Somasharma's Trial: Service to the Leprous Elders, and the Emptied Vessel

Verse 1 (padma.2.4.1)

सूत उवाच- गतेषु तेषु गोलोकं वैष्णवं तमसः परम् । शिवशर्मा महाप्राज्ञः कनिष्ठं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca- gateṣu teṣu golokaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ tamasaḥ param śivaśarmā mahāprājñaḥ kaniṣṭhaṁ vākyamabravīt

Suta said: When they had gone to Goloka, the realm of Vishnu beyond darkness, the greatly wise Shivasharma spoke this word to his youngest son:

Verse 2 (padma.2.4.2)

ब्राह्मण उवाच- सोमशर्मन्महाप्राज्ञ त्वं पितुर्भक्तितत्परः । अमृतस्य महाकुंभं रक्ष दत्तं मयाधुना

brāhmaṇa uvāca- somaśarmanmahāprājña tvaṁ piturbhaktitatparaḥ amṛtasya mahākuṁbhaṁ rakṣa dattaṁ mayādhunā

The brahmin said: 'O greatly wise Somasharma, devoted to your father — guard now this great vessel of nectar which I give you.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.4.3)

तीर्थयात्रां प्रयास्यामि अनया भार्यया सह । एवमस्तु महाभाग करिष्ये रक्षणं शुभम्

tīrthayātrāṁ prayāsyāmi anayā bhāryayā saha evamastu mahābhāga kariṣye rakṣaṇaṁ śubham

'I shall go on pilgrimage together with your mother.' 'So be it, O greatly fortunate one — I shall guard it well.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.4.4)

कुंभं दत्वा स मेधावी तस्य हस्ते महात्मनः । दशवर्षप्रमाणं तु तपस्तेपे निरंतरम्

kuṁbhaṁ datvā sa medhāvī tasya haste mahātmanaḥ daśavarṣapramāṇaṁ tu tapastepe niraṁtaram

Having placed the vessel in that great-souled son's hand, the wise one performed austerity unceasingly for ten years.

Verse 5 (padma.2.4.5)

कुंभं रक्षति धर्मात्मा दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः । पुनः स हि समायातः शिवशर्मा महायशाः

kuṁbhaṁ rakṣati dharmātmā divārātramataṁdritaḥ punaḥ sa hi samāyātaḥ śivaśarmā mahāyaśāḥ

The righteous one guarded the vessel day and night, untiring; then the greatly renowned Shivasharma returned once more—

Verse 6 (padma.2.4.6)

मायां कृत्वा महाप्राज्ञो भार्यया सह तं सुतम् । कुष्ठरोगातुरो भूत्वा तस्य भार्या च तादृशी

māyāṁ kṛtvā mahāprājño bhāryayā saha taṁ sutam kuṣṭharogāturo bhūtvā tasya bhāryā ca tādṛśī

—that wise one, having wrought an illusion together with his wife to test his son, becoming afflicted with leprosy, and his wife likewise—

Verse 7 (padma.2.4.7)

मांसपिंडोपमौ जातौ द्वावेतौ मायया कृतौ । संनिधिं तस्य घोरस्य विप्रस्य सोमशर्मणः

māṁsapiṁḍopamau jātau dvāvetau māyayā kṛtau saṁnidhiṁ tasya ghorasya viprasya somaśarmaṇaḥ

—the two of them were made by that maya to appear like lumps of raw flesh, and came in this dreadful form into the presence of the brahmin Somasharma.

