The Glory of the Gita's Ninth Chapter: The Talking Goat and King Chandrasharma

Verse 1 (padma.6.183.1)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि नवमाध्यायमादरात् । संशृणुष्व स्थिरीभूय तुहिनाचल कन्यके

śrīmahādeva uvāca ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi navamādhyāyamādarāt saṃśṛṇuṣva sthirībhūya tuhinācala kanyake

Shri Mahadeva said: Beyond this, I shall now reverently tell of the ninth chapter. Listen attentively, with a composed mind, O daughter of the snowy mountain.

Verse 2 (padma.6.183.2)

अस्ति माहिष्मतीनाम नगरी नर्मदातटे । तत्रासीन्माधवो नाम द्विजन्मा स शिवो द्विजः

asti māhiṣmatīnāma nagarī narmadātaṭe tatrāsīnmādhavo nāma dvijanmā sa śivo dvijaḥ

There is a city named Mahishmati on the bank of the Narmada. There lived a twice-born man named Madhava, an auspicious brahmin,

Verse 3 (padma.6.183.3)

वेदवेदांगतत्वज्ञः कालेकालेऽतिथिप्रियः । अर्जयित्वा बहुधनं विद्ययैव विशुद्धधीः

vedavedāṃgatatvajñaḥ kālekāle'tithipriyaḥ arjayitvā bahudhanaṃ vidyayaiva viśuddhadhīḥ

a knower of the truth of the Veda and its auxiliary texts, ever fond of guests at the proper times; having earned much wealth through his own learning alone, his mind wholly pure,

Verse 4 (padma.6.183.4)

महांतमध्वरं कर्तुं समारेभे कदाचन । आलंभनार्थमानीतश्छागः पूजितविग्रहः

mahāṃtamadhvaraṃ kartuṃ samārebhe kadācana ālaṃbhanārthamānītaśchāgaḥ pūjitavigrahaḥ

he once began to perform a great sacrifice. A goat, brought there for the offering, its very body honored with worship,

Verse 5 (padma.6.183.5)

वाचमूचे हसन्नुच्चैर्जगद्विस्मयकारकः । किमेतैर्बहुभिर्यागैर्विधिवद्विहितैरपि

vācamūce hasannuccairjagadvismayakārakaḥ kimetairbahubhiryāgairvidhivadvihitairapi

spoke aloud, laughing, astonishing the whole assembly: 'What use are all these many sacrifices, even those duly performed according to rule,'

Verse 6 (padma.6.183.6)

विनश्वरफलैर्जन्म जरामरणहेतुभिः । एतावत्यपि मे विप्र दशेयं दृश्यतामिति

vinaśvaraphalairjanma jarāmaraṇahetubhiḥ etāvatyapi me vipra daśeyaṃ dṛśyatāmiti

'-- whose fruits are perishable, and are but the very causes of birth, old age, and death? Behold, O brahmin, even to this extent, this present state of mine.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.183.7)

छागस्यैवं वचोतीव कुतूहलपरं जनाः । निशम्य विस्मयं याताः कृतमंडपवासिनः

chāgasyaivaṃ vacotīva kutūhalaparaṃ janāḥ niśamya vismayaṃ yātāḥ kṛtamaṃḍapavāsinaḥ

Hearing these words of the goat, filled with such astonishing wonder, the people gathered there in the sacrificial pavilion were struck with amazement.

Verse 8 (padma.6.183.8)

ततो बद्धांजलिपुटो द्विजातिस्तिमितेक्षणः । प्रणम्य श्रद्दधानस्तमपृच्छच्छागमादरात्

tato baddhāṃjalipuṭo dvijātistimitekṣaṇaḥ praṇamya śraddadhānastamapṛcchacchāgamādarāt

Then that twice-born man, with joined palms, his eyes fixed unmoving, bowing down, filled with faith, reverently asked the goat:

Verse 9 (padma.6.183.9)

द्विज उवाच। किं जातीयः किमात्मा त्वं किं वृत्तमिति मे वद । केन वा कर्मणा वासीच्छागत्वमिति कारणम्

dvija uvāca kiṃ jātīyaḥ kimātmā tvaṃ kiṃ vṛttamiti me vada kena vā karmaṇā vāsīcchāgatvamiti kāraṇam

The brahmin said: Of what family, of what nature, of what conduct are you? Tell me this. And by what deed was this cause of your becoming a goat brought about?

