अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं धनार्थी लभते धनम् । विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात्
The childless obtain a son, the seeker of wealth obtains wealth, the seeker of knowledge obtains knowledge, and the seeker of liberation attains liberation.
ये शृण्वंति पुराणानि कोटिजन्मार्जितं खलु । पापजालं तु ते हत्वा गच्छंति हरिमंदिरम्
Those who listen to the Purāṇas destroy the web of sin accumulated over millions of births and proceed to the abode of Hari.
पुराणवाचकं विप्रं पूजयेद्भक्तिभावतः । गोभूहिरण्यवस्त्रैश्च गंधपुष्पादिभिर्मुने
One should worship the brāhmaṇa who recites the Purāṇa with devotion, O sage, with cows, land, gold, garments, fragrance, flowers, and the like.
कांस्यैर्विनिर्मितं पात्रं जलपात्रं मुदान्वितः । कर्णकुंडलकं चैव मुद्रिकां स्वर्णनिर्मिताम्
One should joyfully give a vessel made of bronze, a water pot, earrings, and a ring made of gold.
आसनं तु तथा दद्यात्पुष्पमाल्यं तपोधन । वित्तशाठ्यं न कुर्वीत दानं हीनफलं यतः
One should also give a seat, flowers, and a garland, O ascetic; one should not act with miserliness in giving, for stingy gifts yield inferior results.
पुराणं वाचयेद्विप्र सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । सुवर्णं रजतं वस्त्रं पुष्पमाल्यं तु चंदनम्
The brāhmaṇa should recite the Purāṇa for the fulfillment of all desires; gold, silver, garments, flowers, garlands, and sandalwood should be given.
दद्याद्यो पुस्तकं भक्त्या सगच्छेद्धरिमंदिरम् । कुर्वंति विधिनानेन संपूर्णं पुस्तकं च ये । तेषां नामानि लिंपेत चित्रगुप्तोऽर्चनाद्द्विज
Whoever donates a book with devotion, or completes a book according to this injunction, shall reach the abode of Hari; O twice-born, let Citragupta record the names of those who worship thus.
शौनक उवाच। श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते प्राज्ञ कथयस्व समूलकम् । प्रतिज्ञापालने पुण्यं खंडने किं च किल्बिषम्
Śaunaka said: O wise one, I wish to hear from you in detail: what merit arises from keeping a vow, and what sin from breaking it?
अनृते शपथे किं वा सत्ये किंचिद्भवेन्मुने । दक्षिणं किंकरं दत्वा कृपां कृत्वा कृपार्णव
What happens, O sage, if one swears falsely or truthfully? If one gives a fee to an assistant, O ocean of compassion, please tell me kindly.
सूत उवाच। शृणुष्व मुनिशार्दूल कथयामि समूलतः । वैष्णवानां त्वमग्र्योऽसि सर्वलोकहिते रतः
Sūta said: Listen, O tiger among sages, I shall tell you everything in full; you are foremost among Vaiṣṇavas and devoted to the welfare of all worlds.
धेनूनां तु शतं दत्त्वा यत्फलं लभते नरः । तस्मात्कोटिगुणं पुण्यं प्रतिज्ञापालने द्विज
The merit a man gains by giving a hundred cows is multiplied a crore-fold by upholding a vow, O twice-born.
प्रतिज्ञाखंडनान्मूढो निरयं याति दारुणम् । शतमन्वंतरं यावत्पच्यते नात्र संशयः
A foolish person who breaks a vow goes to a terrible hell, and for a hundred intermediate lifespans he is tormented there—of this there is no doubt.
ततोऽत्र जन्म चासाद्य निर्धनस्य निकेतने । अन्नवस्त्रैर्विहीनः स्या क्लेशी चापि स्वकर्मणा
Then, after obtaining birth here, he is born in the house of a poor man, deprived of food and clothing, and suffers due to his own actions.
सत्येन शपथं कुर्याद्देवाग्निगुरुसन्निधौ । तावद्दहति वै गात्रं विष्णोर्वंशो न लुप्यते
One should swear truthfully in the presence of the gods, fire, and guru; as long as this is done, the body is not burned, and the lineage of Viṣṇu is not destroyed.
मिथ्यायां शपथे विप्र किमहं वच्मि सांप्रतम् । शतमन्वंतरं विप्र निरयं मिथ्यया किमु
O brāhmaṇa, what can I say now about a false oath? For a hundred intermediate lifespans, one who swears falsely goes to hell.
