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,
तदात्र सर्वे विप्राश्च म्रियंते भोजनात्ततः । एवं विचार्य तत्स्वामिन्दुग्धं पीतं तदा मया
then all the brāhmaṇas here would die from eating it; thinking thus, I, the mistress, drank the milk at that time.
तदा दृष्टं तु वध्वा वै तया मे ताडनं कृतम् । चरामि तेन संभग्ना किं करोमि सुदुःखिता
Then, having been seen by the wife, she struck me; because of that, I wander about, broken—what can I do, so miserable?
तस्या दुःखं तु संस्मृत्य वृषः प्राह शुनीं प्रति । शृणु शुनि प्रवक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम्
Remembering her suffering, the bull spoke to the bitch: 'Listen, O bitch, I will tell you the cause of my suffering.'
अस्याहं तु पिता साक्षात्पूर्वजन्मनि वै शुनि । अद्य वै भोजिता विप्रा दत्तमन्नं तु भूरिशः
I was indeed her father in a previous birth, O bitch; today the brāhmaṇas have been fed, and much food has been given.
न तृणं नोदकं चैव ममाग्रे संनिवेदितम् । तेन दुःखेन मे दुःखं जातं बहुतरं तदा
But neither grass nor water was offered to me; because of that suffering, my own suffering became much greater.
एतत्कथानकं श्रुत्वा रात्रौ निद्रामवाप न । मम चिंता तु तत्रैव जाता वै ऋषिसत्तम
Hearing this story, I did not sleep at night; my anxiety remained there, O best of sages.
वेदाध्ययनशीलोऽहं कुशलो वेदकर्मणि । अनयोश्च महद्दुःखं किं करोमीति चिंतयन् । आगतस्त्वत्समीपे तु ममकष्टं निवारय
I am devoted to Vedic study and skilled in Vedic rituals. Thinking, 'What can I do about the great suffering of these two?' I have come to you; please remove my distress.
ऋषिरुवाच- उग्रजन्मन्शृणुष्व त्वं पूर्वजन्मनि यत्कृतम् । अयं वै तु द्विजश्रेष्ठो कुंडने नगरे शुभे
The sage said: Fierce-born one, listen to what was done in a previous birth. This excellent twice-born was in the auspicious city of Kundana.
मासे भाद्रपदे चैव पंचमी या समागता । तद्व्रतं तेन नाज्ञातं पितुः श्राद्धादिकारणात्
In the month of Bhādrapada, on the fifth day, that vow was not observed by him because of performing his father's śrāddha and related rites.
स्त्रीधर्मेण तु संप्राप्ता क्षयहेतु तदानघ । तया चैव कृतं सर्वं ब्राह्मणानां च भोजनम्
It was undertaken by a woman, and thus became a cause of decline. She performed all the offerings to the Brāhmaṇas.
न ज्ञातं च कृतं तेन पापिष्ठेन दुरात्मना । प्रथमेऽहनि चांडाली द्वितीये ब्रह्मघातिनी
He, wicked and evil-minded, did not know what was done. On the first day she became a cāṇḍālī, on the second a Brahmin-slayer.
तृतीये रजकी प्रोक्ता चतुर्थेऽहनि शुध्यति । तेन पापेन सा जाता शुनी स्वगृहचारिणी । बलीवर्दस्त्वयं जातः कर्मणानेन सुव्रत
On the third day she was called a washerwoman; on the fourth day she is purified. Because of that sin, she became a female dog roaming her own house. This one became an ox due to that action, O virtuous one.
उग्रजन्मोवाच- व्रतं दानं तथा यज्ञं तीर्थं वाममसुव्रत । ब्रूहि येन विशेषेण मुक्तिः पित्रोर्भवेन्मम
The fierce-born said: Tell me, O virtuous one, by what special vow, gift, sacrifice, or pilgrimage my parents may attain liberation.
ऋषिरुवाच- मासे भाद्रपदे शुक्ले जायते ऋषिपंचमी । रजसा विकृतं पापं नश्यते करणाद्यतः
The sage said: In the bright fortnight of Bhādrapada, the Ṛṣi Pañcamī arises. By performing it, sin caused by impurity is destroyed.
पुत्रपौत्रप्रदात्री च पितॄणां मुक्तिदायिनी । नद्या कूपे तडागे वा ब्राह्मणस्य गृहे तथा
It grants sons and grandsons, and gives liberation to ancestors. Whether at a river, well, pond, or in a Brāhmaṇa's house.
गोमयं मंडलं कुर्यात्कुंभं तत्रैव विन्यसेत् । तस्योपरि न्यसेत्पात्रमृषिधान्येन पूरितम् 6.77.
One should make a circle of cow dung and place a pot there. Upon it, set a vessel filled with ṛṣi grains.
यज्ञोपवीतसूत्रं च सहिरण्यं फलं तथा । स्थाप्याश्च ऋषयः सप्त सुखसौभाग्यदायकाः
A sacred thread, gold, and fruit should be placed there. The seven sages, who bestow happiness and prosperity, should be installed.
आवाहयित्वा ते सर्वे पूजनीया व्रतस्थितैः । नैवेद्यमृषिधान्यं च ऋषिधान्यं तु भोजनम्
After inviting them all, those observing the vow should worship them. ṛṣi grains should be offered as food, and the sages should be fed with those grains.
एकभक्तेन कर्तव्यमृषीणामर्चनं तदा । पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या मंत्रेण विधिपूर्वकम्
Worship of the sages should be done with a single meal, with utmost devotion and proper recitation of mantras.
निर्वापं सघृतं देयं दक्षिणासंयुतं तदा । देयं विप्राय विधिवदृषीणां प्रीयतां प्रति
Oblations with ghee should be given, accompanied by gifts. It should be given to a Brāhmaṇa according to the rite, for the satisfaction of the sages.