कुण्डगोलं प्रतिग्राहि दातारं चाप्यधो नयेत्
If a brāhmaṇa who accepts gifts is like a well or a pit, he leads the donor downward.
दृष्ट्वा तं पितरो यान्ति निराशा निरयं द्रुतम्
Seeing him, the ancestors become hopeless and quickly go to hell.
तस्माद्दानं न दातव्यमपात्राय यशस्विनि
Therefore, O illustrious one, gifts should not be given to the unworthy.
अवन्तीविषये कश्चिद्राजा ह्यत्यन्तधार्मिकः
In the land of Avanti, there was a king who was exceedingly righteous.
राज्ञः पुरोहितश्चासीच्चन्द्रशर्म्मा द्विजोत्तमः
The king's priest was Candrasharma, a foremost Brahmin.
स राजा ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च गा ददाति दिने दिने
That king gave cows to Brahmins every day.
गते बहुतिथे काले राज्ञो मेधातिथेः पितुः विप्रानाह्वापयामास पितुर्वै श्राद्धकारणात्
After much time had passed, Medhatithi, the king's son, summoned Brahmins for his father's śrāddha ceremony.
आगतान्ब्राह्मणान्दृष्ट्वा मेधातिथिरकल्मषः 189.
Seeing the Brahmins who had arrived, Medhatithi was afflicted by impurity.
श्राद्धं कृत्वा तु विधिवत्पिण्डान्निर्वाप्य यत्नतः
He performed the śrāddha according to the proper rites, carefully offering the rice balls.
तन्मध्ये ब्राह्मणः कश्चिद्गोलकोऽवस्थितस्तदा
Among them, at that time, a certain Brahmin named Golaka was present.
तेनैव श्राद्धदोषेण राज्ञस्तु पितरस्तदा
Because of that fault in the śrāddha, the king's ancestors at that time—
क्षुत्पिपासार्दिता नित्यं क्रन्दन्ते च पुनः पुनः
—were constantly afflicted by hunger and thirst, and cried out again and again.
मृगयार्थं गतस्तत्र द्वित्रैः परिजनैर्वृतः
He went there for hunting, accompanied by two or three attendants.
के भवन्तोऽत्र संप्राप्ता दशामेतां सुदुःखिताः
Who are you who have arrived here, suffering such a miserable condition?
पितर ऊचुः वयं तस्यैव पितरो नरकं गन्तुमुद्यताः
The ancestors said: We are his own forefathers, about to go to hell.
तेषां तु वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दुःखसमन्वितः
Hearing their words, the king was filled with sorrow.
मेधातिथिरुवाच केन वै कर्मदोषेण निरयं गन्तुमुद्यताः
Medhatithi said: By what fault in action are you about to go to hell?
पितर ऊचुः तेनैव कर्मदोषेण नरकं गन्तुमुद्यताः ।। 189.
The ancestors said: By that very fault in action, we are about to go to hell.
तत्र दुःखं महद्भुक्त्वा पुनर्गच्छामहे दिवम्
There, after enduring great suffering, we again ascend to heaven.
असंख्यातास्त्वया दत्ता गावः सुबहुदक्षिणा
Innumerable cows, with abundant gifts, have been given by you.
तत्र चान्नं न विद्येत येन तृप्तिर्भविष्यति
There, no food would be found by which satisfaction could be attained.
तेषां तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मेधातिथिरगाद्गृहम्
Hearing their words, Medhātithi went to his house.
मेधातिथिरुवाच आहूयन्तां द्विजाः सर्वे कुण्डगोलकवर्जिताः
Medhātithi said: 'Invite all the Brāhmaṇas who are free from the faults of Kuṇḍa and Golaka.'
इत्युक्तमात्रे वचने चन्द्रशर्मा पुरोहितः
As soon as these words were spoken, Candraśarmā, the priest,
साधून्क्षांतान्कुलीनांश्च सुशीलान्मानवर्जितान्
gathered the virtuous, the patient, the well-born, the well-conducted, and those free from blame.
कृते श्राद्धे ततः पश्चात्पिण्डान्निर्वाप्य यत्नतः
After the śrāddha was performed, he carefully offered the rice-balls.
हृष्टान्पुष्टान्बलैर्युक्तान्राजा तु मुमुदे भृशम् 189.
The king rejoiced greatly at seeing them cheerful, nourished, and endowed with strength.
ऊचुर्विनयसम्पन्नाः प्रीतिपूर्वमिदं वचः
Those endowed with humility spoke these words with affection:
इदानीं च त्वया कार्यमस्मद्धितमनुऽत्तमम्
Now you must accomplish this supreme good for us.
तयोर्दत्तं तु यच्छ्राद्धं निष्फलं तत्स्मृतं बुधैः
The śrāddha that was given to those two is declared fruitless by the wise.