उदयादित्यसंकाशो विभावसुसमद्युतिः
He shone with the radiance of the rising sun, brilliant like fire.
गतो ददर्श तं रौद्रं पिशाचं च भयावहम्
He went and saw that fierce and terrifying piśāca.
दृष्ट्वा तं शकटारूढं ब्राह्मणं शाकटायनम् 5.2.68.
Seeing Śākaṭāyana, the Brāhmaṇa, riding on a cart,
तथारूपः पिशाचस्तु कर्णाभ्यां बधिरीकृतः तं धावंतं समालोक्य पिशाचं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्
That piśāca, in such a form, was made deaf in both ears; seeing him running, the Brāhmaṇa spoke to the piśāca.
पिशाच त्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे
O piśāca, you appear frightened and are seen to be hurrying.
पिशाच उवाच शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयंकरम्
The piśāca said: Hearing the loud and terrifying sound of this great cart,
ब्राह्मण उवाच पिशाचानां बलिष्ठाश्च श्रूयंते ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
The Brahmin said: Among the Piśācas, the Brahmarākṣasas are known to be the most powerful.
पिशाच उवाच दुःखं हि मृत्युः सर्वेषां जीवितं च सुदुर्ल्लभम्
The Piśāca said: Truly, death is suffering for all, and life is exceedingly difficult to obtain.
पैशाची कुत्सिता योनिः पापिनामेव जायते
The Piśāca birth is a vile womb, and it arises only for the sinful.
तस्माज्जीवितुमिच्छामि प्रसीद ब्रह्मराक्षस
Therefore, I wish to live—be gracious, O Brahmarākṣasa.
सर्वभूतहितार्थाय विचरामि महीतले
For the welfare of all beings, I wander upon the earth.
सर्वेषामेव जंतूनां मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते
It is said that a Brahmin is a friend to all living creatures.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पिशाचः स्वस्थमानसः 5.2.68.
Hearing those words, the Piśāca became calm in mind.
यदि ते सर्वभूतानां दत्ता ह्यभयदक्षिणा
If you have indeed granted the gift of fearlessness to all beings—
पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग संशयो हृदये स्थितः
I ask you, O greatly fortunate one, for a doubt remains in my heart.
केन कर्मविपाकेन पैशाचं याति मानवः
By what action and its result does a human attain a Piśāca birth?
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पिशाचस्य वरानने
Hearing these words of the Piśāca, O beautiful-faced one—
अपहृत्य च विप्रस्वं देवस्वं च विशेषतः
One who steals the property of a Brahmin, and especially the property of the gods—
पितरं मातरं चैव स्त्रियं बालं द्विजं तथा
One who harms father, mother, woman, child, or a twice-born—
राजद्रव्यं गृहीत्वा तु न यजेन्न ददाति यः
One who takes royal wealth but does not perform sacrifices or give gifts—
विश्वासघातका ये च परदाररताश्च ये
Those who betray trust, and those who delight in another's wife—
निंदंति ये पुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वदा
Those who always revile the Purāṇas and the Dharma-śāstras—
इति ते कथितं सर्वं वेदप्रामाण्यतोऽधुना ।। 5.2.68.
Thus, all has been told to you, based on the authority of the Vedas.
सोमको नाम शूद्रस्त्वं परमर्मप्रकाशकः
You are Somaka by name, a Śūdra, and a revealer of the highest secrets.
नास्तिको भिन्नमर्यादो जन्मन्यत्रापि सप्तमे
The atheist who violates proper conduct will be born elsewhere, even in the seventh birth.
पिशाचयोनिं संप्राप्तः पुनः प्राप्स्यसि रौरवम् यंत्रपीडनकं रौद्रं मथनं कुम्भवालुकम्
You will attain the birth of a fiend, and again enter the terrible Raurava hell, the tormenting machine, the fierce grinding, and the sand-filled pot.
इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनि
Thus spoke that illustrious Brahmin.
दुःखाभिभूतो निश्चेष्टो धिग्धिगित्यसकृद्ब्रुवन्
Overwhelmed by suffering, motionless, he repeatedly cried out 'Alas! Alas!'
अहो केनापि पुण्येन भवता सह दर्शनम्
Ah! By some merit, I have been granted this meeting with you.
नास्ति धर्मसमं मित्रं नास्ति धर्मसमा गतिः
There is no friend equal to righteousness; there is no path equal to righteousness.