यो नरो गोधनं कुर्याच्छूद्रः कुर्याद्विमोहितः । ब्राह्मणीहरणं वापि कर्मणा स नपुंसकः
A man who acquires cows or wealth by improper means, or a deluded Śūdra who does so, or one who takes a Brāhmaṇa's wife—such a person is impotent by his actions.
इदं तु वृजिनं कृत्वा पश्चात्पुण्यं करोति यः । इह पुण्यप्रभावेण दुहिता जायते द्विज
But if, after committing this sin, someone performs meritorious deeds, then by the power of that merit, O twice-born, a daughter is born to him in this life.
आसीत्त्रेतायुगे राजा श्रीधरो नामतो द्विज । अपुत्रो धनवांस्तस्य जाया हेमप्रभावती
In the Tretā age, there was a king named Śrīdhara, O twice-born; he was wealthy but childless, and his wife was Hemaprabhāvatī.
व्यासं सकलशास्त्रज्ञं सर्वलोकहितैषिणम् । आगतं चैव पप्रच्छ चापुत्रोऽहं कथं द्विज
He approached Vyāsa, knower of all scriptures and benefactor of all beings, and asked, 'I am childless, O twice-born, what should I do?'
उवाच नृपतेः श्रुत्वा वचनं विनयान्वितम् । राज्ञा दत्ते च पीठे च निर्मिते कनकादिभिः
Hearing the king's humble words, Vyāsa spoke; the king had offered a seat, crafted from gold and other precious materials.
राजाराज्ञी तस्य पादौ धौतं कृत्वा च हर्षितौ । पीत्वा पादोदकं द्वौ च सर्वपातकनाशनम्
The king and queen, delighted, washed Vyāsa's feet and drank the water, which destroys all sins.
व्यास उवाच- राजन्शृणुष्व यत्पृष्टमपुत्रो येन कर्मणा । तवेयं राज्ञी चापुत्री चैकपत्नीव्रतस्तथा
Vyāsa said: 'O King, listen to what you have asked—why you are childless, why your queen is without a child, and why you have observed the vow of a single wife.'
पूर्वजन्मनि चंद्रस्त्वं नाम्ना वरतनु स्मृतः । भार्या तवापि शुभ्रांगी नाम्ना वै शंकरी स्मृता
In a previous birth, you were known as Candra, O noble one, and your wife was called Śubhrāṅgī, also known as Śaṃkarī.
एकदा पथियातौ च नीचपुत्रं जलेपि च । मग्नं दृष्ट्वा हेलया च गतौ स पंचतां गतः
Once, while traveling, you both saw a low-caste boy drowning in water; you passed by carelessly, and he died.
बहुपुण्यप्रभावेण राज्ञीराजा गतौ युवाम् । तेन कर्मविपाकेन युवायोर्न भवेत्सुतः
Because of great accumulated merit, you and your queen became king and queen; but due to the result of that deed, you both have no child.
राजोवाच- इदानीं केन पुण्येन सुतो वै जायते प्रभो । अपुत्रस्य मनुष्याणां जीवनं हि निरर्थकम्
The king said: 'By what merit now, O Lord, can a son be born? For the life of a childless person is truly without purpose.'
व्यास उवाच- सवस्त्रं चैव कूष्मांडं वृषभं ससुवर्णकम् । देहि दानं ब्राह्मणस्य कुरु बालव्रतं तथा
Vyāsa said: 'Give to a Brāhmaṇa, as a gift, a garment, a gourd, a bull, and some gold; also observe the vow of feeding children.'
गौरीं कन्यां तथा देहि पुराणश्रवणं कुरु । पुत्रो वै जायते तत्र सर्वपातकनाशनम्
Give a maiden named Gaurī, and listen to the Purāṇas; by doing so, a son will be born, and all sins will be destroyed.
ब्रह्मोवाच- इति श्रुत्वा ततो राजा व्यासोक्तं दानमुत्तमम् । पुराणश्रवणं चैव चकार गतकिल्बिषः
Brahmā said: 'Having heard this, the king performed the excellent gifts as instructed by Vyāsa, and listened to the Purāṇas, becoming free from sin.'
ततः पुत्रो वर्षमध्ये बभूव सर्वपूजितः । अभूद्राजा सार्वभौमः सुंदरः कुलनायकः
Then, within a year, a son was born, honored by all; he became a universal emperor, handsome, and leader of his lineage.
