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,
स्वोदरं भर यः सर्वे पशुपक्षिमृगादयः
All creatures—animals, birds, beasts, and others—sustain their own bellies.
तपसाद्य निजेनाहं प्रेतमेतमघातुरम्
By my own austerity, I shall relieve this sin-afflicted ghost.
विमृश्येति स वै चित्ते पिशाचं प्राह सत्तमः
Thinking thus in his mind, the noble one addressed the piśāca.
पिशाच ते पिशाचत्वं तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः
O piśāca, your piśāca-nature will be removed by the power of this holy place.
श्रुत्वेति स मुनेर्वाक्यं प्रेतः प्राह प्रणम्य तम्
Hearing the sage's words, the ghost bowed and spoke to him.
पानीयं पातुमपि नो लभेयं मुनिसत्तम । स्नानस्य का कथा नाथ रक्षेयुर्जलदेवताः
O best of sages, I cannot even obtain water to drink; what talk is there of bathing, O lord, when the water-deities protect it?
पानस्याप्यत्र का वार्ता जलस्पर्शोपि दुर्लभः
What talk is there of drinking here, when even touching water is difficult?
उवाच च तपस्वी तं जगदुद्धरणक्षमः 4.2.54.
And the ascetic, capable of rescuing the world, spoke to him.
अस्माद्विभूतिमाहात्म्यात्प्रेत कोपि न कुत्रचित्
Because of the greatness of this sacred ash, no departed soul suffers anywhere.
भालं विभूतिधवलं विलोक्य यमकिंकराः
Seeing the forehead whitened with sacred ash, the servants of Yama,
अस्थिध्वजांकितं दृष्ट्वा यथा पांथा जलाशयम्
Upon seeing the mark of the ash-banner, just as a traveler sees a water reservoir,
कृतभूति तनुत्राणं शिवमंत्रैर्नरोत्तमम्
Having protected the body with sacred ash and Shiva's mantras, the best of men,
सर्वेभ्यो दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्यो यतो रक्षेदहर्निशम्
He is protected day and night from all evil beings.
भासनाद्भर्त्सनाद्भस्म पांसुः पांसुत्वदायतः
From shining and rebuking, the ash becomes dust, extended into dustiness.
गृहीत्वा धारमध्यात्स भस्म प्रेतकरेऽर्पयत्
Taking it, he placed the ash in the hand of the departed.
विभूतिधारिणं वीक्ष्य पिशाचं जलदेवताः
Seeing the bearer of sacred ash, the water deities regarded the ghost.
स्नात्वा पीत्वा स निर्गच्छेद्यावत्तस्माज्जलाशयात् 4.2.54.७
After bathing and drinking, he should depart from that reservoir of water.
दिव्यमालांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः
Wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with heavenly fragrances,
गच्छता तेन गगने स तपस्वी नमस्कृतः
As he went through the sky, that ascetic was saluted.
तस्मात्कदर्ययोनित्वादतीव परिनिंदितात्
Therefore, from that low and greatly condemned birth,