क्षुधया पीडितो ह्यासीत्तृषया च विशेषतः
He was tormented by hunger, and especially by thirst.
तत्र प्राग्जन्ममूर्त्तिश्च पुरा दग्धा महात्मनः 99.
There, the form from his previous birth, which had been burned long ago, appeared.
पुनर्विमानमारुह्य दिवमाचक्रमे नृपः
The king again ascended a celestial chariot and reached heaven.
तान्यस्थीनि लिहन्दृष्टो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना
Vasiṣṭha, the great-souled one, saw those bones being licked.
एवमुक्तस्तदा राजा वसिष्ठेन महात्मना
Thus addressed at that time by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, the king—
भगवन्क्षुधितश्चास्मि अन्नपानं पुरा मया
O venerable one, I am hungry, and in the past I have not received food or drink—
एवमुक्तस्ततो राज्ञा वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः
Thus addressed by the king, the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha—
किं ते करोमि राजेंद्र क्षुधितस्य विशेषतः
What shall I do for you, O king, especially as you are hungry?
रत्नहेमप्रदानेन भोगवान् जायते नरः
By giving jewels and gold, a man becomes prosperous.
तन्न दत्तं त्वया राजन् स्तोकं मत्वा नराधिप अदत्तस्य च सम्प्राप्तिस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः
But you, O king, have not given even a little, thinking it insignificant, O lord of men; now that you have come without giving, tell me as I ask you.
तच्छृणुष्व नरव्याघ्र कथ्यमानं मयाऽनघ 99.
Hear this, O tiger among men, as I recount it to you, O sinless one.
स सर्वमेधमारेभे स्वयं क्रतुवरं नृपः
He, the king, himself undertook the great sacrifice, the Sarvamedha.
नान्नं तेन तदा दत्तं स्वल्पं मत्वा यथा त्वया
But even then, he did not give food, considering it insignificant, just as you have done.
कृत्वा पुण्यं विनीताश्वः सार्वभौमो नृपोत्तमः
Having performed meritorious deeds, Vinītāśva, the foremost of kings, became sovereign of the earth.
असावपि क्षुधाविष्ट एवमेव गतो नृपः
Yet he too, afflicted by hunger, departed in the same way, O king.
विमानेनार्कवर्णेन भास्वता देववन्नृपः
The king, shining like the sun, went in a radiant celestial chariot.
पुरोहितं ददर्शाथ होतारं जाह्नवीतटे
There he saw his family priest, the officiating priest, on the bank of the Jahnavi.
क्षुधायाः कारणं किं मे स होता तमुवाच ह
He asked that priest, 'What is the cause of my hunger?'
घृतधेनुं च धेनुं च रसधेनुं च पार्थिव
O king, a cow yielding ghee, a cow, and a cow yielding sweet liquids—
तपते यावदादित्यस्तपते वापि चन्द्रमाः
As long as the sun shines, or as long as the moon shines—
विनीताश्व उवाच भुङ्क्ते स्वर्गं च विप्रेन्द्र तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः ।।99.
Vinītāśva said: 'Does he enjoy heaven, O best of Brāhmaṇas? Tell me this as I ask you.'
होतोवाच चतुर्भिः कुडवैश्चैव प्रस्थ एकः प्रकीर्त्तितः
The priest said: 'Four kuḍavas make one prastha, so it is declared.'
सा तु षोडशभिः कार्या चतुर्भिर् वत्सको भवेत्
It should be made with sixteen parts, and with four, a calf is formed.
पुच्छे प्रकल्पनीया सा घण्टाभरणाभूषिता
On the tail, a bell ornament adorned with jewels should be arranged.
कांस्यदोहां रौप्यखुरां पूर्वधेनुविधानतः
With a bronze vessel for milking, silver hooves, according to the previous prescription for the cow.
कृष्णाजिनं धेनुवासो नन्दितां कल्पितां शुभाम्
A cow's garment made of black antelope skin, delightful and auspicious, should be arranged.
सर्वौषधिसमायुक्तां मन्त्रपूतां तु दापयेत्
It should be endowed with all medicinal herbs and purified by mantras before being given.
सर्वं सम्पादयास्माकं तिलधेनो द्विजार्पिता
Let everything be accomplished for us; the sesame cow is offered to the twice-born.
भजस्व कामान्मां देवि तिलधेनो नमोऽस्तु ते
O goddess, accept from me the sesame cow; salutations to you.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति 99.
Freed from all sins, one attains the world of Vishnu.