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.
संगेन सिंधुनाकांक्षी जनान्देवालयं गता । तत्र क्षणं सोपविष्टा तांबूलभक्षणं कृतम्
Desiring to cross the river with companions, she entered a temple of the gods; there, sitting for a moment, she chewed betel leaf.
शेषं चूर्णं सौधभित्तौ दत्वा निम्ने कुतूहलात् । ततो गता जारकांक्षी धनार्थं नगरं प्रति
Out of curiosity, she placed the remaining betel powder on the palace wall at a lower spot, and then, desiring a lover and wealth, went toward the city.
जारेण केनचित्सार्द्धं संकेतः सहसा कृतः । संकेतं तु गता वेश्या वनं रात्रौ विमोहिता
A sudden rendezvous was arranged with a lover; the courtesan, going to the meeting place at night in the forest, was bewildered.
संकेतं नागतो वैश्यो व्यशंकिष्टविलोकिता । कथं कांतो नागतो मे सर्पव्याघ्रैश्च भक्षितः
The merchant did not come to the meeting; she anxiously wondered, 'Why did my beloved not come? Was he devoured by snakes or tigers?'
संकेतनं कथं हित्वा गतः किं कामविह्वलः । अन्यया ज्ञातया सार्द्धमभिलाषी भवेत्किमु
'Why did he abandon the meeting, overcome by desire? Did he perhaps go with another woman whom he knew and desired?'
परामृष्यैतद्हृद्यंतः कोटपालभयाद्द्विज । नगरं नागता सा हि रुद्धे लोकपथे तमैः
Reflecting thus in her heart, O twice-born, out of fear of the guards, she did not go to the city, for the road was blocked by darkness.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्याघ्रः कामरूपी बलात्क्षुधी । प्रेषितः कालदेवेनाग्रसदागत्य तां द्विज
Meanwhile, a tiger with the power to assume any form, driven by hunger and sent by the god of death, suddenly appeared there, O twice-born.
ततस्तु यमुनाभ्रातुर्दूतास्ते भीमवर्षिणः । आगता गिरिकूटांगा नेतुं तां पापकर्मणा
Then, messengers of Yama, the brother of Yamuna and bringer of terrible storms, arrived from the mountain peaks to seize her for her sinful deeds.
वक्रपादा वक्रमुखा उन्नासा बहुदंष्ट्रिणः । चर्मरज्जूर्मुद्गरांश्च गृहीत्वा पांशुलां द्विज
With twisted feet, crooked faces, upturned noses, and many fangs, holding leather straps and clubs, covered in dust, O twice-born—
बंधयामासुरुन्मत्ता गणिकां चर्म्मरज्जुभिः । शंखचक्रगदापद्मधारिणो वनमालिनः
Those frenzied beings bound the courtesan with leather cords; but then, those adorned with garlands and bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus—
प्रेषिता देवदेवेन तद्भक्तवत्सलेन च । कृष्णजीमूतसंकाशाः स्फुरद्वदनपंकजाः
Sent by the Lord of the gods, who is ever compassionate to his devotees, they shone like dark rainclouds, their lotus-like faces radiant.
श्रेणीधराश्चारुनासा दिव्यकुंडलभूषिताः । ददृशुः पथि गच्छंतो विष्णोर्दूतामहात्मनः
Wearing beautiful earrings and bearing rows of ornaments, with lovely noses, the messengers of the great-souled Vishnu saw them as they traveled the path.
विष्णुदूता ऊचुः- के यूयं विकृताकारा लक्ष्यंते कर्बुरा इव । इमां विष्णोः प्रियतमां नीत्वा क्व व्रजथोत्तमाम् । इदं वचनमाकर्ण्य तेषां ते तु द्रुतं ययुः
The messengers of Vishnu said: 'Who are you, appearing so misshapen and grim, like shadows? Where are you taking this most beloved of Vishnu?' Hearing these words, they quickly departed.
अथ ते क्रोधसंपन्ना विष्णोर्दूता महाबलाः । जघ्नुस्ते संदेशहरान्यमस्य जगतः प्रभोः
Then, filled with anger, the mighty messengers of Vishnu struck down those couriers of Yama, the lord of the world.
चक्रादिशस्त्रसंघैश्च सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभैः । कृतांतस्य भटाः सर्वे रुदंतस्ते पलायिताः
With weapons such as the discus, shining like millions of suns, all the soldiers of Death wailed and fled.
यमं प्रोचुः सभीताश्च वृत्तांतं सकलं द्विज । यमोऽपि तत्कथां श्रुत्वा चित्रगुप्तमुवाच ह
Frightened, they reported everything to Yama, O twice-born; and Yama, hearing their account, spoke to Chitragupta.
धर्म उवाच- केन पुण्येन भो मंत्रिन्वेश्या मुक्तिं समागता । एतन्मे पृच्छत सर्वं कथयस्व यथार्हतः
Dharma said: 'By what merit, O minister, has this courtesan attained liberation? Tell me everything about this, as is proper.'
चित्रगुप्त उवाच- तया पापान्यर्जितानि जन्मतः सुबहून्यपि । किंत्वाकर्णय लोकेश यदि स्यात्पुण्यमस्ति तत्
Chitragupta said: 'She committed many sins from birth, yet, O lord of the world, listen—if there is any merit, it is this.'
गणिकैकदा धर्म्मराज सर्वालंकारभूषिता । कांचित्पुरीं जगामाशु जारकांक्षी धनार्थिनी
Once, O King of Dharma, the courtesan, adorned with all ornaments, went swiftly to a certain city, desiring a lover and seeking wealth.
तत्र देवालये तस्मिन्स्थित्वा तांबूलभक्षणं । कृत्वा तच्छेषचूर्णं तु ददौ भित्तौ तु कौतुकात्
There, standing in a temple, she chewed betel leaf, and out of curiosity, she placed the leftover powder on the wall.