Verse 8 (padma.2.4.8)

समागतौ हि तौ दृष्ट्वा सर्वतो हि सुदुःखितौ । कृपया परयाविष्टः सोमशर्मा महायशाः

samāgatau hi tau dṛṣṭvā sarvato hi suduḥkhitau kṛpayā parayāviṣṭaḥ somaśarmā mahāyaśāḥ

Seeing them arrive thus, utterly wretched in every way, and overcome with the deepest compassion, the greatly renowned Somasharma—

Verse 9 (padma.2.4.9)

तयोः पादं नमस्कृत्य भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । भवादृशौ न पश्यामि तपसाभिसमन्वितम्

tayoḥ pādaṁ namaskṛtya bhaktyā namitakaṁdharaḥ bhavādṛśau na paśyāmi tapasābhisamanvitam

—bowed his head in devotion at their feet and said: 'I have never before seen any so endowed with austerity as you—'

Verse 10 (padma.2.4.10)

गुणव्रातैः सुपुण्यैश्च किमिदं वर्तितं त्वयि । दासवद्देवताः सर्वा वर्तंते सर्वदा तव

guṇavrātaiḥ supuṇyaiśca kimidaṁ vartitaṁ tvayi dāsavaddevatāḥ sarvā vartaṁte sarvadā tava

—'possessed of such multitudes of virtue and merit — what has befallen you? All the gods ever wait upon you as servants—'

Verse 11 (padma.2.4.11)

आदेशं प्राप्य विप्रेंद्र आकृष्टास्तेजसा तव । तवांगे केन पापेन गदोयं वेदनान्वितः

ādeśaṁ prāpya vipreṁdra ākṛṣṭāstejasā tava tavāṁge kena pāpena gadoyaṁ vedanānvitaḥ

—'drawn, O foremost of brahmins, by your very splendor, at your least command. By what sin has this painful disease—'

Verse 12 (padma.2.4.12)

संजातो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ तन्मे कथय कारणम् । इयं पुण्यवती माता महापुण्या पतिव्रता

saṁjāto brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha tanme kathaya kāraṇam iyaṁ puṇyavatī mātā mahāpuṇyā pativratā

—'come upon your body, O best of brahmins? Tell me the reason. And this mother, so meritorious, so devoted to her husband—'

Verse 13 (padma.2.4.13)

या हि भर्तृप्रसादेन त्रैलोक्यं कर्तुमिच्छति । सा कथं दुःखमाप्नोति किं नास्ति तपसः फलम्

yā hi bhartṛprasādena trailokyaṁ kartumicchati sā kathaṁ duḥkhamāpnoti kiṁ nāsti tapasaḥ phalam

—'who, by her husband's grace, could sway the three worlds if she wished — how has she come to such suffering? Has austerity then no fruit?'

Verse 14 (padma.2.4.14)

रागद्वेषौ परित्यज्य विविधेनापि कर्मणा । या च शुश्रूषते कांतं देववद्गुरुवत्सला

rāgadveṣau parityajya vividhenāpi karmaṇā yā ca śuśrūṣate kāṁtaṁ devavadguruvatsalā

—'She who, abandoning attachment and aversion, through every kind of act, serves her husband as a god, revering him as a guru—'

Verse 15 (padma.2.4.15)

सा कथं दुःखमाप्नोति कुष्ठरोगं सुदुःखदम् । शिवशर्मोवाच- मा शुचस्त्वं महाभाग भुज्यते कर्मजं फलम्

sā kathaṁ duḥkhamāpnoti kuṣṭharogaṁ suduḥkhadam śivaśarmovāca- mā śucastvaṁ mahābhāga bhujyate karmajaṁ phalam

—'how has she come to bear so grievous a leprosy?' Shivasharma said: 'Grieve not, O greatly fortunate one; the fruit born of past deeds must be endured—'

Verse 16 (padma.2.4.16)

नरेण कर्मयुक्तेन पापपुण्यमयेन हि । शोधनं च कुरुष्व त्वमुभयो रोगयुक्तयोः

nareṇa karmayuktena pāpapuṇyamayena hi śodhanaṁ ca kuruṣva tvamubhayo rogayuktayoḥ

—'by every man bound to action, made of both sin and merit. Attend, then, to the care of us both, afflicted as we are by this disease—'

Verse 17 (padma.2.4.17)

शुश्रूषणं महाभाग यदि पुण्यमिहेच्छसि । एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये सोमशर्मा महायशाः

śuśrūṣaṇaṁ mahābhāga yadi puṇyamihecchasi evamukte śubhe vākye somaśarmā mahāyaśāḥ

