जलधेनुं समालोक्य मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । दशपूर्वान्परान्वंश्यान्नरकात्तारयंतिते
Upon seeing the water-cow, one is freed from all sins; ten ancestors before and after in the lineage are rescued from hell.
जलधेनुं प्रयच्छंति वैशाख्यां विधिनात्र ये । शर्करा फल तांबूलमुपानत्करपत्रिकाः
Those who give a water-cow in Vaiśākha, according to the prescribed rite, offer sugar, fruit, betel, sandals, and hand-leaves.
प्रयच्छंति द्विजाग्र्येभ्यो धन्यास्ते चात्र कीर्तिताः । मणिकोदककुंभांश्च पक्वान्नं हैमदक्षिणाम्
They give these to the foremost twice-born; blessed are those mentioned here, as well as water-pots adorned with jewels, cooked food, and golden gifts.
यः प्रयच्छति वैशाख्यां सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Whoever gives in Vaiśākha attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice; here too, an ancient legend is cited.
ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं प्रेतैः सार्द्धं महावने । ब्राह्मणो धनशर्मासीन्मध्यदेशे पुरानघ
The conversation of a brāhmaṇa with the departed in the great forest: the brāhmaṇa Dhanaśarma once lived in Madhyadeśa, O sinless one.
कुशाद्यर्थं वनं यातो ददर्शेदमथाद्भुतम् । भीतोऽपश्यदसौ प्रेतान्दुष्टांस्त्रीनति दारुणान्
He went to the forest for kuśa grass and then saw something wondrous; frightened, he saw three wicked, dreadful ghosts.
ऊर्ध्वकेशान्सरक्ताक्षान्कृष्णदंतान्कृशोदरान् । कुर्वतो विविधा रावान्धावतोपि यतस्ततः
With hair standing upright, bloodshot eyes, black teeth, and emaciated bellies, making various cries, they ran here and there.
तान्दृष्ट्वा भयसंत्रस्तो ब्राह्मणो विद्रुतो जवात् । क्रंदमानास्ततस्तेपि तमेवानु ययुस्तदा
Seeing them, terrified, the brāhmaṇa fled swiftly; those ghosts, wailing, followed him.
सधर्ष्यमाणस्तैः प्रेतैरुवाच मधुरं वचः । धनशर्मोवाच- के यूयं वः कुतोऽवस्था जातेति निरयोचिता
Pressed by those ghosts, he spoke sweet words; Dhanaśarma said: Who are you, what is your condition, and why are you suited to hell?
भयार्त्तमनुकंप्यं मां दुःखितं त्रातुमर्हथ । वैष्णवं बहुभृत्यं च निःस्वं विप्रं वनागतम्
You should protect me, fearful, pitiable, and sorrowful; a Vaiṣṇava, with many servants, destitute, a brāhmaṇa who has come to the forest.
भवतामपि सश्रेयो नूनं दास्यति केशवः । ब्रह्मण्यो भगवान्विष्णुस्तुष्टोमय्यनुकंपया
Surely Keśava will grant you welfare as well; the blessed Viṣṇu, devoted to brāhmaṇas, is pleased with me out of compassion.
अतसीपुष्पसंकाशो विष्णुः पीतांबरो हरिः । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण नाम्नो याति महा तमः
Viṣṇu, resembling the flower of the flax plant, wearing yellow garments, Hari, whose mere hearing of the name dispels great darkness.
अनादिनिधनो देवः शंख चक्र गदाधरः । अक्षयः पुंडरीकाक्षः प्रेतमोक्षप्रदायकः
The god without beginning or end, bearing conch, discus, and mace; imperishable, lotus-eyed, giver of liberation to the departed.
यम उवाच- नामश्रवण मात्रेण विष्णोस्ते परितोषिताः । पिशाचाः पुण्यभावस्था दया दाक्षिण्य यंत्रिताः
Yama said: By merely hearing Viṣṇu's name, they are satisfied; the spirits, established in merit, are restrained by compassion and generosity.
प्रीणितास्तस्यवचसा तदादिष्टेन नोदिताः । इदमूचुर्द्विजं प्रेताः क्षुत्तृष्णापूरपीडिताः
Pleased by his words, as instructed, they did not attack; those ghosts, afflicted by hunger and thirst, spoke to the brāhmaṇa.
