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,
न गायनफलं दद्मि ब्रह्मरक्षस्तवेप्सितम्
I do not grant you the fruit of singing that you desire, O Brahma-rakshasa.
श्वपाकवचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसः पुनरब्रवीत्
Hearing the words of the outcaste, the rakshasa spoke again.
एतेन तारितोऽस्मीति तव गीतफलेन वै
By this, I have been delivered—by the fruit of your singing.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं चाण्डालो विस्मयान्वितः
The outcaste, filled with wonder, spoke sweet words.
कर्मणो यस्य दोषेण राक्षसत्वं समागतः
By the fault of his actions, he attained the state of a rakshasa.
सूत्रमन्त्रपरिभ्रष्टो यज्ञकर्मसु निष्ठितः 139.
Having fallen from the thread-mantra, yet established in sacrificial rites.
प्रवर्तमाने यज्ञे तु कदाचिद्दैवयोगतः
Once, while the sacrifice was underway, by the influence of fate,
अथ पञ्चमहारात्रे ह्यसमाप्ते क्रतौ तथा
Then, on the fifth night, while the rite was still incomplete,
राक्षसत्वमनुप्राप्तस्तेन दुष्टेन कर्मणा
Because of that wicked deed, I attained the state of a rakshasa.
सूत्रहीनं तथा तत्र प्राग्वंशादि कृतं मया
There, lacking the proper thread, I performed the ancestral rites.