स कन्यां पुत्रमादाय ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः
A Brahmin, accomplished in the Vedas, took his daughter and son.
तत्रासौ वासमकरोत्पुण्यसेवी जितेन्द्रियः
There, he dwelt, devoted to virtue, with senses controlled.
तत्र सिद्धेन संवासो ब्राह्मणस्याभवत्तदा
At that time, the brāhmaṇa dwelled together with the accomplished sage.
गच्छेत्स सर्वकालं तु शालिग्रामे वसुन्धरे
He should always go and reside in Śāligrāma, O Earth.
कल्पग्राम विभूतिं च नित्यकालमवर्णयत्
He constantly described the glory of Kalpagrāma.
गमने बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना ततः सिद्धमयाचत
Then, the thought of departing arose, and he asked the accomplished sage.
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सिद्धो वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing the words of the brāhmaṇa, the accomplished sage spoke.
प्रार्थना दुःखलाभं तु शृणु वै ब्राह्मणोत्तम 162.
O best of brāhmaṇas, listen to the request that brings sorrow.
दक्षिणे तु करे गृह्य ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम्
Taking the brāhmaṇa, master of the Vedas, by the right hand—
उत्पपात तदा सिद्धो गृहीत्वा ब्राह्मणोत्तमौ
Then the accomplished sage soared up, holding the two foremost brāhmaṇas.
तत्र तौ वसतो नित्यं कल्पग्रामे द्विजोत्तमौ
There, the two excellent brāhmaṇas dwelled always in Kalpagrāma.
रुजा तु पीड्यमानः स दशमीं च दशां गतः
Afflicted by illness, he reached the tenth stage.
उवाच पुत्रं धर्मात्मा मरणे समुपस्थिते
When death approached, the righteous one spoke to his son.
तेन पुत्रेण नीतोऽसौ गंगातीरे महामुनिः
By his son, he—the great sage—was led to the bank of the Gaṅgā.
वेदाध्ययनशीलः स पितृभक्त्या नियन्त्रितः
Devoted to Vedic study, he was guided by filial piety.
कल्पग्रामे तदा सिद्धस्तस्य कन्या सुमध्यमा
At that time in Kalpagrāma, the accomplished sage had a daughter of slender waist.
कदाचिद्देवयोगेन कान्यकुब्जनिवासिनः
Once, by divine arrangement, there came a resident of Kānyakubja.
पृष्टोऽसौ ब्राह्मणो भद्रे क्व भवांस्त्वमिहागतः 162.
That brāhmaṇa asked, 'O good lady, where have you come from here?'
दिव्यज्ञानेन तं ज्ञात्वा पूजयामास तं द्विजः
Knowing him through divine knowledge, the brāhmaṇa honored him.
श्वशुरस्य गृहे नित्यं भोजनं कुरुते द्विजः
The brāhmaṇa always takes his meals in his father-in-law's house.
काले भगवतस्तस्य अतिक्षीणः पिता तदा
At that time, his father, the devotee of the Lord, had become extremely weak.
स्वामिन्पितुर्मे मरणं भविष्यति वदस्व माम्
O master, tell me when my father will die.
शूद्रान्नं भक्षितं तेन नित्यकालं द्विजोत्तम
He has continually eaten food prepared by Shudras, O best of twice-born.
पादयोर्विद्यते तच्च शूद्रान्नं च पितुस्तव
That food prepared by Shudras is present at your father's feet.
शूद्रान्नेन विहीनस्य तस्य मृत्युर्भविष्यति
Death will come to him who is deprived of Shudra food.
तस्य पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वात्मानं विगर्हयत्
Hearing his son's words, he reproached himself.
पितुः समीपात्स गतः श्वशुरस्य निवेशनम्
He left his father's side and went to his father-in-law's house.
दुःखेन पीडितः क्षीणो मर्त्तुकामो द्विजोत्तमः 162.
Afflicted by sorrow and weakened, the best of twice-born wished for death.
सन्निधावुपलं दृष्ट्वा गृहीतं तेन तत्पदा
Seeing a stone nearby, he took it with his foot.
ततः प्राणान्परित्यज्य गतोऽसौ कालवर्त्तनम्
Then, abandoning his life, he went to the realm of Time.