अयोध्यायां यदि मुने किंचिदस्ति पवित्रकम् । चरितं मम तद्ब्रूहि पिपासोस्त्वद्वचोऽमृतम्
If, O sage, there is anything pure in Ayodhya, tell me that story of mine, for I am thirsty for your immortal words.
नारद उवाच- अस्त्यत्र चरितं पुण्यं महापातकनाशनम् । नापितस्याद्ययुक्तस्य मुकुंदस्य द्विजस्य च
Narada said: There is here a virtuous tale that destroys great sins, concerning a barber and a twice-born named Mukunda, both of whom acted recently.
ब्रह्महा नापितो राजन्नपमृत्युं गतो द्विजः । प्रसादात्कोशलायास्तु द्वावपि स्वर्गतिं गतौ
O king, the barber, a slayer of a Brahmin, and the twice-born who died prematurely, both attained heaven by the grace of Kosala.
चंद्रभागा नदी तीरे पुरी सा च निवेशिता । तत्रास्ति नापितः पापश्चंडकोनाम गर्हितः
On the bank of the river Chandrabhaga, that city was established; there lived a sinful barber named Chandaka, who was despised.
चौर्येण परवित्तानामपहर्ता स पापकृत् । घातकः शस्त्रपाशाद्यैः पांथानामवलुंठकः
By theft, he took the wealth of others, committing wicked deeds; he was a killer, robbing travelers with weapons, ropes, and other means.
द्यूतमद्यरतो नित्यं परस्त्रीलंपटेंद्रियः । भित्वा देवालयं भित्तिमिष्टिका ग्राव विक्रयी
He was always addicted to gambling and liquor, lustful for other men's wives; breaking the wall of a temple, he sold bricks and stones.
स तस्योद्वसिताभ्यासे ब्राह्मणो वसति श्रिया । संयुक्तो ब्रह्मकर्मज्ञो मुकुंदो नामतो नृप
Near his dwelling lived a Brahmin named Mukunda, endowed with wealth, skilled in Vedic rites.
स एकदा समालिंग्य तरुणीमात्मयोषितम् । सुष्वाप सुरतायास श्लथांगो निशि निर्भयम्
One night, embracing his young wife, he slept deeply, his body slack from the fatigue of lovemaking, without fear.
स चंडको निशीथेऽथ प्रविवेश तदालयम् । मुकुंदस्य समाहर्तुं हर्म्ये भूषादि वस्तु यत्
Then, in the middle of the night, Caṇḍaka entered that house to take from Mukunda's mansion whatever ornaments and valuables there were.
उपकार्या बहिस्थं यत्तद्गृहीत्वोऽगमद्गृहम् । स्वकीयं च पुनस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्याविशद्गृहम्
Taking whatever was kept outside for use, he went home, and then again entered the house of that brāhmaṇa.
कपाटोत्पाटनार्थी तु यत्नेन महताऽभवत् । लोहयंत्रावरुद्धश्च स नोद्धाटयितुं क्षमः
He tried with great effort to break open the door, but it was secured with an iron mechanism, and he was unable to force it open.
आरुरोह तदा तस्य ब्राह्मणस्याविशद्गृहम् । प्रविश्य तद्गृहं क्रूरः कृपणं पाणिनादधत्
Then he climbed up and entered the house of that brāhmaṇa; entering the house, the cruel man placed his hand on the poor man.
अट्टालिकां स पापिष्ठो नापितस्तस्करक्रियः । तत्रापश्यत्प्रसुप्तौ तौ दंपतीरतिविह्वलौ
That most wicked barber, engaged in theft, ascended the upper story and there saw the two spouses deeply distressed and asleep.
जगाम च तयोः पार्श्वे हेमभूषाजिघृक्षया । शय्याया एकदेशस्थं गृहीत्वा भूषणं बहु
He approached them, desiring their gold ornaments, and taking many ornaments that were lying on one part of the bed—
हर्तुं तदंगतो हस्तं प्रससार स नापितः । तस्करस्पर्शतो विप्रो जजागार भयातुरः
The barber stretched out his hand to take them, but the brāhmaṇa, frightened by the touch of the thief, awoke.
