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.
ब्राह्मण उवाच। कृत्वा शुभ क्षणं मह्यं देहि कन्यां शुभान्विताम् । विलंबे बहुविघ्नं स्यादिति शास्त्रेषु निश्चितम्
The Brahmin said: Having found an auspicious moment for me, give me the virtuous maiden. Delay brings many obstacles; this is established in the scriptures.
वीरविक्रम उवाच। तुभ्यं श्वः कन्यकां ब्रह्मन्दास्यामि नास्ति चान्यथा । दक्षिणं च करं दत्वा न कुर्यात्पुरुषाधमः
Vīravikrama said: Tomorrow I will give you the maiden, O Brahmin; there is no other way. Having given the right hand, a wicked man should not act otherwise.
सूत उवाच। ब्राह्मणं कृष्णशर्माणं चाहूयाकथयन्मुने । पुरोहितमिदं सर्वं प्रोवाच संविदं द्विज
Sūta said: He summoned the Brahmin Kṛṣṇaśarman and spoke, O sage. He told the family priest everything, confiding in the twice-born.
कथं विप्राय ते कन्यां शूद्राय दातुमिच्छसि । अज्ञातायाकुलीनाय न ददस्व विशेषतः
How do you wish to give your daughter to a Śūdra, to one unknown and of uncertain lineage? Do not give her, especially to such a person.
ऊचुस्तज्जातयः सर्वे जनकाद्यास्तपोधन । अस्माकं वचनं तात शृणुष्व वीरविक्रम
All those born in that family, including the father and others, said: Hear our words, O Vīravikrama.
न ज्ञायते कुलं यस्य देशगोत्रधनं तथा । शीलं वयस्तस्य कन्या स्वजनैर्न च दीयते
One whose lineage, region, clan, wealth, character, and age are unknown—such a person should not be given a daughter by her own kin.
स उवाच द्विजश्रेष्ठ दत्तं मे दक्षिणं करम् । कदाचिदन्यथाकर्तुं न शक्नोमि च सर्वथा
He said: O best of the twice-born, I have given my right hand. I cannot act otherwise, ever, in any way.
इत्युक्त्वा तान्स विप्राय कन्यां दातुं प्रचक्रमे । दृष्ट्वेति ज्ञातयः सर्वे विस्मयमद्भुतं ययुः
Having said this, he began to give the maiden to the Brahmin. Seeing this, all the relatives were struck with wonder and amazement.
सत्यं तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शंखचक्रगदाधरः । आविर्बभूव सहसा चारुह्य गरुडं मुने
Hearing those true words, the bearer of the conch, discus, and mace suddenly appeared, mounting Garuḍa, O sage.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। धन्यं ते च कुलं धर्मोधन्यस्ते जननी पिता । धन्यं ते वचनं सत्यं धन्यं ते दक्षिणं करम्
The Blessed Lord said: Blessed is your lineage, blessed are your mother and father, blessed are your truthful words, blessed is your right hand.