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.
ततः स पद्मपत्राक्षः श्वपाकं प्रत्युवाच ह
Then the lotus-eyed one spoke to the outcaste.
मा गच्छ तत्र चाण्डाल यत्रासौ पापराक्षसः
Do not go there, cāṇḍāla, where that sinful rākṣasa is.
ततस्तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा श्वपाकः संशितव्रतः
Then, hearing his words, the outcaste, firm in his vow,
नाहमेवं करिष्यामि यन्मां त्वं परिभाषसे
I will not act as you speak to me.
सत्यमूलं जगत्सर्वं कुलं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्
All the world is rooted in truth; the lineage is established in truth.
न चैवाहं तदुत्सृज्य असत्यः स्यां कदाचन
Nor will I ever abandon it and become untruthful.
एवमुक्त्वा श्वपाकोपि नित्यं सत्यव्रते स्थितः 139.
Thus speaking, the outcaste too remained always steadfast in his vow of truth.
आगतोऽस्मि महाभाग मा विलम्बय भक्षय
I have arrived, O illustrious one; do not delay, eat.
एतानि मम गात्राणि भक्षयस्व यथेष्टतः
Eat these limbs of mine as you wish.
तर्पयस्व स्वमात्मानं कुरुष्व मम वै हितम्
Satisfy yourself; do what is truly beneficial for me.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं श्वपाकं तदनन्तरम्
He then spoke sweet words to the outcaste.
चण्डालस्याविधिज्ञस्य यस्य ते मतिरीदृशी
To the outcaste ignorant of proper conduct, whose mind is thus inclined,
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं ब्रह्मराक्षसमेव तु
He spoke sweet words to the Brahma-rakshasa as well.
तथापि सत्यं वक्तव्यं ब्रह्मराक्षस नित्यशः
Still, truth must always be spoken, O Brahma-rakshasa.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं श्वपाकं संशितव्रतम्
He spoke sweet words to the outcaste, steadfast in his vow.
फलं गीतस्य मे देहि यदीच्छेर्जीवितं स्वकम्
Grant me the fruit of my singing, if you desire your own life.
ब्रह्मरक्षोवचः श्रुत्वा श्वपाकः प्रत्युवाच ह 139.
Hearing the words of the Brahma-rakshasa, the outcaste replied.
भक्षयामीति चोक्त्वा मां गीतपुण्यं किमिच्छसि
Having said, 'I will eat,' what reward of singing do you desire from me?
देहि मे त्वेकयामीयं पुण्यं गीतस्य वै परम्
Give me just one supreme merit from the singing.
श्रुत्वा राक्षसवाक्यानि चाण्डालो गीतलोभितः
Hearing the words of the rakshasa, the outcaste, greedy for song,