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.
शार्दूलेन हतो ज्येष्ठः कनिष्ठः सर्पदंशितः । एकस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्पापिष्ठौ निधनं गतौ
The elder was killed by a tiger, the younger bitten by a snake; on the same day, O King, the two most sinful met their end.
यमदूतैस्ततोबद्ध्वा पापैर्नीतौ यमालयम् । गत्वाभिजगदुःसर्वे ते दूताः पापिनावुभौ
Then, bound by the messengers of Yama for their sins, they were taken to the abode of Yama; upon arriving, all those messengers reported about both sinners.
धर्मराज नरावेतावानीतौ तव शासनात् । आज्ञां देहि स्वभृत्येषु प्रसीद करवाम किम्
"O Lord of Justice, these two men have been brought here by your command; give your order to your servants—be gracious, what should we do?"
आलोच्य चित्रगुप्तेन तदा दूताञ्जगौ यमः । एकस्तु नीयतां वीर निरयं तीव्रवेदनम्
Then, after consulting with Citragupta, Yama spoke to the messengers: "Let one be taken to a hell of intense suffering, O heroes."
अपरः स्थाप्यतां स्वर्गेयत्र भोगा ह्यनुत्तमाः । कृतांताज्ञां ततः श्रुत्वा दूतैश्च क्षिप्रकारिभिः
"Let the other be placed in heaven, where there are supreme enjoyments." Hearing the command of Death, the swift messengers acted at once.
निक्षिप्तो रौरवे घोरे यो ज्येष्ठो हि नराधिप । तेषां दूतवरः कश्चिदुवाच मधुरं वचः
The elder was cast into the dreadful Raurava hell, O king of men; then, one of the chief messengers spoke sweet words.
विकुंडल मया सार्द्धमेहि स्वर्गं ददामि ते । भुंक्ष्व भोगान्सुदिव्यांस्त्वमर्जितान्स्वेन कर्मणा
O Vikuṇḍala, come with me; I will grant you heaven. Enjoy the most divine pleasures, earned by your own actions.
नारदउवाच- ततो हृष्टमनाः सोऽथ दूतं पप्रच्छ तं पथि । संदेहं हृदि कृत्वा तु विस्मयं परमं गतः । विचारयन्हृदि स्वर्गः कस्य हेतोः फलं मम
Nārada said: Then, with a joyful heart, he questioned the messenger on the path, holding doubt in his heart and filled with great wonder, pondering within, 'For what reason is heaven the fruit for me?
विकुंडल उवाच- हे दूतवर पृच्छामि संशयं त्वामहं परम् । आवां जातौ कुले तुल्ये तुल्यं कर्म तथा कृतम्
Vikuṇḍala said: O best of messengers, I ask you this profound question. We were born in the same family, performed the same actions alike.
दुर्मृत्युरपि तुल्योभूत्तुल्यो दृष्टो यमस्तथा । कथं स नरके क्षिप्तस्तुल्यकर्म्मा ममाग्रजः
Even Durmṛtyu was equal, and Yama was seen as equal too. How is it that my elder brother, with equal deeds, has been cast into hell?