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.
गतसंज्ञं च पितरं दृष्ट्वा स रुरुदे भृशम्
Seeing his father unconscious, he wept greatly.
संस्कारयोग्यता नास्ति इत्येवं पुनरब्रवीत्
He said again, 'He is not fit for funeral rites.'
आत्मनस्त्यागिनश्चैव आपस्तम्बोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Apastamba said this regarding one who gives up his own self:
प्रायश्चितं विधीयीत न दद्याच्चोदकक्रियाम्
A penance should be prescribed; one should not perform the water-offering rite.
तस्य पुत्रो महाभागे गतः श्वशुरमन्दिरम्
His son, O highly fortunate one, went to his father-in-law's house.
ब्रह्महत्या तु ते जाता गच्छ त्वं च यथेप्सितम्
You have incurred the sin of Brahmin-slaying; go wherever you wish.
न मया ब्राह्मणवधः कदाचिदपि कारितः
I have never caused the death of a Brahmin at any time.
जामातुर्वचनं श्रुत्वा श्वशुरो वाक्यमब्रवीत् 162.
Hearing the words of his son-in-law, the father-in-law spoke.
तेन दोषेण विप्रर्षे ब्रह्महत्याफलं तव
Because of that fault, O sage, you have incurred the result of killing a Brahmin.
संवत्सरेण पतति पतितेन सहाचरन्
Within a year, it falls, accompanying the one who has fallen.