तस्य वंशेऽपि सर्पाणां न भयं स्यान्न किल्बिषम्
in his lineage, there will be no fear of serpents nor any sin.
अपुत्रस्तत्र यः श्राद्धं करोति सुतवांछया
One who is childless and performs śrāddha there with the desire for a son,
तथा वंध्या च या नारी पंचम्यां भास्करोदये सा सद्यो लभते पुत्रं स्ववंशोद्धरणक्षमम्
and likewise, a barren woman who, on the fifth day at sunrise, does so,
सर्वरोगविनिर्मुक्तं सुरूपं विनयान्वितम्
she immediately obtains a son, fit to uphold her lineage, free from all disease, handsome, and endowed with humility.
ततः पूजयते नागाञ्छ्रावणे पंचमीदिने ६.३१.
Thereafter, one worships the nāgas on the fifth day of Śrāvaṇa.
येषां मृत्युर्मनुष्याणां जायते सर्पभक्षणात्
For those humans whose death occurs from serpent-bite,
यावन्न क्रियते श्राद्धं तस्मिंस्तीर्थे द्विजोत्तमाः श्राद्धं कार्यं प्रयत्नेन तस्मिंस्तीर्थेऽहिसंभवे
O best of twice-born, until the śrāddha is performed at that holy place, the śrāddha must be carried out with effort at that tīrtha where the snake event occurred.
अत्र वः कीर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तां कथां शुभाम्
Here I shall recount to you an ancient, auspicious tale.
इन्द्रसेनो महीपालः पुरासीद्रिपुदर्पहा
Indrasena, the subduer of enemy pride, was once a king.
ततः स दैवयोगेन प्रसुप्तः शयने शुभे वियुक्तश्चैव सहसा जीवितव्येन तत्क्षणात्
Then, by the will of fate, as he lay asleep on his auspicious bed, he was suddenly separated from his life in that very moment.
ततस्तस्य सुतोऽभीष्टस्तस्योद्देशेन कृत्स्नशः
Afterwards, his beloved son, on his behalf, performed all the required rites.
गंगायामस्थिपातं च कृत्वा श्राद्धानि षोडश
He cast the bones into the Ganges and performed sixteen śrāddha ceremonies.
अथ स्वप्नांतरे प्राप्तः पिता तस्य स भूपतिः
Then, in a dream, his father, that king, appeared to him.
सर्पमृत्योः सकाशान्मे प्रेतत्वं पुत्र संस्थितम्
From the realm of death by snakebite, I remain as a spirit, O son.
चमत्कारपुरं क्षेत्रं तस्मात्त्वं गच्छ सत्वरम् ६.३१.
Go swiftly, therefore, to the field of Camatkārapura.
येन संजायते मोक्षः प्रेतत्वा द्दारुणान्मम
By which liberation is attained from my dreadful state as a spirit.
प्रेतरूपस्य दुःखार्तस्तत्तीर्थं सत्वरं गतः
Afflicted by suffering in the form of a spirit, he quickly went to that tīrtha.
स्नात्वा श्रद्धासमोपेतः संनिवेश्य पुरोधसम्
Having bathed, filled with faith, and seating the priest in front,
प्रे तरूपेण दुःखार्तो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Afflicted by suffering in the form of a spirit, he spoke these words:
फलं श्राद्धस्य चात्र त्वं कारणं शृणु पुत्रक
Now, my son, listen to the reason and result of the śrāddha here.
क्षेत्रेऽपि गर्हिताः श्राद्धे येऽन्यत्र व्यंगकादयः
Even at this field, those who are censured elsewhere—like the lame and others—are censured in the śrāddha.
तथान्यदपि विप्रार्हं कर्म यज्ञसमुद्भवम् परोक्षे वापि संपूर्णं वृथा संजायते स्फुटम्
Likewise, any other act worthy of a brāhmaṇa, arising from sacrifice, if performed in secret or incompletely, is certainly rendered fruitless.
तस्मादस्मात्पुराद्विप्रान्समानीय ततः परम्
Therefore, from this city, brāhmaṇas should be gathered, and then—
अथासौ प्रातरुत्थाय स्मरमाणः पितुर्वचः
Then, rising in the morning, remembering his father's words—
ततश्चान्वेषयामास श्राद्धार्हान्ब्राह्मणान्नृपः ६.३१.
Then the king began to seek out Brahmins who were worthy to receive the śrāddha offering.
न तत्र दुःखितः कश्चिद्दरिद्रोऽपि न दुःखितः
There, no one was afflicted by sorrow, nor was any poor person distressed.
स्थानेस्थाने महानादा उत्सवाश्च गृहेगृहे
In every place, great sounds arose, and in every household there were festivals.
श्रूयंते याज्ञिकानां च यज्ञकर्मसमुद्भवाः न मृत्युः कस्यचित्तत्र पुरे ब्राह्मण सेविते
The sounds of sacrificial rites performed by priests were heard, arising from the performance of yajña; in that city, served by Brahmins, death did not come to anyone.
यथर्तुवर्षी पर्जन्यः सस्यानि गुणवन्ति च
As the rain falls in its proper season, so too were the crops abundant and of good quality.
यंयं प्रार्थयते विप्रं स श्राद्धार्थं महीपतिः
Whichever Brahmin the king requested for the śrāddha rite,