking thus, a traveler, afflicted by rain,
शीतार्तः कंपितवपुरुटजं प्राविशत्तदा । स तं संविष्टमालोक्य भूयो गत्वा तदंतिके
Cold and shivering, his body trembling from the rain, the traveler entered then; seeing him lying there, he again approached and drew near.
मुनिरेष इति ज्ञात्वा ववंदे शिरसाध्वगः । ऊचे च कस्मात्सुप्तोसि मुने संध्या समागता
Realizing he was a sage, the traveler bowed his head in reverence and said, 'O sage, why are you asleep? The twilight hour has arrived.'
रविरस्तं प्रयात्येष न सुप्तेः काल एष ते । इत्युक्तमात्रे वचसि पथिकेन पिता मम
'The sun is setting; this is not the time for sleep.' As soon as the traveler spoke these words, my father—
शरभो ज्वरतप्तांगस्तमाह कथमप्यहो । शरभ उवाच- श्रूयतां वचनं पांथ यद्वदामि पुरस्तव
Śarabha, his body burning with fever, somehow said to him: Śarabha said: 'Hear my words, traveler, which I speak before you.'
श्रुत्वा मद्भाग्ययातेन त्वया साधो विधीयताम् । वैश्योऽहं शरभो नाम्ना कान्यकुब्जे गृहं मम
'Having heard, by my good fortune, may you, O virtuous one, act accordingly. I am a merchant named Śarabha; my home is in Kānyakubja.'
अत्रागतो निषिद्धोपि जायामित्रसुतैरहम् । अस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा सूनुमुखेरितम्
'Though forbidden by my wife, enemies, and sons, I came here, having heard from my son of the greatness of this holy place.'
मासास्तु कतिचित्साधो व्यतीता मयि चागते । दिनत्रयमतिक्रांतं ज्वरितस्य ममाधुना
'Several months have passed, O virtuous one, since I arrived here; now, for three days, I have been suffering from fever.'
प्राणा मे विगता आसन्नद्यभूयः समागताः । कियानप्यायुषः शेषः साधो मे खलु तिष्ठति
'My life-breath left me and today has returned again; O virtuous one, truly, how much of my lifespan remains?'
शमनस्य गृहं दृष्ट्वा यदहं पुनरागतः । भाग्योदयेन केनापि ममात्र त्वं समागतः
Having seen the house of Śamana, I have returned again; by some stroke of fortune, you have come here to me.
नय मां मद्गृहं मित्र द्रव्यं बहु ददामि ते । दास्याम्यपि गृहं गत्वा कृपां कुरु कृपानिधे
Friend, take me to my house; I will give you much wealth. I will give it to you when we reach my home—show me compassion, O ocean of mercy.
इह भूभाग उत्खाय गृह्यतां मामकं धनम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य स दुर्बुद्धिर्ग्राम्यो विषयलंपटः
Dig up a piece of land here and take my wealth. Śivaśarma said—Hearing this, that wicked-minded, greedy villager,
उवाच धनलुब्धस्तं त्वदुक्तं साधयाम्यहम् । इत्युक्त्वा धनमुत्खाय तस्माद्भूभागतस्तदा
Spoke to him, greedy for wealth: 'I will do as you have said.' Saying this, he dug up the wealth from that piece of land at that time.
अग्रतः स्थापयामास शरभस्याह चाध्वगः । अध्वग उवाच- धनमेतद्विशांनाथ तव भूभागतो मया
He placed it in front of Śarabha, and the traveler said: 'This wealth, O lord of men, has been taken by me from your land.'
निष्कासितं प्रयच्छाशु शिबिकानयनाय मे । यामारोप्य ज्वरार्तं त्वां नयामि तव केतनम्
'Give it quickly, so that I may bring a palanquin for you. Placing you, who are afflicted with fever, upon it, I will take you to your home.'