किं व्रतैः किं वृथा दानैः किं जपैर्नियमेन वा
What is the use of vows, what of fruitless gifts, or of recitations and discipline?
गर्ता सुविपुलाकारा सर्वपातकनाशिनी
There is a pit of very great size, destroyer of all sins.
ब्रह्महत्याविनिर्मुक्तः सौदासो यत्र पार्थिवः ६.५३.
There, King Saudāsa was freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
ब्रह्मण्यस्यापि संजाता तदस्माकं प्रकीर्तय
Even in the case of one devoted to Brahmins, this has occurred—declare this to us.
श्रूयते स महीपालो ब्राह्मणानां हिते रतः
It is heard that this king was devoted to the welfare of Brahmins.
विमुक्तश्च कथं भूयो भ्रूणगर्तामुपाश्रितः
And how, having been freed, did he again resort to the pit of feticide?
तदा स लज्जयाविष्टो लिंगाभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, overwhelmed with shame and deprived of his emblem, O best of Brahmins,
कृत्वाऽतिविपुलां गर्तां प्रविवेश ततः परम्
He made a very large pit and then entered it.
एवं सा तत्र संजाता गर्ता ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः
Thus, O excellent Brahmins, that pit was made there.
आसीन्मित्रसहोनाम राजा परमधार्मिकः
There was a king named Mitrasaha, supremely righteous.
तेनेष्टं विपुलैर्यज्ञैः सुवर्णवरदक्षिणैः
He performed great sacrifices with abundant gifts of gold.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके
Then, at a certain time, during a twelve-year sacrifice,
क्रूराक्षः क्रूरबुद्धिश्च राक्षसौ बलवत्तरौ ६.५३.
Two powerful Rākṣasas appeared, Krūrākṣa and Krūrabuddhi.
राक्षसैर्बहुभिः सार्धं तथान्यैर्भूतसंज्ञितैः
Together with many other Rākṣasas and beings called spirits,
अथ ते राक्षसाः सर्वे किंचिच्छिद्रमवेक्ष्य च
Then all those Rākṣasas, having found a small opening,
निघ्नन्तो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठान्भक्षयन्तो हवींषि च
They began killing the best of Brahmins and devouring the offerings.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र हाहाकारो महानभूत्
Meanwhile, a great outcry arose there.
ततो मैत्रसहिः क्रुद्धस्त्यक्त्वा दीक्षाव्रतं नृपः
Then King Maitrasahi, enraged, abandoned his vow of consecration.
कृतरक्षो वसिष्ठेन स्वयमेव पुरोधसा
Having been protected by Vasiṣṭha, his own family priest, he himself was safeguarded.
क्रूरबुद्धिरथो वीक्ष्य हतं श्रेष्ठं सहोदरम्
But the one of cruel intent, seeing his noble brother slain,
हतशेषान्समादाय राक्षसान्बलसंयुतः
gathered the surviving Rākṣasas, those who remained, together with his strength.
ततस्तद्वैरमाश्रित्य भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य राक्षसः
Then, holding onto the enmity for his elder brother, the Rākṣasa
एवं सवीक्षमाणस्य तस्य च्छिद्रं महात्मनः ६.५३.
thus, as he watched, he sought a weakness in that great-souled one.
न सूक्ष्ममपि संप्राप्तं छिद्रं तेन दुरात्मना
But not even the slightest flaw was found by that wicked one.
अथासौ ब्राह्मणान्सर्वान्विसृज्याहितदक्षिणान्
Then he dismissed all the Brāhmaṇas who had received improper gifts.
स्वहस्तेन गुरोद्याहं त्वां भोजयितुमुत्सहे
With his own hand, he said to his teacher, 'I am able to feed you.'
क्षालितांघ्रिः स्वयं तेन निविष्टो भोजनाय वै
Having washed his feet himself, he sat down to eat.
कूरबुद्धिरथो वीक्ष्य तदर्थं चामिषं शुभम्
But the one of cruel intent, seeing that, prepared pure meat for that purpose.
उखां कृत्वा ततस्तादृक्तत्प्रमाणामतर्किताम्
Then he made a pot, just of that size, and unsuspected.
अथासौ मुनिशार्दूलो भुंजानो बुबुधे हि तत्
Then that tiger among sages, while eating, became aware of it.