तथैवास्य कृता पूजा द्वितीयस्य नरस्य तु । मेनेऽहं शुभकर्माणौ विमानं वरसत्तमौ
In the same way, you worshipped this second man; I considered both to be doers of auspicious deeds, the best among those in splendid chariots.
यस्त्वमाभ्यां स्वयं पूजां कुरुषे धर्मकारणात् । ब्रह्माविष्णुशिवाद्यैस्तु पूज्यसे त्वं सदानिशम्
For what reason, O Dharma, do you yourself honor these two? You are always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others.
यस्येदृक्परमं पुण्यं किमेतौ कर्म चक्रतुः । कथ्यतां मम सर्वज्ञ फलं दिव्यमवापतुः
Whose supreme merit is such as this? What deeds did these two perform? Tell me, all-knowing one, what divine fruit they attained.
तच्छ्रुत्वा स तु मां प्राह शृणु कर्मानयोः कृतम् । यत्कृत्वार्हमिहायातौ तच्छृणुष्व महामते
Hearing this, he said to me: Listen to the deeds performed by these two; having done them, they have come here—hear this, O wise one.
धर्म उवाच- वैदिशं नाम नगरं पृथिव्यामस्ति विश्रुतम् । तत्राभूत्पृथिवीपालो धरापाल इति श्रुतः
Dharma said: There is a renowned city on earth called Vaidiśa. There, a king named Dharāpāla was known.
कस्मिन्काले पुरा देवी शशाप स्वगणं क्रुधा । मदृतेन परा नारी भर्त्तुर्यन्मे निवेशिता
Once, in ancient times, the goddess, angered, cursed her own retinue: 'Because another woman, not me, was placed by my husband—'
तस्माद्द्वादशवर्षाणि जंबुकस्त्वं भविष्यसि । इत्युक्तः स च बभ्राम जंबुको मेदिनीतलम्
'Therefore, for twelve years, you shall become a jackal.' Thus spoken to, he wandered the earth as a jackal.
वेतसी वेत्रवत्योस्तु संगमे लोकविश्रुते । शापांतो भविता पुत्र इत्युक्तं गिरिकन्यया
'At the famous confluence of the Vetasī and Vetravatī rivers, the curse will end, my son,' said the mountain maiden.
तत्र चानशनं कृत्वा क्षेत्रे प्राणांस्ततोऽत्यजत् । दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वा जगाम विष्णुसन्निधौ
There, after fasting, he gave up his life in the field, and, taking on a divine form, he went to the presence of Viṣṇu.
तत्राश्चर्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा धरापालो महीपतिः । विष्णोरायतनं कृत्वा क्षेत्रे प्राणंस्ततोऽत्यजत्
There, witnessing a great wonder, King Dharāpāla built a temple of Viṣṇu in the field and then gave up his life.
दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वा स्थापयामास तं प्रभुम् । तस्मिन्पुरे नरान्सर्वा सन्नियोज्यास्य वीक्षणे
Assuming a divine form, he installed that Lord, and in that city he appointed all the people to attend upon Him.
शुभमायतनं विष्णोस्तस्मिन्ग्रामे सदा जनैः । पूर्णं तु ब्राह्मणादीनां पूजयित्वा कदंबकम्
In that village, the auspicious temple of Viṣṇu was always filled with people, and after worshipping the brāhmaṇas and others, they offered the kadamba flowers.
इतिहासपुराणज्ञं वाचकं तु विशेषतः । पूजयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठं विद्याश्रेष्ठं महामतिः
Especially, the wise king worshipped the best among twice-born, learned in history and Purāṇas, a man of great intellect and knowledge.
पुस्तकं चापि संपूज्य गंधपुष्पादिभिः क्रमात् । ततस्तमाह राजासौ वाचकं विनयान्वितः
He also worshipped the book itself, with fragrance, flowers, and so forth, in due order. Then the king, full of humility, addressed the reciter.
एतदायतनं विष्णोः कारितं च तवाग्रतः । चातुर्वर्ण्यमिदं चापि श्रोतुकामं कदंबकम्
'This temple of Viṣṇu has been established before you; I wish to hear the entire account of the four varṇas.'
