मूर्खमात्रवचो ग्राही स नृपः शत्रुनंदनः । ततोऽहं सकलं राज्यं विभज्य वरमंत्रिणः
That king, O delight of enemies, accepts only the words of fools; therefore, I wish to divide the whole kingdom among the best ministers.
दातुमिच्छामि पुत्राभ्यां युष्माभिर्यदि मन्यते । मन्त्रिण ऊचुः - यदेतद्वचनं प्रोक्तं त्वया नीतिविदा नृप
I wish to give it to my two sons, if you all agree; the ministers said— O king, what you have spoken, learned in statecraft,
तदेव मतमस्माकं संदेहो नात्र विद्यते । अथायातौ नृपादेशात्संसदं प्रति सत्तमौ
That is our opinion as well; there is no doubt in this matter. Then, by the king's command, the two excellent ones came to the assembly.
वीरभद्र यशोभद्र नामानौ तनयावुभौ । तौ च सर्वगुणोपेतौ कुमारौ प्रियवादिनौ
Both sons, named Vīrabhadra and Yaśobhadra, endowed with all virtues, were princes who spoke kindly.
पितृभक्तौ सदा शांतौ बलिनौ धर्मतत्परौ । ततः स भूपः सहसा राजनीति विदांवरः
Always devoted to their father, peaceful, strong, and intent on righteousness; then that king, suddenly, the foremost in statecraft,
विभज्य सकलं राज्यं ददौ ताभ्यां कुतूहलात् । अत्रांतरे गृध्र एकः स्वकीयस्त्री समन्वितः
Divided the entire kingdom and gave it to them out of curiosity. Meanwhile, a vulture, accompanied by his own mate,
आगत्य तत्सभामध्ये उपविष्टो द्विजोत्तमाः । तावागतौ समालोक्य पक्षिणावतिहर्षितौ
Arrived and sat in the midst of that assembly, O best of twice-born; seeing them arrive, the birds were filled with joy.
राजाह युवयोः कस्माच्छुभागमनमुच्यताम् । गृध्र उवाच- गृध्रोऽहं पृथिवीपाल ममेयं स्त्री परंतपः
The king said, 'Tell me, for what auspicious reason have you two come?' The vulture spoke— 'I am a vulture, O protector of the earth, and this is my mate, O scorcher of foes.'
आगतोऽस्मि मुदा द्रष्टुं संपदं पुत्रयोस्तव । एतयोर्महती दृष्टा विपत्तिः पूर्वजन्मनि
I have come joyfully to see the prosperity of your sons; in their previous birth, a great calamity was seen.
इह जन्मनि संपत्तिं द्रष्टुमावां समागतौ । तस्यैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा गृध्रस्य परमाद्भुतम् । राजोवाच पुनर्विप्र विस्मयाविष्टमानसः
In this birth, we have come to witness their prosperity; hearing this most wondrous speech of the vulture, the king, his mind seized by amazement, spoke again to the sage.
राजोवाच- अत्यद्भुतं वचो गृध्र त्वत्तः श्रुतमिदं मया । एतयोः पूर्ववृत्तान्तो भवता ज्ञायते कथम्
The king said— 'Vulture, I have heard this most wondrous speech from you; how do you know the previous history of these two?'
यदि जानासि तत्वेन पूर्ववृत्तांतमेतयोः । ब्रूहि तर्हि खगश्रेष्ठ सर्वमेतदशेषतः
If you truly know the previous history of these two, then tell me, O best of birds, everything in full.
गृध्र उवाच- नृपते वृषलावेतौ युगे द्वापरसंज्ञके । गरसंगरनामानौ सत्यघोषसुतौ स्थितौ
The vulture said: O King, in the age known as Dvāpara, these two outcastes named Garasaṅgara, sons of Satyaghoṣa, existed.
एककाले च भूपाल मृतौ निज गृहांतरे । ततो नेतुमिमौ भूप दंष्ट्रिणो यमकिंकराः
O ruler of men, at the same time, both died in their own homes; then, O King, the fanged servants of Yama came to take them.
