तत्सर्वं लुब्धको दृष्ट्वा चौर्यार्थं समुपागतः
The hunter, who had come there with the intent to steal, saw all of this.
चंद्रशर्माणमाभाष्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Addressing Candraśarmā, he spoke these words:
राज्ञा सुकृतिना दत्तं व्योमदीपं मनोहरम्
A virtuous king gave a beautiful sky-lamp.
तैलं पीत्वा तु तत्पात्रं सदीपं तु मनोहरम्
After drinking the oil, that vessel along with the lovely lamp,
मार्जारोऽप्यागतस्तत्र ग्रहीतुं पक्षिपुंगवम्
A cat also came there to seize the foremost of birds.
त्वन्मुखात्कथ्यमानां हि कथां शुश्रुवतुः क्षणम्
For a moment, they both listened to the story being told by you.
तौ वृक्षात्पतितौ मृत्युं प्राप्तौ च क्षणमात्रतः
Those two fell from the tree and met death in but a moment.
तदाश्चर्यमहं दृष्ट्वा त्वां प्रष्टुं समुपागतः 2.4.7.
Seeing this wonder, I have come to question you.
तिर्यग्योनिसमापन्नौ मुक्तौ केन च कर्मणा
Having entered the animal womb, by what deed were they liberated?
शृणु लुब्ध प्रवक्ष्यामि तयोर्वृत्तांतमंजसा
Listen, greedy one, I will plainly tell you their story.
देवशर्मा इति प्रोक्तो देवद्रव्याऽपहारकः
He was called Devaśarman, a thief of divine property.
तस्मिन्देवालये प्राप्तं तैलं द्रव्यादिकं तथा
In that temple, he took oil and other goods as well.
आयुर्नीत्वैवमेवाऽसौ ततः पंचत्वमागतः
Having spent his life thus, he then met his end.
निरुच्छ्वासं तथा प्राप्य असिपत्रवनं क्रमात्
Having become breathless, he gradually reached the sword-leaf forest.
अनुभूय च तान्सर्वान्ब्रह्मराक्षसतां गतः
After experiencing all those things, he became a Brahmarākṣasa.
एवं जन्मशतं प्राप्य भूमौ मार्जारतां गतः निर्मुक्ताऽखिलपापस्तु अगमद्धरिमंदिरम्
After obtaining a hundred births in this way, he became a cat on earth; freed from all sins, he reached the abode of Hari.
गृध्रोऽयं तु पुरा विप्रो मिथिले वेदपारगः
This vulture was formerly a learned Brāhmaṇa in Mithilā.
दासीसंगं चकारासौ वेश्यासंगं तथैव च 2.4.7.
He consorted with a maidservant, and likewise with a courtesan.
कुंभीपाके महाघोरे स्थित्वा युगचतुष्टयम्
He remained in the dreadful Kumbhīpāka hell for four ages.
दैवेन चोदितो गृध्रस्तैलपानार्थमागतः
Urged by fate, the vulture came for the sake of drinking oil.
दत्त्वा चाकाशदीपं च श्रुत्वा चैव हरेः कथाम्
Having offered the sky-lamp and listened to the story of Hari,
इत्येतत्सर्वमाख्यातं लुब्ध गच्छ यथासुखम्
All this has been told to you; greedy one, go as you please.
व्रतं चाकाशदीपस्य चकार विधिवन्मुने
He performed the vow of the sky-lamp according to the prescribed rule, O sage.
सुनंदोपि महाराज आश्चर्यं समुपागतः
And Sunanda too, O great king, was filled with wonder.
प्रातः स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कार्तिके मासि वै नृपः
In the month of Kārtika, the king, having bathed in the morning and become pure,
रात्रौ दद्याद्व्योमदीपं मंत्रेणानेन वै नृपः
At night, the king should offer the sky-lamp with this mantra.
दामोदराय विश्वाय विश्वरूपधराय च निर्विघ्नं कुरु देवेश यावन्मासः समाप्यते
"To Dāmodara, the all-pervading, the one who assumes all forms—O lord of gods, let this be without obstacle until the month is complete."
व्रतेनाऽनेन देवेश त्वयि भक्तिः प्रवर्द्धताम् 2.4.7.
"By this vow, O lord of gods, may devotion to you increase."
ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते च पुनर्व्योमदीपं ददाति हि
Again, at the Brāhma-muhūrta, he offers the sky-lamp.
उत्सर्गस्य विधिं कृत्वा व्योम्नि दीपं समाप्य च
Having performed the rite of release and completed the sky-lamp in the sky,