यमुना मोक्षदा प्रोक्ता मथुरासंगता यदि । मथुरायां च कालिंदी पुण्याधिकविवर्द्धिनी
The Yamuna is said to grant liberation, especially when joined with Mathura; in Mathura, the Kalindi increases in merit.
अन्यत्र यमुना पुण्या महापातकहारिणी । विष्णुभक्तिप्रदा देवी मथुरा संगता भवेत्
Elsewhere, the Yamuna is holy and removes great sins; when united with Mathura, the goddess bestows devotion to Vishnu.
भक्तिभावेन संयुक्ता कालिंद्यां यदि मज्जयेत् । कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि वसते सन्निधौ हरेः
If one, filled with devotion, immerses in the Kalindi, he dwells in the presence of Hari for thousands of millions of aeons.
मुक्तिं प्रयांति मनुजाः नूनं सांख्येन वर्जिताः । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति तृप्ताः कल्पशतैर्दिवि
Men certainly attain liberation, even without Sankhya; their ancestors are satisfied and remain content in heaven for hundreds of aeons.
ये पिबंति नरा राजन्यमुनासलिलं शुभम् । पंचगव्यसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम्
What need is there, O king, for thousands of offerings of the five products of the cow, for those men who drink the auspicious water of the Yamuna?
कोटितीर्थसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम् । तत्र दानं च होमश्च सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्
What use is there for thousands of crores of sacred bathing places? There, all gifts and sacrifices yield a crore-fold result.
नारद उवाच-। अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्निषधे नगरे वरे
Narada said: Here I will relate to you an ancient history; in the past, in the Krita age, O king, in the excellent city of Nishadha—
आसीद्वैश्यः कुबेराभो नामतो हेमकुंडलः । कुलीनः सत्क्रियो देवद्विजपावकपूजकः
There was a merchant, resembling Kubera, named Hemakundala; noble by birth, righteous in conduct, and a worshipper of gods, brahmins, and fire.
कृषिवाणिज्यकर्त्तासौ विविधक्रयविक्रयी । गोघोटकमहिष्यादि पशुपोषणतत्परः
He was engaged in agriculture and trade, buying and selling various goods; he was devoted to the care of cows, horses, buffaloes, and other animals.
पयो दधीनि तक्राणि गोमयानि तृणानि च । काष्ठानि फलमूलानि लवणाद्रा र्!दिपिप्पली
He dealt in milk, curds, buttermilk, cow dung, and grass; also in wood, fruits, roots, salt, wet ginger, and long pepper.
धान्यानि शाकतैलानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । धातूनिक्षुविकारांश्च विक्रीणीते स सर्वदा
He always sold grains, vegetables, oils, various kinds of cloth, and products made from metals and sugarcane.
इत्थं नानाविधैर्वैश्य उपायैरपरैस्तथा । उपार्जयामास सदा अष्टौ हाटककोटयः
Thus, by various means and other methods, the merchant continually amassed eight crores of gold.
एवं महाधनः सोथ हाकर्णपलितोभवत् । पश्चाद्विचार्य संसारक्षणिकत्वं स्वचेतसि
In this way, he became extremely wealthy, but later, seeing his hair turn gray, he reflected in his mind on the fleeting nature of worldly life.
तद्धनस्य षडंशेन धर्मकार्यं चकार सः । विष्णोरायतनं चक्रे गृहं चक्रे शिवस्य च
With one-sixth of that wealth, he performed acts of righteousness; he built a temple for Vishnu and a house for Shiva.
तडागं खानयामास विपुलं सागरोपमम् । वाप्यश्च पुष्करिण्यश्च बहुधा तेन कारिताः
He excavated a large reservoir, vast as the ocean, and constructed many ponds and lakes.
वटाश्वत्थाम्रकंकोल जंबू निंबादि काननम् । स्वसत्वेन तदा चक्रे तथा पुष्पवनं शुभम्
He established a grove with banyan, fig, mango, kohl, jambu, neem, and other trees, and likewise created a beautiful flower garden.
