अग्निहोत्रक्रियायुक्तः षट्कर्मनिरतः सदा । सर्ववर्णेषु संपूज्यः सपुत्रपशुबांधवः
Engaged in the Agnihotra ritual and always devoted to the six duties, he is to be honored among all castes, together with his sons, cattle, and relatives.
तस्य ब्राह्मणमुख्यस्य भग्ना च गृहवाहिनी । प्राप्ते भाद्रपदे मासे शुक्लपक्षे तु पंचमी
For that foremost Brahmin, when his household fire has been extinguished, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada,
पितुःक्षयाहं कुरुते यतात्मा च जितेंद्रियः । रात्रौ निमंत्रयेद्विप्रान्सुखसौभाग्यदायकान्
He, self-controlled and with senses subdued, performs the death anniversary of his father, and at night invites Brahmins who bestow happiness and good fortune.
प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते भांडान्यन्यानि कारयेत् । पाकं सर्वेषु पात्रेषु स कारयति जायया
When the pure morning arrives, he arranges various vessels, and with his wife prepares the food in all the pots.
अष्टादशरसोपेतं पितॄणां प्रीतिदायकम् । आकारणं ततो दत्त्वा विप्राणां च पृथक्पृथक्
He prepares eighteen kinds of dishes, pleasing to the ancestors, and then, after making the offerings, gives them separately to the Brahmins.
सर्वे विप्रास्तु संप्राप्ता मध्याह्ने वेदपाठकाः । अर्घपाद्यादि विधिवत्कृतवान्द्विजसत्तमः
All the Brahmins, reciters of the Vedas, arrive at midday; the best of twice-borns properly performs the welcoming rites such as arghya and pādya.
रजसा दूषितः श्राद्धे प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत्तदा । गृहमध्ये गताः सर्वे आसने ते निरूपिताः
Having been defiled by dust during the śrāddha, they then properly wash themselves; all enter the house and are seated in their assigned places.
प्रदत्तं भोजनं तेन मिष्टान्नेन विशेषतः । विधिना च कृतं श्राद्धं पिंडदानप्रपूर्वकम्
He gives them food, especially with sweet rice, and performs the śrāddha according to the rite, beginning with the offering of rice-balls.
तांबूलं दक्षिणां चैव वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । सर्वं ददौ द्विजेभ्यो वै पितृध्यानपरायणः
He gives betel, gifts, and various garments to the Brahmins, being devoted to meditation on the ancestors.
विप्रा विसर्जिताः सर्वे आशीर्वादपरायणाः । गोत्रिणां बांधवानां च अन्येषां च बुभुक्षताम्
All the Brahmins, having been dismissed, are intent on giving blessings; to the hungry among his kinsmen and others,
दत्तमन्नं तदा तेन भोजने विधिपूर्वकम् । निशायां तु कुटीद्वारे उपविष्टो यदा तदा
He gives food at that time, in accordance with the proper rite; and when, at night, he is seated at the door of his hut,
ब्राह्मण्या वारि संगृह्य पादप्रक्षालनं कृतम् । तदा शुनी बलीवर्दौ परस्परमभाषताम्
His wife brings water and washes his feet; then the she-dog and the bull began to speak to each other.
शृणु कांत वचो मह्यं यादृक्कृतवती वधूः । तादृशं संप्रवक्ष्यामि नान्यथा प्रब्रवीम्यहम्
Listen, dear one, to my words: I will tell you exactly what the lady did; I do not speak otherwise.
कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन गताहं पुत्रसद्मनि । तत्रस्थितं पयः पातुं वध्वा दृष्टं न तत्पुनः
Once, by the will of fate, I went to my son's house; there I saw the daughter-in-law about to drink milk, but did not see her do so again.
पीतं पयस्तु सर्पेण तद्दृष्टं तु मया पुनः । पश्चात्पीतं मया सम्यक्दृष्टं वध्वा तदा पुनः
The milk was drunk by a snake, and I saw that; later, I saw the daughter-in-law drink it properly.
