कृष्णरूपाश्चंक्रमन्तो मशकाकारसन्निभाः
Taking on dark forms, resembling the shape of mosquitoes, they move about.
तस्मिन्क्षणे न च कृतं व्रतं जप्यं विमोहनात् 180.
In that moment, due to delusion, no vow or recitation was performed.
चतुर्थांशावशेषश्च दिवसः पर्यवर्त्तत
A fourth part of the day remained.
अन्ये पूर्वोत्तराद्देशाद्दक्षिणात्पश्चिमात्तथा
Others came from the eastern and western directions, as well as from the south.
हृष्टास्तुष्टा सुपुष्टांगा गच्छन्तो दिवि सङ्घशः
Joyful, satisfied, and with well-nourished bodies, they go in groups to the heavens.
वस्त्रालङ्कारपुष्टांगा हृष्टा गच्छन्ति संघशः
Adorned with garments and ornaments, with strong bodies and delight, they go in groups.
अन्ये यथागतं यान्ति आयान्ति पुनरेव हि
Others depart as they had come, and indeed, they return again.
समागच्छन्ति गच्छन्तीरयन्तश्चाशिषो मुदा
They gather, depart, and arrive, wishing blessings with joy.
निर्गतोदरसूक्ष्माश्च गच्छन्ति सुविमानिताः
With slender bodies and sunken bellies, they go, honored with fine palanquins.
महोत्सवमिवालक्ष्य विस्मितो मुनिरुत्थितः
Seeing it as a great festival, the sage rose up in amazement.
निर्जनं ध्रुवतीर्थं तु वृतवेलमिवाभवत्
The solitary, constant holy place became as if surrounded by a shore.
वेपथुः कोटराक्षश्च पृष्ठलग्नलघूदरः 180.
Trembling, with hollow eyes, thin and with a sunken back, he was.
न वाक्च श्रूयते तस्य क्षुद्रपक्षिरवो यथा
No speech of his is heard, like the cry of a small bird.
न गच्छसि यथास्थानमागतस्तु निरुद्यमः
You do not go to your proper place, having come here without effort.
ममाद्य नैत्यकं कर्म तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नश्यतेऽनिशम्
Today, my daily act at this holy place is lost, night and day.
त्वां दृष्ट्वेदृक्स्वरूपं च क्रिया मे सा गता त्वयि
Having seen you in this form, my ritual has gone to you.
जन्तुरुवाच ध्रुवतीर्थे च यः श्राद्धं पुनः कुर्यात्तिलोदकम्
The creature said: Whoever performs the śrāddha ritual again at the fixed holy place, offering water mixed with sesame seeds—
तिलतृप्ता दिवं यान्ति पितरस्तेन पुत्रिणः
By that, the ancestors who are satisfied with sesame attain heaven through their offspring.
योनिसंकरदोषेण नरकं समुपाश्रितः
Due to the fault of mixed lineage, one is subjected to hell.
अगतिर्गमने मे स्यात्ते त्रितापैः समागतः
For me, there is no path or movement; I am afflicted by threefold suffering.
बलयुक्ता ययुः स्वर्गं निर्बलस्य कुतो गतिः
Those endowed with strength have reached heaven; how can the powerless have any path?
ते स्वधापूजितैः पुत्रैर्गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम् 180.
They attain the highest state through sons who honor them with offerings of svadhā.
दृष्टास्त्वया त्रिकालज्ञ दिव्यदृष्ट्या दिवं गताः
You have seen them, O knower of the three times, with divine vision, those who have gone to heaven.
प्रतिलोमानुलोमानां शूद्राणां श्राद्धकर्मिणाम्
Of those who perform śrāddha among the śūdras, whether born in direct or reverse lineage—
एवं पृष्टः स विप्रेण कथयामास कारणम्
Thus questioned by the brāhmaṇa, he began to explain the reason.
तवापि सन्ततिस्तात नास्ति दैवाद्यथोचिता
O dear one, your lineage too does not exist as prescribed by fate.
वद सर्वं करिष्यामि यदि सत्यं वचो मम
Tell me everything; I will do it, if my word is true.
इमे ये मम देहे तु भवन्ति मशकाः कृशाः
These who are in my body, thin mosquitoes—
तन्तुमन्त्रमहं तेषां मम तन्तुमयी सकृत्
I am their thread-mantra; I am made of thread for them, once.
महिष्याः प्रेषणे नित्यं दासी नाम्ना प्रभावती
For sending messages to the queen, always, there is a maid named Prabhāvatī.