शूद्राणां तु कृषिर्द्धर्मो नापद्यप्यग्रजन्मनः । तस्मात्क्षत्त्रेण वर्तिष्ये ग्रामान्मम समादिश
'For śūdras, farming is their duty, but not even in distress for one of higher birth; therefore, I will act as a kṣatriya—assign me villages.'
अन्यत्र चात्र क्षत्त्रेण वर्तनं मम रोचते । अन्यन्न तु तथेत्युक्तो ददौ ग्रामान्द्विजन्मनः
'Elsewhere, too, I prefer to act as a kṣatriya; otherwise, not so.' Thus addressed, the king gave villages to the twice-born.
ग्रामाधिकारदुष्टस्य वर्तनं त्वन्यथाभवत् । अभक्षि मांसं चापायि सुरा चाभाषि दुर्वचः
For one who misused village authority, his conduct became otherwise: he ate forbidden meat, drank liquor, and spoke harsh words.
परयोषा तथा गामि परस्वं प्रत्यहारि च । अक्रीडि द्यूतमसकृत्कलंजं चादि दुर्भुजा
He consorted with another's wife, took others' property daily, gambled repeatedly, ate impure food, and committed other wicked acts.
नापूजि जगतामीशः शिवो वा विष्णुरेव वा । एवं कालेन दुर्वृत्तं राजा वाक्यमभाषत
Neither Shiva nor Vishnu, the lord of the worlds, was worshipped. In this way, after some time, the wicked king spoke these words.
विप्र विप्रत्वमुत्सृज्य शूद्रत्वं प्राप्तवानसि । तस्मान्नियोगधर्मेण भवंतं भ्रंशयामि च
O Brahmin, having abandoned your Brahminhood, you have attained the status of a Shudra. Therefore, by the rule of command, I dismiss you from your position.
मास्तु विप्रत्वमद्यैव शूद्रतैव वरं मम । तदृते यदि विप्रास्ते न भोक्ष्यंति वरं मम
Let there be no Brahminhood today; being a Shudra is preferable to me. If the Brahmins do not partake, that is better for me.
न हि सर्वमिदं त्यक्तुं शक्तोहं पृथिवीपते । शंभुरुवाच- एवं वदति दुर्विप्रे राजा तूष्णीमतिष्ठत
O lord of the earth, I am not able to abandon all of this. Shambhu spoke: While the wicked Brahmin was saying this, the king remained silent.
स तु वै शूद्रतुल्यश्च बुभुजेन्नं सहामिषम् । कदाचिदथ दुर्वृत्तः प्रतोलीमंडपस्थितः
He, being like a Shudra, ate food together with meat. Once, the wicked one was standing in the pavilion at the city gate.
द्विजेन पठ्यमानं तु पद्यं तु श्रुतवानिदम् । हृदये पद्यमेतत्तु द्विजेरितमतिष्ठत
He heard this verse being recited by a twice-born. That verse, uttered by the Brahmin, remained in his heart.
परात्परतरं यांति नारायणपरायणाः । न ते तत्र गमिष्यंति ये द्विषंति महेश्वरम्
Those devoted to Narayana attain the highest beyond the highest. Those who hate Maheshvara will not reach there.
व्याख्यानमपि च श्रुत्वा पौराणिकमभाषत । कीदृङ्नारायणः प्रोक्तः कीदृशोपि महेश्वरः
Having heard even the Purāṇic explanation, he spoke: What is said about Narayana? What is said about Maheshvara?
किं परं त्वयनं प्रोक्तं द्वेषः कीदृगुदाहृतः । किं तत्परमिति ख्यातं ततः परतरं च किम्
What is called the highest here? What kind of hatred is described? What is known as the highest, and what is beyond that?
पौराणिक उवाच- परं तद्ब्रह्मणः स्थानं सुखव्यक्तैकलक्षणम् । ततः परतरं विष्णोर्द्धाम तद्ब्रह्मणोधिकम्
The Purāṇika said: The highest is the abode of Brahman, characterized by manifest bliss alone. Beyond that is the realm of Vishnu, which surpasses Brahman.
अविनाशितया तत्तु कीर्तितं परमं पदम् । तन्मध्ये पुरुषो विष्णुस्तदंग परमं विभुः
That supreme abode is described as imperishable. In its midst is the Purusha, Vishnu, whose limb is the supreme, all-pervading one.
