पुरासीद्दंडको नाम्ना चौरो लोकभयप्रदः । ब्रह्मस्वहारी मित्रघ्नो युगे द्वापरसंज्ञके
Once, there was a thief named Dandaka, who terrified the world; he stole Brahmin property and killed friends in the era called Dvapara.
असत्यभाषी क्रूरश्च परस्त्रीगमने रतः । गोमांसाशी सुरापश्च पाखंडजनसंगभाक्
He spoke falsehoods, was cruel, indulged in relations with others' wives, ate beef, drank liquor, and associated with heretics.
वृत्तिच्छेदी द्विजातीनां न्यासापहारकस्तथा । शरणागतहंता च वेश्याविभ्रमलोलुपः
He disrupted the livelihood of Brahmins, stole deposits, killed those who sought refuge, and was infatuated with prostitutes.
एकदा स द्विजश्रेष्ठ कस्यचिद्विष्णुमंदिरम् । जगाम हरणार्थाय विष्णोर्द्रव्यं स मूढधीः
Once, O best of Brahmins, with a deluded mind, he went to a Vishnu temple intending to steal the property of Vishnu.
अथ द्वारि प्रविश्यासावंघ्रिः कर्द्दमसंयुतः । प्रोच्छितः सकलं निम्ने भूमौ देवगृहस्य च
Then, entering the door, his feet covered in mud, he scraped all the dirt from the floor of the divine house.
तेनैव कर्म्मणा भूमिर्निम्नरिक्ता बभूव ह । लोहस्य च शलाकाभ्यां मुद्घाट्यत्वररंमुदा
By that act, the ground became hollow and empty; with iron rods, he joyfully pried it open.
प्रविवेश हरेर्गेहं वितानवरशोभितम् । रत्नकांचनदीपाढ्यं परिध्वस्त महत्तमम्
He entered Hari's house, adorned with splendid canopies, filled with gems and golden lamps, and magnificently decorated.
नानापुष्पसुगंधाढ्यं नानापात्रसमाकुलम् । सुवासितस्य तैलस्य गंधेन परिपूरितम्
It was rich with the fragrance of various flowers, crowded with various vessels, and permeated by the scent of perfumed oil.
अनेनहारकेणाथ पर्य्यंके सुमनोहरे । शायितो राधया सार्द्धं दृष्टः पीतांबरोऽच्युतः
Then, the thief was seen lying on a most delightful couch with Radha, and Achyuta, clad in yellow garments, was present.
प्रणम्य राधिकानाथं निष्पापः सोऽभवत्तदा । नेष्याम्यथ न नेष्यामि अनेन किं भवेन्मम
Having bowed to the Lord of Radha, he became sinless at that moment; 'Shall I take or not take? What will come to me from this?'
सेवां कर्त्तुमशक्तोऽहं यतश्चौरोऽस्मि सर्वदा । द्रव्येण कार्यमस्तीति तन्नेतुं कृतवान्मनः
I am unable to serve, for I am always a thief; yet, there is a task to be done with wealth, so I resolved to take it.
पातयित्वांशुकं भूमौ कौशेयं कमलापतेः । बबंध वस्तुजातं च पाणौ कृत्वा सकंपितः
Having dropped the silk cloth of the Lotus Lord on the ground, he tied up the valuables, trembling, and held them in his hand.
विष्णोर्मायापतेश्चाथ तानि सर्वाणि जैमिने । कृत्वा शब्दं सुघोरं च पतितान्यथ तानि वै
Then, O Jaimini, by the power of Vishnu's maya, all those things made a terrible sound and fell down.
परित्यज्य सुनिद्रां च धावंत इति किन्वहो । आगता बहुशो लोकाश्चोरो द्रव्यं जवेन च
Abandoning deep sleep, people rushed out, saying, 'What is this?' Many gathered, and the thief fled swiftly with the goods.
त्यक्त्वा धनं च चौरोऽपि त्रस्तः किंचिज्जगाम ह । दंशितः कालसर्पेण मृतोऽसौ गतकिल्बिषः
Even the thief, terrified, left the wealth and went a little way; bitten by the serpent of time, he died, freed from sin.
यमाज्ञया तस्य दूताः पाशमुद्गरपाणयः । आगतास्तं समानेतुं दंष्ट्रिणश्चर्मवाससः
By Yama's command, his messengers, holding nooses and clubs, arrived to bring him; they were fanged and clothed in hides.