उदयास्तमनं यावदन्नपानं चकार सः । पुराद्बहिश्चतुर्दिक्षु प्रपां चक्रेऽतिशोभनाम्
From sunrise to sunset, he provided food and drink; outside the city, in all four directions, he built splendid rest-houses.
पुराणेषु प्रसिद्धानि यानि दानानि भूपते । ददौ तानि सधर्म्मात्मा नित्यं दानपरस्तदा
He gave those gifts renowned in the ancient scriptures, always devoted to righteousness and constantly intent on giving.
यावज्जीवकृते पापे प्रायाश्चित्तमथाकरोत् । देवपूजापरो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकः
For the sins committed during his lifetime, he performed atonement; he was always devoted to worshipping the gods and to honoring guests.
तस्येत्थं वर्त्तमानस्य संजातौ द्वौ सुतौ नृप । तौ सुप्रसिद्ध नामानौ श्रीकुंडल विकुंडलौ
While he lived thus, O king, two sons were born to him, both well-known by name: Śrīkuṇḍala and Vikuṇḍala.
तयोर्मूर्ध्नि गृहं त्यक्त्वा जगाम तपसे वनम् । तत्राराध्य परं देवं गोविंदं वरदं प्रभुम्
After placing his house on their heads, he went to the forest for ascetic practice; there he worshipped the supreme god Govinda, the bestower of boons and lord.
तपःक्लिष्ट शरीरोऽसौ वासुदेवमनाः सदा । प्राप्तः स वैष्णवं लोकं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति
His body worn by austerity, his mind always fixed on Vāsudeva, he attained the Vaishnava world, where, having arrived, one does not grieve.
अथ तस्य सुतौ राजन्महामान समन्वितौ । तरुणौ रूपसंपन्नौ धनगर्वेण गर्वितौ
Then, O king, his two sons, endowed with great pride, young and handsome, became arrogant due to their wealth.
दुःशीलौ व्यसनासक्तौ धर्मकर्माद्यदर्शकौ । न वाक्यं चागतौ मातुर्वृद्धानां वचनं तथा
Of bad character, addicted to vices, neglectful of righteous deeds, they did not heed the words of their mother or elders.
कुमार्गगौ दुरात्मानौ पितृमित्रनिषेधकौ । अधर्मनिरतौ दुष्टौ परदाराभिगामिनौ
Going on the wrong path, wicked in nature, opposing their father's friends, devoted to unrighteousness, evil, and pursuing other men's wives.
गीतवादित्रनिरतौ वीणावेणुविनोदिनौ । वारस्त्रीशतसंयुक्तौ गायंतौ चेरतुस्तदा
Absorbed in singing and playing instruments, delighting in the lute and flute, accompanied by hundreds of courtesans, they wandered about singing.
चाटुकारजनैर्युक्तौ बिंबोष्ठीषु विशारदौ । सुवेषौ चारुवसनौ चारुचंदनरूषितौ
Surrounded by flatterers, skilled with women with full lips, well-dressed, adorned with beautiful garments, and smeared with fragrant sandalwood.
तथा सुगंधिमालाढ्यौ कस्तूरीलक्ष्मलक्षितौ । नानालंकारशोभाढ्यौ मौक्तिकाहारहारिणौ
Also adorned with fragrant garlands, marked with musk spots, resplendent with various ornaments, and wearing pearl necklaces.
गजवाजिरथौघेन क्रीडंतौ तावितस्तदा । मधुपानसमायुक्तौ परस्त्रीरतिमोहितौ
At that time, the two played with crowds of elephants, horses, and chariots, indulging in drinking wine and captivated by passion for other men's wives.
नाशयंतौ पितृद्रव्यं सहस्रं ददतुः शतम् । तस्थतुः स्वगृहे रम्ये नित्यं भोगपरायणौ
Destroying their father's wealth, they gave away a hundred when they had a thousand, and remained always devoted to enjoyment in their own beautiful house.