बाहुमूलकुचद्वंद्व स्वयोनिस्पर्शदर्शनात् । कस्य न स्खलते चेतो रेतः स्कन्नं च नो भवेत्
Who does not have their mind falter or their semen not spill upon seeing or touching the root of the arm, the pair of breasts, or one's own sexual organ?
दधीच उवाच- इति संचिंत्य मनसा क्षत्रिया गृहमभ्यगात् । स्वगृहद्वारमासाद्य मंदं मंदं रुरोद वै
Dadhichi said: Thus reflecting in her mind, the Kshatriya woman went to her house; reaching her own doorway, she wept softly and gently.
चिरं कालं च रुदितं ब्राह्मणः करुणानिधिः
After she had wept for a long time, the Brahmin, full of compassion—
स्त्रीबालवृद्धातुर राजयोगिनां विषाग्नितोयाद्रि निपातनादिना । दुःखस्य चैवोद्धरणं प्रशस्यते कूपस्यदानेन समं वदंति
It is said that rescuing women, children, the aged, the sick, kings, ascetics, and those afflicted by poison, fire, water, or falling from a mountain, and relieving suffering, is praised as equal to giving a well.
इत्थं विचार्य विप्रोऽसौ शुचिर्भूतः प्रसन्नधीः । तस्याः समीपमगमत्तामुवाच ततो द्विजः
Thus considering, that pure and clear-minded Brahmin approached her and then spoke to her.
अलं शोकेन महता इहामुत्र विरोधिना । शरीरशोषणं ह्येतच्चित्तविध्वंसनं तथा
Enough of this great sorrow, which is harmful both here and hereafter; it dries up the body and destroys the mind as well.
त्यज शोकमिमं बाले न चार्थः शोचितेन वै । शोकस्य कारणं किं वा येनेत्थं रुद्यते त्वया
Abandon this sorrow, child; there is truly no purpose in grieving. What is the cause of your grief, for which you weep in this way?
दधीच उवाच- एवमुक्ता द्विजेनाथ न सा किंचिदुवाच ह । मूर्च्छितेवापतद्भूमौ तमदृष्ट्वेव वीक्षते
Dadhīca said: Thus addressed by the twice-born, she did not say anything at all, but collapsed to the ground as if fainting, looking at him as though she did not see.
तामथोत्थापयामास ब्राह्मणः परमार्थवित् । उत्थितोत्थापिता तेन निपपात पुनः पुनः
Then the Brāhmaṇa, knower of the highest truth, raised her up. Though lifted and made to stand, she fell down again and again.
पतितां पतितां विप्रो निषद्योत्थाप्य तां पुनः । अंकमारोपयामास प्रममार्ज विलोचने
The Brāhmaṇa, seeing her fall repeatedly, sat down and lifted her up once more, placed her on his lap, and gently wiped her eyes.
अथ सा मूर्च्छितेवाशु वसनं परिमुच्य तम् । दर्शयंती स्तनौ गुह्यं बाहुमूले विलोचने
Then, as if fainting, she quickly loosened her garment, revealing her breasts, her secret place, and her eyes at the root of her arms.
आलंब्य कंठे बाहुभ्यां स्तनाभ्यामस्पृशद्द्विजम् । चंद्रातपश्च विशदो मंदमारुतसंभवः
Clinging to his neck with her arms, she touched the Brāhmaṇa with her breasts; the clear moonlight arose, accompanied by a gentle breeze.
अथ चिंतापरो विप्रो नैव कार्यमिदं मम । पितुर्वा मातुरुचितं पत्युर्वाथ गुरोस्तथा
Then the Brāhmaṇa, absorbed in thought, reflected: 'This is not my duty; it is proper for her father, mother, husband, or teacher.'
असंबुद्धस्य मे सर्वं विपरीतं विभाति वै । अथ कामः समायातो रहस्ये स्थितयोस्तयोः
Everything appears reversed to me, as if I am not in my right mind. Then, as the two stood together in private, desire arose.
विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैर्द्विजं कामो दुरात्मवान् । स्मरबाणातुरो विप्रश्चिंतयामास कामुकः
Desire, wicked in nature, pierced the Brāhmaṇa with sharp arrows. Afflicted by the arrows of Kāma, the Brāhmaṇa, now a lover, began to reflect.
