उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य को गुणः
What virtue is there in being good to those who do good to you?
एवमुक्त्वा स तं शिष्यं ततो मामिदमब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, he then said this to his disciple:
नान्यथा वचनं भावि मम शिष्यस्य पन्नग
O serpent, my words to my disciple will not turn out otherwise.
प्रसादं कुरु दीनस्य शापस्याज्ञानिनस्तथा
Show mercy to the wretched one, who is ignorant of the curse.
न तस्य शक्यते कर्तुं संख्या धर्मस्य भद्रक
O fortunate one, the measure of his righteousness cannot be reckoned.
मुहूर्तमपि यो विघ्नं करोति च महोत्सवे
Even one who causes an obstacle for a moment during a great festival—
शैवं षडक्षरं मंत्रं योजपेच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः
One should recite with faith the six-syllable Śaiva mantra.
दशभिर्दिनजं पापं विंशत्या वत्सरोद्भवम्
By it, the sin accumulated in ten days, or that arising in twenty years, is destroyed.
तस्मात्त्वं जलमध्यस्थस्तं मंत्रं जप सादरम् ६.२९.
Therefore, you, standing in the midst of water, should respectfully recite that mantra.
यदा त्वां जलमध्यस्थं वत्सोनाम द्विजो रुषा
When, while you are standing in the water, a brāhmaṇa named Vatson, in anger—
तस्माद्गच्छ द्रुतं सर्प स्थानादस्माज्जलाशये
Therefore, go quickly, O serpent, from this place to the water-reservoir.
ततोऽहं दुःखसंयुक्तः संप्राप्तोऽत्र जलाशये
Then, afflicted by suffering, I arrived here at the water-reservoir.
त्वत्प्रसादादहं मुक्तः सर्पत्वाद्ब्राह्मणोत्तम
By your grace, O best of Brahmins, I have been freed from the state of a serpent.
वत्सोनाम न सन्देहः स त्वं यः कीर्तितो मम
There is no doubt, Vatson is the one you have mentioned as mine.
ततः प्रोक्तो मया सम्यक्स सर्पो दिव्यरूपधृक्
Then I spoke properly to that serpent who had assumed a divine form.
येन नो जायते दुःखं प्रियलोपसमुद्भवम्
By whom does suffering not arise, born from the loss of a beloved?
अथोवाच स मां भूयः सोत्सुकः पुरुषोत्तमः
Then that supreme person, eager, spoke to me again.
न चैतच्छक्यते वक्तुं विमाने समुपस्थिते
But this cannot be spoken while the celestial chariot is present.
शैवः षडक्षरो मन्त्रो नृणामशुभहारकः ॥ ६.२९.
The Shaiva six-syllabled mantra removes inauspiciousness for people.
ततः प्राप्स्यत्यसंदिग्धं यद्यद्वांछसि चेतसा
Then, without doubt, you will obtain whatever you desire in your heart.
मया हि सुमहत्पापं सर्वदा समनुष्ठितम्
Indeed, I have always committed very great sin.
एको दानानि सर्वाणि यच्छति श्रद्धयान्वितः
One person gives all gifts, endowed with faith.
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकं च कुरुतेऽन्यो नरो द्विज
Another man, O twice-born, performs bathing at all sacred fords.
चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु कुरुतेऽन्यो यथोचितम्
Another performs a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa vows as prescribed.
वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमंते सलिलाशयः
In the rainy season, one lies under the open sky; in winter, one stays in water.
अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं शुचिः श्रद्धासमन्वितः
Another, pure and endowed with faith, recites the six-syllabled mantra.
पितृपक्षे सदा चैको गयायां श्राद्धमाचरेत्
One always performs the śrāddha rite for ancestors at Gayā during the ancestor fortnight.
गोसहस्रं ददात्येकः कार्तिक्यां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे
One gives a thousand cows at Kartik on the Jyestha Pushkara.
संनिहित्यां नरः स्नाति राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे ६.२९.
A man bathes at the time of conjunction when the sun is eclipsed by Rāhu.
सोमे सोमग्रहेऽन्यस्तु सोमनाथं प्रपश्यति
Another, during a lunar eclipse, beholds Soma at Somnātha.