Verse 10 (padma.6.183.10)

छाग उवाच। आसं पुरा द्विजातीनामन्वये चातिनिर्मले । आहर्ता क्रतुसंघानां वेदविद्याविशारदः

chāga uvāca āsaṃ purā dvijātīnāmanvaye cātinirmale āhartā kratusaṃghānāṃ vedavidyāviśāradaḥ

The goat said: Formerly I was born in a most spotless lineage of the twice-born, a performer of many sacrifices, learned in the knowledge of the Veda.

Verse 11 (padma.6.183.11)

एकदा मम गेहिन्या पुत्ररोगप्रशांतये । छागः प्रयाचितो मत्तः चंडिकाभक्तिनम्रया

ekadā mama gehinyā putrarogapraśāṃtaye chāgaḥ prayācito mattaḥ caṃḍikābhaktinamrayā

Once, for the pacification of our son's illness, a goat was requested of me by my own wife, who was bowed low in devotion to Chandika.

Verse 12 (padma.6.183.12)

ततो निहन्यमानस्य चंडिकामंडपस्थले । छागस्य जननी मां तु शशाप ब्रह्मवादिनी

tato nihanyamānasya caṃḍikāmaṃḍapasthale chāgasya jananī māṃ tu śaśāpa brahmavādinī

Then, as that goat was being slain at the pavilion of Chandika, its mother, a knower of Brahman herself, cursed me:

Verse 13 (padma.6.183.13)

अशास्त्रीयाध्वना पाप मत्सुतं यज्जिघांससि । द्विजात्यधमतेन त्वमजा योनिमवाप्स्यसि

aśāstrīyādhvanā pāpa matsutaṃ yajjighāṃsasi dvijātyadhamatena tvamajā yonimavāpsyasi

'O sinner, because you seek to kill my son by an unscriptural path, by this very degradation from your twice-born state, you shall obtain the womb of a goat.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.183.14)

ततोऽहं प्रेत्यकालेन छागोऽभूवं द्विजोत्तम । निस्तीर्य चानेकविधा योनिसंतापयातनाः

tato'haṃ pretyakālena chāgo'bhūvaṃ dvijottama nistīrya cānekavidhā yonisaṃtāpayātanāḥ

Then, after death, in time, O foremost of the twice-born, I became a goat, having passed through the torments of many different kinds of birth.

Verse 15 (padma.6.183.15)

विप्र उवाच। जातिस्मरत्वमप्यस्ति पशुयोनिमुपेयुषः । त्वदीयजन्मशुश्रूषा कुतूहलरसोन्मुखम्

vipra uvāca jātismaratvamapyasti paśuyonimupeyuṣaḥ tvadīyajanmaśuśrūṣā kutūhalarasonmukham

The brahmin said: Even in an animal birth, you retain the memory of your past lives. Hearing of your own births fills me with the very essence of wonder;

Verse 16 (padma.6.183.16)

छाग उवाच। मनः सर्वान्द्विजानेतानपि तत्कथयाखिलम् । कदाचिन्मर्कटो भूवमाहितुंडिकशिक्षया

chāga uvāca manaḥ sarvāndvijānetānapi tatkathayākhilam kadācinmarkaṭo bhūvamāhituṃḍikaśikṣayā

please tell it all to me and to all these brahmins here. The goat said: Once I became a monkey, trained by an animal-trainer,

Verse 17 (padma.6.183.17)

क्रीडद्भिर्वीक्षितो डिंभैर्नृत्यन्प्रतिगृहांगणे । उदारानात्मनो दारान्विलोक्य तनयानपि

krīḍadbhirvīkṣito ḍiṃbhairnṛtyanpratigṛhāṃgaṇe udārānātmano dārānvilokya tanayānapi

watched by playing children, dancing in the courtyard of house after house; and, beholding my own former generous wife and children,

Verse 18 (padma.6.183.18)