बबंधुश्चर्मपाशेन निन्युर्दुर्गमवर्त्मना । दृष्ट्वा तं शमनः क्रुद्धः पप्रच्छ सचिवं प्रति
They bound him with a hide noose and led him along a difficult path; seeing him, the angry Lord of Death questioned his minister.
यम उवाच- अनेन किं कृतं कर्म पापं वा पुण्यमेव वा । समूलं वद हे प्राज्ञ चित्रगुप्त ममाग्रतः
Yama said: What deeds has he done, whether sinful or virtuous? Speak fully, O wise one, O Citragupta, before me.
चित्रगुप्त उवाच- सृष्टानि यानि पापानि विधात्रा पृथिवीतले । कृतान्यनेन मूढेन सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
Citragupta said: All the sins created by the Creator on earth have been committed by this fool; this is the truth I declare.
किंत्वाकर्णय लोकेश सुकृतं चास्य वर्त्तते । मन्येऽहं यमुनाभ्रातः सर्वपापविलोपि तत्
But listen, Lord of the world, he also has some merit; I think, O brother of Yamuna, it destroys all sin.
धर्मराज उवाच- किं पुण्यं वर्त्ततेऽमात्य वद सारं ममांतिके । श्रुत्वैवं तद्विधास्यामि यत्र योग्यो भवेदसौ
Dharmaraja said: What merit does he have, minister? Tell me the essence before me. Hearing it, I will assign him where he is fit.
यमस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सभयश्चित्रगुप्तकः । कृत्वा हस्तांजलिं प्राह चात्मनः स्वामिने द्विज
Hearing Yama's words, Citragupta, fearful, joined his hands and spoke to his master, O twice-born.
चित्रगुप्त उवाच- हरणार्थं हरेर्द्रव्यं गतोऽसौ पापिनां वरः । प्रोज्झितः कर्द्दमो राजन्पादयोर्द्वारतो हरेः
Citragupta said: For the sake of taking Hari's wealth, he went, O best of sinners; the mud at Hari's doorway was removed, O king, by his feet.
बभूव लिप्ता सा भूमिर्बिलच्छिद्र विवर्जिता । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेण निर्गतं पातकं महत् । वैकुंठं प्रतियोग्योऽसौ निर्गतस्तव दंडतः
That ground became clean, free from holes and cracks; by the power of that merit, his great sin departed, and he is fit for Vaikuntha, released from your punishment.
व्यास उवाच- श्रुत्वा स वचनं तस्य पीठं कनकनिर्मितम् । ददौ तस्मै चोपविष्टस्तत्र पूज्योयमेनसः
Vyasa said: Hearing those words, he gave him a seat made of gold, and seated him there, honored him, freed from sin.
ननाम शिरसा तं वै प्रोवाच विनयान्वितः । यम उवाच- पवित्रं मंदिरं मेऽद्य पादयोस्तद्धि रेणुभिः
He bowed his head to him and spoke with humility. Yama said: Today my temple is purified by the dust of your feet.
कृतार्थोऽस्मि कृतार्थोऽस्मि कृतार्थोऽस्मि न संशयः । इदानीं गच्छ भो साधो हरेर्मंदिरमुत्तमम्
I am fulfilled, I am fulfilled, I am fulfilled, without doubt. Now go, O good one, to Hari's supreme temple.
नानाभोगसमायुक्तं जन्ममृत्युनिवारणम् । व्यास उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजोऽसौ स्यंदने स्वर्णनिर्मिते
Endowed with various enjoyments and free from birth and death. Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, Dharmaraja departed in a chariot made of gold.
राजहंसयुते दिव्ये तमारोप्य गतैनसम् । समस्तसुखदं स्थानं प्रेषयामास चक्रिणः
Having placed him, accompanied by royal swans, upon the divine vehicle, the wielder of the discus sent him to that abode which grants all happiness.
एवं प्रविष्टो वैकुंठे तत्र तस्थौ सुखं चिरम् । लेपनं ये प्रकुर्वंति भक्त्या तु हरिमंदिरम्
Thus, having entered Vaikuntha, he remained there in happiness for a long time—those who, with devotion, perform the anointing in Hari's temple.