गायमानश्च गीतानि संवत्सरगणान्बहून्
And who sings songs for many years,
कौमुदस्य तु मासस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वादशी
On the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kaumuda,
जाग्रंस्तत्र स चाण्डालो गृहीतो ब्रह्मरक्षसा
There, while awake, that Chandala was seized by a Brahma-rakshasa.
दुःखशोकेन सन्तप्तो न शक्नोति विचेष्टितुम्
Tormented by pain and sorrow, he was unable to move.
किं त्वया चेष्टितं मह्यं यस्त्वेवं परिधावसि
What have you done to me, that you run about in this way?
ततः प्रोवाच तं श्वादं मानुषाहारलोलुपः
Then that flesh-eater, greedy for human food, spoke to him.
विधात्रा विहितस्त्वं व आहारः पारणाविधौ
By the Creator's ordinance, you are my food at the time of breaking the fast.
तृप्तिं यास्यामि परमां विधात्रा विहितां मम 139.
I shall attain supreme satisfaction, allotted to me by the Creator.
राक्षसं छन्दयामास मम भक्त्या व्यवस्थितः
He sought to please the Rakshasa, standing firm in his devotion to me.
अवश्यमेतत्कर्तव्यं धात्रा दत्तं यथा तव
This must certainly be done, as it has been given to you by the Creator.
उद्यंस्तत्र गत्वाहमुपास्य विधिना हरिम्
Going there at dawn, I worshipped Hari according to the prescribed rite.
विष्णोः सन्तोषणार्थाय यतो मे व्रतमास्थितम्
For the sake of pleasing Vishnu, I undertook this vow.
श्वपाकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मरक्षः क्षुधार्दितः
Hearing the words of the outcaste, the Brahma-rakshasa, afflicted by hunger—
रक्षसो मुखविभ्रष्टः पुनरागन्तुमिच्छसि
The Rakshasa, his mouth agape, said: 'Do you wish to return again?'
यद्यप्यहं हि चाण्डालः पूर्वकर्मविदूषितः
Even though I am a Chandala, tainted by former deeds—
शृणु मत्समयं रक्षो येनाहं पुनरागमम्
Hear my pledge, O Rakshasa, by which I have come back.
सत्येन पुनरेष्यामि मन्यसे यदि मुंच माम् 139.
By truth I shall return again; if you believe, then release me.
सत्येन सिद्धिं प्राप्ता हि ऋषयो ब्रह्मवादिनः
By truth, the sages devoted to Brahman have attained success.
सत्यं जयन्ति राजानस्त्रीण्येतान्यब्रुवन्नृतम्
By truth, kings and women prevail; these have not spoken falsehood.
सत्येन तपते सूर्यः सोमः सत्येन रज्यते
By truth the sun shines; by truth the moon delights.
अस्नातानां गतिं यास्ये यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
I shall attain the fate of those who have not bathed, if I do not return again.
तां गतिं सम्प्रपद्येऽहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
I shall reach that fate, if I do not return again.
तां गतिं सम्प्रपद्येऽहं यद्यं नागमे पुनः
I shall reach that fate, if I do not return again.
तेषां गतिं प्रपद्येऽहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
I shall attain their fate, if I do not return again.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं गच्छ शीघ्रं नमोऽस्तु ते
He spoke sweet words: 'Go quickly, salutations to you.'
पुनर्गायति मह्यं वै मम भक्तौ व्यवस्थितः
He will sing again for me, established in devotion to me.
नमो नारायणायेति श्वपाकः परिवर्त्तते 139.
Saying 'Salutations to Nārāyaṇa,' the outcaste turns around.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं चाण्डालं कृतनिश्चयम्
He spoke sweet words to the determined cāṇḍāla.
जानन्कौणपपं तं च न त्वं मर्त्तुमिहार्हसि
Knowing him to be a corpse-eater, he said, 'You should not die here.'
समयो मे कृतः पूर्वं राक्षसेन हि भक्षता
My agreement was made earlier, to be eaten by the rākṣasa.