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.
तत्संगतिर्विशांश्रेष्ठ महापातकनाशिनी । विश्रांता गृहिणो गेहे संतुष्टा ब्रह्मवेदिनः
That association, O best of men, destroys great sins; householders, resting in their homes, are content when accompanied by knowers of Brahman.
आजन्मसंचितं पापं नाशयंतीक्षणेन वै । संचितं यद्गृहस्थस्य पापमामरणांतिकम्
The sin accumulated since birth is destroyed in an instant; whatever sin a householder has gathered up to the time of death—
विनिर्दहति तत्सर्वमेकरात्रोषितो यतिः । स्वभ्रात्रे देहि तत्पुण्यं नरकाद्येन मुच्यते
A monk who stays even one night burns it all away; give that merit to your brother, by which he is freed from hell.
इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा ददौ पुण्यं स सत्वरम् । हृष्टेन चेतसा भ्राता निरयात्सोऽपि निर्गतः
Having heard the messenger's words, he quickly gave the merit; with a joyful heart, the brother also departed from the hell.
देवैस्तु पुष्पवर्षेण पूजितौ च दिवंगतौ । ताभ्यां संपूजितः सम्यग्गतो दूतो यथागतः
Honored by the gods with a shower of flowers, and worshipped, they ascended to heaven; the messenger, having been properly honored by them, departed as he had come.
अखिलभुवनबोधं देवदूतस्यवाक्यं निगमवचनतुल्यं वैश्यपुत्रो निशम्य । स्वकृतसुकृतदानाद्भ्रातरं तारयित्वा सुरपतिवरलोकं तेन सार्द्धं जगाम
Hearing the words of the divine messenger, which were equal to the statements of scripture and revealed the knowledge of all worlds, the Vaiśya's son, having rescued his brother by giving his own good deeds, went together with him to the excellent realm of the lord of the gods.
इतिहासमिमं राजन्यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि । स गोसहस्रदानस्य विशोको लभते फलम्
Whoever among the royal class reads or hears this history also attains the fruit of giving a thousand cows, free from sorrow.
नारदउवाच- ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र सुगंधंलोकविश्रुतम् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
Nārada said: Then, O king, one should go to Sugandha, renowned in the world; purified from all sin, one is honored in the realm of Brahma.
रुद्रावर्तं ततो गच्छेत्तीर्थसेवी नराधिप । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्स्वर्गलोके महीयते
Then, O ruler of men, the devotee of holy places should go to Rudrāvarta; there, having bathed, a man is honored in the heavenly world.
गंगायाश्च नरश्रेष्ठ सरस्वत्याश्च संगमे । स्नातोऽश्वमेधमाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति
O best of men, at the confluence of the Ganges and Sarasvatī, one who bathes attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and goes to the heavenly world.