पुनस्ता एव राक्षस्यो बभूवुर्मारवेध्वनि । क्षुधार्ताश्च तृषार्ताश्च दर्शनेन भयप्रदाः
Again, those very rākṣasīs appeared on the battlefield, tormented by hunger and thirst, causing fear by their mere sight.
एवं तेन तु पापेन वाङ्मनोविहितेन तु । ताभिर्जन्मद्वयं प्राप्तं राक्षसीयोनिमिश्रितम्
Thus, through that sin, committed by word and mind, they obtained two births, mingled with the womb of rākṣasīs.
पापेन नाशितं तासां स नृपं नगरद्वयम् । अतएव न कर्त्तव्यं परकांतनिषेवणम्
By that sin, both the king and the two cities were destroyed; therefore, one must not consort with another's beloved.
नारीभिः पापभीताभिर्वाङ्मनोभ्यामपि प्रभो । रोगी जडो दरिद्रो वा नेत्राभ्यां वर्जितोऽपि वा । न त्याज्यः स्वपतिः स्त्रीभिः इच्छंतीभिस्तु सद्गतिम्
O Lord, even women who fear sin must not abandon their own husband—whether he is diseased, dull-witted, poor, or deprived of sight—by word or mind, if they desire the highest good.
कथितमिदं मया मनोवचोभ्यां जनितमघं च यदन्यकांतभक्त्या । फलमपि च यदेव लब्धमाभिस्तदपि शिबे बहुविस्तरेण तुभ्यम्
I have explained this, and also the sin produced by word and mind, as well as the fruit obtained by devotion to another's beloved, all this to you, O Śibi, in great detail.
इंद्रप्रस्थगता न ये ममनघा या द्वारका दृश्यते तास्तस्या जलबिंदुदेहपतनात्पौरस्त्रियो रेभिरे । स्वर्गं चित्तवचोऽन्यकांत भजनाज्जातं विमुच्वोल्बणं क्रव्यादत्वमवाप्य देववनिताभावं सुराह्लाददम्
Those pure women who did not go to Indraprastha but are seen in Dvārakā—when a drop of water fell from her body, the city women cried out; by devotion in thought and word to another's beloved, they attained a dreadful state as flesh-eaters, then, released, became divine women, bringing joy to the gods.
इति श्रीपाद्मेमहापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तरखंडे कालिंदीमाहात्म्ये द्वारकावर्णंनंनाम षष्ठाधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, in the section of 55,000 verses, in the Uttarakhaṇḍa, in the greatness of Kāliṃdī, this is the two hundred and sixth chapter, named 'Description of Dvārakā.'
नारद उवाच- विमलस्तं द्विजं नीत्वा द्वारकायामिहागतः । पुनस्तौ सस्नतुं धीरौ श्रीपतेर्भक्तिकाम्यया । भूयः खे मेघगंभीरा वागासीदिति भूपते
Nārada said: Having brought that pure brāhmaṇa to Dvārakā, they came here; again, desiring devotion to the Lord, the wise ones bathed; then, O King, a voice deep as the clouds sounded in the sky.
आकाशवागुवाच- शृणुतं द्विजशार्दूलौ हरेस्तीर्थमिदं शुभम् । एतत्तीर्थ प्रसादाद्वां विष्णुभक्तिर्भविष्यति । यया जहाति लोकोऽयमविद्या मोहमुल्बणम्
The sky-voice said: Hear, O best of brāhmaṇas, this is the sacred tīrtha of Hari; by the grace of this tīrtha, you both will attain devotion to Viṣṇu, by which this world abandons ignorance and terrible delusion.
नारद उवाच- निशम्येतिद्विजश्रेष्ठौ तां वाचमशरीरिणीम् । प्रसादोऽयं हरेरासीदित्यूचाते परस्पराम्
Nārada said: Hearing that bodiless voice, the best of brāhmaṇas said to each other, 'This is the grace of Hari.'
स्नात्वा तौ विधिवत्तत्र लब्ध्वा भक्तिं हरेः पराम् । चेलतुः प्रणिपत्येदं भाषमाणौ मिथस्तदा
Having bathed there according to the proper rite, and having obtained supreme devotion to Hari, they moved about, bowing down, and spoke to each other at that time.
द्विजावूचतुः । यथावयोर्हि संयोगः पथिजातो विचारतः । यथा गृहकलत्रादि संयोगो भुवि जायते । सांप्रतं विरहोभावी यथा नौ मार्गवर्तिनौ
The two brāhmaṇas said: Just as our meeting occurred by chance on the road, so, on earth, the union of house, wife, and so on arises; now, separation is destined for us, as for travelers on a path.
तथादारसुतादीनां कालव्यास्यवर्तिनाम् । धन्यः स पुरुषो लोके यो दारसुतसंगमम्
So it is with wives, sons, and others, subject to the play of time; blessed is that man in the world who, knowing the fleeting nature of union with wife and son,
विज्ञाय क्षणिकं नित्यं संश्रयेत्श्रीपतिं भजेत् । नारद उवाच- स्मरणं करणीयं मे दासोऽहं त्वत्पदाश्रयः
Recognizing its transience, always seeks refuge in and worships the Lord; Nārada said: I must remember—I am your servant, sheltered at your feet.
