तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामो याथातथ्येन कथ्यताम् तस्मात्कथ भो विप्र सर्वं शुश्रूषतां हि नः॥ ३३.
We wish to hear all this; tell it truthfully. Therefore, O sage, narrate everything to us who are eager to listen.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन शौनकेन महात्मना ३३.
Thus addressed at that time by the great-souled Śaunaka,
आसीत्पुरा महारौद्रश्चडोनाम दुरात्मवान् ३३.
Long ago there was a most terrible and wicked man named Chaḍa.
जालेन मत्स्यान्दुष्टात्मा घातयत्यनिशं खलु ३३.
With nets, this evil-hearted man would ceaselessly kill fish.
खड्गांश्चैव च दुष्टात्मा दृष्ट्वा कांश्चिच्च पापवान् ३३.
And this wicked man, whenever he saw certain birds, would also, being sinful, kill them with swords.
लुब्धको हि महापापो दुष्टो दुष्टजनप्रियः ३३.
Indeed, the hunter was exceedingly sinful, wicked, and beloved by evil people.
एवं विहरतस्तस्य बहुकालोत्यवर्तत ३३.
In this way, much time passed as he continued his ways.
निषंगे जलमादाय क्षुत्पिपासार्द्दितो भृशम् कोलं हंतुं धनुष्पाणिर्जाग्रच्चानिमिषेण हि॥ ३३.
One day, tormented by hunger and thirst, he took water in his quiver and, bow in hand, stayed awake without blinking, ready to kill a boar.
माघमासेऽसितायां वै चतुर्दश्यामथाग्रतः ३३.
Then, in the month of Māgha, on the dark fourteenth day, he stood there.
श्रीवृक्षपर्णानि बहूनि तत्र स च्छेदयामास रुषान्वितोपि ३३.
There, even though filled with anger, he cut down many leaves from a sacred tree.
ववर्ष गंडूषजलं दुरात्मा यदृच्छया तानि शिवे पतंति ३३.
By chance, the wicked man poured water from his mouth, and those drops fell upon Śiva.
गंडूषवारिणा तेन स्नपनं च कृतं महत् ३३.
With that water from his mouth, a great ablution was performed.
अज्ञानेनापि भो विप्राः पुष्कसेन दुरात्मना ३३.
O Brahmins, even though it was done in ignorance, this evil-hearted Puṣkasa did it.
पुष्कसोऽथ दुराचारो वॉक्षादवततार सः ३३.
Then Puṣkasa, of wicked conduct, descended from the tree.
लुब्ध कस्यापि भार्याभून्नाम्ना चैव घनोदरी ३३.
The hunter had a wife named Ghanodarī.
गृहान्निर्गत्य सायाह्ने पुरद्वारबहिः स्थिता ३३.
In the evening, she left the house and stood outside the city gate.
चिराद्भर्तरी नायाते चिन्तयामास लुब्धकी ३३.
As her husband did not return for a long time, the hunter's wife began to worry.
तमः स्तोमेन संछन्नाश्चतस्रो विदिशो दिशः ३३.
The four directions were covered in darkness and gloom.
किं वा केसरलोभेन सिंहेनैव विदारितः ३३.
Has he, perhaps, been torn apart by a lion, greedy for flesh?
किं वा वराहदंष्ट्राग्रघातैः पंचत्वमागतः ३३.
Or has he met his end from the blows of a boar's tusks?
क्वान्वेषयामि पृच्छामि क्व गच्छामि च कं प्रति ३३.
Where shall I search, whom shall I ask, where shall I go, and to whom?
नैवान्नं नो जलं किंचिन्न भुक्तं तद्दिने तया ३३.
That day, I did not eat any food nor drink any water because of her.
अथ प्रभाते विमले पुष्कसी वनमाययौ ३३.
Then, at dawn, in the clear morning, Puṣkasī went to the forest.
भ्रममाणावने तस्मिन्ददर्श महतीं नदीम् ३३.
As she wandered in that forest, she saw a great river.
तदन्नं कूलनः स्थाप्य नदीं तर्तुं प्रचक्रमे ३३.
Placing that food on the riverbank, she began to cross the river.
तावत्तयोक्तश्चण्डोऽसावेहि शीघ्रं च भक्षय ३३.
Just then, that fierce one said to her, 'Come quickly and eat.'
कृतं किमद्य रे मंद गतेऽहनि च किं कृतम् ३३.
'What have you done today, O slow one? What have you accomplished as the day passes?'
नद्यां स्नातौ तथा तौ च दम्पती च शुचि व्रतौ ३३.
After bathing in the river, both of them, the couple, remained pure and observant of their vows.
तेन सर्वं भक्षितं च तदन्नं स्वयमेव हि ३३.
Then all that food was eaten by him alone.
आवयोर्भक्षितं चान्नमनेनैव च पापिना ३३.
The food of both of us was eaten by this very sinner.