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.
उवानद्युगले दत्ते प्रेतो मे वाहनो ऽभवत्
When the pair of cakes was given, a vehicle for me in the world of the dead appeared.
श्रवणद्वादशीपुण्यं तवोक्यं पुणयवर्धरम्
The merit of Śravaṇa Dvādaśī, as you have said, increases virtue.
यन्मया तात कर्त्तव्यं तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
Whatever, father, I must do, that you should permit.
प्रेतपालो वचः प्राह स्वार्थसिद्धिकरं ततः
Then the guardian of the dead spoke words that would accomplish his own purpose.
कथयिष्यामि तत् सम्यक् तव श्रेयस्करं मम
I shall tell you that fully, which brings benefit to you and to me.
मम नाम समुद्दिश्य पिण्डनिर्वपणं कुरु
Offer the rice-ball oblation, naming me.
मुक्तस्तु सर्वदातृणां यास्यामि सहलोकताम्
Once released, I shall go to the world of all the generous.
बुधश्रवणसंयुक्ता सातिश्रेयस्करी स्मृता
That which is joined with Budha and Śravaṇa is remembered as supremely auspicious.
स्वनामानि यथान्यायं सम्यगाख्यातवाञ्छुचिः
He, pure, properly declared their names as was fitting.
रम्ये ऽथ शूरसेनाख्ये देशे प्राप्तः स वै वणिक्
Then, in the pleasant land called Śūrasena, that merchant arrived.
उवार्जयित्वा प्रययौ गयाशीर्षमनुत्तमम्
Having performed the rites, he went to the unsurpassed Gayāśīrṣa.
चकार स्वपितॄणां च दायादानामनन्तरम्
He performed the oblations for his ancestors and for his heirs thereafter.
पिण्डनिर्वपणं चक्रे तथान्यानपि गोत्रजान्
He made the rice-ball offerings also for the others of his lineage.
विमुक्तास्ते द्विज प्रेता ब्रह्मलोकं ततो गताः
Those twice-born departed ones were freed and then went to the world of Brahma.
श्रवणद्वादशीं कृत्वा कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्
Having observed the Śravaṇa Dvādaśī, he departed according to the law of time.
मानुष्यं जन्ममासाद्य स बभौ शाकले विराट्
Attaining human birth, he shone forth in Śākala as Virāṭ.
कालधर्ममवाप्यासौ गुह्यकावासमाश्रयत्
After meeting his destined end, he took refuge in the abode of the Guhyakas.
मर्त्यलोकमनुप्राप्य राजन्यतनयो ऽभवत्
Upon entering the world of mortals, he became the son of a royal lineage.
शक्रलोकं स संप्राप्य देवैः सर्वैः सुपूजितः
He reached the realm of Indra and was greatly honored by all the gods.
ततो विकटरूपो ऽसौ सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः
Then, with a terrifying form, he mastered the meaning of all scriptures.