पाशहस्ताः समायाताः कोटिकोटिसहस्रशः । बबंधुश्चर्मपाशेन द्वावेतौ तौ मदोद्धतौ
Countless thousands, holding nooses in their hands, arrived and bound those two, intoxicated with pride, with leather cords.
निन्युश्च निलयं मृत्योरतिदुर्गमवर्त्मना । इमौ दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजश्चित्रगुप्तमुवाच ह
They led them to the abode of Death by a most difficult path; seeing them, Dharmarāja spoke to Citragupta.
एतयोः सकलं वृत्तं चित्रगुप्त विचार्यताम् । तस्याज्ञया चित्रगुप्तः सर्वकर्मशुभाशुभम्
"Citragupta, consider in detail the entire conduct of these two." By his command, Citragupta examined all their deeds, good and bad.
मूलाद्विचारयामास तत इत्याह चांतकम् । चित्रगुप्त उवाच- सत्यमेतौ महाबाहो पुण्यव्रत महाशयौ
He investigated thoroughly from the root, and then said to Antaka: Citragupta said: "It is true, O mighty-armed one, these two were devoted to virtue and great in intent."
अस्तिचेद्दुष्कृतं किञ्चित्सर्वकर्मविलोकितम् । स्वयंदानं समुत्सृज्य न हि दत्तं द्विजातये
"If there was any evil deed, all their actions have been examined. They gave gifts on their own, but not to a twice-born."
तेनैव कर्मणा राजन्निमौ नरकगामिनौ । दाता दानं समुत्सृज्य यो न दद्याद्दिवजातये
Because of that very act, O King, these two are destined for hell. Whoever, being a donor, gives but does not give to a twice-born—
स याति नरकं घोरं सर्वभूतभयावहम् । दाता हि न स्मरेद्दानं प्रतिग्राही न याचते ५० 7.3.
He goes to a terrible hell, terrifying to all beings. The donor should not recall the gift, nor should the recipient ask for it.
उभयोर्नरके वासो यावच्चन्द्र दिवाकरौ । तस्मादिमौ महापापौ ब्रह्मस्वाहारिणौ प्रभो
Both dwell in hell as long as the moon and sun endure; therefore, O Lord, these two are great sinners, thieves of Brahman property.
नयंतु किंकराः शीघ्रं नरकं प्रतिदारुणम्
Let the servants quickly lead them to the most dreadful hell.
यमाज्ञया ततो दूताः संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुधा । चिक्षिपुर्नरके घोरे तावेतौ पृथिवीपते
By Yama's command, then, the messengers, their lips clenched in anger, hurled those two into the terrible hell, O King.
तस्मिन्नेव दिने राजन्ननया भार्यया सह । यमदूतैः समागत्य नीतोऽहं यममन्दिरम्
On that very day, O King, together with my wife, I was brought by Yama's messengers and led to Yama's abode.
मयापि तत्कृतं कर्म तदाकर्णय भूपते । मूलात्सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृण्वतां विस्मयप्रदम्
The deed I committed, O King, listen to it; I will tell you everything from the beginning, astonishing to those who hear.
पुरासीत्सर्वगो नाम ब्राह्मणोऽहं महाकुलः । सौराष्ट्रदेशवासी च वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
Formerly, I was a Brahmin named Sarvaga, of a great lineage, living in the land of Saurāṣṭra, accomplished in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.
इयं मंजूकषा नाम मम पत्नी यशस्विनी । पतिव्रता महाभागा पवित्रकुलसंभवा
This renowned woman named Mañjūkaṣā is my wife, devoted to her husband, greatly fortunate, born in a pure family.
प्रमत्तोऽहं महाभाग विद्यया वयसाधनैः । अवज्ञां मनसा पित्रोश्चकाराहं युवैकदा
I, being careless, O greatly fortunate one, due to knowledge and the means of youth, once disrespected my parents in my mind.
अहं भूरि सभाश्लाघ्यो वनस्थः सर्वकर्मकृत् । धनवान्सुन्दरो ज्ञानी ज्ञातिपोषणतत्परः
I was praised in assemblies, accomplished in all duties, dwelling in the forest; wealthy, handsome, wise, and intent on supporting my kin.