श्रीविष्णुरुवाच- पूर्वमासीन्महाबाहुर्ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । सदाध्ययनशीलस्तु देवशर्मा इति द्विजः
Śrī Viṣṇu said: Formerly, there was a mighty-armed Brāhmaṇa, well-versed in the Vedas, ever devoted to study, named Devaśarman.
अग्निहोत्रक्रियायुक्तः षट्कर्मनिरतः सदा । सर्ववर्णेषु संपूज्यः सपुत्रपशुबांधवः
He was engaged in the performance of agnihotra rituals, always devoted to the six duties, honored by all castes, and surrounded by sons, cattle, and relatives.
तस्य ब्राह्मणमुख्यस्य भग्ना च गृहवाहिनी । प्राप्ते भाद्रपदे मासे शुक्लपक्षे तु पंचमी
For that foremost Brāhmaṇa, his household provisions were exhausted when the month of Bhādrapada arrived, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight.
पितुःक्षयाहं कुरुते यतात्मा च जितेंद्रियः । रात्रौ निमंत्रयेद्विप्रान्सुखसौभाग्यदायकान्
With his father deceased, self-controlled and master of his senses, he invited Brāhmaṇas at night—those who bestow happiness and good fortune.
प्रभाते विमले प्राप्ते भांडान्यन्यानि कारयेत् । पाकं सर्वेषु पात्रेषु स कारयति जायया
When the pure morning arrived, he arranged various vessels, and with his wife, prepared food in all the pots.
अष्टादशरसोपेतं पितॄणां प्रीतिदायकम् । आकारणं ततो दत्त्वा विप्राणां च पृथक्पृथक्
He had dishes with eighteen flavors prepared, pleasing to the ancestors, and then, after making the proper offerings, gave them separately to the Brāhmaṇas.
सर्वे विप्रास्तु संप्राप्ता मध्याह्ने वेदपाठकाः । अर्घपाद्यादि विधिवत्कृतवान्द्विजसत्तमः
All the Brāhmaṇas, reciters of the Vedas, arrived at midday; the excellent twice-born performed the arghya, pādya, and other rites according to rule.
रजसा दूषितः श्राद्धे प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत्तदा । गृहमध्ये गताः सर्वे आसने ते निरूपिताः
Having been soiled by dust during the śrāddha, they washed themselves properly; then all entered the house and were seated in their assigned places.
प्रदत्तं भोजनं तेन मिष्टान्नेन विशेषतः । विधिना च कृतं श्राद्धं पिंडदानप्रपूर्वकम्
He served them food, especially with sweet rice, and performed 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 gave betel, gifts, and various garments—all to the Brāhmaṇas, being devoted to meditation on his ancestors.
विप्रा विसर्जिताः सर्वे आशीर्वादपरायणाः । गोत्रिणां बांधवानां च अन्येषां च बुभुक्षताम्
All the Brāhmaṇas, having been dismissed, were intent on giving blessings; he also fed the relatives of his lineage and others who were hungry.
दत्तमन्नं तदा तेन भोजने विधिपूर्वकम् । निशायां तु कुटीद्वारे उपविष्टो यदा तदा
He gave food to them all, in accordance with the rite; then, at night, as he sat at the door of his hut,
ब्राह्मण्या वारि संगृह्य पादप्रक्षालनं कृतम् । तदा शुनी बलीवर्दौ परस्परमभाषताम्
His wife brought water and washed 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 what the lady has done to me; I will tell you exactly as it happened, I do not speak otherwise.
कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन गताहं पुत्रसद्मनि । तत्रस्थितं पयः पातुं वध्वा दृष्टं न तत्पुनः
Once, by the will of fate, I went to the house of the son; there, as I stood, I saw the daughter-in-law drinking milk, but not again after that.
पीतं पयस्तु सर्पेण तद्दृष्टं तु मया पुनः । पश्चात्पीतं मया सम्यक्दृष्टं वध्वा तदा पुनः
The milk was drunk by a snake, and I saw that; afterwards, 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; from that pain, O master, I have become one afflicted by suffering, and with my hip broken, I no longer enjoy food.
बलीवर्द्द उवाच- शृणु त्वं शुनि वक्ष्यामि मम दुःखस्य कारणम् । अस्मिन्वै दिवसे प्राप्ते ब्राह्मणानां तु भोजनम्
The bull said: Listen, O she-dog, I will tell you the cause of my suffering. On this very day, when the Brāhmaṇas were fed,
कारितं मम पुत्रेण मम चिंता तु नो कृता । नोदकं न तृणं चैव न दत्तं केनचित्क्वचित्
My son performed the rites, but he did not think of me; neither water nor even a blade of grass was offered to me by anyone, anywhere.
अनाहारोह्यहं पापी बद्धोऽस्मिन्पापभावितः । पूर्वपापविशेषेण जातं शुनि न संशयः
I am sinful and unfed, bound here by the force of sin; because of a particular past misdeed, I have been born as a dog—there is no doubt.
तद्वाक्यं तु तदा देवि श्रुतं पुत्रेण धीमता । ममायं तु पिता साक्षाज्जातो मम गृहे पशुः
At that time, O Devi, the wise son heard those words: 'This is indeed my father, who has been born as an animal in my own house.'
इयं तु जननी साक्षान्मम चैव न संशयः । दैवयोगाच्छुनी जाता किं करोमि सुनिश्चयम्
'And this is indeed my mother, there is no doubt; by the force of fate, she has been born as a female dog. What can I do? This is certain.'
एवं विचार्यासौ विप्रो नैव निद्रामवाप सः । रात्रौ चिंतापरो भूत्वा स्मरन्विश्वेश्वरं परम्
Thinking in this way, that Brahmin could not sleep; throughout the night, absorbed in worry, he remembered the supreme Lord of all.
नानाधर्मपरोऽहं च ममैवं च कथं शुभम् । विचारयित्वा च ततो रात्रौ सुप्तस्तदा पुनः
'I am devoted to many kinds of dharma, yet how can there be good for me in this way?' After considering thus, he finally slept again that 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 welcomed him warmly.
ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तवागमनकारणम् । इति पृष्टस्तदा विप्रः प्रणाममकरोत्तदा
'Tell us, best of Brahmins, the reason for your coming.' Thus questioned, the Brahmin 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 fruitful; today my ancestors are satisfied, for I have gained your rare audience.'
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; all the householders have likewise been given food.'
भोजनानंतरं प्राप्ता शुनी तत्र उवाच ह । अस्माकं तु गृहे ह्येको बलीवर्दस्तु वर्त्तते
After the meal was finished, the female dog spoke there: 'In our house, there is one bull.'
तं पतिं प्रतिवाक्यं यद्दिवज मत्तः शृणुष्व तत् । गृहेस्थितं दुग्धभांडमहिना दूषितं मया
'Hear, husband, what I say to you: while at home, I contaminated the milk vessel with poison.'