व्यास उवाच शुभेन कर्मणा यद्वै तिर्यग्योनौ न मुह्यसे। ममैव कीट तत् कर्म येन त्वं न प्रमुह्यसे॥
Vyasa said On account of a meritorious deed, Oworm, that you, though born in the intermediate order of being are not stupefied. For a deed of mine, Oworm you are not stupefied.
अहं त्वां दर्शनादेव तारयामि तपोबलात्। तपोबलाद्धि बलवद् बलमन्यन्न विद्यते॥
On account of the power of my penances, I am able to rescue a being of sin by granting him sight only of my body. There is no stronger power than that of penances.
जानामि पापैः स्वकृतैर्गतं त्वां कीट कीटताम्। अवाप्स्यसि पुनर्धर्मं धर्मं तु यदि मन्यसे॥
I know, O worm that you have taken birth in the order of worms through the evil deeds of your past life. If, however, you think of acquiring virtue and inerit, you may again attain to it.
कर्म भूमिकृतं देवा भुञ्जते तिर्यगाश्च ये। धर्मोऽपि हि मनुष्येषु कामार्थश्च तथा गुणाः॥
Deities as well as beings crowned with ascetic success, enjoy suffer the consequence of deeds done by them in this field of action. Men perform acts of merit from desire of fruit. The very accomplishinents that one seeks to acquire are sought from desire of the happiness they will produce.
वाग्बुद्धिपाणिपादैश्च व्यपेतस्य विपश्चितः। किं हास्यति मनुष्यस्य मन्दस्यापि हि जीवतः॥
Learned or ignorant (in a previous existence) the creature that is in this life, shorn of speech and understanding and hands and feet, is really shorn of everything. or
जीवन् हि कुरुते पूजां विप्राय: शशिसूर्ययोः। ब्रुवन्नपि कथां पुण्यां तत्र कीट त्वमेष्यसि॥
He who becomes a superior Brahmana worships while alive, the deities of the sun and the moon, uttering various sacred Mantras. O worm, you will come by that state of existence.
गुणभूतानि भूतानि तत्र त्वमुपभोक्ष्यसे। तत्र तेऽहं विनेष्यामि ब्रह्म त्वं यत्र वैष्यसि॥
Acquiring that status you will enjoy all the clements converted into articles of enjoyinent. When you have acquired that state, I shall impart to you Brahma. Or, if you wish, I may place you in any other status.
स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य कीटो वर्त्मन्यतिष्ठत। शकटो व्रजंश्च सुमहानागतश्च यदृच्छया॥
Agreeing to the words of Vyasa, the worm did not leave the road, but remained on it. Meanwhile, the large car which was coming ini that direction came there.
चक्राक्रमेण भिन्नश्च कीट: प्राणान् मुमोच हा सम्भूतः क्षत्रियकुले प्रसादादमितौजसः॥ तमृषि द्रष्टुमगमत् सर्वास्वन्यासु योनिषु। वाविन्द्रोधावरहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम्॥ वपाकशूद्रवैश्यानां क्षत्रियाणां च योनिषु। एवमाभाष्य ऋषिणा सत्यवादिना। प्रतिस्मृत्याथ जग्राह पादौ मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः॥
Torn to pieces by the assault of the wheels, the worm died. Born at last in the Kshatriya order through the grace of Vyasa of immeasurable power, he proceeded to see the great Rishi. He had, before becoming a Kshatriya, to pass through various orders of birth, such as hedgehog and Iguana and boar and dcer and bird, and Chandala and Shudra and Vaishya. Having given and account of his various changes to the truth-telling Rishi, and remembering the Rishi's kindness for him, the worm (now with joined hands fell at the Rishi's feet and touched them with his head.
कीट उवाच इदं तदतुलं स्थानमीप्सितं दशभिर्गुणैः। यदहं प्राप्य कीटत्वमागतो राजपुत्रताम्॥ स कीट
The Worm said My present status is that great one which is coveted by all and which only persons having ten well known attribute, can get. Indeed, I who was formerly a worm have thus acquired the status of a prince.