संदेशः प्रेषणीयो मामित्युक्त्वा स्वगृहं गतौ । शृणु राजन्यथा तेन मित्रेण विमलस्य तु
Saying, 'A message must be sent by me,' they went to their own homes; listen, O King, to what happened next with Vimalā's friend.
मोक्षणं राक्षसीनां तु विहितं पथिगच्छता । व्रजन्स ब्राह्मणः प्राप्तस्तं देशं जलवर्जितम्
The liberation of the rākṣasīs was accomplished as he traveled the path; journeying, the brāhmaṇa reached that waterless region.
यत्र ताः पापविप्लुष्टा राक्षस्यः क्षुत्तृषाकुलाः । अथ ताः पथिगच्छंतं दूराद्दृष्ट्वा द्विजोत्तमम्
There, those demonesses, tormented by sin and overwhelmed by hunger and thirst, saw from afar the best of twice-born men walking along the path.
सजलामत्रहस्तं तं मिथस्त्विति बभाषिरे । राक्षस्य ऊचुः - आयाति पथिकः कश्चिज्जलपात्रं करे दधत्
Seeing him holding a water vessel in his hand, they spoke among themselves: The demonesses said— 'A traveler is approaching, carrying a water pot in his hand.'
अस्माकं क्षुत्तृषोः शांतिर्मनागपि भविष्यति । एनं संभक्षयिष्यामः पास्यामोऽस्य करे स्थितम्
'Perhaps our hunger and thirst will be somewhat appeased; we will devour him and drink what is in his hand.'
पात्रं जलं वयं तृष्णा क्षुधार्ताः शतवर्षतः । नारद उवाच- काचिदाहेत्यहं पूर्वमस्योष्णं कालखंडकम्
'We are parched with thirst and starving for a hundred years; the vessel, the water, and our thirst—' Narada said: 'Let one of us first eat the hot flesh from his body,'
भक्षयित्वा ततो रक्तं पीत्वा यास्यामि जीवितम् । अन्या प्राह कियद्द्रव्यं विद्यतेऽस्य गजानने
'Then, after drinking his blood, I will regain my life.' Another said, 'How much substance does this elephant-faced one possess?'
मम व्याघ्राननायास्तु पानायापि न दृश्यते । अन्या वै रथचक्राख्या श्रूयतां वचनं मम
'Even for my tiger-faced self, there does not appear to be enough to drink.' Another, called Rathacakra, said, 'Listen to my words.'
करिष्ये कुंडलमहं केनांत्रैरस्य मेखलाम् । अन्यावददहं दंतैरेकतः श्यामलीकृतैः
I will make earrings and a girdle from his intestines.' Another said, 'I will make dice for the gaming hall from his teeth, blackened together.'
रमे षोडशभिर्द्यूतशालायां तद्विशारदः । इत्युक्त्वा ताः मिथः सर्वास्तंद्विजं प्रति दुद्रुवुः
He is skilled in the game with sixteen dice in the gambling hall. Having spoken thus among themselves, they all rushed at the twice-born man.
विवृतास्या ललज्जिह्वाः प्रद्योतैकमहाभुजाः । आयांतीस्ताः समालोक्य ब्राह्मणो भयविह्वलः
With mouths wide open, tongues lolling, and arms shining like great pillars, as they approached, the brahmin, seeing them, was seized with fear.
आत्मानमभितश्चक्रे रक्षां वेदोदितां नृप । ता आगत्य स्थिता दूरं राक्षस्यो भीमविक्रमाः
O King, he protected himself on all sides with Vedic mantras as prescribed; those demonesses of terrible might came near and stood at a distance.
तेजसा तस्य मंत्रैश्च प्रत्यादिष्टा नराधिपः । ऊचुश्च को भवानत्र कुतः प्राप्तोऽसि तद्वद
Repelled by his brilliance and mantras, O king, they said: 'Who are you here? From where have you come? Tell us that.'
त्वद्दर्शनान्मनोऽस्माकं प्रसादमधिगच्छति । त्वत्पादस्पर्शनात्किं नो न विप्र भविता फलम् । अतो मूर्द्धसु नो देहि स्वकीयं पादपंकजम्
'By seeing you, our minds attain peace; what fruit, O brahmin, will not come from touching your feet? Therefore, place your lotus-like foot on our heads.'
नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तासां जगाद हरिदत्तजः । द्विज उवाच- कृत्वा पवित्रतीर्थानि ब्राह्मणोऽहं समागतः
Narada said: Hearing their words, Haridatta's son replied. The brahmin said: 'Having performed sacred baths at holy places, I, a brahmin, have come here.'
सांप्रतं पुष्करं यामि भवतीभिः किमिच्छते । यतस्तत्प्रार्थ्यतां दातुं शक्तो दास्यामि चेत्तदा
'Now I am going to Pushkara. What do you wish from me? Ask for whatever you desire; if I am able, I will give it.'