—'if you desire merit here, O greatly fortunate one.' When this auspicious word was spoken, the greatly renowned Somasharma—

Verse 18 (padma.2.4.18)

शुश्रूषां वा करिष्यामि युवयोः पुण्ययुक्तयोः । मया पापेन दुष्टेन कृपणेन द्विजोत्तम

śuśrūṣāṁ vā kariṣyāmi yuvayoḥ puṇyayuktayoḥ mayā pāpena duṣṭena kṛpaṇena dvijottama

—replied: 'I shall indeed serve you both, meritorious as you are. O best of brahmins, for one so sinful, wretched, and lowly as I—'

Verse 19 (padma.2.4.19)

किं कर्तव्यमिहाद्यैव यो गुरुं न हि पूजयेत् । एवमाभाष्य दुःखाद्वा तयोर्दुःखेन दुःखितः

kiṁ kartavyamihādyaiva yo guruṁ na hi pūjayet evamābhāṣya duḥkhādvā tayorduḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ

—'what else could there be to do this day? What is one who fails to honor his elders?' Having spoken thus, grieved himself by their grief—

Verse 20 (padma.2.4.20)

श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषं च उभयोः पर्यशोधयत् । पादप्रक्षालनं चक्रे अंगसंवाहनं तथा

śleṣmamūtrapurīṣaṁ ca ubhayoḥ paryaśodhayat pādaprakṣālanaṁ cakre aṁgasaṁvāhanaṁ tathā

—he cleansed the phlegm, urine, and filth of both of them; he washed their feet and massaged their limbs.

Verse 21 (padma.2.4.21)

स्नानस्थानादिकं सोपि तयोर्भक्त्यान्वितः स्वयम् । द्वावेतौ हि गुरू विप्रः सोमशर्मा महायशाः

snānasthānādikaṁ sopi tayorbhaktyānvitaḥ svayam dvāvetau hi gurū vipraḥ somaśarmā mahāyaśāḥ

—he himself attended, full of devotion, to their bathing and every other need. Regarding the two of them as his own gurus, the greatly renowned brahmin Somasharma—

Verse 22 (padma.2.4.22)

तीर्थं नयति धर्मात्मा स्कंधमारोप्य सत्तमः । द्वावेतौ हि स्वहस्तेन स्नापयित्वा तु मंगलैः

tīrthaṁ nayati dharmātmā skaṁdhamāropya sattamaḥ dvāvetau hi svahastena snāpayitvā tu maṁgalaiḥ

—carried them on his shoulders to sacred fords, that righteous and worthy one; with his own hands he bathed the two of them with due rites—

Verse 23 (padma.2.4.23)

सुमंत्रैर्वेदविच्चैव स्नानस्य विधिपूर्वकम् । तर्पणं च पितॄणां तु देवतानां तु पूजनम्

sumaṁtrairvedaviccaiva snānasya vidhipūrvakam tarpaṇaṁ ca pitṝṇāṁ tu devatānāṁ tu pūjanam

—with proper mantras, being versed in the Veda, performing the bathing by rule, and the offerings to the ancestors, and worship of the gods—

Verse 24 (padma.2.4.24)

द्वाभ्यामपि स धर्मात्मा स कारयति नित्यशः । स्वयं होमं ददात्यग्नौ पचत्यन्नमनुत्तमम्

dvābhyāmapi sa dharmātmā sa kārayati nityaśaḥ svayaṁ homaṁ dadātyagnau pacatyannamanuttamam

—that righteous one had them perform daily; he himself offered oblations into the fire and cooked fine food.

Verse 25 (padma.2.4.25)

संज्ञापयति सुप्रीतौ द्वावेतौ च महागुरू । शय्यासने च तौ विप्रः प्रस्वापयति नित्यशः

saṁjñāpayati suprītau dvāvetau ca mahāgurū śayyāsane ca tau vipraḥ prasvāpayati nityaśaḥ

—he kept those two great elders content in every way; the brahmin laid them each night to rest upon a bed.