इयं सुचारु सर्वांगी कामिनीव प्रदृश्यते । नोचेद्योनिमुखे ह्यस्याः कथं रोमांचसंभवः
'This woman, beautiful in every limb, appears as a passionate lover; otherwise, how could there be goosebumps at the opening of her yoni?'
तदेतस्याः कुचस्पर्शात्सर्वं व्यक्तं भविष्यति । इति संचिंत्य मनसा कुचौ योनिं द्विजोऽस्पृशत्
'Therefore, by touching her breasts, everything will become clear.' Thinking thus in his mind, the Brāhmaṇa touched her breasts and yoni.
सापि मूर्च्छितरूपेव मंदस्मितमुखाभवत् । आलिलिंग द्विजं गाढमाननं च चुचुंब ह
She, too, as if in a faint, became one with a gentle smile on her face, embraced the Brāhmaṇa tightly, and kissed his face.
तयोरथ समायोगो वर्षाणां शतमप्यभूत् । गते वर्षशते पश्चादेकस्मिन्दिवसे द्विजः
Then their union lasted for a hundred years; after a hundred years had passed, on a certain day, the Brāhmaṇa—
स्नातुं ययौ नदीं प्रातः सापि विप्रप्रसंगतः । स्नानं तत्र तथा चक्रे पुराणं श्रुतवानथ
Went to the river in the morning to bathe; she, too, attached to the Brāhmaṇa, performed her bath there in the same way, having heard the Purāṇa.
कौर्मं समस्तपापानां नाशनं शिवभक्तिदम् । इदं च पद्यं शुश्राव पुराणज्ञेन भाषितम्
He heard the Kūrma Purāṇa, destroyer of all sins and bestower of devotion to Śiva, and also this verse spoken by one learned in the Purāṇas:
ब्रह्महा मद्यपः स्तेनस्तथैव गुरुतल्पगः । कौर्मं पुराणं श्रुत्वैव मुच्यते पातकात्ततः
'A Brahmin-killer, drunkard, thief, or one who violates the teacher's bed—upon hearing the Kūrma Purāṇa, is freed from that sin.'
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं विप्रः पौराणिकमभाषत । मया कृतानां पापानां न च संख्यास्ति काचन
Hearing these words, the Brāhmaṇa said to the Purāṇika: 'There is truly no count of the sins I have committed.'
अशेषपापसंदोहनाशनं तदिहोच्यताम् । पौराणिक उवाच- आराधय स्वदेवेशं शंकरं त्रिदशेश्वरम्
'Here, declare that which destroys the entire heap of accumulated sins.' The Purāṇika said: 'Worship your own Lord, Śaṅkara, Lord of the gods.'
तस्य संपूजनाद्विप्र सर्वं पापं विनश्यति । पापमेव तमः प्रोक्तं ज्ञानदीपेन नश्यति
By worshipping him, O Brahmin, all sin is destroyed; sin is indeed called darkness, and it is dispelled by the lamp of knowledge.
अथवा पूजया विप्र समस्ताघविनाशनम् । ज्ञानपूजाविहीनानां नरके पतनं ध्रुवम्
Alternatively, O Brahmin, by worship alone all sins are destroyed; but for those who lack the worship of knowledge, a fall into hell is certain.
दधीच उवाच- अथ द्विजो ह्यभिगतः शिवालयमनुत्तमम् । द्रोणपुष्पसहस्रेण पूजयामास शंकरम्
Dadhīca said: Then a Brahmin approached the supreme temple of Shiva and worshipped Shankara with a thousand Drona flowers.
गृहं जगाम च ततो भोजनं कृतवानथ । विहाय क्षत्रियां विप्रो जगामेष्टां भुवं ततः
After that, he went home and took his meal; forsaking the Kshatriya woman, the Brahmin then went to his desired land.
हविष्यमन्नमादाय भुक्त्यशक्तेः शिवालयम् । गत्वा दीपस्थिताज्येन भोजनं कृतवान्बहिः
Taking sacrificial food, unable to eat, he went to the temple of Shiva and, with ghee placed in a lamp, ate his meal outside.
अथ मृत्युवशं प्राप्तो यमलोकं जगाम वै । यम उवाच- त्वया कृतानां पापानां केषांचिन्नाशनं पुरा
Then, coming under the power of death, he went to the realm of Yama. Yama said: Of the sins you committed before, only some have been destroyed.