न किंचिदूचे संमील्य नेत्रे तत्रैव संस्थितः । यदा स तस्करः पापो गृहीत्वा देहभूषणम्
He said nothing, keeping his eyes closed and lying there; when that wicked thief took the ornaments from his body—
चलितः स तदा तेन दोर्भ्यामात्तो द्विजेन हि । पश्चादागत्य वित्तस्यासहमानेन संक्षयम्
Then, as the thief was leaving, the brāhmaṇa seized him with both arms, unable to bear the loss of his wealth.
तेनापि नृप चौरेण कृपाणेन हतो द्विजः । विदीर्णोदरमध्यस्तु तातमातरितीरयन्
Then, O King, that thief killed the brāhmaṇa with a dagger; his belly torn open, he called out for his father and mother.
वदंतः किंकिमेत्येतत्पार्श्वं तस्या ययुर्जनाः । ददृशुस्तं निःसृतांत्रं रुधिरालिप्तविग्रहम्
People came to his side, asking, 'What happened? What is this?' They saw him, his entrails protruding, his body smeared with blood.
पप्रच्छुश्च मुकुंदेदं कर्म केनेदृशं कृतम् । सोऽपि कृच्छ्रेण महता प्रोवाचेदं स्वबांधवान्
They asked Mukunda, 'By whom was this deed done?' With great difficulty, he told his relatives.
मुकुंद उवाच-। ममैव परिपाकोऽयं पूर्वोपार्जितकर्मणाम् । न कश्चित्सुखदुःखस्य दाता कस्यापि देहिनः
Mukunda said: 'This is only the ripening of my own past actions; no one is the giver of happiness or sorrow to any embodied being.'
धर्मोऽधर्मश्च तावेव तेषां मूलं पुराकृतौ । नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा स तु भूयस्यापीडया गाढपीडितः
'Righteousness and unrighteousness, both, have their root in previous actions.' Nārada said: Having spoken thus, he, greatly afflicted by pain—
तत्याज भूपते प्राणान्पश्यतां सुहृदां तदा । विललाप तदा तस्य माता द्विजसती नृप
Then, O King, in the presence of his friends, he gave up his life; at that time, his mother, the noble brāhmaṇa lady, lamented.
निधाय तच्छिरः स्वांके कुंडलाभ्यामलंकृतम् । मातोवाच- हा हतास्मि त्वया वत्स दशामंत्यां च गच्छता
Placing his head, adorned with earrings, on her lap, his mother said: 'Alas, I am destroyed by you, my child, as you depart at the final moment.'
दिनश्रीरिव सूर्येण पश्चिमाचललंबिना । यदंगं चंदनालेपयोग्यं तव महामते
'Just as the beauty of the day is lost when the sun sets behind the western mountain, so your body, O wise one, fit to be anointed with sandal, now—'
मां मज्जयार्तिशोकाब्धौ तदिदं धूलिधूसरम्
'—has become covered with dust, plunging me into the ocean of pain and grief.'
तांबूलचर्वणेभ्यासो यस्त्वया विहितस्त्वसौ । स एव रुधिरोद्गार मिश्रेण क्रियते ध्रुवम् । तव ये लोचने पूर्वं जिग्यतुः कमलश्रियम्
The habit of chewing betel that you established is indeed the cause of this mixture of blood and phlegm being expelled; those eyes of yours, which once surpassed the beauty of lotuses—
त एव सांप्रतं जाते तिमिरौघा वृते इव । उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ वत्स त्वं शिष्यानध्यापयात्मनः
—those very eyes are now covered by a mass of darkness; arise, arise, dear one, instruct your students yourself.
यथावद्वैश्वदेवांते पूजयातिथिमागतम् । द्वारि स्थिता वयस्यास्ते त्वाह्वयंति प्रयाहि तान्
Just as, at the conclusion of the Vaiśvadeva rite, one worships a guest who has arrived, so too your friends are standing at the door, calling for you—go to them.
दातव्यं यद्ददस्वैभ्यो गृहीतव्यं गृहाण तत् । हाहा देहि प्रतिवचः पतामि तव पादयोः
Give to them what should be given, and accept what should be accepted; alas, give me a reply, I fall at your feet.