11.004
Pancharatra and Core: Vidura advises: In this impermanent world, whoever practices righteousness from birth and lives accordingly may attain the highest state.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
kathaṁ saṁsāragahanaṁ vijñeyaṁ vadatāṁ vara। etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ tattvamākhyāhi pṛcchataḥ ॥11-4-1॥
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.
vidura uvāca॥
Vidura said:
janmaprabhṛti bhūtānāṃ kriyāḥ sarvāḥ śṛṇu prabho। pūrvameveha kalale vasate kiñcidantaram ॥11-4-2॥
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.
tataḥ sa pañcame'tīte māse māṁsaṁ prakalpayet। tataḥ sarvāṅgasampūrṇo garbho māse prajāyate ॥11-4-3॥
Then, after the fifth month has passed, flesh is formed. Thereafter, in that month, the embryo becomes complete with all its limbs.
amedhyamadhye vasati māṃsaśoṇitalepane. tatastu vāyuvegena ūrdhvapādo hyadhaḥśirāḥ ॥11-4-4॥
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.
yonidvāram upāgamya bahūn kleśān samṛcchati। yonisampīḍanāc caiva pūrvakarmabhir anvitaḥ ॥11-4-5॥
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.
tasmān muktaḥ saṃ saṃsārād anyān paśyati upadravān। grahāḥ tam upasarpanti sārameyāḥ iva āmiṣam ॥11-4-6॥
Therefore, being liberated from worldly existence, he perceives other troubles. The planets (or afflictions) approach him just as dogs are drawn to meat.
tataḥ prāptottare kāle vyādhayaś cāpi taṃ tathā। upasarpanti jīvantaṃ badhyamānaṃ svakarmabhiḥ ॥11-4-7॥
Then, as time passes, various diseases also come upon him, and while still alive, he is afflicted as a result of his own actions.
baddham-indriya-pāśais-taṃ saṅga-svādu-bhir-āturam। vyasanāny-upavartante vividhāni narādhipa ॥ badhyamānaś-ca tair-bhūyo naiva tṛptim-upaiti saḥ ॥11-4-8॥
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.
ayaṃ na budhyate tāvadyamalokamathāgatam। yamadūtairvikṛṣyaṃśca mṛtyuṃ kālena gacchati ॥11-4-9॥
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.
vāg-ghīnasya ca yan-mātram iṣṭāniṣṭaṃ kṛtaṃ mukhe। bhūya evātmanātmānaṃ badhyamānam upekṣate॥11-4-10॥
A person who cannot speak, whatever little good or bad is done by the mouth, repeatedly ignores himself being bound by his own actions.
aho vinikṛto loko lobhena ca vaśīkṛtaḥ। lobhakrodhamadonmatto nātmānam avabudhyate ॥11-4-11॥
Alas! The world is deceived and controlled by greed. Intoxicated by greed, anger, and pride, people do not recognize their true selves.
kulīnatvena ramate duṣkulīnānvikutsayan। dhanadarpeṇa dṛptaśca daridrānparikutsayan ॥11-4-12॥
He delights in his noble status, looking down on those of low birth; and, filled with the arrogance of wealth, he scorns the poor.
mūrkhān iti parān āha na ātmānam samavekṣate। śikṣām kṣipati ca anyeṣām na ātmānam śāstum icchati॥11-4-13॥
He calls others fools, but does not examine himself. He gives advice to others, but does not wish to correct himself.
adhruve jīvaloke'smin yo dharmam anupālayan | janmaprabhṛti varteta prāpnuyāt paramāṃ gatim ॥11-4-14॥
In this impermanent world, whoever practices righteousness from birth and lives accordingly may attain the highest state.
evaṃ sarvaṃ viditvā vai yas tattvam anuvartate। sa pramokṣāya labhate panthānaṃ manujādhipa ॥11-4-15॥
O king of men, one who truly knows everything and follows the truth attains the path to liberation.