निर्माल्यं श्रीहरेः स्पृष्ट्वा सत्येन मुनिपुंगव । गृहीत्वा पुरुषान्सप्त पच्यते निरये चिरम्
O best of sages, after touching the remnants of Śrī Hari and swearing truthfully, if one takes seven people, they are tormented in hell for a long time.
कदाचिज्जन्म संप्राप्य कुष्ठी च प्रतिजन्मनि । सत्येनैवं भवेद्विप्र अनृते वै किमुच्यते
Sometimes, after being born, one becomes a leper in every birth through truth; O brāhmaṇa, what then should be said of falsehood?
यो मर्त्यो दक्षिणं दत्वा करं तत्प्रतिपाल्यते । तस्य प्राप्तिर्भवेत्कृष्णः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
Whoever, after giving a fee, keeps his vow—he attains Kṛṣṇa; I speak the truth, the truth, I say.
करं दत्त्वा तु यो मर्त्यो वचनस्य च पालनम् । तावन्न कुर्यात्पितरः प्राप्नुवंति च यातनाम्
If a person gives a fee but does not keep his word, his ancestors do not perform the rites and they experience suffering.
स्वयं तु मुनिशार्दूल निरयं चातिदारुणम् । उद्धारं कोटिपुरुषैर्मृतो याति न संशयः
But he himself, O tiger among sages, goes to a most dreadful hell; even if a crore of men tried to rescue him after death, he would not be freed—there is no doubt.
शौनक उवाच। कृष्णप्राप्तिः पुरा कस्य करस्य प्रतिपालनात् । दक्षिणस्य मुने ब्रूहि श्रोतुमिच्छामि सादरात्
Śaunaka said: In former times, who attained Kṛṣṇa by keeping a vow and giving a fee? O sage, please tell me, I wish to hear respectfully.
सूत उवाच। पुरा किंचित्पुरे शूद्रो नाम्नासीद्वीरविक्रमः । बह्वाशी पृथुलांगश्च बहुवक्तातिसुंदरः
Sūta said: Long ago, in a certain city, there was a Śūdra named Vīravikrama; he was a great eater, stout-limbed, very talkative, and extremely handsome.
धनवान्पुत्रवान्सभ्यो विद्वान्सर्वजनप्रियः । विप्राणामतिथीनां च पूजकः सर्वदैव तु
He was wealthy, had sons, was respected, learned, and beloved by all people; he always honored brāhmaṇas and guests.
पितृभक्तो द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रतिज्ञापालकः सदा । वाचां गुरुजनानां च पालको हरिसेवकः
He was devoted to his ancestors, O best of twice-born, always kept his vows, obeyed the words of elders, and was a servant of Hari.
एकदा सुंदरो गेहं श्वपचस्तस्य छद्मना । प्राप्तो धृत्वा ब्राह्मणस्य रूपं वै तरुणः सुधीः
Once, Sundara entered the house of the outcaste in disguise, assuming the form of a young and wise Brahmin.
ब्राह्मण उवाच। शृणु मे वचनं धीर मम जाया मृता शुभा । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथयाद्यानुकंपया
The Brahmin said: Hear my words, O steadfast one. My auspicious wife has died. What shall I do? Where shall I go? Tell me, out of compassion.
विवाहं यो जनः कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणं च विशेषतः । किं च दानैः किं च तीर्थैः किं यज्ञैर्व्रतकोटिभिः
Whoever arranges a marriage, especially for a Brahmin, what need is there for gifts, pilgrimages, sacrifices, or countless vows?
इति श्रुत्वा त्वसौ विप्रं चोक्तवान्वीरविक्रमः । शृणु मे वचनं ब्रह्मन्बालास्ति मम कन्यका
Hearing this, the heroic and valiant one spoke to the Brahmin: Listen to my words, O Brahmin. I have a young daughter.
यदिच्छा ते भवेद्विप्र दास्यामि विधिपूर्वकम् । नय मे दक्षिणं हस्तं दास्यामि चान्यथा नहि
If you desire, O Brahmin, I will give her to you according to proper rites. Take my right hand; otherwise, I will not give her.
तस्यैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जग्राह दक्षिणं करम् । श्वपचो हर्षयुक्तो वै प्रोवाच वचनं त्विति
Hearing these words, he took the right hand. The outcaste, filled with joy, spoke these words.