तत्र यावंति पश्यंति रजांसि च द्विजोत्तम । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि स वसेद्विष्णुमंदिरे
For as many specks of dust as are seen there, O best of twice-born, for that many thousands of aeons he dwells in Viṣṇu’s temple.
पुरासीद्दंडको नाम्ना चौरो लोकभयप्रदः । ब्रह्मस्वहारी मित्रघ्नो युगे द्वापरसंज्ञके
Long ago there was a thief named Daṇḍaka, who terrified the world—he stole Brahmins’ wealth, killed friends, and lived in the age called Dvāpara.
असत्यभाषी क्रूरश्च परस्त्रीगमने रतः । गोमांसाशी सुरापश्च पाखंडजनसंगभाक्
He was a liar, cruel, addicted to other men’s wives, ate beef, drank liquor, and kept company with heretics.
वृत्तिच्छेदी द्विजातीनां न्यासापहारकस्तथा । शरणागतहंता च वेश्याविभ्रमलोलुपः
He deprived twice-born men of their livelihood, stole sacred 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, that foolish-minded man went to a Viṣṇu temple, intending to steal the property of Viṣṇu.
अथ द्वारि प्रविश्यासावंघ्रिः कर्द्दमसंयुतः । प्रोच्छितः सकलं निम्ने भूमौ देवगृहस्य च
Then, entering the doorway, his feet covered in mud, he slipped and fell completely into a hollow on the floor of the divine house.
तेनैव कर्म्मणा भूमिर्निम्नरिक्ता बभूव ह । लोहस्य च शलाकाभ्यां मुद्घाट्यत्वररंमुदा
By that very act, the ground became hollowed out, and with two iron rods he joyfully pried open the lock.
प्रविवेश हरेर्गेहं वितानवरशोभितम् । रत्नकांचनदीपाढ्यं परिध्वस्त महत्तमम्
He entered Hari’s house, adorned with splendid canopies, filled with lamps of jewels and gold, and magnificently decorated.
नानापुष्पसुगंधाढ्यं नानापात्रसमाकुलम् । सुवासितस्य तैलस्य गंधेन परिपूरितम्
It was filled with the fragrance of many flowers, crowded with various vessels, and suffused with the scent of perfumed oil.
अनेनहारकेणाथ पर्य्यंके सुमनोहरे । शायितो राधया सार्द्धं दृष्टः पीतांबरोऽच्युतः
There, as the thief, he saw Acyuta, clad in yellow garments, lying on a most delightful couch with Rādhā.
प्रणम्य राधिकानाथं निष्पापः सोऽभवत्तदा । नेष्याम्यथ न नेष्यामि अनेन किं भवेन्मम
Having bowed to the Lord of Rādhā, he at once became free from sin. Then he thought: 'Shall I take this or not? What will come of it for me?'
सेवां कर्त्तुमशक्तोऽहं यतश्चौरोऽस्मि सर्वदा । द्रव्येण कार्यमस्तीति तन्नेतुं कृतवान्मनः
Unable to serve, since I am always a thief, I must act through material things—so he resolved in his mind to take the goods.
पातयित्वांशुकं भूमौ कौशेयं कमलापतेः । बबंध वस्तुजातं च पाणौ कृत्वा सकंपितः
Throwing down the silk cloth of the lotus-lord onto the ground, he gathered the valuables, his hand trembling.
विष्णोर्मायापतेश्चाथ तानि सर्वाणि जैमिने । कृत्वा शब्दं सुघोरं च पतितान्यथ तानि वै
O Jaimini, then, as he did this in the house of Viṣṇu, Lord of Māyā, all those things fell to the ground with a terrible noise.
परित्यज्य सुनिद्रां च धावंत इति किन्वहो । आगता बहुशो लोकाश्चोरो द्रव्यं जवेन च
Abandoning deep sleep, he ran—what indeed was the reason? Many people had come, and the thief swiftly took the wealth.
त्यक्त्वा धनं च चौरोऽपि त्रस्तः किंचिज्जगाम ह । दंशितः कालसर्पेण मृतोऽसौ गतकिल्बिषः
Even the thief, having left the wealth behind, fled in fear; 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 maces, arrived—fanged, clad in hides—to bring him.
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 enraged Yama questioned his minister.
यम उवाच- अनेन किं कृतं कर्म पापं वा पुण्यमेव वा । समूलं वद हे प्राज्ञ चित्रगुप्त ममाग्रतः
Yama said: What deed has he done, whether sinful or virtuous? Speak in full, O wise one, O Citragupta, before me.
चित्रगुप्त उवाच- सृष्टानि यानि पापानि विधात्रा पृथिवीतले । कृतान्यनेन मूढेन सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
Citragupta said: Whatever sins have been created by the Creator on earth, all these have been committed by this deluded one—this I declare truly.
किंत्वाकर्णय लोकेश सुकृतं चास्य वर्त्तते । मन्येऽहं यमुनाभ्रातः सर्वपापविलोपि तत्
But listen, Lord of the world, he also has a virtuous act; I think, O brother of Yamunā, it destroys all sins.
धर्मराज उवाच- किं पुण्यं वर्त्ततेऽमात्य वद सारं ममांतिके । श्रुत्वैवं तद्विधास्यामि यत्र योग्यो भवेदसौ
Dharmarāja said: What virtue does he possess, minister? Tell me the essence before me. Hearing this, I shall 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 own master, O twice-born one.
चित्रगुप्त उवाच- हरणार्थं हरेर्द्रव्यं गतोऽसौ पापिनां वरः । प्रोज्झितः कर्द्दमो राजन्पादयोर्द्वारतो हरेः
Citragupta said: For the sake of stealing the Lord’s property, he, best among sinners, went; but, O king, the mud was removed from the threshold of Hari’s feet.
बभूव लिप्ता सा भूमिर्बिलच्छिद्र विवर्जिता । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेण निर्गतं पातकं महत् । वैकुंठं प्रतियोग्योऽसौ निर्गतस्तव दंडतः
That ground became cleansed, free from any hole or opening; by that meritorious act, great sin departed. He is fit for Vaikuṇṭha, released from your punishment.
व्यास उवाच- श्रुत्वा स वचनं तस्य पीठं कनकनिर्मितम् । ददौ तस्मै चोपविष्टस्तत्र पूज्योयमेनसः
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words, Yama gave him a seat made of gold, and seated him there, honored him, though he was a sinner.
ननाम शिरसा तं वै प्रोवाच विनयान्वितः । यम उवाच- पवित्रं मंदिरं मेऽद्य पादयोस्तद्धि रेणुभिः
He bowed his head to Yama and spoke with humility. Yama said: Today my abode 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 man, to the supreme abode of Hari.
नानाभोगसमायुक्तं जन्ममृत्युनिवारणम् । व्यास उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजोऽसौ स्यंदने स्वर्णनिर्मिते
Endowed with various enjoyments, free from birth and death—Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus, Dharmarāja placed him in a chariot made of gold.
राजहंसयुते दिव्ये तमारोप्य गतैनसम् । समस्तसुखदं स्थानं प्रेषयामास चक्रिणः
Drawn by celestial swans, he mounted the divine chariot, freed from sin; he was sent to the abode of the Discus-holder, the giver of all happiness.