सा मृता तत्क्षणात्साध्वी भक्षयित्वा महाविषम् । तां दृष्ट्वा तमसायुक्ते निशीथेऽहं पलायितः
That virtuous woman died instantly after consuming deadly poison; seeing her in the darkness at midnight, I fled.
पलायमानस्तरसा धृतोऽहं राजकिंकरैः । चौरोऽयमिति खङ्गेन चिच्छिदुस्ते शिरो मम
As I was fleeing in haste, I was seized by the king’s servants; thinking me a thief, they struck off my head with a sword.
मृतं मां यातनादेहमावेश्य यमकिंकराः । रौरवे निरयघोरे चिक्षिपुर्यमशासनात्
When I died, the servants of Yama placed me in a body of torment; by Yama’s command, they cast me into the dreadful hell called Raurava.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि तत्राऽहं तीव्रयातनाम् । भुक्त्वा तेनैव पापेन राक्षसत्वमुपागतः
There, for six thousand years, I endured intense suffering; because of that very sin, I was born as a rakshasa.
शतवर्षाण्यतीतानि राक्षसत्वे विशांपते । वदामि तमुपायं मे येनास्मान्मुक्तिमाप्नुयाम्
A hundred years have now passed in this rakshasa state, O lord of men; I will tell you the means by which I might obtain liberation from this.
पुण्यं तदर्पिते साधो वदामि शृणु सादरम् । येन तीर्थवरस्येदं जलं मम मुखे गतम्
O virtuous one, I will tell you with respect the meritorious act by which the water of this supreme pilgrimage has entered my mouth.
तत्रैव जन्मनि मया कृत्वा हरिदिने व्रतम् । संसर्गान्नेच्छया वैश्य रात्रौ जागरणं कृतम्
In that very birth, on a day sacred to Hari, I performed a vow; through association, though unwillingly, I kept vigil at night with a merchant.
द्वादश्यामथ संस्नात्वा भोक्तुंमपि समुद्यते । मद्गृहे कश्चिदायातो वैष्णवो विष्णुरूपधृक्
Then, on the twelfth day, after bathing, I was preparing to eat; at my house, a certain Vaishnava arrived, bearing the form of Vishnu.
कुपितोऽहं तमालोक्य दुर्वचो वदमग्रतः । क्व गच्छसि दुराचार दांभिकस्त्रीजनांतरे
Angered upon seeing him, I spoke harsh words before him: 'Where are you going, you wicked, hypocritical man, among the women?'
इत्युक्तं स मया धीरस्तुल्यो मानापमानयोः । तूष्णीमेव निकेतान्मे निर्गत्य चलितो यदा
Thus addressed by me, that steadfast one, equal in honor and dishonor, silently left my house and departed.
तदाभिमुखमायांती पत्नी मम पतिव्रता । पतित्वा पादयोस्तस्य तं साधुं गृहमानयत्
Then my devoted wife, approaching him, fell at his feet and brought that holy man into our home.
मयापमानितस्यापि न क्रोधोऽभून्महात्मनः । तयादृतस्याप्यानंदो यतः सोरि सुहृत्समः
Though I had insulted him, that great soul felt no anger; because of her reverence, he was as joyful as if among friends.
तमर्चयित्वा विधिवद्विष्टरे चोपवेश्य सा । भोज्यं भोजय जीवेश जयताद्भुवनत्रयम्
She worshipped him properly, seated him on a seat, and said: 'O lord of life, who conquers the three worlds, partake of this food.'
इत्युक्तोऽहं तया साध्व्या न्यगदं तं महाशयम् । म्लानवक्त्रः प्रसन्नास्यमुत्तिष्ठ शमय क्षुधाम्
Thus addressed by that virtuous woman, I humbly spoke to that great soul, my face downcast, while hers was bright: 'Arise, relieve your hunger.'
इत्युक्त्वा तस्य चरणौ नोदितस्तनुमध्यमा । प्राक्षालयं पुनस्तं तु निवेश्यासनमुत्तमम्
Having said this, that slender-waisted woman herself washed his feet, seated him again on the best seat.
अददां पात्रमन्नेन पूर्णं तस्मै विवेकिने । जलं च तत्करे साध्व्या प्रेरितोऽहं तया मुहुः
I gave him a vessel filled with food, to that wise one; and, urged repeatedly by her, I offered him water.