आपो हि नरजन्मत्वान्नाराः प्रोक्ता मनीषिभिः । नाराश्चास्यायनं यस्मात्तेन नारायणः स्मृतः
Waters are called 'nārāḥ' by the wise because they are the origin of men. Since his abode is in the waters, he is remembered as Narayana.
तत्परं वर्तनं येषां ते प्रोक्तास्तत्परायणाः । महदादीनि तत्वानि यानि तेषां य ईश्वरः
Those whose highest activity is that are called devoted to the highest. Among the principles beginning with the great, he is their lord.
सूर्याग्निशशिनेत्रोऽसौ महेशः स्यादुमापतिः । द्वेषो हि वैरं विज्ञेयमीश्वरे परमात्मनि
He is Mahesha, the husband of Uma, whose eyes are the sun, fire, and moon. Hatred is to be understood as enmity towards the supreme lord.
शंभुरुवाच- एवं पुराणभट्टेन समीरितमिदं वचः । चिंतयन्पुनरप्याह मादृशस्य कथं गतिः
Shambhu spoke: Thus, this statement was declared by the Purāṇic scholar. Reflecting, he again asked, 'What is the destiny for someone like me?'
पौराणिकोऽथ तं प्राह शृणु वक्ष्यामि ते गतिम् । कुरु सर्वेण यत्नेन प्रायश्चित्तं यथाविधि
Then the Purāṇika said to him: Listen, I will tell you your destiny. Make every effort to perform atonement according to the prescribed rules.
धर्मं चर यथाशक्ति यथाकालं यथाविधि । विमुक्तपापः पश्चात्त्वमुत्तमां गतिमेष्यसि
Practice righteousness according to your ability, according to time, and according to the rules. Once freed from sin, you will attain the highest state.
पुराणमथवा नित्यं शृणुष्वावहितश्च सन् । निराशो वा महेशानं पूजयस्व पिनाकिनम्
Either always listen to the Purāṇa with attention, or, being free from hope, worship Maheshana, the wielder of the trident.
देवं वा पुंडरीकाक्षं केशवं क्लेशनाशनम् । संन्यासमथवा नित्यं ब्रह्मज्ञानपरो भव
Worship the lotus-eyed Lord, Keśava, who removes suffering; or always be devoted to renunciation and the pursuit of knowledge of Brahman.
अथवा गच्छ काशीशं मुक्तौ वा मृतिमाप्नुहि । गयां वा गच्छ तत्र त्वं श्राद्धं कर्तुं प्रयत्नतः
Alternatively, go to Kāśī, the Lord of liberation, or attain death there; or go to Gayā and diligently perform the śrāddha rite.
अथवा सर्ववेदानां सारं पातकनाशनम् । रुद्रं रुद्रप्रियकरं जप प्रत्यहमादरात्
Or, recite daily with reverence the essence of all Vedas, which destroys sin, the Rudra mantra, pleasing to Rudra.
श्रीशैलमथवा गच्छ केदारमथवेच्छया । अथवा प्रतिवर्षे तु माघस्नानं प्रवर्तय
Or, go to Śrīśaila or to Kedāra as you wish; or, each year, undertake the Māgha bathing ritual.
किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन धर्मभक्तः सदा भव । नैवं नरकवासस्ते भविता तु द्विजाधम
What need is there for many words? Always be devoted to righteousness; then, O lowest of twice-born, you will not dwell in hell.
गौतम उवाच- श्रुत्वा सर्वं करिष्यामि पुराणं भवतो मुखात् । शास्त्रं विश्वासहेतुं च वर्जं चापि वदस्व मे
Gautama said: Having heard everything from your mouth, I will do it; tell me also what should be avoided, which is the cause for faith in scripture.
पौराणिक उवाच- वर्ज्यं मांसं सुराऽन्यस्त्री भोगो द्यूतं विकत्थनम् । पारुष्यमनृतं माया देवदेवविनिंदनम्
The Purāṇika said: Avoid meat, liquor, enjoyment with other women, gambling, boasting, harshness, falsehood, deceit, and reviling gods and deities.
गुरूणां सुरवृद्धानां पुराणस्मृतिभाषिणाम् । निंदनं श्वेतवृंताकं कृतकालाबुवर्तनम्
Avoid reviling teachers, elder gods, speakers of Purāṇa and Smṛti, the white brinjal, and acting against the prescribed times.