पुण्यैः स्वकैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ समागच्छेरिदं ततः
By my own merits, O best of twice-born, I have come here.
करिष्येऽहं तपो भूरि पूजयिष्ये महेश्वरम्
I shall perform great austerity and worship Maheshvara.
संक्षेपात्कथयिष्यामि यदि ते निश्चयः परः
I will tell you briefly, if your resolve is firm.
नंदनादीनि रम्याणि तत्र देववनानि च
There are the delightful Nandana and other divine groves.
बुभुक्षा नैव तृष्णा च निद्रालस्ये न च प्रभो रमयंति नरं तत्र गीतैर्नृत्यैरनेकशः
There, O lord, neither hunger nor thirst nor sleep nor laziness afflict a person; instead, he is delighted by many songs and dances.
एवं च वसते तत्र जनः स्वर्गे तपोधन
Thus, O ascetic rich in penance, people dwell there in heaven.
एक एव मुने दोषः स्वर्लोके प्रतिभाति मे
Yet, O sage, one fault alone appears to me in heaven.
न पुण्यं लभते तत्र कर्तुं विप्र कथंचन
No merit can ever be gained there by any means, O brahmin.
यदत्र क्रियते कर्म शुभं तत्रोप भुज्यते 7.3.35.
Whatever good deed is performed here, its result is enjoyed there.
बहुतेजोन्वितान्स्वर्गे ह्यल्पपुण्यो द्विजोत्तम
In heaven, O best of twice-born, those with little merit see many possessed of great splendor.
न मया सुकृतं भूरि कृतं मर्त्त्ये कथंचन
I have not performed much good in the mortal world by any means.
तथा च पतमानांश्च दृष्ट्वा चान्यान्सहस्रशः
And so, seeing thousands of others falling,
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं गुणदोषसमुद्भवम्
All this, the origin of virtue and fault, has been told to you.
तेन स्वर्गेण मे दूत नैव कार्यं कथंचन
Therefore, O messenger, I have no desire whatsoever for heaven.
वाच्यस्त्वया ममादेशाद्देवराजः स्फुटं वचः
You must clearly speak these words to the king of the gods on my behalf.
तत्कर्माऽहं करिष्यामि येन नो पतनाद्भयम्।. साधयिष्यामि ताँल्लोकान्ये सदा पातवर्जिताः
I will perform that act by which we will have no fear of falling; I will accomplish those worlds so that they are always free from downfall.
पुलस्त्य उवाच एवमुक्त्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ मुद्गलः स्वर्गनिःस्पृहः
Pulastya said: Having spoken thus, O best of kings, Mudgala, who was unattached to heaven,
श्रुत्वा दूतोऽपि शक्रस्य तस्य वाक्यं सविस्तरम्
The messenger of Śakra, too, after hearing his words in detail,
देवदूताप्रमाणं च विमानं हि त्वया कृतम् 7.3.35.
And the celestial vehicle, measured for the divine messenger, was made by you.
तस्मात्तत्र द्रुतं गत्वा बलादानय तं मुनिम्
Therefore, go there quickly and forcibly bring that sage.
पुलस्त्य उवाच शक्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा देवदूते भयान्वितः
Pulastya said: Hearing the words of Śakra, the divine messenger became fearful.
मुद्गलोऽपि विमानस्थं पुनर्दृष्ट्वा समागतम्
Mudgala, too, seeing the messenger again, who had come and was standing in the celestial vehicle,
स तस्य वचनेनैव स्तंभितो लिखितो यथा
He was stunned by his words, just as if he had been written or inscribed.
चिरकालगतं ज्ञात्वा दूतं तु त्रिदशाधिपः
Knowing that the messenger had been delayed for a long time, the lord of the gods,
अथ दृष्ट्वा तदा दूतं स्तंभितं मुद्गलेन तु
Then, seeing that the messenger had been stunned by Mudgala,
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु उत्पातास्तत्र दारुणाः तान्दृष्ट्वा चिन्तयामास मुद्गलो विस्मयान्वितः
At that very moment, terrible omens appeared there; seeing them, Mudgala, filled with wonder, began to reflect.
अथ दृष्ट्वांबरगतं वज्रोद्यतकरं हरिम्
Then, seeing Hari in the sky, holding the thunderbolt raised in his hand,
तत्र शक्रः स्तुतिं चक्रे भग्नोत्साहो नृपोत्तम
There, Śakra offered praise, his enthusiasm broken, O best of kings.
स्वर्गे वा यदि वा मर्त्त्ये तिष्ठ त्वं स्वेच्छया द्विज 7.3.35.
Whether in heaven or on earth, dwell wherever you wish, O twice-born one.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो मनसि स्थितः
Choose a boon, may it be well with you; that which is always in your mind.