Verse 26 (padma.2.4.26)

वस्त्रपुष्पादिकं सर्वं ताभ्यां नित्यं प्रयच्छति । तांबूलं बहुगंधाढ्यमुभयोरर्पयेत्स तु

vastrapuṣpādikaṁ sarvaṁ tābhyāṁ nityaṁ prayacchati tāṁbūlaṁ bahugaṁdhāḍhyamubhayorarpayetsa tu

—he gave them daily clothing, flowers, and everything else; he offered to both of them betel rich with many fragrances.

Verse 27 (padma.2.4.27)

सोमशर्मा महाभागस्ताभ्यामपि च पूरयेत् । मूलं पयः सुभक्ष्याद्यं नित्यमेव ददात्यसौ

somaśarmā mahābhāgastābhyāmapi ca pūrayet mūlaṁ payaḥ subhakṣyādyaṁ nityameva dadātyasau

—the greatly fortunate Somasharma satisfied their every wish; he daily gave them roots, milk, and fine food.

Verse 28 (padma.2.4.28)

तयोस्तु वांछितं नित्यं सोमशर्मा महायशाः । अनेन क्रमयोगेन नित्यमेव प्रसादयेत्

tayostu vāṁchitaṁ nityaṁ somaśarmā mahāyaśāḥ anena kramayogena nityameva prasādayet

—the greatly renowned Somasharma fulfilled their every daily wish, by this same course, constantly.

Verse 29 (padma.2.4.29)

सोमशर्मा सुधर्मात्मा पितरौ परिपूजयेत् । सोमशर्माणमाहूय पिता कुत्सति निष्ठुरः

somaśarmā sudharmātmā pitarau paripūjayet somaśarmāṇamāhūya pitā kutsati niṣṭhuraḥ

—Somasharma, of truly righteous soul, fully honored these two parent-figures. Yet, calling Somasharma, the harsh father would revile him—

Verse 30 (padma.2.4.30)

निंदितैर्निष्ठुरैर्वाक्यैस्ताडयेन्मुनिसन्निधौ । कृतकार्ये कृते पुण्ये नित्यमेव सुते पुनः

niṁditairniṣṭhurairvākyaistāḍayenmunisannidhau kṛtakārye kṛte puṇye nityameva sute punaḥ

—even in the presence of sages, striking at him with scornful, harsh words, again and again, even after every meritorious deed his son had done—

Verse 31 (padma.2.4.31)

न कृतं शोभनं मह्यं त्वयैव कुलपांसन । एवं नानाविधैर्वाक्यैर्निष्ठुरैर्दुःखदायकैः

na kṛtaṁ śobhanaṁ mahyaṁ tvayaiva kulapāṁsana evaṁ nānāvidhairvākyairniṣṭhurairduḥkhadāyakaiḥ

—'Disgrace of the family! You have done nothing good for me at all.' With such various harsh and grievous words—

Verse 32 (padma.2.4.32)

अताडयद्दंडघातैः शिवशर्मा सदातुरः । एवं कृतेपि धर्मात्मा नैव कुप्यति कर्हिचित्

atāḍayaddaṁḍaghātaiḥ śivaśarmā sadāturaḥ evaṁ kṛtepi dharmātmā naiva kupyati karhicit

—Shivasharma, ever feigning sickness, would even strike him with blows of a rod. Yet, even under such treatment, that righteous one never once grew angry—

Verse 33 (padma.2.4.33)

मनसा वचसा चैव कर्मणा त्रिविधेन च । संतुष्टः सर्वदा सोपि पितरं परिपूजयेत्

manasā vacasā caiva karmaṇā trividhena ca saṁtuṣṭaḥ sarvadā sopi pitaraṁ paripūjayet

—in mind, speech, or deed, in any of the three ways; he, ever content, continued to honor his father fully—

Verse 34 (padma.2.4.34)

तद्वत्स सोमशर्मा वै मातरं च दिनेदिने । यज्ज्ञात्वा शिवशर्मा च चरितं स्वीयमीक्षते

tadvatsa somaśarmā vai mātaraṁ ca dinedine yajjñātvā śivaśarmā ca caritaṁ svīyamīkṣate

—and likewise, day after day, his mother too. Perceiving this, Shivasharma reflected within himself—

