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.
इत्थं तु तद्धनं ताभ्यां विनियुक्तमसद्व्ययैः । वारस्त्री विट शैलूष मल्ल चारण बंदिषु
Thus, that wealth was spent by them on improper expenses: on courtesans, gamblers, 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 Viṣṇu, the sustainer of beings, destroyer of all sins; and so, the wealth of both quickly came to an end.
ततस्तौ दुःखमापन्नौ कार्पण्यं परमं गतौ । शोचमानौ तु मुह्यंतौ क्षुत्पीडादुःखपीडितौ
Then, the two fell into misery, reaching utter destitution; grieving and bewildered, afflicted by hunger and suffering.
तयोस्तु तिष्ठतोर्गेहे नास्ति यद्भुज्यते तदा । स्वजनैर्बांधवैस्सर्वैः सेवकैरुपजीविभिः
While they remained in their house, there was nothing to eat, and all their relatives, friends, servants, and dependents abandoned them.
द्रव्याभावे परित्यक्तौ चिंत्यमानौ ततः पुरे । पश्चाच्चौर्य्यं समारब्धं ताभ्यां च नगरे नृप
Lacking wealth, they were forsaken and became the subject of gossip in the city; afterwards, the two began to steal in the town, O King.
राजतो लोकतो भीतौ स्वपुरान्निःसृतौ तदा । चक्रतुर्वनवासं तौ सर्वेषामुपपीडितौ
Fearing the king and the people, they left their own city and dwelt in the forest, oppressed by all.
जघ्नतुः सततं मूढौ शितैर्बाणैर्विषार्पितैः । नानापक्षिवराहांश्च हरिणान्रोहितांस्तथा
The two, always deluded, killed with sharp, poisoned arrows many kinds of birds, boars, deer, and red antelopes.
शशकाञ्छल्लकान्गोधान्श्वापदांश्चेतरान्बहून् । महाबलौ भिल्लसंगावाखेटकभुजौ सदा
They slew hares, porcupines, monitor lizards, wild beasts, and many others, being mighty, always among bands of hunters, wielding clubs.
एवं मांसमयाहारौ पापाहारौ परंतप । कदाचिद्भूधरं प्राप्तो ह्येकोऽन्यश्च वनं गतः
Thus, consuming sinful food of meat, O scorcher of foes, one of them once reached a mountain, while the other went into the forest.