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.
धन्यं कर्म्म च ते जन्म त्रैलोक्ये नैव विद्यते । एवं ते कर्मणा साधो चोद्धारं कुरुषे कुलम्
Blessed is your deed and your birth; such is not found in all three worlds. Thus, by your action, O virtuous one, you uplift your lineage.
सूत उवाच। एवं ब्रुवति श्रीकृष्णे विमानं स्वर्णनिर्मितम् । आगतं हरिगणैर्युक्तं सर्वत्र गरुडध्वजम्
Sūta said: As Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke thus, a celestial chariot made of gold arrived, adorned everywhere with Garuḍa banners and attended by the hosts of Hari.
सर्वं तस्य कुलं ब्रह्मन्स श्वपाकपुरोहितम् । रथे चारोपयामास शंखपद्मधरः स्वयं
O Brahman, the entire family of that person, even with a dog-eater as their priest, was placed upon a chariot by the one who holds the conch and lotus, himself.
गृहीत्वा तान्हरिः सर्वान्गतो वैकुंठमंदिरम् । तत्र तस्थौ चिरं ते च कृत्वा भोगं सुदुर्ल्लभम्
Hari gathered them all and went to the abode of Vaikuntha; there they remained for a long time, enjoying pleasures that are exceedingly rare.
वचनं लंघयेद्यस्तु यस्तु वा दक्षिणं करम् । सकुलो निरयं याति सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्
Whoever transgresses this command, or gives the right hand, along with their family, goes to hell; I speak the truth, the truth, I declare.
तस्यान्नं तु जलं ब्रह्मन्न ग्राह्यं पितृदैवतैः । त्यक्त्वा धर्मो गृहं तस्य भीत्या याति द्विजोत्तम
O Brahman, neither food nor water from such a person should be accepted by ancestors or gods; abandoning their duty, the best of twice-born leaves that house out of fear.
दत्वाशां यो जनः कुर्यान्नैराश्यं चैव मूढधीः । स स्वकान्कोटिपुरुषान्गृहीत्वा नरकं व्रजेत्
If a person gives hope and then acts with hopelessness, being of foolish mind, he takes his own countless people and goes to hell.
वचनं लंघयेद्यस्तु धर्मस्तस्य विलंघति । नृपाग्नितस्करैर्विप्र सत्यं सत्यं सुनिश्चितम्
Whoever transgresses this command, his righteousness is violated; by kings, fire, or thieves, O Brahman, this is certainly the truth, the truth.
स्वर्गोत्तरमिमं सम्यक्श्रुत्वा स्वर्गोत्तरं व्रजेत् । जीवन्मुक्तस्त्विहामुत्र कृष्णाख्यं धाम चोत्तमम्
Having properly heard this supreme teaching about heaven, one attains the highest heaven; liberated in life, here and hereafter, one reaches the supreme abode called Krishna.
श्रीगणेशाय नमः। श्रीकुलदेवतायै नमः। श्रीगुरुचरणारविंदाभ्यां नमः । नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवींसरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
Salutations to Shri Ganesha; salutations to the family deity; salutations to the lotus feet of the revered guru; having bowed to Narayana, and also to the best of men, to Devi Sarasvati and Vyasa, then let victory be proclaimed.