सूत उवाच- य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या करोति दानमुत्तमम् । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं संक्षेपात्कथितं मया
Sūta said: 'Whoever hears this with devotion or gives these excellent gifts, even if childless, will obtain a son; this has been briefly told by me.'
भक्त्या श्रुत्वा तु या नारी कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणपूजनम् । सुपुत्रा सा भवेन्नित्यं शास्त्रोक्तविधिना द्विज
If a woman, having heard this with devotion, worships Brāhmaṇas according to scriptural injunctions, she will always have good sons, O twice-born.
सुवर्णं रजतं वस्त्रं पुष्पमाल्यं च चंदनम् । यो दद्यात्पुस्तके भक्त्या सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
Whoever devoutly gives gold, silver, cloth, flowers, garlands, or sandalwood to a book, all his sins are destroyed.
पूर्वजन्मनि यो मूढो ब्रह्मबालकघातकः । तस्य क्रूरो भवेत्पुत्रः सप्तजन्मांतरैर्द्विजः
O twice-born, one who, in a previous birth, foolishly killed a young Brahmin, will have a cruel son as a result, after seven lifetimes.
शौनक उवाच- केन पुण्येन भो सूत वैकुंठं समवाप्यते । तद्वदस्व शृण्वतो मे पोतो हि भवसागरे
Śaunaka said: O Sūta, by what merit is Vaikuṇṭha attained? Please tell me, for as I listen, your words are a boat across the ocean of existence.
सूत उवाच- साधुसाधु मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वमंगलकारक । कथयामि समासेन शृण्वतां पापनाशनम्
Sūta said: Excellent, excellent, O best of sages, your question brings all auspiciousness. I will tell you in brief that which destroys sin for those who listen.
विष्णवे ब्राह्मणायैव मृदावेश्मविनिर्मितम् । यो वै दद्याद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ तस्य पुण्यं निशामय
O best of twice-born, listen to the merit gained by one who gives a house made of clay to Viṣṇu or to a Brahmin.
विष्णुलोके च स विप्रः सर्वपापविवर्जितः । सौधवासी भवेन्नित्यं विष्णुलोके प्रपूज्यते
In Viṣṇu's world, that Brahmin, free from all sin, dwells always in a palace and is honored in the realm of Viṣṇu.
विष्णवे सौधगेहं यो दद्याद्वै ब्राह्मणाय च । हरेर्न्निकेतनं प्राप्य स्वर्गवासी भवेद्ध्रुवम्
Whoever gives a palace-house to Viṣṇu or to a Brahmin surely attains the abode of Hari and dwells in heaven.
अंते विष्णुपुरं गत्वा युक्तः कोटिकुलैर्द्विज । स्वर्णसौधे गृहे स्थित्वा कुर्याद्भोगं यथासुखम्
At the end, O twice-born, going to Viṣṇu's city, surrounded by multitudes of his own kin, he dwells in a golden palace and enjoys pleasures as he desires.
ब्राह्मणस्थापने पुण्यं यद्वै भवति भो मुने । संख्यां कर्तुमशक्तस्तु तद्वेधाः सर्वकारकः
O sage, the merit that arises from establishing a Brahmin cannot be measured; only the Creator, who accomplishes all, knows it.
गण्यंते रेणवश्चैव गण्यंते वृष्टिबिंदवः । न गण्यंते विधात्रापि ब्रह्मसंस्थापने फलम्
The grains of dust and the drops of rain may be counted, but even the Creator cannot count the fruit of establishing a Brahmin.
नारदेन पुरा ब्रह्मा पृष्टः संसारसंभवः । वेधास्तं कथयामास तच्छृणुष्व महामुने
Long ago, Nārada asked Brahmā about the origin of worldly existence; the Creator told him—listen to that, O great sage.
पुरासीद्द्वापरे ब्रह्मन्वारनारी सुशोभना । सुकेशी हरिणीनेत्रा सुमध्या चारुहासिनी
In the Dvāpara age, O Brahmin, there was a beautiful courtesan named Vāranārī, with lovely hair, deer-like eyes, a slender waist, and charming smile.
नाम्ना सा चंचलापांगी ययौ देशांतरं कदा । सर्वपापसमायुक्ता नरके पातयंति च
She, called Caṃcalāpāṅgī, once went to another land; being full of all sins, she was destined to fall into hell.