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.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं सफलं तथा । अद्य विष्णुः प्रसन्नो मे सनाथोऽद्यास्मि पावनः
"Today my birth is fruitful, my life is likewise fulfilled; today Viṣṇu is pleased with me, today I am protected and purified."
धन्योऽस्म्यद्य गृहं धन्यं धन्या अद्य कुटुंबिनः । ममाद्य पितरो धन्या धन्या गावः श्रुतं धनम्
"Blessed am I today, blessed is my house, blessed are my family members; today my ancestors are blessed, blessed are my cows, learning, and wealth."
यद्दृष्टौ भवतां पादौ तापत्रयहरौ मया । भवतां दर्शनं यस्माद्धन्यस्यैव हरेरिव
"Because I have seen your feet, which remove the threefold suffering; because seeing you is as fortunate as seeing Hari himself."
एवं संपूज्य कृत्वा तु पादप्रक्षालनं तथा । धृतं मूर्ध्नि विशांश्रेष्ठ श्रद्धया परया तदा
Thus, after honoring them and washing their feet, you placed that water on your head with utmost faith, O best of men.
यत्र पादोदकं वैश्य श्रद्धया शिरसा धृतम् । गंधपुष्पाक्षतैर्धूपैर्दीपैर्भावपुरःसरम्
Where the Vaiśya, with faith, holds water for washing feet upon his head, accompanied by fragrant flowers, rice grains, incense, lamps, and sincere devotion—
संपूज्य सुंदरान्नेन भोजिता यतयस्तथा । तृप्ताः परमहंसास्ते विश्रांता मंदिरे निशि
Having honored the ascetics with beautiful food, and fed them likewise, the supreme swans, satisfied, rest in the temple at night.
ध्यायंतश्च परं ब्रह्म यज्ज्योतिर्ज्योतिषां मतम् । तेषामातिथ्यजं पुण्यं जातं यत्ते विशांवर
Meditating on the supreme Brahman, that light regarded as the light of lights, the merit arising from their hospitality has come to you, O best of men.
न तद्वक्त्रसहस्रेण वक्तुं शक्नोम्यहं खलु । भूतानां प्राणिनः श्रेष्ठाः प्राणिनां मतिजीविनः
I am truly unable to speak of it, even with a thousand mouths; among beings, those who live by wisdom are the highest of the living.
मतिमत्सु सुराः श्रेष्ठा नरेषु ब्रह्मजातयः । ब्राह्मणेषु च विद्वांसो विद्वत्सु कृतबुद्धयः
Among the wise, the gods are supreme; among men, those born of Brahma; among Brahmins, the learned; among the learned, those of accomplished intellect.
कृतबुद्धिषु कर्तारः कर्तृषु ब्रह्मवेदिनः । अतएव सुपूज्यास्ते तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठा जगत्त्रये
Among those of accomplished intellect, the creators; among creators, the knowers of Brahman; therefore, they are most worthy of worship and thus the highest in the three worlds.