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.
मग्नोऽहं दुःखजलधौ मग्नोऽहं पापकर्दमे
I am submerged in the ocean of sorrow; I am sunk in the mire of sin.
नमस्तेऽस्तु महाभाग किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्
Salutations to you, O greatly fortunate one! What should I do? Guide me.
एवं निगदतस्तस्य पिशाचस्य वरानने 5.2.68.
Thus, as that fiend spoke to the radiant one,
पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि आसमुद्रगतानि वै
All the sacred places on earth, even those reaching the ocean,
महाकालवनं क्षेत्रं प्रलयेऽप्यक्षयं गतम्
The field of Mahākālavana remains imperishable even at the time of dissolution.
ढुंढेश्वरस्य देवस्य दक्षिणे त्रिदशार्चितम् तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पिशाचत्वात्प्रमोक्ष्यसे
To the south of the god Dhundheśvara, worshipped by the gods, by merely seeing it, you will be freed from being a fiend.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स पिशाचो वरानने
Hearing those words, the fiend spoke to the radiant one,
महाकालवने पुण्ये समीहितफलप्रदे
In the holy Mahākālavana, which grants the desired fruits,
दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य स पिशाचो वरानने
By seeing that liṅga, the fiend, O radiant one,
दिव्यं विमानमारूढो गतो लोके सनातने
Mounted a divine aerial chariot and went to the eternal world.