11.004
Pancharatra and Core: Vidura advises: In this impermanent world, whoever practices righteousness from birth and lives accordingly may attain the highest state.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
कथं संसारगहनं विज्ञेयं वदतां वर। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तत्त्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः ॥११-४-१॥
O best of speakers, how can one understand the depth of worldly existence? I wish to hear this truth; please explain it to me who is asking.
विदुर उवाच॥
Vidura said:
जन्मप्रभृति भूतानां क्रियाः सर्वाः शृणु प्रभो। पूर्वमेवेह कलले वसते किञ्चिदन्तरम् ॥११-४-२॥
O lord, listen: from birth onwards, all beings perform actions. But before that, here in the womb, the soul dwells in the embryo for a short interval.
ततः स पञ्चमेऽतीते मासे मांसं प्रकल्पयेत्। ततः सर्वाङ्गसम्पूर्णो गर्भो मासे प्रजायते ॥११-४-३॥
Then, after the fifth month has passed, flesh is formed. Thereafter, in that month, the embryo becomes complete with all its limbs.
अमेध्यमध्ये वसति मांसशोणितलेपने। ततस्तु वायुवेगेन ऊर्ध्वपादो ह्यधःशिराः ॥११-४-४॥
He dwells in the midst of impurity, smeared with flesh and blood. Then, by the force of the wind, he is turned upside down, with his feet upward and his head downward.
योनिद्वारमुपागम्य बहून्क्लेशान्समृच्छति। योनिसम्पीडनाच्चैव पूर्वकर्मभिरन्वितः ॥११-४-५॥
Upon entering the birth passage, one experiences many sufferings. Due to the compression of the birth passage and as a result of previous actions, one is thus endowed.
तस्मान्मुक्तः स संसारादन्यान्पश्यत्युपद्रवान्। ग्रहास्तमुपसर्पन्ति सारमेया इवामिषम् ॥११-४-६॥
Therefore, being liberated from worldly existence, he perceives other troubles. The planets (or afflictions) approach him just as dogs are drawn to meat.
ततः प्राप्तोत्तरे काले व्याधयश्चापि तं तथा। उपसर्पन्ति जीवन्तं बध्यमानं स्वकर्मभिः ॥११-४-७॥
Then, as time passes, various diseases also come upon him, and while still alive, he is afflicted as a result of his own actions.
बद्धमिन्द्रियपाशैस्तं सङ्गस्वादुभिरातुरम्। व्यसनान्युपवर्तन्ते विविधानि नराधिप ॥ बध्यमानश्च तैर्भूयो नैव तृप्तिमुपैति सः ॥११-४-८॥
O king, a person bound by the cords of the senses and afflicted by the pleasures of attachment is beset by various calamities. Even as he is repeatedly bound by them, he never attains satisfaction.
अयं न बुध्यते तावद्यमलोकमथागतम्। यमदूतैर्विकृष्यंश्च मृत्युं कालेन गच्छति ॥११-४-९॥
A person does not realize the truth until he reaches the world of Yama; then, dragged by Yama's messengers, he is taken to his death in due time.
वाग्घीनस्य च यन्मात्रमिष्टानिष्टं कृतं मुखे। भूय एवात्मनात्मानं बध्यमानमुपेक्षते ॥११-४-१०॥
A person who cannot speak, whatever little good or bad is done by the mouth, repeatedly ignores himself being bound by his own actions.
अहो विनिकृतो लोको लोभेन च वशीकृतः। लोभक्रोधमदोन्मत्तो नात्मानमवबुध्यते ॥११-४-११॥
Alas! The world is deceived and controlled by greed. Intoxicated by greed, anger, and pride, people do not recognize their true selves.
कुलीनत्वेन रमते दुष्कुलीनान्विकुत्सयन्। धनदर्पेण दृप्तश्च दरिद्रान्परिकुत्सयन् ॥११-४-१२॥
He delights in his noble status, looking down on those of low birth; and, filled with the arrogance of wealth, he scorns the poor.
मूर्खानिति परानाह नात्मानं समवेक्षते। शिक्षां क्षिपति चान्येषां नात्मानं शास्तुमिच्छति ॥११-४-१३॥
He calls others fools, but does not examine himself. He gives advice to others, but does not wish to correct himself.
अध्रुवे जीवलोकेऽस्मिन्यो धर्ममनुपालयन्। जन्मप्रभृति वर्तेत प्राप्नुयात्परमां गतिम् ॥११-४-१४॥
In this impermanent world, whoever practices righteousness from birth and lives accordingly may attain the highest state.
एवं सर्वं विदित्वा वै यस्तत्त्वमनुवर्तते। स प्रमोक्षाय लभते पन्थानं मनुजाधिप ॥११-४-१५॥
O king of men, one who truly knows everything and follows the truth attains the path to liberation.
