कुतस्त्वमिह संप्राप्तः कस्मात्ते गतिरीदृशी
How have you come here, and what has brought you to such a state?
अस्माकं तापसानां च न भयं त्वद्विधान्मनाक्
For ascetics like us, there is no fear at all from someone like you.
तापसोदीरितमिति तद्रक्षः प्रीतिपूवर्कम्
Hearing these words spoken by the ascetic, that spirit became pleased.
अनुक्रोशोस्ति यदि ते भगवंस्तापसोत्तम
If you have compassion, O venerable and foremost ascetic,
प्रतिष्ठानाभिधानोस्ति देशो गोदावरी तटे
There is a place called Pratiṣṭhāna on the bank of the Godāvarī.
तेन कर्मविपाकेन प्राप्तोस्मि गतिमीदृशीम्
By the result of my actions, I have attained this condition.
गतो बहुतरः कालस्तत्र मे वसतो मुने
A long time passed there while I was living, O sage.
वर्षत्यपि महामेघे धारासारैर्दिवानिशम् 4.2.54.
Even when great clouds poured heavy rain day and night,
पर्वण्यदत्तदाना ये कृततीर्थप्रतिग्रहाः
Those who gave gifts on festival days and accepted holy bathing places—
गते बहुतिथे काले मरुभूमौ मुने मया
After much time had passed there in the desert, O sage, by me,
सूर्योदयमनुप्राप्य संध्याविधिविवर्जितः
At sunrise, without performing the rites of twilight,
मुक्तकच्छमशौचं च संध्याकर्मविवर्जितम्
With loosened garments, without purification, and neglecting the twilight duties,
स द्विजो मंदभाग्यान्मे केनचिद्वणिजा सह
That twice-born man, of little fortune for me, together with a merchant,
अंतःपुरि प्रविष्टोभूत्स द्विजो मुनिसत्तम
That twice-born man entered the inner quarters, O best of sages.
प्रवेशो नास्ति चास्माकं प्रेतानां तपसां निधे
We, O treasure of ascetics, have no entry there, being spirits.
अद्यापि तानि पापानि तद्बहिर्निर्गमेच्छया
Even now, those sins remain because of the desire to go outside.
अद्य श्वो वा परश्वो वा स बहिर्निर्गमिष्यति
Today, or tomorrow, or the day after, he will go outside.
नाद्यापि स बहिर्गच्छेन्नाद्याप्याशा प्रयाति नः 4.2.54.
Even today he has not gone outside, nor has our hope yet departed.
चित्रमद्यतनं वच्मि तपस्विंस्तन्निशामय
I will tell you a remarkable event of today; O ascetic, listen to it.
आप्रयागं प्रतिदिनं प्रयामः क्षुधिता वयम्
Every day we travel to Prayāga, hungry as we are.
संति सर्वत्र फलिनः पादपाः प्रतिकाननम्
Fruit-bearing trees are found everywhere, in every forest.
अन्यान्यपि च भक्ष्याणि सर्वेषां सुलभान्यहो
There are also other edible things, all easily available—ah!
परं नो दृग्गतान्येव दूरे दूरे व्रजंत्यहो
Yet, whatever appears before our eyes always moves far away, again and again—ah!
तस्यांतिकमहं प्राप्तः क्षुधया परिपीडितः
When I approached one, tormented by hunger,
यावत्तं तु जिघृक्षामि तावत्तद्वदनांबुजात्
Just as I was about to seize it, from that lotus-like mouth,
शिवनामस्मरणतो मदीयमपि पातकम्
By remembering the name of Shiva, even my own sin
सीमस्थैः प्रमथैर्नाहं सद्यो दृग्गोचरीकृतः
I was not immediately made visible to the Pramathas stationed at the boundary.
अंतर्गेहस्य सीमानं प्राप्तस्तेन सहाधुना 4.2.54.
Now, together with him, I have reached the boundary of the inner house.
आत्मानं बहुमन्येहं त्वां विलोक्याधुना मुने
Seeing you now, O sage, I consider myself fortunate.
इति प्रेतवचः श्रुत्वा स कृपालुस्तपोधनः
Hearing these words of the ghost, the compassionate ascetic,