अहमासं पुरा राजा श्वेतोनाम महामुने
I was once a king named Shveta, O great sage.
न किंचित्प्राङ्मया दत्तं न हुतं जातवेदसि 6.103.
I gave nothing, nor did I offer anything into the fire, O descendant of Raghu.
दृष्ट्वादृष्ट्वा मया रत्नं यत्किंचिद्धरणीतले ॥ । तद्वै बलाद्धृतं सर्वं सर्वेषामिह देहिनाम्
Whatever jewel I saw or did not see on the earth, I seized it all by force from everyone here.
ततः कालेन दीर्घेण जराग्रस्तस्य मे बलात्
Then, after a long time, I was overcome by old age and lost my strength.
ततोऽहं जरया ग्रस्तो वैराग्यं परमं गतः
Then, afflicted by old age, I attained supreme detachment.
ततः क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठोऽहं स्नात्वाऽत्र सलिले शुभे
Thereafter, with my throat parched by hunger, I bathed in these auspicious waters.
प्राविश्याऽत्र जले पुण्ये पंचत्वं समुपागतः
Entering these sacred waters, I reached the state of dissolution—death.
मामन्येन शरीरेण समादाय च किंकराः
Then, attendants took me up with another body.
दिव्यमाल्यावरधरंदिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्
They adorned me with divine garlands and smeared me with celestial fragrances.
ततो ब्रह्मसभामध्ये ह्यहं तैर्देवकिंकरैः
After that, those divine attendants brought me into the midst of Brahmā’s assembly.
सर्वैः सभागतैर्दृष्टा विस्मितास्यैः परस्परम्
All those present in the assembly saw me, their faces astonished as they looked at one another.
सर्वैर्देवगणैर्जुष्टा प्रणामः क्रियतामिति ॥ 6.103.
Surrounded by all the hosts of gods, it was said: ‘Let obeisance be offered.’
ततोऽहं प्रणिपत्योच्चैस्तं देवं देवसंयुतम्
Then I bowed down and loudly addressed that god, surrounded by the gods.
यथायथा कथास्तत्र प्रजायन्ते सभातले
Just as various stories arise there on the floor of the assembly,
तथातथा ममातीव क्षुद्वृद्धिं संप्रगच्छति
so too did my hunger greatly increase.
ततो मया प्रणम्योच्चैर्विज्ञप्तः प्रपितामहः
Then, having bowed deeply, I earnestly petitioned the Grandsire.
क्षुधा मां बाधते अतीव सांप्रतं प्रपितामह
Great Grandsire, hunger now afflicts me exceedingly.
क्षुत्पिपासादयो दोषा न विद्यंतेऽत्र ते किल
Here, such faults as hunger and thirst are said not to exist.
त्वया नान्नं क्वचिद्दत्तं कस्यचित्पृथिवीतले । तेनात्रापि बुभुक्षा ते वृद्धिं गच्छति दुर्मते
You never gave food to anyone on earth; therefore, even here, your hunger increases, O foolish one.
तथा हृतानि रत्नानि यानि दृष्टिगतानि ते
In the same way, the jewels you saw and coveted were taken away.
यस्त्वं पातकयुक्तोऽपि संप्राप्तो मम मंदिरम्
Though you were bound by sin, you have now reached my abode.
यस्मिञ्जले त्वया मुक्ताः प्राणाः पापा त्मनापिच 6.103.
In the very water where you released your life, O sinner, your sins also were released.
ततोऽस्य स्पर्शनात्सद्यो विमुक्तः सर्वपातकैः
Then, by touching it, he is instantly freed from all sins.
तथा रत्नापहारेण सञ्जाता चांधता तव
Thus, by the theft of the jewel, blindness has arisen for you.
ततो मया विधिः प्रोक्तः पुनरेव द्विजोत्तम तस्मात्तत्रैव मां देव प्रेषयस्व किमत्र वै
Therefore, I have prescribed a remedy again, O best of twice-born; so send me there, O lord, what is the point here?
नरके तव वासो न श्वेतद्वीपसमुद्भवम्
Your dwelling in hell is not born from the realm of Śvetadvīpa.
माहात्म्यं नाशमायाति शास्त्रं स्यात्सत्यवर्जितम्
The greatness does not perish; the scripture would be devoid of truth.
गत्वा जलाशये तस्मिन्यत्र प्राणाः समुज्झिताः
Having gone to that reservoir of water, where the life-breaths have departed,
तद्भविष्यति मद्वाक्या दक्षयं जलमध्यगम्
That will happen by my word, as I consecrate the one who has entered the water.
ततोऽहं तस्य वाक्येन दीपोत्सवदिने सदा
Then, by his words, I always observe the festival of lamps.