क्रियापराङ्मुखो जातस्त्यक्तनर्तनसंभ्रमः । ततो वर्तुलदंडैश्च दुःसहैराहितुंडिकः

kriyāparāṅmukho jātastyaktanartanasaṃbhramaḥ tato vartuladaṃḍaiśca duḥsahairāhituṃḍikaḥ

I turned away from performing my trained act, abandoning the flurry of the dance; then, with round sticks, most unbearable, my trainer,

Verse 19 (padma.6.183.19)

मामुच्चैस्ताडयांचक्रे रुषा लोहितलोचनः । ततोऽहं मूर्च्छितोऽभूवं क्षरत्क्षतजसंततिः

māmuccaistāḍayāṃcakre ruṣā lohitalocanaḥ tato'haṃ mūrcchito'bhūvaṃ kṣaratkṣatajasaṃtatiḥ

his eyes red with fury, beat me severely; and I then fell unconscious, streams of blood flowing from my wounds.

Verse 20 (padma.6.183.20)

आजिघ्रन्नन्नमुदकमगमं कालधर्मताम् । ततोऽहमासीच्छुनकः परिभ्राम्यन्गृहे गृहे

ājighrannannamudakamagamaṃ kāladharmatām tato'hamāsīcchunakaḥ paribhrāmyangṛhe gṛhe

Merely sniffing at food and water, without eating, I met my end. Then I became a dog, wandering about from house to house,

Verse 21 (padma.6.183.21)

कुक्षिं भरिरहं मार्गे त्यक्तोच्छिष्टान्नभक्षकः । कदाचिदाविशं स्वांतरात्मवेश्ममहानसम्

kukṣiṃ bharirahaṃ mārge tyaktocchiṣṭānnabhakṣakaḥ kadācidāviśaṃ svāṃtarātmaveśmamahānasam

filling my own belly along the roadside, eating the discarded leftovers of food. Once I entered, at my own inner prompting, the kitchen of a house,

Verse 22 (padma.6.183.22)

बुभुक्षितो भक्षयितुं स्थाली स्थापितमोदनम् । जिघ्रन्भूमितलं पश्यन्दिशो दश शनैर्भयात्

bubhukṣito bhakṣayituṃ sthālī sthāpitamodanam jighranbhūmitalaṃ paśyandiśo daśa śanairbhayāt

hungry, wishing to eat the rice set upon the stove, sniffing at the ground, glancing slowly, out of fear, in all ten directions,

Verse 23 (padma.6.183.23)

शंकमानो जनरवात्पार्श्वे च विलिहन्निव । ततः कदाचिदागत्य वीक्षितस्तनुजैर्निजैः

śaṃkamāno janaravātpārśve ca vilihanniva tataḥ kadācidāgatya vīkṣitastanujairnijaiḥ

startled at the sound of people, licking at my own side; then, once, having entered, I was seen there by my own former sons,

Verse 24 (padma.6.183.24)

जायया च जरत्याहं ताडितो लकुटादिभिः । ततो भग्नकटिर्यातो बहुशोणितमुद्वहन्

jāyayā ca jaratyāhaṃ tāḍito lakuṭādibhiḥ tato bhagnakaṭiryāto bahuśoṇitamudvahan

and by my own former, now aged, wife; and I was beaten with sticks and the like; then, my hip broken, I went off, bearing much blood,

Verse 25 (padma.6.183.25)

निर्जगाम बहिर्गेहात्कथंचिन्मूर्च्छयाकुलः । अंगेषु पूतिगंधेषु क्रिमिगर्भेषु कालतः

nirjagāma bahirgehātkathaṃcinmūrcchayākulaḥ aṃgeṣu pūtigaṃdheṣu krimigarbheṣu kālataḥ

and somehow, overwhelmed by fainting, made my way out of the house; and, in time, my limbs putrid, festering with worms,

Verse 26 (padma.6.183.26)

ततः कदश्वतां प्राप्तः शौंडिकस्य च वेश्मनि । अश्वोभवमहं विद्वन्मृतः कालक्रमादिह

tataḥ kadaśvatāṃ prāptaḥ śauṃḍikasya ca veśmani aśvobhavamahaṃ vidvanmṛtaḥ kālakramādiha

having died there, I then attained the state of a wretched horse in the house of a wine-seller. O wise one, I became a horse, having died in the course of time.

