मा कुरु व्रतभङ्गं मे रक्षो नारायणस्य हि
Do not break my vow, O rākṣasa, for it is for Nārāyaṇa.
सुधनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मरक्षः क्षुधार्दितः
Hearing Sudhana's words, the Brahma-rākṣasa, tormented by hunger,
मिथ्या प्रभाषसे साधो त्वं पुनः कथमेष्यसि
said: You speak falsely, good man; how will you return again?
राक्षसस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स वणिग्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing the rākṣasa's words, the merchant replied.
सिद्धिं लभन्ते सत्येन ऋषयो वेदपारगाः
The sages who have mastered the Vedas attain success through truth.
प्राप्तश्च मानुषो भावो विहितेनान्तरात्मना
A human state is obtained by the prescribed inner self.
कृत्वा जागरणं तत्र नृत्यं कृत्वा यथासुखम्
Having kept vigil there, one dances as one pleases.
सत्येन दीयते कन्या सत्यं जल्पन्ति ब्राह्मणाः
A maiden is given in marriage through truth; Brahmins speak truthfully.
स्वर्गमिच्छन्ति सत्येन मोक्षः सत्येन लभ्यते 155.
They desire heaven through truth; liberation is attained by truth.
यमः सत्येन हरति सत्यादिन्द्रो विराजते
Yama takes by truth; Indra shines by truth.
परदारांस्तु यो गच्छेत्काममोहप्रपीडितः
Whoever approaches another’s wife, afflicted by lust and delusion,
तस्य पापेन लिप्येऽहं यदि नायामि ते पुरः
I am stained by his sin if I do not come before you.
दत्त्वा च भूमिदानं यो ह्यपकारं करोति च
And whoever, after giving land as a gift, commits harm,
पूर्वं भुक्त्वा स्त्रियं यस्तु सुखमाप्य विहृत्य च
Having first enjoyed a woman, and having attained pleasure and sport,
पङ्क्तिभेदं तु यः कुर्यादेकपंक्त्याशिनां धुवम्
Whoever causes a breach in the dining line among those eating in a single row,
अमावस्यां महारक्षः श्राद्धं कृत्वा स्त्रियं व्रजेत्
On the new moon, after performing a great protective śrāddha, he goes to a woman.
अष्टाष्टमी त्वमावास्या उभे पक्षे चतुर्दशी
The eighth and the new moon, both sides’ fourteenth day,
गुरोर्भ्रातुः सुतस्यापि सख्युर्वै मातुलस्य च
Of the teacher, brother, son, friend, and maternal uncle,
अभिगच्छति मन्दात्मा तत्पापं मे भवेत्तदा 155.
If a dull-minded person approaches them, then their sin becomes mine.
तस्य पापेन लिप्येऽहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
I am stained by his sin if I do not come again.
तेन पापेन लिप्येऽहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
By that sin I am stained if I do not come again.
तेषां पापेन लिप्येऽहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
By their sin I am stained if I do not come again.
या गतिस्तां प्रपद्येऽहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः सुधनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सन्तुष्टो ब्रह्मराक्षसः
Hearing Sudhana's words, the Brahmarakshasa was pleased and said, 'I will take that path which leads to liberation, if I do not return again.'
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं गच्छ शीघ्रं नमोऽस्तु ते
He spoke sweet words: 'Go quickly, salutations to you.'
पुनर्नृत्यति चैवाग्रे मम भक्तो व्यवस्थितः
Again, my devotee stood before me and danced.
पुनः पुनर्वै उच्चार्य नमो नारायणाय च
Again and again, he uttered, 'Salutations to Narayana.'
दृष्ट्वा मां दिव्यरूपं तु गतोऽसौ मथुरां पुरीम्
Having seen me in my divine form, he went to the city of Mathura.
स च पृष्टो मया देवि क्व भवान्प्रस्थितो द्रुतम्
O Devi, I asked him, 'Where are you hastening to?'
अहं गच्छामि त्वरितो ब्रह्मराक्षससन्निधौ 155.
He replied, 'I am going quickly to the presence of the Brahmarakshasa.'
जीवतो धर्ममाहात्म्यं मृते धर्मः कुतो यशः ५१- आगतोऽहं महाभाग नर्त्तयित्वा यथासुखम्
While alive, one gains the greatness of dharma; after death, how can there be dharma or fame? O highly fortunate one, I have come after dancing as I pleased.