Verse 35 (padma.2.4.35)

अमृतं मत्कृते चापि आनीतं विष्णुशर्मणा । पुण्ययुक्तः स धर्मात्मा पितृभक्तिपरः सदा

amṛtaṁ matkṛte cāpi ānītaṁ viṣṇuśarmaṇā puṇyayuktaḥ sa dharmātmā pitṛbhaktiparaḥ sadā

—'It was for my sake that the nectar was brought by Vishnusharma; this meritorious, righteous one too is ever devoted wholly to his father.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.4.36)

एवं बहुतिथे काले शतसंख्ये गते सति । शिवशर्मा पितस्यैव भक्तिं दृष्ट्वा विचिंत्य वै

evaṁ bahutithe kāle śatasaṁkhye gate sati śivaśarmā pitasyaiva bhaktiṁ dṛṣṭvā viciṁtya vai

Thus, when a long time — a hundred days — had passed, Shivasharma, having seen this devotion and pondered it—

Verse 37 (padma.2.4.37)

मया वै पूर्वमित्युक्तं सुपुत्रं यज्ञसंज्ञकम् । मातृखंडानिमान्पुत्र यत्र तत्र क्षिपस्व हि

mayā vai pūrvamityuktaṁ suputraṁ yajñasaṁjñakam mātṛkhaṁḍānimānputra yatra tatra kṣipasva hi

—recalled: 'I once said to my good son Yajnasharma — scatter these pieces of your mother here and there, my son—'

Verse 38 (padma.2.4.38)

मद्वाक्यं पालितं तेन कृता न मातरि कृपा । एतत्स्वल्पतरं दुःखं निर्जीवे घातमिच्छतः

madvākyaṁ pālitaṁ tena kṛtā na mātari kṛpā etatsvalpataraṁ duḥkhaṁ nirjīve ghātamicchataḥ

—'and my word was obeyed by him without any pity for his mother — yet that was a lesser suffering, for it meant striking only a lifeless body—'

Verse 39 (padma.2.4.39)

साहसं तु कृतं तेन पुत्रेण वेदशर्मणा । अस्याधिकमहं मन्ये यतोऽयं चलते न च

sāhasaṁ tu kṛtaṁ tena putreṇa vedaśarmaṇā asyādhikamahaṁ manye yato'yaṁ calate na ca

—'and the daring deed done by my son Vedasharma was great too. But I judge this one, Somasharma, to exceed even that, for he never wavers—'

Verse 40 (padma.2.4.40)

निमेषमात्रमेवापि साहसं कारयेत्पुनः । अपरं सत्यसंपन्नं प्रभावं तपसः पुनः

nimeṣamātramevāpi sāhasaṁ kārayetpunaḥ aparaṁ satyasaṁpannaṁ prabhāvaṁ tapasaḥ punaḥ

—'not even for the blink of an eye. And still greater, endowed with truth, the power of his austerity—'

Verse 41 (padma.2.4.41)

नित्यं समाराधनेपि अधिकं चास्य दृश्यते । तस्मादस्य परीक्षा च समये तपसः कृता

nityaṁ samārādhanepi adhikaṁ cāsya dṛśyate tasmādasya parīkṣā ca samaye tapasaḥ kṛtā

—'is seen ever more clearly in his daily service. Let a test of his truthfulness, then, be made in due course—'

Verse 42 (padma.2.4.42)

भक्तिभावात्तथा सत्यान्नैव पुत्रः प्रणश्यति । मायया च निजांगेऽपि कुष्ठरोगो निदर्शितः

bhaktibhāvāttathā satyānnaiva putraḥ praṇaśyati māyayā ca nijāṁge'pi kuṣṭharogo nidarśitaḥ

—'for through devotion and truth a son is never ruined.' And so, by maya, the leprosy had been shown upon his own body and his wife's.