Verse 27 (padma.6.183.27)

कदाचिच्चत्वरे तेन समानीतो जनाकुले । विक्रयाय जरालीढ पतयालुरदावलि

kadāciccatvare tena samānīto janākule vikrayāya jarālīḍha patayāluradāvali

Once, brought by that man to a crowded marketplace, so as to be sold there, worn out with age, stumbling, my very teeth loose,

Verse 28 (padma.6.183.28)

जायया द्वारकायात्रां कर्तुमुद्यतयासकृत् । मौल्येनाल्पीयसा क्रेतुं तुरंगं चेष्टमानया

jāyayā dvārakāyātrāṃ kartumudyatayāsakṛt maulyenālpīyasā kretuṃ turaṃgaṃ ceṣṭamānayā

I was bought by a wife who was preparing repeatedly for a pilgrimage to Dvaraka, striving to buy a horse for a small price,

Verse 29 (padma.6.183.29)

जगृहेहं तया दाम्ना अल्पेन वसुना जरन् । गंतुं चारभतद्वित्रैः पुत्रैरारुह्य मां समम्

jagṛhehaṃ tayā dāmnā alpena vasunā jaran gaṃtuṃ cārabhatadvitraiḥ putrairāruhya māṃ samam

and, aged as I was, I was bought by her for that meager sum; and she set out to travel, together with her two or three sons mounted upon me.

Verse 30 (padma.6.183.30)

शनैः शनै सरस्तीरे मग्नोऽहं गाढकर्दमे । तत्राहं कुटिलग्रीवश्चापतन्कर्दमान्तरे

śanaiḥ śanai sarastīre magno'haṃ gāḍhakardame tatrāhaṃ kuṭilagrīvaścāpatankardamāntare

Slowly, slowly, on the bank of a lake, I sank into the thick mud; and there, my neck twisted, I fell down in the very midst of that mire,

Verse 31 (padma.6.183.31)

ताड्यमानो मुहुः पुत्रैः लकुटोपलपाणिभिः । उत्थाप्यमानो बहुधा प्राणान्मोचितवानहम्

tāḍyamāno muhuḥ putraiḥ lakuṭopalapāṇibhiḥ utthāpyamāno bahudhā prāṇānmocitavānaham

beaten again and again by her sons, sticks and stones in hand, and, being made to rise in many different ways, I gave up my very life.

Verse 32 (padma.6.183.32)

ततो निश्चित्य मां तत्र मृतं भग्नोद्यमाः सुताः । आक्रुश्य मातरं दीनां प्रावृत्य निर्ययुर्गृहम्

tato niścitya māṃ tatra mṛtaṃ bhagnodyamāḥ sutāḥ ākruśya mātaraṃ dīnāṃ prāvṛtya niryayurgṛham

Then, having confirmed that I had died there, those sons, their effort now defeated, reviled their own wretched mother, and, turning back, went home.

Verse 33 (padma.6.183.33)

ततः संप्रेत्य बहुना कालेन छागतां गतः । निस्तीर्णानेकहीनोच्च योनिसंतापयातनः

tataḥ saṃpretya bahunā kālena chāgatāṃ gataḥ nistīrṇānekahīnocca yonisaṃtāpayātanaḥ

Then, having died, after a very long time, I came to this state of a goat, having passed through the torments of many births, low and high alike.

Verse 34 (padma.6.183.34)

द्विज उवाच। किमनेन महाछाग दुःखजातेन नित्यशः । यथावदंजसा मह्यं सुखमात्यंतिकं भवेत्

dvija uvāca kimanena mahāchāga duḥkhajātena nityaśaḥ yathāvadaṃjasā mahyaṃ sukhamātyaṃtikaṃ bhavet

The brahmin said: O great goat, what use is there in this endless succession of sorrows? Tell me directly and truly how I might obtain absolute, unending happiness.

