तत्रापृच्छद्ब्रह्मवध्या मम जाता महामुने
There, he asked, 'O great sage, the sin of killing a Brahmin has come upon me.'
भृशं शोकपरीतात्मा रुरोद भृशदुःखितः
His heart overwhelmed by intense sorrow, he wept, greatly afflicted.
उवाच मा भैर्नृपते अपनेष्यामि पातकम्
He said, 'Do not fear, O king; I shall remove your sin.'
उद्धृता देवदेवेन विष्णुना क्रोडमूर्त्तिना उद्धरिष्यति देवोऽसौ स्वयमेव जनार्दनः
Uplifted by the god of gods, Viṣṇu, who bears the form of a boar, that god Janārdana himself will surely deliver you.
एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा दुरितो वाक्यमब्रवीत
Thus addressed, the king then spoke a harsh word.
किमनेन द्विजेनैव निष्प्रभेण दुरात्मना
What is the use of this twice-born, who is powerless and wicked?
इत्युक्त्वा '? खङ्गेनैव जघान तम्
Having said this, he struck him with a sword.
तस्मिन्नेव वने देवि पापसंघेन मोहितः 5.2.28.
In that very forest, O goddess, deluded by a multitude of sins—
क्षुधार्त्तश्च तृषार्त्तश्च बाल्यान्मोहाच्च साहसात्
Afflicted by hunger, tormented by thirst, through childishness, delusion, and recklessness—
जटीभूतेन पापेन बभ्राम गहने वने
Burdened by accumulated sin, he wandered in the dense forest.
व्याघ्रसिंहगजाकीर्णं मृगशंबरसेवितम्
It was filled with tigers, lions, and elephants, and frequented by deer and antelope.
ते गतास्त्वरिता व्याधाः स्वभर्तुः कथनाय वै
Those hunters quickly went to report to their master.
तावद्राज्ञः शरीरात्तु श्वेताऽऽभरणभूषिता
At that moment, from the king’s body, adorned with white ornaments—
दस्यून्निहत्य सा देवी तत्रैवादर्शनं गता
That goddess, having slain the bandits, vanished there itself.
अथ राजा तया मुक्तः प्रतिबुद्धोऽथ तत्क्षणात्
Then the king, released by her, awoke at that very instant.
गोवध्या ब्रह्मवध्या च वने ह्यस्मिन्सुदारुणा
Here in this forest, the killing of cows and the killing of Brahmins are truly dreadful.
एवं स चिंतयित्वाथ निःश्वस्य च पुनःपुनः 5.2.28.
Thus reflecting, he sighed again and again.
मुनिना वामदेवेन दृष्टो राजा तथाविधः
The king, in such a state, was seen by the sage Vāmadeva.
सोमवंशसमुत्पन्नो दशां कष्टां समागतः
Born of the lunar dynasty, he had come to a wretched condition.
उद्धरिष्यामि राजानमेनं पुरुषसत्तमम् प्रत्युवाच महीपालं वीरधन्वानमातुरम्
I shall rescue this king, the foremost among men—thus the sage addressed the suffering ruler Vīradhanvan.
भोभो राजन्महीपाल वीरधन्वेति विश्रुतः
O king, lord of the earth, renowned as Vīradhanvan—
प्राग्भवे व्याधरूपेण निहिथा विपिने मृगान्
In a previous birth, as a hunter, you killed deer in the forest.
फाल्गुनामलपक्षे त्वामलक्येकादशी शुभा
On the auspicious Ekādaśī of the bright half of Phālguna month—
पूजा लोकैः कृता दृष्टा विस्मयेन त्वया पुरा
You once saw, with wonder, the worship performed by people.
तत्प्रभावादभू राजा महाबलपराक्रमः
By the power of that, you became a king of great strength and valor.
निहताः शत्रवः सर्वे तयैव शुभमाप्स्यसि
All your enemies were slain by her alone; you will obtain auspiciousness.
ज्ञाता तपःप्रभावेन मया योगबलेन च 5.2.28.
I have understood through the power of asceticism and also by the strength of yoga.
इदानीं पालयिष्यामि शृणु मे वचनं परम्
Now I will protect; listen to my supreme words.
इत्युक्तो वामदेवेन् मुनिना स महीपतिः
Thus addressed by the sage Vāmadeva, the king,
कथं यास्यंति मे हत्या गोब्राह्मणसमुद्भवाः
How will the sins arising from the killing of cows and Brahmins depart from me?