अद्यातिथिरयं पूज्यः सदैव स्वजनो मम
Today this guest is to be honored—he is always my own kinsman.
अस्मिन् समागते प्रेताः प्रीतिर्जाता ममातुला
With his arrival, an incomparable joy has arisen in me among the spirits.
दध्योदनेन संपूर्णमाजगाम यथेप्सितम्
He came as he wished, with a vessel full of curd-rice.
वारिधानी च संप्राप्ता प्रेतानामग्रतः स्थिता
A water jar also arrived, placed before the spirits.
प्राहोत्तिष्ठ वणिक्पुत्र त्वमाह्निकमुपाचर
He said, ‘Rise, merchant’s son, perform your daily rites.’
कृताह्निकावुभौ जातौ वणिक् प्रेतपतिस्तथा
Both—the merchant and the lord of spirits—performed their daily rites.
दत्त्वा तेभ्यश्च सर्वेभ्यः प्रेतेभ्यो व्यददात् ततः
Then he gave to all those spirits, distributing to each.
अनन्तरं सबुभुजे प्रेतपालो बराशनम्
Afterwards, the lord of spirits ate the excellent food.
अन्तर्धानमगाद् ब्रह्मन् वणिक्पुत्रस्य पश्यतः
O Brahmin, before his very eyes, the merchant's son vanished from sight.
पप्रच्छ तं प्रेतपालं कौतूहलमना वशी
With a mind full of curiosity, Vaśī questioned the guardian of the dead.
कुतश्च वारिधानीयं संपूर्णा परमाम्भसा
And from where is this vessel, filled to the brim with excellent water?
भवानपि च तेजस्वी किञ्चित्पुष्टवपुः शुभः
You too are radiant, possessing a somewhat nourished and auspicious form.
सर्वमेतन्ममाचक्ष्व को भवान् का शमी त्वियम्
Tell me all of this: who are you, and who is this Śamī here?
शशंस सर्वमस्याद्यं यथावृत्तं पुरातनम्
He recounted everything from the beginning, as it happened in ancient times.
सोमशर्मेति विख्यातो बहुलागर्भसंभवः
He is known as Somaśarman, born from Bahulā's womb.
स तु सोमश्रवा नाम विष्णुभक्तो महायशाः
But his name was Somaśravā, a devotee of Viṣṇu, renowned and illustrious.
न ददामि द्विजातिभ्यो न चाश्नाम्यन्नमुत्तमम्
I did not give to the twice-born, nor did I eat the finest food.
ततो रात्रौ नृभिर् घोरैस्ताड्यते मम विग्रहः
Therefore, at night, my body is beaten by terrifying men.
न च कश्चिन्माभ्यासे तत्र तिष्ठति बान्धवः
And not a single relative remains near me there.
एवमेतादृशः पापी निवसाम्यतिनिर्घृणः
Thus, being such a sinner, I dwell here, exceedingly pitiless.
क्षपयामि कदन्नाद्यैरात्मानं कालयापनैः
I waste away, sustaining myself on vile food, merely passing the time.
श्रवणद्वादशी नाम मासि भाद्रपदे ऽभवत्
There was an observance called Śravaṇa-dvādaśī in the month of Bhādrapada.
इरावत्या नड्वलाया ब्रह्मक्षत्रपुरस्सरः
On the banks of the Irāvatī, in a reed grove, with Brahmins and Kṣatriyas leading.
कृतोपवासः शुचिमानेकादश्यां यतव्रतः
Having observed a fast, pure, and disciplined in vow on the Ekādaśī day.
संपूर्णां वस्तुसंवीतां छत्रोपानहसंयुताम्
A vessel, filled with goods, furnished with an umbrella and sandals.
प्रदत्तं ब्राह्मणेन्द्राय शुचये ज्ञानधर्मिणे
Was given to the foremost of Brahmins, pure and devoted to knowledge.
वर्षाणां सप्ततीनां वै नान्यद् दत्तं हि किञ्चन
For seventy years, indeed, nothing else at all was given.
अमी चादत्तदानास्तु मदन्नेनोपजीविनः
And these here, who gave nothing, have subsisted on my food.
दत्तं तदिदमायाति मध्याह्ने ऽपि दिने दिने
That which is given thus comes to me even at midday, every single day.
मयि भुक्ते च पीते च सर्वमन्तर्हितं भवेत्
But when I have eaten and drunk, everything becomes hidden away.