त्यक्त्वा जगाम निधनं प्रेतत्वं समुपागतः 165.
he departed, leaving them behind, and died, attaining the state of a ghost.
परिभ्रमन्क्षुधाविष्टो मरुदेशं गतोऽपि सः
Wandering, afflicted by hunger, he entered a desert region.
कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन तत्र सार्थ उपागतः
Once, by the arrangement of fate, a caravan arrived there.
गते सार्थे तु स वणिक् तं वृक्षं समुपाश्रितः
When the caravan had passed, that merchant took shelter under a tree.
दीर्घदंष्ट्रः सुविकटो ह्रस्वबाहुर्विभीषणः
He was long-fanged, very hideous, short-armed, and terrifying.
अथ कालेन बहुना दैवयोगेन भामिनि
Then, after much time, by the will of fate, O beautiful one,
तं दृष्ट्वा दूरतः प्रेतश्चातिहर्षेण संयुतः
seeing him from afar, the ghost became filled with great joy.
भक्ष्यभूतो ममाद्यत्वं क्व भवान्यातुमिच्छति
He thought, 'Today you are to become my food; where do you wish to go?'
गच्छन्तं तं गृहीत्वा स प्रेतो वचनमब्रवीत्
Seizing him as he was departing, the ghost spoke these words:
मांसं ते भक्षयिष्यामि पिबामि तव शोणितम्
'I will eat your flesh and drink your blood.'
कुटुम्बभरणार्थाय सम्प्राप्तो दुर्गमाटवीम् 165.
I have come to this difficult forest for the sake of supporting my family.
मयि सम्भक्षिते रक्षः कुटुम्बं हि मरिष्यति
If the demon devours me, my family will surely perish.
कस्मात्स्थानात्समायातः सत्यं ब्रूहि महामते
From what place have you come? Speak the truth, O wise one.
विभुरुवाच तयोर्मध्ये पुरी रम्या मथुरा लोकविश्रुता
Vibhu said: Among those two, the beautiful city of Mathura is renowned in the world.
तस्यां वसाम्यहं प्रेत पितृपैतामहे गृहे
In that city, I dwell in the ancestral house of my forefathers.
तत्सर्वं तस्करैर्नीतं क्षीणवित्तोऽभवं तदा
All of that was taken away by thieves, and then I became destitute.
तव दृष्टिपथं यातो यत्कार्यं तत्कुरुष्व मे
I have come within your sight; do for me what must be done.
प्रेत उवाच समयेन हि मोक्ष्यामि कुरुष्व वचनं मम
The preta said: I will release you at the appointed time; do as I say.
निर्वृत्य गच्छ मथुरां मम कार्यार्थसाधकः
After completing my task, go to Mathura for my sake.
स्नानं कृत्वा तु विधिवत्कूपे चातुःसामुद्रिके
Having bathed properly in the well with four auspicious marks,
स्नानस्य च फलं देहि ततो गच्छ यथासुखम् ।। प्रेतवाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा विभुर्वचनमब्रवीत्।165.
Give the fruit of the bath, then go as you please. Hearing the preta's words, Vibhu spoke:
नाहं यास्यामि मथुरां द्रव्याभावे कथंचन
I will not go to Mathura at all, since I have no wealth.
प्रेत उवाच आस्ते धनमपर्याप्तं गच्छ त्वं मा विलम्बय
The preta said: There is sufficient wealth; go, do not delay.
विभुरुवाच गृहशेषं मम धनं न चान्यत्तत्र विद्यते
Vibhu said: The only wealth left to me is my house; there is nothing else there.
पितृपैतामही कीर्त्तिरविक्रेया हि सा मया
The ancestral honor of my forefathers is not to be sold by me.
अस्ति चैव धनं प्रोक्तं यन्मया त्वद्गृहे विभो
There is indeed wealth, as I have told you, O Vibhu, in your house.
निवर्त्त गच्छ संतुष्टः सुहृदां प्रीतिवर्द्धनः
Return, go content, and increase the joy of your friends.
सूत उवाच इमामवस्थां सम्प्राप्य कथं ज्ञानसमुद्भवः
Sūta said: Having reached this state, how did knowledge arise?
ततः स कथयामास यद्वृत्तं हि पुरातनम्
Then he began to recount what had happened in ancient times.
प्रभातसमये तत्र विष्णोरायतने शुभे
At dawn, in that auspicious temple of Vishnu,