Verse 35 (padma.6.183.35)

छाग उवाच। आश्चर्यं कथयिष्यामि पुनरन्यदपि द्विज । स्वस्थमापृच्छमानस्य तवास्ति यदि कौतुकम्

chāga uvāca āścaryaṃ kathayiṣyāmi punaranyadapi dvija svasthamāpṛcchamānasya tavāsti yadi kautukam

The goat said: I shall tell you yet another wonder as well, O brahmin, if you, in your composed state, still have curiosity to ask further.

Verse 36 (padma.6.183.36)

अस्ति नाम्ना कुरुक्षेत्रं नगरं मोक्षदायकम् । सूर्यवंशोऽभवत्तत्र चंद्रशर्मा महीपतिः

asti nāmnā kurukṣetraṃ nagaraṃ mokṣadāyakam sūryavaṃśo'bhavattatra caṃdraśarmā mahīpatiḥ

There is a city, named Kurukshetra, the bestower of liberation. There lived a king of the solar dynasty, named Chandrasharma, lord of the earth.

Verse 37 (padma.6.183.37)

सूर्योपरागसमये श्रद्धया परयान्वितः । दानं स कालपुरुषं दातुं समुपचक्रमे

sūryoparāgasamaye śraddhayā parayānvitaḥ dānaṃ sa kālapuruṣaṃ dātuṃ samupacakrame

At the time of a solar eclipse, filled with the highest faith, he began the ritual of giving away the gift called Kalapurusha, the personification of Time.

Verse 38 (padma.6.183.38)

समाहूय द्विजन्मानं वेदवेदांगपारगम् । स्नातुं पुण्योदकैः पुण्यैर्ययौ सार्द्धं पुरोधसा

samāhūya dvijanmānaṃ vedavedāṃgapāragam snātuṃ puṇyodakaiḥ puṇyairyayau sārddhaṃ purodhasā

Having summoned a twice-born man, one who had mastered the Veda and its auxiliary texts, he went, together with his family priest, to bathe in sacred, meritorious waters.

Verse 39 (padma.6.183.39)

अथोच्चैः कालपुरुषो वाचमूचे हसन्निव । अन्येनैव प्रगृह्णंति क्षेत्रे चाण्वपि किंचन

athoccaiḥ kālapuruṣo vācamūce hasanniva anyenaiva pragṛhṇaṃti kṣetre cāṇvapi kiṃcana

Then Kalapurusha spoke aloud, as though laughing: 'Even a mere atom's worth of anything is never accepted by anyone else in this field --'

Verse 40 (padma.6.183.40)

सूर्योपरागसमये कुरुक्षेत्राभिधे स्थले । दानं च कालपुरुषं जिघृक्षसि कथं द्विज

sūryoparāgasamaye kurukṣetrābhidhe sthale dānaṃ ca kālapuruṣaṃ jighṛkṣasi kathaṃ dvija

'-- at the time of a solar eclipse, in this very place called Kurukshetra -- so how is it, O brahmin, that you wish to accept the gift of Kalapurusha?'

Verse 41 (padma.6.183.41)

ज्ञात्वापि निश्चितं सर्वमेतत्पातककारकम् । प्रवर्तसे कथं कर्तुं धनलोभान्धया धिया

jñātvāpi niścitaṃ sarvametatpātakakārakam pravartase kathaṃ kartuṃ dhanalobhāndhayā dhiyā

'Even though you know with certainty that all of this is a cause of great sin, how is it that you proceed to do it, your mind blinded by greed for wealth?'

Verse 42 (padma.6.183.42)

इत्थमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं जगद्विस्मयकारकम् । किमनेन महादानभयेनेत्यवदद्द्विजः

itthamākarṇya tadvākyaṃ jagadvismayakārakam kimanena mahādānabhayenetyavadaddvijaḥ

Hearing these words, astonishing to the whole world, the brahmin said: 'What use is there in fearing this great gift?'

