बालत्वे यौवने वापि वार्द्धके वा विशांवर । उपोष्यैकादशीं नूनं नैति पापोऽतिदुर्गतिम्
Whether in childhood, youth, or old age, O lord of men, one who observes the Ekādaśī fast surely does not attain a most difficult fate.
उपोष्येह त्रिरात्राणि कृत्वा वा तीर्थमज्जनम् । दत्वा हेमतिलान्गाश्च स्वर्गं यांतीह मानवाः
By observing a three-night fast here, or by bathing at a sacred place, and by giving gold and sesame, people attain heaven in this world.
तीर्थे स्नांति न ये वैश्य न दत्तं कांचनं च यैः । नैव तप्तं तपः किंचित्ते स्युः सर्वत्र दुःखिताः
Those who do not bathe at the sacred place, who have not given gold, and who have not performed any austerity, will be afflicted with suffering everywhere.
संक्षिप्य कथितं धर्म्मं नरकस्य निरूपणम् । अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु वाङ्मनः काय कर्मभिः
In summary, the dharma and the description of hell have been spoken: non-injury to all beings by speech, mind, and bodily actions.
इंद्रियाणां निरोधश्च दानं च हरिसेवनम् । वर्णाश्रमक्रियाणां च पालनं विधितः सदा
Restraint of the senses, giving, service to Hari, and always following the prescribed duties of varṇa and āśrama.
स्वर्गार्थी सर्वदा वैश्य तपोदानं न कीर्तयेत् । यथाशक्ति तथा दद्यादात्मनो हितकाम्यया
One seeking heaven should not boast of their austerity or charity; but should give according to their ability, desiring their own welfare.
उपानद्वस्त्रमन्नानि पत्रं मूलं फलं जलम् । अवंध्यं दिवसं कार्य्यं दरिद्रेणापि वैश्यक
Footwear, clothing, food, leaves, roots, fruits, and water—each day should be made fruitful, even by the poor Vaiśya.
इहलोके परे चैव न दत्तं नोपतिष्ठते । दातारो नैव पश्यंति तां तां वै यमयातनाम्
In this world and the next, that which is not given does not accompany; donors do not see the various torments of Yama.
दीर्घायुषो धनाढ्याश्च भवंतीह पुनःपुनः । किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन यांत्यधर्मेण दुर्गतिम्
Those who are long-lived and wealthy are born again and again here; what need is there for many words? By unrighteousness, they go to a bad fate.
आरोहंति दिवं धर्म्मे नराः सर्वत्र सर्वदा
By righteousness, people ascend to heaven everywhere and always.
तेन बालत्वमारभ्य कर्तव्यो धर्मसंग्रहः । इति ते कथितं सर्वं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि
Therefore, from childhood onward, one should practice the collection of dharma; thus, everything has been told to you—what else do you wish to hear?
विकुंडल उवाच- श्रुत्वा त्वद्वचनं सौम्य प्रसन्नं चित्तमेव मे । गंगोदं पापहं सद्यः पापहारि सतां वचः
Vikuṇḍala said: Having heard your words, gentle one, my mind has become clear; the words of the virtuous, like the Ganges, instantly remove sin.
उपकर्तुं प्रियं वक्तुं गुणो नैसर्गिकः सताम् । शीतांशुः क्रियते केन शीतलोऽमृतमंडलः
The natural virtue of the good is to help and to speak kindly; by whom is the moon made cool, whose nectar-like orb is soothing?
देवदूत ततो ब्रूहि कारुण्यान्मम पृच्छतः । नरकान्निष्कृतिः सद्यो भ्रातुर्मे जायते कथम्
O divine messenger, therefore speak out of compassion to me who asks: how can my brother be instantly freed from hell?
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदूतो जगाद ह । ध्यानं दृष्ट्वा क्षणं ध्यात्वा तन्मैत्री रज्जुबन्धनः
Hearing his words, the divine messenger spoke: after seeing and meditating for a moment, he tied the bond of friendship.
यत्ते वैश्याष्टमे पुण्यं त्वया जन्मनि संचितम् । तद्भ्रात्रे दीयतां सर्वं स्वर्गं तस्य यदीच्छसि
The merit you have accumulated in your eighth birth as a Vaiśya—let it all be given to your brother, if you wish him to attain heaven.
