तत्फलं देवदेवस्य सकृद्दत्त्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
The fruit of that, having offered a single circumambulation to the God of gods,
पदेपदे यज्ञफलमिति मे शंकरोऽब्रवीत्
At every step, the fruit of sacrifice—so Śaṃkara told me.
पूजितानि भवंत्यत्र यात्रेश्वरसमर्चनात्
Here, all are worshipped through the veneration of the Lord of pilgrimage.
सहस्रदक्षिणां दद्यात्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
If one gives a thousand offerings, hear the merit that accrues to him.
एवं यात्रां समाप्याथ गत्वा निजगृहं नरः
Thus, having completed the pilgrimage, a man should return to his own house.
भोजयेच्छिवभक्तांश्च शिवध्यानपरायणान्
He should feed devotees of Śiva who are devoted to meditation on Śiva.
यात्राक्रमेण चैकैकं द्वारांतरमनुव्रजेत्
Following the order of the pilgrimage, he should traverse each gateway in turn.
धेनुं पयस्विनीं दद्याद्वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः
He should give a milch cow, free from deceit regarding wealth.
दीनानाथदरिद्रांधविकलाद्यांश्च भोजयेत् 5.1.23.
One should feed those who are destitute, helpless, poor, blind, and afflicted.
कुलानां शतमुद्धृत्य मातापित्रोः समाहितः
Having rescued a hundred families, one should serve one's mother and father with devotion.
मौनी ध्यानपरो भूत्वा स कवित्वमवाप्नुयात्
By becoming silent and absorbed in meditation, he attains poetic inspiration.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कवित्वमुपजायते
In whose mere presence poetic inspiration arises.
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना तस्य भार्याथ कौशिकी
His wife Kauśikī was endowed with beauty and youth.
तस्य पुत्रः समुत्पन्नो ह्यग्निशर्मेति नामतः
A son was born to him, named Agniśarman.
ततो बहुतिथे काले अनावृष्टिरजायत
After a long time, a drought occurred.
ततोऽसौ सुमतिर्विप्रः सभार्यः स सुतस्तथा
Then that wise Brahmin, together with his wife and son,
आभीरैर्दस्युभिः सार्धं संगोऽभूदग्निशर्मणः
Agniśarman associated with the Ābhīras and bandits.
स्मृतिर्नष्टा गता वेदा गतं गोत्रं गता श्रुतिः
Memory was lost, the Vedas disappeared, the lineage vanished, and the sacred tradition was gone.
सप्तर्षयः पथा तेन सुव्रताः समुपस्थिताः
The seven sages, steadfast in their vows, arrived by that path.
वस्त्राणीमानि मुच्यध्वं छत्रिकोपानहौ तथा 5.1.24.
Remove these garments, as well as your cloak and shoes.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा अत्रिर्वचनमब्रवीत् वयं तपस्विनो भूत्वा तीर्थयात्राकृतोद्यमाः
Hearing those words, Atri spoke: 'We have become ascetics, intent on pilgrimage to holy places.'
पोषयामि सदा तांस्तु एतन्मे हृदि संस्थितम्
I always sustain them; this is firmly established in my heart.
यद्युष्मदर्थं क्रियते पापं तत्कस्य कथ्यताम्
If a sin is committed for your sake, tell me whose it is.
यदि ते कथयंति स्म मा मृषा प्राणिनो वधीः
If they speak, let them not lie; do not kill living beings.
युष्माकं वचसा मेऽद्य प्रतिबोधः प्रवर्तते
Today, your words awaken understanding in me.
गत्वा पृच्छामि तान्सर्वान्कस्य भावश्च कीदृशः
I will go and ask them all whose disposition is like what.
इत्युक्त्वा ताञ्जगामाशु पितरं स्वमुवाच ह
Having said this, he quickly went to his father and spoke to him.
सुमहद्दृश्यते पापं कस्य तत्कथ्यतां मम
A great sin is seen—whose is it? Tell me about it.
त्वं जानासि यत्कुरुषे कृतं भाव्यं पुनस्त्वया
You know what you have done; what has been done must again be done by you.
तयाप्युक्तं न मे पापं पापमेतत्तवैव हि 5.1.24.
She too said, 'The sin is not mine; truly, this sin is yours alone.'