चकारोपरि पीनाभ्यां स्तनाभ्यां सा हि मां ततः
and with her two full breasts pressed me from above.
ततो ऽनुप्लपतस्तत्र हारे मर्कटबन्धनम्
Then, there fell upon the necklace a monkey's knot.
भूयो ऽपि नरकं घोरं प्रपन्नो ऽस्मि सुदुर्मतिः
Again, I, of wicked mind, entered the dreadful hell.
स चैकदा मां शकटे नियोज्य स्वां विलासिनीम्
Once, he placed me on a cart, along with his own beloved woman.
ततो ऽग्रतः स चण्डालो गतस्त्वेवास्य पृष्ठतः
Then, the outcaste went ahead, while I followed behind him.
पृष्ठस्तु समालोक्य विपर्यस्तस्तथोत्प्लुतः
Looking back, he saw me, turned around, and leapt likewise.
योक्त्रे सुबद्ध एवास्मि पञ्चत्वमगमं ततः
Bound firmly to the yoke, I then met my end.
अतस्तव गृहे जातस्त्वहं जातिमनुस्मरन्
Thus, I was born in your house, recalling my previous birth.
पूर्वाभ्यासाच्च शास्त्राणि बन्धनं चागतं मम
And from former practice, the scriptures and bondage have come to me.
पापानि घोररूपाणि मनसा कर्मणा गिरा
Terrible sins, in form, by mind, deed, and speech,
बन्धनं वा वधो वापि पूर्वाभ्यासेन जायते
Bondage or even death arises from previous practice.
भवान् दिवाकीर्तिमिमं सुपुत्रं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे विनियोजयस्व
You should establish this son, Divākīrti, in the duties of household life.
भवान् दिवाकीर्तिमिमं सुपुत्रं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे विनियोजयस्व
You should establish this son, Divākīrti, in the duties of household life.
जगाम पुण्यं सदनं मुरारेः ख्यातं बदर्याश्रममाद्यमीड्यम्
He went to the sacred abode of Murāri, renowned as the prime and venerable Badarī hermitage.
तस्माच्च पूर्वं द्विजवर्य वै मया अभ्यस्तमासीन्ननु ते ब्रवीमि
And previously, O best of twice-born, I had practiced; now I speak to you.
ज्ञानानि चैवाब्यसंतां हि पूर्वं भवन्ति धर्मार्थशांसि नाथ
Indeed, knowledge is practiced beforehand; O lord, teachings of dharma and artha arise.
ध्यायंस्तदास्ते मधुकैटभघ्नं नारायणं चक्रगदासिपाणिम्
He sat in meditation, contemplating Nārāyaṇa—slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha—who holds the discus, mace, and sword in his hands.
जज्ञवाटमुपागम् उच्चैर्वचनमब्रवीत्
He approached the sacrificial enclosure and spoke in a loud voice.
यज्ञो ऽश्वमेधः प्रवरः क्रतूनां मुख्यस्तथा सत्रिषु दैत्यनाथः
The horse sacrifice is the foremost of rituals, the chief among all sacrifices, O lord of the Daityas.
सार्घपात्रः समभ्यागाद्यत्र देवः स्थितो ऽभवत्
The vessel for the sacrificial fee was brought forth, where the god himself was present.
भरद्वाजर्षिणा सार्धं यज्ञवाटं प्रवेशयत्
He entered the sacrificial enclosure together with the sage Bharadvāja.
प्रोवाच भगवन् ब्रूहि किं दद्मि तव मानद
He said: 'O venerable one, speak—what shall I give you, O bestower of honor?'
विहस्य सुचिरं कालं भरद्वाजमवेक्ष्य च
Smiling for a long time and gazing at Bharadvāja,
न स धारयते भूम्यां पारक्यां जातवेदसम्
He does not sustain the fire, Jātavedas, on foreign ground.
मच्छरीरप्रमाणेन देहि राजन् पदत्रयम्
Grant me, O king, three steps of land measured by my own body.
बाणं च तनयं वीक्ष्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Looking at his son Bāṇa, he spoke these words:
येन क्रमत्रयं मौर्ख्याद् याचते बुद्धितो ऽपि च
Who, out of folly, asks for three steps, even though he is wise?
धनादिकं भूरि न वै ददाति यथेह विष्णोर्न बहुप्रयासः
He does not ask for abundant wealth and the like, for here, with Viṣṇu, there is not much effort.
मयि दातरि यश्चायमद्य याचेत् पदत्रयम्
Even as I am the giver, today he asks for three steps.
याचस्व विष्णो गजवाजिभूमिं दासीहिरण्यं यदभीप्सितं च
Ask of Viṣṇu for elephants, horses, land, maidservants, gold—whatever you desire.