विकुंडल उवाच- किं तत्पुण्यं कथं जातं किं जन्म च पुरातनम् । तत्सर्वं कथ्यतां दूत ततो दास्यामि सत्वरम्
Vikuṇḍala said: What is that merit, how did it arise, and what was the former birth? Tell me all of this, messenger, and then I will promptly give (the reward).
देवदूत उवाच- शृणु वैश्य प्रवक्ष्यामि तत्पुण्यं च सहेतुकम् । पुरा मधुवने पुण्ये ऋषिरासीच्च शाकुनिः
The divine messenger said: Listen, merchant, I will tell you that merit and its cause. Long ago, in the sacred Madhu forest, there was a sage named Śākuni.
तपोऽध्ययन संपन्नस्तेजसां ब्रह्मणा समः । जज्ञिरे तस्य रेवत्यां नव पुत्रा ग्रहा इव
He was accomplished in austerity and study, equal to Brahmā in brilliance. From his wife Revati, nine sons were born to him, like planets.
ध्रुवः शीलो बुधस्तारो ज्योतिष्मानुत पंचमः । अग्निहोत्ररता ह्येते गृहधर्मेषु रेमिरे
Dhruva, Śīla, Budha, Tāra, and Jyotiṣmān as the fifth—these were devoted to the Agnihotra and delighted in household duties.
निर्मोहो जितकामश्च ध्यानकोशो गुणाधिकः । एते गृहविरक्ताश्च चत्वारो द्विजसूनवः
Nirmoha, Jitakāma, Dhyānakośa, and Guṇādhika—these four sons of the twice-born were detached from household life.
चतुर्थाश्रममापन्नाः सर्वकामविनिस्पृहाः । ग्रामैकवासिनः सर्वे निःसंगा निष्परिग्रहाः
Having entered the fourth stage of life, free from all desires, all of them lived in a single village, without attachments and without possessions.
निराशा निष्प्रयत्नाश्च सम लोष्टाश्मकांचनाः । येनकेनचिदाच्छन्ना येनकेनचिदाशिताः
Without expectation, without effort, regarding clods, stones, and gold as the same, covered by whatever, eating whatever they obtained.
सायंग्रहास्तथा नित्यं विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः । जितनिद्रा जिताहारा वातशीतसहिष्णवः
Constantly observing the evening rites, devoted always to meditation on Viṣṇu, victorious over sleep and food, enduring wind and cold.
पश्यंतो विष्णुरूपेण जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् । चरंति लीलया पृथ्वद्यंतेऽन्योन्यं मौनमास्थिताः
Seeing the entire world, moving and unmoving, as the form of Viṣṇu, they wandered playfully on the earth, maintaining silence with one another.
न कुर्वंति क्रियां कांचिदर्थमात्रं हि योगिनः । दृष्टज्ञाना असंदेहाश्चिद्विकार विशारदाः
These yogis performed no action for the sake of gain; possessing direct knowledge, free from doubt, skilled in the transformations of consciousness.
एवं ते तव विप्रस्य पूर्वमष्टमजन्मनि । तिष्ठतो मध्यदेशेषु पुत्रदारकुटुंबिनः
Thus, in your eighth previous birth as a brāhmaṇa, while living in the central lands with sons, wife, and family—
गेहं तावकमाजग्मुर्मध्याह्ने क्षुत्पिपासिताः । वैश्वदेवांतरे काले त्वया दृष्टा गृहांगणे
Those (ascetics) came to your house at midday, hungry and thirsty, during the interval of the Vaiśvadeva rite, and you saw them in your courtyard.
सगद्गदं साश्रुनेत्रं सहर्षं च ससंभ्रमम् । दंडवत्प्रणिपातेन बहुमानपुरःसरम्
With a choked voice, tearful eyes, joy and agitation, you greeted them with deep respect, bowing down in prostration.
प्रणम्य चरणौ मूर्ध्ना कृत्वा पाणियुगाञ्जलिम् । तदाभिनन्दिताः सर्वे तया सूनृतया गिरा
Having bowed and touched their feet with your head, joining your hands in reverence, you welcomed them with kind words.