Verse 43 (padma.2.4.43)

श्लेष्ममूत्रमलानां च घृणां नैव करोति च । व्रणान्विशोधयेन्नित्यं स्वहस्तेन महायशाः

śleṣmamūtramalānāṁ ca ghṛṇāṁ naiva karoti ca vraṇānviśodhayennityaṁ svahastena mahāyaśāḥ

That Somasharma felt no revulsion at all toward their phlegm, urine, or filth; the greatly renowned one daily cleansed their sores with his own hands.

Verse 44 (padma.2.4.44)

पादसंवाहनं दद्याच्छौचं चैव महामतिः । दुःसहं वचनं मह्यं दारुणं सहते सदा

pādasaṁvāhanaṁ dadyācchaucaṁ caiva mahāmatiḥ duḥsahaṁ vacanaṁ mahyaṁ dāruṇaṁ sahate sadā

The great-minded one massaged their feet and kept them ever clean. Shivasharma reflected: 'He ever bears from me unbearable, harsh words—'

Verse 45 (padma.2.4.45)

भर्त्सने ताडने चैव सदाभीष्टप्रवाचकः । एवं दुःखसमाचारो मम पुत्रो महामतिः

bhartsane tāḍane caiva sadābhīṣṭapravācakaḥ evaṁ duḥkhasamācāro mama putro mahāmatiḥ

—'reviling and beating alike, and yet ever speaks only what is pleasing. So does my great-minded son endure such grievous treatment—'

Verse 46 (padma.2.4.46)

दुःखानां सागरं मन्ये बहुक्लेशैस्तु क्लेशितः । अपनेष्याम्यहं दुःखं विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादतः

duḥkhānāṁ sāgaraṁ manye bahukleśaistu kleśitaḥ apaneṣyāmyahaṁ duḥkhaṁ viṣṇoścaiva prasādataḥ

—'afflicted by so many hardships; I deem it an ocean of suffering. I shall remove this suffering of his through Vishnu's grace.'

Verse 47 (padma.2.4.47)

विचार्य मनसा विप्रः शिवशर्मा महामतिः । पुनर्मायां चकाराथ कुंभादपहृतं पयः

vicārya manasā vipraḥ śivaśarmā mahāmatiḥ punarmāyāṁ cakārātha kuṁbhādapahṛtaṁ payaḥ

Having thus deliberated in his mind, the great-minded brahmin Shivasharma once more wrought an illusion — making it appear that the nectar had been taken from the vessel.

Verse 48 (padma.2.4.48)

पश्चात्तं च समाहूय सोमशर्माणमब्रवीत् । तव हस्ते मया दत्तममृतं व्याधिनाशनम्

paścāttaṁ ca samāhūya somaśarmāṇamabravīt tava haste mayā dattamamṛtaṁ vyādhināśanam

Then, calling him afterward, he said to Somasharma: 'That disease-destroying nectar I placed in your hands—'

Verse 49 (padma.2.4.49)

तन्मे शीघ्रं प्रयच्छस्व यथा पानं करोम्यहम् । येन नीरुग्भवाम्यद्य प्रसादाद्विष्णुशर्मणः

tanme śīghraṁ prayacchasva yathā pānaṁ karomyaham yena nīrugbhavāmyadya prasādādviṣṇuśarmaṇaḥ

—'bring it to me quickly, that I may drink it, so that I may this very day become free of disease through Vishnusharma's kindness.'

Verse 50 (padma.2.4.50)

एवमुक्ते तदा वाक्ये ऋषिणा शिवशर्मणा । समुत्थाय त्वरायुक्तः सोमशर्मा कमंडलुम्

evamukte tadā vākye ṛṣiṇā śivaśarmaṇā samutthāya tvarāyuktaḥ somaśarmā kamaṁḍalum

When the sage Shivasharma had spoken this word, Somasharma rose at once and hastened to fetch the vessel—

Verse 51 (padma.2.4.51)

तं च रिक्तं ततो दृष्ट्वा ह्यमृतेन विना कृतम् । कस्य पापस्य वै कर्म केन मे विप्रियं कृतम्

taṁ ca riktaṁ tato dṛṣṭvā hyamṛtena vinā kṛtam kasya pāpasya vai karma kena me vipriyaṁ kṛtam

—and, seeing it empty and drained of nectar, thought: 'Whose sinful deed is this? By whom has this ill turn been done to me?'

