वेदा यज्ञाश्च देवानां मूर्तिः पद्भ्यां च ताड्यते
He struck the forms of the gods, the Vedas, and sacrifices with his feet.
स एकदा वने घोरे मृगयावनगोचरः
Once, in a dreadful forest, he wandered about hunting wild animals.
न लब्ध्वा खेटकं किंचित्क्षुधार्तस्तृषितः खलः 5.1.50.
Failing to obtain any game, the wicked man became hungry and thirsty.
रात्रिः समागता तत्र घोरा घोरनि षेविता
Night fell there, terrifying and frequented by horrors.
तत्राश्वं विटपे बद्ध्वा स्वयमेव न्यषीदत
There, he tied his horse to a branch and sat down by himself.
किमिदं कुत आश्चर्यं कृत्वा हस्तेन वारितः
He wondered, 'What is this? Where did it come from?' and tried to ward it off with his hand.
दष्टमात्रे च नृपतिर्व्यथितः क्षितिमागतः
When bitten, the king was distressed and fell to the ground.
एतत्क्षणात्प्रेतभूतो घोरे नरकसंचये
In that very moment, he became a ghost, entering a dreadful accumulation of hells.
हर्षिताश्च गणाः सर्वे यमराजस्य किंकराः
All the attendants of King Yama rejoiced.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्यास क्रव्यादैः खादितं शवम्
Meanwhile, Vyāsa, his corpse was devoured by flesh-eating creatures.
तत्र गत्वानयन्मांसं तुंडेन वियदुद्गतः
There, rising into the sky, he brought meat with his beak.
तत्राटतो हि यत्रास्ते दिव्या शिप्रा पयस्विनी
While wandering there, he came to where the divine Śiprā, rich in waters, flows.
पतितं वै जले तस्याः शिप्रायास्तस्य काय जम् 5.1.50.
The body of that one fell into the water of that Śiprā.
त्रिनेत्रोथ जटाजृटी व्याघ्रांबरपरीवृतः
Then the three-eyed one, with matted locks and wrapped in a tiger skin, appeared.
इत्याश्चर्यमयं रूपं दृष्ट्वा दूताश्च धर्षिताः
Seeing this wondrous form, the messengers were struck with awe.
श्रूयतां भो महाराज धर्मराज नमोस्तु ते
Hear, O great king! O Lord of Dharma, homage to you!
कीकटाधिमतिर्मंदः पापिष्ठो वृषलीपतिः
The ruler of the Kīkaṭas is dull-witted, most sinful, and lord of outcastes.
यानि कानि च पापानि ब्रह्महत्यासमानि च
Whatever sins there are, even those equal to the slaying of a Brahmin,
मर्यादाभेदको मूढो वर्णाश्रमसुधर्मिणाम्
He, a fool who breaks boundaries, harms those who rightly follow caste and stage of life.
यमदंडपरः पापी अस्माकं हर्षवर्धनः
This sinner delights in Yama's rod and increases our joy.
यावंतः पतिताः पूर्वे पापिनः सर्व एव हि
All the sinners who fell before, indeed every one of them,
तदाप्रभृति सर्वाणि कुंडानि नरकस्य वै
From that time onward, all the pits of hell,
न चैवार्तरवं किंचिच्छ्रूयते तव मंदिरे 5.1.50.
And yet, no cry of suffering is heard at all in your abode.
एक एवागतो लोके वृत्तिदो नो यमाधिप
Only one has come into the world who does not yield to the lord of death.
धर्मराजस्तदाश्रुत्य किंकराणां परं वचः
When the Lord of Dharma heard these supreme words of the messengers,
येन पुण्यप्रभावेन पापिष्ठः शिवतां गतः
By what power of merit did this most sinful one attain blessedness?
भुवि पुण्यतमे देशे महाकालवने शुभे
On earth, in the most sacred place, in the auspicious great forest of Mahākāla,
येषां शिप्रोदक स्पर्शो जायते भुवि किंकराः
O messengers, for those who touch the waters of the Śiprā on earth—
मनसा वपुषा वाचा पापानि विविधानि च
By mind, by body, and by speech, various sins are committed.
शिप्राशिप्रेति यो ब्रूते यत्र कुत्रापि मानवः
Whoever, at any place, says 'Śiprā, Śiprā,' whether man,