वहन्ति मामतिबला: कुञ्जरा हेममालिनः। स्यन्दनेषु च काम्बोजा युक्ताः परमवाजिनः॥
Elephants of great strength, decked with golden chains, carry me on their backs. To my cars are yoked Kamboja horses of High mettle.
उष्ट्राश्वतरयुक्तानि यानानि च वहन्ति माम्। सबान्धवः सहामात्यश्चाश्नामि पिशितौदनम्॥
Numerous cars to which are attached camels and mules bear me. With all my relatives and friends I now eat food rich with meat.
गृहेषु स्वनिवासेषु सुखेषु शयनेषु च। वराहेषु महाभाग स्वपामि च सुपूजितः॥
Adored by all, I sleep, O highly blessed one on rich beds in charming rooms to which disagreeable winds cannot blow.
सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु सूतमागधबन्दिनः। स्तुवन्ति मां यथा देवा महेन्द्रं प्रियवादिनः॥
Towards the dawn bards and encomiasts sing my praises even as the deities utter the agreeable praises of Indra their chief.
प्रसादात् सत्यसंधस्य भवतोऽमिततेजसः। यदहं कीटतां प्राप्य सम्प्राप्तो राजपुत्रताम्॥
Through your favour who are firm in truth and gifted with immeasurable energy, I who was before a worin have now become a Kshatriya.
नमस्तेऽस्तु महाप्राज्ञ किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्। त्वत्तपोबलनिर्दिष्टमिदं ह्यधिगतं मया॥
I bow my head to you, O you of great wisdom. Do you command me as to what I should now do. Ordained by the power of your penances, I have come by this position.
व्यास उवाच अर्चितोऽहं त्वया राजन् वाग्भिरद्य यदृच्छया। अद्य ते कीटतां प्राप्य स्मृतिर्जाता जुगुप्सिता॥
Vyasa said I have today been adored by you, O king, with various words expressive of respect. Changed into a worm your memory had become clouded. That memory has again appeared.
न तु नाशोऽस्ति पापस्य यस्त्वयोपचितः पुरा। शूद्रेणार्थप्रधानेन नृशंसेनाततायिना॥
The sin you had committed in a pristine life, has not yet been dissipated that sin viz., which was acquired by you while you were a Shudra covetous of riches and cruel in conduct and hostile to the Brahmanas.
मम ते दर्शनं प्राप्तं तच्च वै सुकृतं त्वया। तिर्यग्योनौ स्म जातेन मम चाभ्यर्चनात् तथा॥ इतस्त्वं राजपुत्रत्वाद् ब्राह्मण्यं समवाप्स्यसि। गोब्राह्मणकृते प्राणान् हुत्वाऽऽत्मानं रणाजिरे॥
You were able to obtain a sight of my body. That was an act of merit to you while you were a worm. On account of your having saluted and worshipped me, you shall rise higher for, from the Kshatriya order you shall rise to the status of a Brahinana, if only you die on the field of battle for the sake of kine or Brahmanas.
राजपुत्र सुखं प्राप्य क्रतूंश्चैवाप्तदक्षिणान्। अथ मोदिष्यसे स्वर्गे ब्रह्मभूतोऽव्ययः सुखी॥
O prince, enjoying much happiness and celebrating many sacrifices with profuse presents, you shall attain to Heaven and, changed into eternal Brahma, you shall enjoy perfect beatitude.
तिर्यग्योन्याः शूद्रतामभ्युपैति शूद्रो वैश्यं क्षत्रियत्वं च वैश्यः। वृत्तश्लाघी क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणत्वं स्वर्ग पुण्यं ब्राह्मणः साधुवृत्तः॥
Those who take birth in the intermediate order become Shudras. The Shudra rises to the status of the Vaishya; and the Vaishya to that of the Kshatriya. The charge of the duties of his caste succeeds in acquiring the status of a Brahmana. The Brahmana, by following a righteous conduct, acquires Heaven which is full of happiness.