तिष्ठतीह द्विजश्रेष्ठ कुरु पुस्तकवाचनम् । यावत्संवत्सरं विप्र गृह्य वृत्तिं त्वनुत्तमाम्
'Remain here, best of twice-born, and recite the book. For a full year, O brāhmaṇa, receive the best livelihood from me.'
स्वर्णनिष्कशतं चात्र ततो दास्ये तथापरम् । पूर्णे वर्षे द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रेयोऽथ महमात्मनः
'I will give here a hundred gold coins, and then more besides. At the end of the year, O best of twice-born, I will further grant you my own highest good.'
एवं प्रवर्तितं तत्र पुण्यं पुस्तकवाचनम् । वर्षसंगतमात्रे तु तथा च मुनिसत्तम
Thus, the meritorious recitation of the book was established there, to be performed annually, O best of sages.
अथायुषः क्षयाच्चायं कालधर्ममुपेयिवान् । मया चास्य विमानं हि विष्णुना प्रेरितं दिवः
Then, when his lifespan ended, he attained the law of time (death); and by me, prompted by Viṣṇu, his celestial chariot was sent from heaven.
इत्येषा कर्मणां व्युष्टिः पुण्यमाख्यानसंज्ञकम् । श्रुतं पाद्मं महत्पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्
Thus is the result of actions called the merit of sacred narrative: the great, holy, sin-destroying Padma has been heard.
गंधपुष्पोपहारैस्तु न तुष्टिर्जायते तथा । देवानामिह सर्वेषां पुराणश्रवणाद्यथा
By offerings of fragrance and flowers, satisfaction is not produced for all the gods here as it is by hearing the Purāṇas.
स्वर्णरत्नादिवस्तूनां वस्त्राणां चापि कृत्स्नशः । ग्रामाणां नगराणां च दानात्तुष्टिर्भवेन्नहि
Not even by giving gold, jewels, and other objects, or all kinds of garments, or even villages and cities, does satisfaction arise.
यथा स्याद्धर्मश्रवणात्प्रीतिः सर्वदिवौकसाम् । इतिहासपुराणानां श्रवणे मुनिसत्तम
Just as all the gods feel delight from hearing the Dharma, so too, O best of sages, is there joy in listening to the histories and ancient tales.
तथा स्यान्मे महाप्रीतिः साध्ये सर्वार्थकामिके । कन्यादाने महाप्रीतिर्मम स्यान्मुनिसत्तम
In the same way, may I have great joy in the fulfillment of all desires; O best of sages, may I have great joy in the giving of a maiden.
न तथा रोचते सा च यथा पुस्तकवाचनात् । अथ किं बहुनोक्तेन नान्यत्प्रीतिकरं मम
Yet, that joy is not as pleasing to me as the reading of books; so why speak at length? Nothing else brings me such delight.
पुण्याख्यानमृते विप्र गुह्यमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् । यश्चायमपरो विप्र इहायातो नरोत्तमः
O Brahmin, apart from the narration of meritorious stories, this secret has been declared; and this other excellent man has come here, O best of men.
संगत्यानुगतश्चायं धर्मश्रवणमुत्तमम् । श्रुत्वा भक्तिरभूदस्य श्रद्धया परमात्मनः
He has joined the assembly and followed this supreme hearing of Dharma; upon listening, devotion arose in him with faith toward the Supreme Self.
कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं तस्य वाचकस्य महात्मनः । एष विप्रो मुनिश्रेष्ठ ददौ स्वर्णस्य माषकम्
After circumambulating the great-hearted reciter, this Brahmin, O best of sages, gave a single measure of gold.
नान्यद्दानं कदा चक्रे लोभाविष्टेन चेतसा । पात्रदानात्फलप्राप्तिस्त्वस्य जाता न संशयः
He never gave any other gift, his mind seized by greed; yet, by giving to a worthy recipient, he certainly attained the fruit.
इत्येतत्कथितं कर्म आभ्यां चैव महामुने
Thus, O great sage, this act has been described, as performed by these two.