11.003
Pancharatra and Core: Vidura's advice on the temporary nature of life.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
subhāṣitair mahāprājña śoko'yaṃ vigato mama। bhuya eva tu vākyāni śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ ॥11-3-1॥
O greatly wise one, your wise words have dispelled my grief. Yet, I wish to hear more words of truth from you.
aniṣṭānāṃ ca saṃsargādiṣṭānāṃ ca vivarjanāt| kathaṃ hi mānasairduḥkhaiḥ pramucyante'tra paṇḍitāḥ ॥11-3-2॥
How are the wise freed from mental sufferings here, when they are associated with undesired things and deprived of desired things?
vidura uvāca॥
Vidura said:
yato yato mano duḥkhātsukhādvāpi pramucyate। tatastataḥ śamaṃ labdhvā sugatiṃ vindate budhaḥ ॥11-3-3॥
Wherever the mind is freed from sorrow or even happiness, the wise person, having attained tranquility, finds a good path.
aśāśvatam idaṃ sarvaṃ cintyamānaṃ nararṣabha। kadalīsaṃnibho lokaḥ sāro hy asya na vidyate ॥11-3-4॥
O best of men, this entire world is impermanent. When considered, the world is like a plantain tree; it truly has no real essence.
gṛhāṇyeva hi martyānām āhur dehāni paṇḍitāḥ। kālena viniyujyante sattvam ekaṃ tu śobhanam ॥11-3-5॥
The wise say that the bodies of mortals are like houses; over time, they perish, but the one auspicious essence remains.
yathā jīrṇam-ajīrṇaṃ vā vastraṃ tyaktvā tu vai naraḥ। anyad rocayate vastram evaṃ dehāḥ śarīriṇām ॥11-3-6॥
Just as a person discards worn out or even unworn clothes and puts on others, so too the embodied soul discards old bodies and takes on new ones.
vaicitravīrya vāsaṃ hi duḥkhaṃ vā yadi vā sukham। prāpnuvantīha bhūtāni svakṛtenaiva karmaṇā ॥11-3-7॥
Beings here, including Vicitravīrya, experience either suffering or happiness in their lives solely as a result of their own actions, by their own karma.
karmaṇā prāpyate svargaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ ca bhārata। tato vahati taṃ bhāram avaśaḥ svavaśo'pi vā ॥11-3-8॥
O Bhārata, it is through actions that one attains heaven, happiness, and sorrow. Thereafter, one must bear that burden, whether helplessly or even with self-control.
yathā ca mṛnmayaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ cakrārūḍhaṃ vipadyate। kiñcitprakriyamāṇaṃ vā kṛtamātramathāpi vā ॥11-3-9॥
Just as a clay pot on the wheel may break, whether it is still being shaped, has just been made, or even otherwise.
chinnaṃ vāpyavaropyantam avatīrṇam athāpi vā। ārdraṃ vāpyatha vā śuṣkaṃ pacyamānam athāpi vā ॥11-3-10॥
Whether it is cut, uprooted, fallen, wet, dry, or being cooked, in any of these conditions.
avatāryamāṇam āpākād uddhṛtaṃ vā api bhārata। atha vā paribhujyantam evaṃ dehāḥ śarīriṇām ॥11-3-11॥
O Bhārata, the bodies of embodied beings are either immersed in water and lifted out, or are thus consumed.
garbhastho vā prasūto vāpyatha vā divasāntaraḥ। ardhamāsagato vāpi māsamātragato'pi vā ॥11-3-12॥
Whether one is in the womb, just born, a few days old, half a month old, or only a month old, or any of these.
saṃvatsaragato vāpi dvisaṃvatsara eva vā। yauvanastho'pi madhyastho vṛddho vāpi vipadyate ॥11-3-13॥
Whether one has lived a year, or two years, or is in youth, middle age, or old age, anyone may die.
prākkarmabhistu bhūtāni bhavanti na bhavanti ca। evaṃ sāṃsiddhike loke kimarthamanutapyase ॥11-3-14॥
Beings come into existence or not due to their previous actions. So, in this world of accomplishment, why do you grieve?
yathā ca salile rājan krīḍārtham anusañcaran। unmajjec ca nimajjec ca kiñcit sattvaṃ narādhipa ॥11-3-15॥
O king, just as a creature playing in water sometimes rises up and sometimes sinks down, so too is the nature of beings, O ruler of men.
evaṃ saṃsāragahanād-unmajjana-nimajjanāt। karma-bhogena badhyantaḥ kliśyante ye-'lpa-buddhayaḥ ॥11-3-16॥
Thus, those of little intelligence, bound by the enjoyment of actions, are tormented as they repeatedly emerge and submerge in the deep ocean of worldly existence.
ye tu prājñāḥ sthitāḥ satye saṃsārāntagaveṣiṇaḥ। samāgamajñā bhūtānāṃ te yānti paramāṃ gatim ॥11-3-17॥
But those who are wise, established in truth, seeking the end of worldly existence, and who understand the union of all beings, they attain the highest state.