प्रेता ऊचु- दर्शनेनैव ते विप्र नामश्रवणतो हरेः । भावमन्यमनुप्राप्ता वयं जाता दयालवः
The ghosts said: By your mere sight, O brāhmaṇa, and by hearing the name of Hari, we have attained another state and become compassionate.
अपाकरोति दुरितं श्रेयश्च योजयत्यपि । यशो विस्तारयत्याशु नूनं वैष्णवसंगमः
Association with devotees of Vishnu surely removes misfortune, brings about welfare, and swiftly spreads one's fame.
रसायनमयी शीता परमानंददायिनी । नानंदयति कं नाम वैष्णवामृतचंद्रिका
The nectar-moon of devotion to Vishnu is cooling, like an elixir, and bestows supreme joy; whom does it not delight?
अयं कृतघ्न नामास्ति द्वितीयोऽयं विदैवतः । अवैशाखस्तृतीयोऽयं त्रयाणामपि पापकृत्
There is one called Ingratitude, a second called Vidaivata, and a third called Avaishakha; all three are doers of evil.
सदैवानुष्ठितानेन पापेनाति कृतघ्नता । तेनास्य कर्मजं नाम कृतघ्नाख्यं व्यवस्थितम्
By always performing this sin, one becomes extremely ungrateful; thus, the karmic name 'Ingratitude' is established for him.
सुदास इति नाम्नायं शूद्रो ऽभूत्पूर्वजन्मनि । कृतघ्नस्तेन पापेन प्राप्तोऽवस्थामिमां द्विज
In a previous birth, this person was a Shudra named Sudasa; because of that sin of ingratitude, he has attained this state, O twice-born.
अतिपापिनि धूर्ते च गुरुस्वाम्यहितेऽपि च । निष्कृतिर्विद्यते विप्र कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः
For the extremely sinful, the deceitful, and those hostile to teacher or master, atonement exists, O Brahmin; but for the ungrateful, there is no expiation.
नानानिरयसंघातं शरीरैर्यातना क्षमैः । अनुभूयतांत्ववस्थामंत्यामेतां गतो द्विज
Having reached this final state, O Brahmin, he experiences various hells, suffering torments with bodies capable of enduring pain.
अनेनान्नं सदा भुक्तमकृत्वा देवतार्चनम् । अदत्वा गुरुविप्रेभ्यस्तेनैवायं विदैवतः
He always ate food without worshipping the gods, and did not give to teachers or Brahmins; thus, he is called Vidaivata.
अयं दशसहस्राणां ग्रामाणामीश्वरो नृपः । हरिवीर इति ख्यातो नाम्नासीत्पूर्वजन्मनि
This one was lord of ten thousand villages, a king known by the name Harivira in a previous birth.
रोषाहंकारनास्तिक्यैर्गुर्वाज्ञालंघनोद्यतः । अकृत्वैव महायज्ञान्भुक्तवान्विप्र निंदकः
Driven by anger, pride, and disbelief, intent on violating the commands of his teachers, he ate without performing great sacrifices and reviled Brahmins.
कर्मणा तेन पापेन महानरकसंकटम् । अनुभूय ततः प्रेतो जातो नाम्ना विदैवतः
Because of that sinful deed, he endured the great torment of hell, and then was born as a preta, known by the name Vidaivata.
अवैशाखस्तृतीयोऽहं त्रयाणामपि पापकृत् । तेन मे कर्मजं नाम ब्राह्मणोऽहं व्यवस्थितः
I am the third, called Avaishakha, a doer of evil among the three; thus, by my karma, I am established as a Brahmin.
मध्यदेशे भवं नाम्ना गौतमो गोत्रतोऽप्यहम् । विप्रो वासपुरेवासी यज्वाऽऽसं पूर्वजन्मनि
In the Madhyadesha, I was known by the name Gautama and belonged to that lineage; I was a Brahmin living in Vasapura, a performer of sacrifices in a previous birth.
मया केवलमेवैकं श्रौतमार्गानुसारिणा । उद्दिश्य माधवं देवं न स्नातं मासि माधवे
I alone, following only the Vedic path, did not bathe in the month of Madhava with intent to worship the god Madhava.