तेन संपर्कदोषेणकटिर्भग्ना च मे सदा । तेन दुःखेन भो स्वामिन्जाताहं दुःखभागिनी । भग्ना कटिश्च संजाता ह्याहारो नैव रोचते
Because of contact with that, my hip has always been broken; because of that pain, O master, I have become one who suffers; my hip is broken, and I have no appetite for food.
बलीवर्द्द उवाच- शृणु त्वं शुनि वक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम् । अस्मिन्वै दिवसे प्राप्ते ब्राह्मणानां तु भोजनम्
The bull said: Listen, O dog, I will tell you the cause of my suffering. On this very day, when the Brahmins were fed,
कारितं मम पुत्रेण मम चिंता तु नो कृता । नोदकं न तृणं चैव न दत्तं केनचित्क्वचित्
It was arranged by my son, but he did not think of me; neither water nor grass was given to me by anyone, anywhere.
अनाहारोह्यहं पापी बद्धोऽस्मिन्पापभावितः । पूर्वपापविशेषेण जातं शुनि न संशयः
I am indeed sinful and without food, bound here, shaped by sin; because of a particular past sin, I was born as a dog—there is no doubt.
तद्वाक्यं तु तदा देवि श्रुतं पुत्रेण धीमता । ममायं तु पिता साक्षाज्जातो मम गृहे पशुः
Then, O Devi, that statement was heard by the wise son: 'This is truly my father, born as an animal in my house.'
इयं तु जननी साक्षान्मम चैव न संशयः । दैवयोगाच्छुनी जाता किं करोमि सुनिश्चयम्
And this is certainly my mother, there is no doubt; by the force of fate, she was born as a bitch—what can I do, it is certain.
एवं विचार्यासौ विप्रो नैव निद्रामवाप सः । रात्रौ चिंतापरो भूत्वा स्मरन्विश्वेश्वरं परम्
Thus reflecting, that brāhmaṇa did not obtain sleep; becoming absorbed in thought during the night, he remembered the supreme Lord of all.
नानाधर्मपरोऽहं च ममैवं च कथं शुभम् । विचारयित्वा च ततो रात्रौ सुप्तस्तदा पुनः
I am devoted to various duties, yet how can there be auspiciousness for me in this way? Having considered thus, he again slept during the night.
प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते ऋषीणां पुरतो गतः । तेषां मध्ये वसिष्ठेन तस्य सुस्वागतं कृतम्
When the pure morning arrived, he went before the sages; among them, Vasiṣṭha gave him a warm welcome.
ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तवागमनकारणम् । इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्रः प्रणाममकरोत्तदा
Speak, best of brāhmaṇas, the reason for your coming. Thus questioned, the brāhmaṇa then offered his respects.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफला क्रिया । अद्य मे पितरस्तृप्ता दुर्लभात्तव दर्शनात्
Today my birth is fruitful, today my actions are fulfilled; today my ancestors are satisfied, for your sight is rare.
यथोक्तं च कृतं श्राद्धं द्विजाश्चैव सुभोजिताः । कुटुंबिनां तु सर्वेषां भोजनं कारितं तथा
As prescribed, the śrāddha has been performed, and the twice-born have been well fed; likewise, all the householders have been given food.
भोजनानंतरं प्राप्ता शुनी तत्र उवाच ह । अस्माकं तु गृहे ह्येको बलीवर्दस्तु वर्त्तते
After the meal, the bitch arrived there and spoke: 'In our house, there is only one bull that remains.'
तं पतिं प्रतिवाक्यं यद्दिवज मत्तः शृणुष्व तत् । गृहेस्थितं दुग्धभांडमहिना दूषितं मया
Hear, husband, what reply I give you: the milk pot kept in the house was defiled by a snake, and I saw it.
दृष्टं मे महती चिंता तदा जाता न संशयः । अनेन पयसा चैव पक्वमन्नं यदा भवेत्
Great anxiety arose in me upon seeing this, without doubt; if cooked food were made with that milk,