Verse 43 (padma.6.183.43)

एवंविध महादान पातकागाधवारिधिम् । जानामि तरितुं सम्यगुपायमहमेव हि

evaṃvidha mahādāna pātakāgādhavāridhim jānāmi tarituṃ samyagupāyamahameva hi

'I myself indeed know the proper means to cross over the bottomless ocean of sin that comes from such a great gift as this.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.183.44)

ततः स्नात्वा महीपालः परिधाय च वाससी । शुचिः प्रसन्नहृदयः सितमाल्यानुलेपनः

tataḥ snātvā mahīpālaḥ paridhāya ca vāsasī śuciḥ prasannahṛdayaḥ sitamālyānulepanaḥ

Then the king, having bathed and put on his two garments, pure, his heart at peace, adorned with white garlands and sandal-paste,

Verse 45 (padma.6.183.45)

अवलंब्य करांभोजं पार्श्ववर्तिपुरोधसः । समाययौ सेव्यमानः स तत्कालोचितैर्जनैः

avalaṃbya karāṃbhojaṃ pārśvavartipurodhasaḥ samāyayau sevyamānaḥ sa tatkālocitairjanaiḥ

leaning upon the lotus-hand of his family priest standing beside him, came forward, attended by people fitting for that occasion.

Verse 46 (padma.6.183.46)

समागत्य च भूपालः संप्रादात्कालपूरुषम् । यथोचितेन विधिना तस्मै भक्त्या द्विजन्मने

samāgatya ca bhūpālaḥ saṃprādātkālapūruṣam yathocitena vidhinā tasmai bhaktyā dvijanmane

And the king, having come there, duly gave the gift of Kalapurusha, according to the fitting rite, with devotion, to that twice-born man.

Verse 47 (padma.6.183.47)

निर्भिद्य कालपुरुषहृदयं निर्दयोदयः । पापात्मा निर्ययौ कश्चिच्चांडालो रक्तलोचनः

nirbhidya kālapuruṣahṛdayaṃ nirdayodayaḥ pāpātmā niryayau kaściccāṃḍālo raktalocanaḥ

Splitting open the very heart of Kalapurusha, arising without pity, a certain sinful outcaste, his eyes red, emerged forth.

Verse 48 (padma.6.183.48)

किंच प्रापितकालस्य परनिंदारसोत्सवे । निंदा चांडालिका देहपार्श्वमागाद्द्विजन्मनः

kiṃca prāpitakālasya paraniṃdārasotsave niṃdā cāṃḍālikā dehapārśvamāgāddvijanmanaḥ

And moreover, at the very moment appointed by fate, at the height of the pleasure of slandering others, Slander herself, in the form of an outcaste woman, came to the side of the brahmin's own body.

Verse 49 (padma.6.183.49)

एतच्चांडालयुगलं निर्गत्यारुणलोचनम् । ततः संचरितं चक्रे प्रसह्यांगे द्विजन्मनः

etaccāṃḍālayugalaṃ nirgatyāruṇalocanam tataḥ saṃcaritaṃ cakre prasahyāṃge dvijanmanaḥ

This same pair of outcastes, having emerged, their eyes reddened, then forcibly took up residence within the very body of the brahmin.

Verse 50 (padma.6.183.50)

गीतानां नवमाध्यायं जपन्नेव हृदिस्थितः । कंपमानं द्विजं किंचित्तूष्णीं पश्यति भूपतौ

gītānāṃ navamādhyāyaṃ japanneva hṛdisthitaḥ kaṃpamānaṃ dvijaṃ kiṃcittūṣṇīṃ paśyati bhūpatau

Even as the brahmin recited the ninth chapter of the Gita, its truth lodged within his heart, the king, standing silent, beheld him trembling somewhat.

Verse 51 (padma.6.183.51)

अंतर्निद्राणगोविंदं कंपमानमिवांबुधिम् । मरुदांदोलनैर्विद्वान्द्विजन्मा पापसंश्रयम्

aṃtarnidrāṇagoviṃdaṃ kaṃpamānamivāṃbudhim marudāṃdolanairvidvāndvijanmā pāpasaṃśrayam

Just as the ocean, within which Govinda sleeps, trembles from the stirring of the winds, so that wise, twice-born man, now the abode of sin,

Verse 52 (padma.6.183.52)

ततो गीताक्षरोद्भूतैर्वैष्णवैः परिपीडितम् । पलायमानं चांडालयुगलं निष्फलोद्यमम्

tato gītākṣarodbhūtairvaiṣṇavaiḥ paripīḍitam palāyamānaṃ cāṃḍālayugalaṃ niṣphalodyamam

trembled likewise; and then, tormented by the very Vaishnava powers born of the syllables of the Gita, that pair of outcastes fled, their whole effort rendered fruitless.