उपभुज्य स धर्मात्मा स्वैरं विगतविक्रियः । हरेराम हरेकृष्ण जपन्निति जगाम ह
Having eaten, that righteous soul, undisturbed and at ease, departed, chanting 'Hare Rama, Hare Krishna.'
कृतं पुण्यमिदं वैश्य नोदितेन मया स्त्रिया । पूर्वजन्मनि येनेदं प्रापितं तीर्थवारि मे
This merit was accomplished by me, O merchant, not by my own doing but by that woman; by which, in this birth, I have obtained the water of the holy place.
शिवशर्मोवाच- विष्णुशर्मन्निदं वाक्यमुक्त्वा तिष्ठति राक्षसे । पथिकः स च ते वाहाः प्राहुः खे दिव्यदेहिनः
Śivaśarman said: Viṣṇuśarman, after speaking these words, stood before the demon; and those travelers, your former bearers, spoke to you from the sky, now in divine bodies.
पथिकवाहा ऊचुः भो भो विशांपते साधो प्राप्ता अप्यपमृत्युताम् । त्वत्प्रसादादिदं वारि पीत्वा देवत्वमागताः
The travelers said: O lord of men, O noble one, though we had met with untimely death, by your grace, after drinking this water, we have attained divinity.
त्वत्संगे धनलोभेन विट्पते चलिता यतः । विगता न धनाकांक्षा मरणावसरेप्यतः
Because of greed for wealth, O lord of merchants, we strayed in your company; but now, even at the moment of death, all desire for wealth has left us.
तीर्थराजजलस्यास्य तिष्ठतो जठरे हि नः । मरणे ह्यनुभावात्तु मैत्री प्राप्ता धनेशितुः
As the water of this king of sacred fords remained in our bellies, at death, by its power, we have gained friendship with the lord of wealth.
नमामस्त्वां वयं यामो धनेश नगरीं प्रभो । विमानैस्तद्गणानीतैर्नानामणिविभूषितैः
We bow to you and now go, O lord of wealth, to your city, O master, in aerial chariots brought by his attendants, adorned with various jewels.
प्रयाहि मा विलंबस्व तीर्थे निगमबोधके । त्वमनेनसमं साधो तारयैनमपि द्रुतम्
Proceed, do not delay at the sacred ford that reveals the Veda; you, O noble one, cross over together with him, and quickly bring him across as well.
शिवशर्मोवाच- इत्युक्त्वा ते गतास्तात दिश्युदीच्यां समंततः । विमानकिंकिणीनादैर्नादयंतोऽथ रोदसी
Śivaśarman said: Having spoken thus, they departed, O dear one, in the northern direction, resounding through the heavens with the jingling of their aerial chariots.
अथ वैश्यो मम पिता तमाह रजनीचरम् । शरभ उवाच- उत्तिष्ठ नय मामाशु तीर्थे निगमबोधके
Then my father, the merchant, spoke to the night-wandering demon: Śarabha said: Arise, quickly take me to the sacred ford that reveals the Veda.
ज्वरार्त्तेन मया पद्भ्यां तत्र गंतुं न शक्यते । यो मां नयति तत्तीर्थं त्वदन्यो नास्ति कश्चन
Afflicted by fever, I am unable to go there on foot; there is no one but you who can take me to that sacred ford.
शिवशर्मोवाच- तथेति तमथाश्वास्य वैश्यं स रजनीचरः । स्कंधमारोप्य वेगेन तत्तीर्थं पावनं ययौ
Śivaśarman said: 'So be it,' said the night-wanderer, comforting the merchant; lifting him onto his shoulder, he swiftly went to that holy ford.
ऊषतुस्तावुभौ तत्र विश्पतिः स च राक्षसः । कुर्वंतौ स्नानमात्रं तु सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमे
There both of them, the lord of men and the demon, stayed, performing only the ritual bath at that most excellent of all sacred fords.
अथाऽहं पितुराकर्ण्य महतीं गुरुवेदनाम् । तं प्रति प्रेरितो मात्रा चलितो निजसद्मतः
Then, hearing of my father's great and severe suffering, I was sent by my mother and left my own house.