Verse 52 (padma.2.4.52)

इति चिंतापरो भूत्वा सोमशर्मा सुदुःखितः । पितुरग्रे च वृत्तांतं कथयिष्याम्यहं यदा

iti ciṁtāparo bhūtvā somaśarmā suduḥkhitaḥ pituragre ca vṛttāṁtaṁ kathayiṣyāmyahaṁ yadā

Thinking thus, Somasharma became deeply distressed: 'When I tell this whole matter before my father—'

Verse 53 (padma.2.4.53)

ततः कोपं प्रयास्येत गुरुर्मे व्याधिपीडितः । सुचिरं चिंतयित्वा तु सोमशर्मा महामतिः

tataḥ kopaṁ prayāsyeta gururme vyādhipīḍitaḥ suciraṁ ciṁtayitvā tu somaśarmā mahāmatiḥ

—'then my elder, already stricken with disease, will fly into rage.' Having pondered long, the great-minded Somasharma resolved—

Verse 54 (padma.2.4.54)

यदि मे सत्यमस्तीति गुरुशुश्रूषणं यदि । तपस्तप्तं मयापूर्वं निर्व्यलीकेन चेतसा

yadi me satyamastīti guruśuśrūṣaṇaṁ yadi tapastaptaṁ mayāpūrvaṁ nirvyalīkena cetasā

—'If truth indeed abides in me; if I have truly served my elders; if I have performed unprecedented austerity with a heart free of deceit—'

Verse 55 (padma.2.4.55)

दमशौचादिभिः सत्यं धर्ममेव प्रपालितम् । तदा घटोऽमृतयुतो भवत्वेष न संशयः

damaśaucādibhiḥ satyaṁ dharmameva prapālitam tadā ghaṭo'mṛtayuto bhavatveṣa na saṁśayaḥ

—'if by self-control, purity, and the rest, I have upheld true dharma alone — then let this vessel be filled again with nectar, no doubt of it.'

Verse 56 (padma.2.4.56)

यावदेव महाभागश्चिंतयित्वा विलोकयेत् । तावच्चामृतपूर्णस्तु पुनरेवाभवद्घटः

yāvadeva mahābhāgaściṁtayitvā vilokayet tāvaccāmṛtapūrṇastu punarevābhavadghaṭaḥ

The very moment that greatly fortunate one thought this and looked again, the vessel became once more full of nectar.

Verse 57 (padma.2.4.57)

तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षसंयुक्तः सोमशर्मा महायशाः । गत्वा गुरुं नमस्कृत्य कुंभमादाय सत्वरम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā harṣasaṁyuktaḥ somaśarmā mahāyaśāḥ gatvā guruṁ namaskṛtya kuṁbhamādāya satvaram

Seeing it, the greatly renowned Somasharma, filled with joy, went to his elder, bowed to him, and swiftly took up the vessel—

Verse 58 (padma.2.4.58)

गृहाण त्वं पितश्चेमं पयः कुंभं समागतम् । पानं कुरु महाभाग गदान्मुक्तो भवाचिरम्

gṛhāṇa tvaṁ pitaścemaṁ payaḥ kuṁbhaṁ samāgatam pānaṁ kuru mahābhāga gadānmukto bhavāciram

—'Father, take this vessel of nectar, now restored; drink it, O greatly fortunate one, and be freed from disease at once.'

Verse 59 (padma.2.4.59)

एतद्वाक्यं महापुण्यं सत्यधर्मार्थकं पुनः । शिवशर्मा सुतस्यापि श्रुत्वा च मधुराक्षरम्

etadvākyaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ satyadharmārthakaṁ punaḥ śivaśarmā sutasyāpi śrutvā ca madhurākṣaram

Hearing this most meritorious word of his son, filled with truth and dharma, its every syllable sweet, Shivasharma—

Verse 60 (padma.2.4.60)

हर्षेण महताविष्ट इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭa idaṁ vacanamabravīt

—overcome with great joy, spoke this word...