Verse 53 (padma.6.183.53)

तन्निश्चक्राम वेगेन द्विजातेः पार्श्ववर्ति यत् । शरीरे वर्त्तमानं च परनिंदारसोत्सवे

tanniścakrāma vegena dvijāteḥ pārśvavarti yat śarīre varttamānaṃ ca paraniṃdārasotsave

That very pair, which had been dwelling at the brahmin's side, present within his body, delighting in the pleasure of slandering others, then rushed forth swiftly.

Verse 54 (padma.6.183.54)

इत्थं कलितवृत्तांतः प्रत्यक्षं क्षितिवल्लभः । पर्यपृच्छद्द्विजन्मानं विस्मयस्मेरलोचनः

itthaṃ kalitavṛttāṃtaḥ pratyakṣaṃ kṣitivallabhaḥ paryapṛcchaddvijanmānaṃ vismayasmeralocanaḥ

Thus, having witnessed the whole event directly with his own eyes, the lord of the earth, his eyes smiling with wonder, questioned that twice-born man:

Verse 55 (padma.6.183.55)

कथमापदियं घोरा निस्तीर्णा महती त्वया । कं मंत्रं जपता विप्र कं वासं स्मरतासुरम्

kathamāpadiyaṃ ghorā nistīrṇā mahatī tvayā kaṃ maṃtraṃ japatā vipra kaṃ vāsaṃ smaratāsuram

'How was this great and terrible calamity crossed over by you? What mantra, O brahmin, did you recite? What dwelling, or what demon, did you call to mind?'

Verse 56 (padma.6.183.56)

कः पुमान्का च सा योषित्कथमेतावुपस्थितौ । कथं च शांतिमापन्नावित्युदीरय मे द्विज

kaḥ pumānkā ca sā yoṣitkathametāvupasthitau kathaṃ ca śāṃtimāpannāvityudīraya me dvija

'Who was that man, and who was that woman? How did the two of them come to be present here? And how did they finally attain peace? Tell me this, O brahmin.'

Verse 57 (padma.6.183.57)

द्विज उवाच। चांडालमूर्तिमासाद्य मूर्तिकिल्बिषमुल्बणम् । योषिन्मूर्त्तिमयीं निंदाद्वयमेतदवैम्यहम्

dvija uvāca cāṃḍālamūrtimāsādya mūrtikilbiṣamulbaṇam yoṣinmūrttimayīṃ niṃdādvayametadavaimyaham

The brahmin said: I know that this pair -- the man who took on the form of an outcaste, the very embodiment of grave sin, and the woman, the very embodiment of slander --

Verse 58 (padma.6.183.58)

गीताया नवमाध्यायमंत्रमाला मया स्मृता । तन्माहात्म्यमिदं सर्वं त्वमवेहि महीपते

gītāyā navamādhyāyamaṃtramālā mayā smṛtā tanmāhātmyamidaṃ sarvaṃ tvamavehi mahīpate

-- was overcome because I called to mind the very garland of mantras that is the ninth chapter of the Gita. Know, O lord of the earth, that this whole event is due to its glory.

Verse 59 (padma.6.183.59)

गीताया नवमाध्यायं जपामि प्रत्यहं नृप । निस्तीर्णाश्चापदस्तेन कुप्रतिग्रहसंभवाः

gītāyā navamādhyāyaṃ japāmi pratyahaṃ nṛpa nistīrṇāścāpadastena kupratigrahasaṃbhavāḥ

I recite the ninth chapter of the Gita every day, O king; and by it I have crossed over calamities born even from the acceptance of an ill-omened gift.

Verse 60 (padma.6.183.60)

अभ्यस्य नवामाध्यायं राजा तस्माद्द्विजन्मनः । तावुभावपि लेभाते परां निर्वृतिमुत्तमाम्

abhyasya navāmādhyāyaṃ rājā tasmāddvijanmanaḥ tāvubhāvapi lebhāte parāṃ nirvṛtimuttamām

Having then learned and practiced the ninth chapter from that brahmin, the king too obtained it; and both of them attained the highest, supreme peace.