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पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
कः कस्य चोपकुरुते कश्च कस्मै प्रयच्छति। प्राणी करोत्ययं कर्म सर्वमात्मार्थमात्मना ॥१२-२८१-१॥
Who serves whom, and who gives to whom? Every living being performs all actions solely for their own sake, by themselves.
गौरवेण परित्यक्तं निःस्नेहं परिवर्जयेत्। सोदर्यं भ्रातरमपि किमुतान्यं पृथग्जनम् ॥१२-२८१-२॥
One should shun even a brother born of the same mother if he is abandoned out of respect and is devoid of affection; how much more, then, a stranger.
विशिष्टस्य विशिष्टाच्च तुल्यौ दानप्रतिग्रहौ। तयोः पुण्यतरं दानं तद्द्विजस्य प्रयच्छतः ॥१२-२८१-३॥
Among distinguished persons, giving and receiving are considered equal, but of the two, giving is more meritorious, especially when performed by a twice-born person.
न्यायागतं धनं वर्णैर्न्यायेनैव विवर्धितम्। संरक्ष्यं यत्नमास्थाय धर्मार्थमिति निश्चयः ॥१२-२८१-४॥
It is decided that wealth acquired and increased justly by the classes must be protected with effort for the sake of righteousness.
न धर्मार्थी नृशंसेन कर्मणा धनमर्जयेत्। शक्तितः सर्वकार्याणि कुर्यान्नर्द्धिमनुस्मरेत् ॥१२-२८१-५॥
A seeker of righteousness should not gain wealth through cruel deeds. One should perform all duties according to one's capacity and always remember prosperity.
अपो हि प्रयतः शीतास्तापिता ज्वलनेन वा। शक्तितोऽतिथये दत्त्वा क्षुधार्तायाश्नुते फलम् ॥१२-२८१-६॥
If one, having purified water, whether cool or heated by fire, gives it to a guest according to his ability, he enjoys the fruit (of merit) when given to one afflicted by hunger.
रन्तिदेवेन लोकेष्टा सिद्धिः प्राप्ता महात्मना। फलपत्रैरथो मूलैर्मुनीनर्चितवानसौ ॥१२-२८१-७॥
Rantideva, the great-souled one, attained the worldly success he desired. He worshipped the sages with fruits, leaves, and roots.
तैरेव फलपत्रैश्च स माठरमतोषयत्। तस्माल्लेभे परं स्थानं शैब्योऽपि पृथिवीपतिः ॥१२-२८१-८॥
With those very fruits and leaves, he pleased Māṭhara; therefore, even King Śaibya attained the highest position.
देवतातिथिभृत्येभ्यः पितृभ्योऽथात्मनस्तथा। ऋणवाञ्जायते मर्त्यस्तस्मादनृणतां व्रजेत् ॥१२-२८१-९॥
A person is born indebted to deities, guests, servants, ancestors, and to oneself; therefore, one should strive to become free from all debts.
स्वाध्यायेन महर्षिभ्यो देवेभ्यो यज्ञकर्मणा। पितृभ्यः श्राद्धदानेन नृणामभ्यर्चनेन च ॥१२-२८१-१०॥
One should honor the great sages through self-study, the gods through sacrificial acts, the ancestors through offerings of śrāddha, and people through acts of worship.
वाचः शेषावहार्येण पालनेनात्मनोऽपि च। यथावद्भृत्यवर्गस्य चिकीर्षेद्धर्ममादितः ॥१२-२८१-११॥
One should, from the very beginning, properly perform one's duty towards the group of servants, by protecting oneself and with what remains to be taken from speech.
प्रयत्नेन च संसिद्धा धनैरपि विवर्जिताः। सम्यग्घुत्वा हुतवहं मुनयः सिद्धिमागताः ॥१२-२८१-१२॥
The sages, even without wealth, attained perfection by their efforts and by properly offering to the fire.
विश्वामित्रस्य पुत्रत्वमृचीकतनयोऽगमत्। ऋग्भिः स्तुत्वा महाभागो देवान्वै यज्ञभागिनः ॥१२-२८१-१३॥
The son of Ṛcīka became the son of Viśvāmitra. The greatly fortunate one praised the gods, who indeed have a share in the sacrifice, with Ṛg Vedic hymns.
गतः शुक्रत्वमुशना देवदेवप्रसादनात्। देवीं स्तुत्वा तु गगने मोदते तेजसा वृतः ॥१२-२८१-१४॥
Uśanā, having become Śukra by the grace of the Lord of lords, praised the goddess and now rejoices in the sky, surrounded by radiance.
असितो देवलश्चैव तथा नारदपर्वतौ। कक्षीवाञ्जामदग्न्यश्च रामस्ताण्ड्यस्तथांशुमान् ॥१२-२८१-१५॥
Asita, Devala, Nārada and Parvata, Kakṣīvān, Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), Rāma, Tāṇḍya, and Aṃśumān were also present.
वसिष्ठो जमदग्निश्च विश्वामित्रोऽत्रिरेव च। भरद्वाजो हरिश्मश्रुः कुण्डधारः श्रुतश्रवाः ॥१२-२८१-१६॥
Vasiṣṭha, Jamadagni, Viśvāmitra, Atri, Bharadvāja, Hariśmaśru, Kuṇḍadhāra, and Śrutaśravā are the sages mentioned here.
एते महर्षयः स्तुत्वा विष्णुमृग्भिः समाहिताः। लेभिरे तपसा सिद्धिं प्रसादात्तस्य धीमतः ॥१२-२८१-१७॥
These great sages, after praising (him) and focusing together with the Viṣṇu-seekers, attained perfection through austerity by the grace of that wise one.
अनर्हाश्चार्हतां प्राप्ताः सन्तः स्तुत्वा तमेव ह। न तु वृद्धिमिहान्विच्छेत्कर्म कृत्वा जुगुप्सितम् ॥१२-२८१-१८॥
Even if unworthy people attain the status of the worthy and are praised by good people, one should not seek advancement here by performing a despicable act.
येऽर्था धर्मेण ते सत्या येऽधर्मेण धिगस्तु तान्। धर्मं वै शाश्वतं लोके न जह्याद्धनकाङ्क्षया ॥१२-२८१-१९॥
Only those gains acquired through righteousness are true; those gained through unrighteousness deserve condemnation. Righteousness is eternal in the world; one should never abandon it for the sake of wealth.
आहिताग्निर्हि धर्मात्मा यः स पुण्यकृदुत्तमः। वेदा हि सर्वे राजेन्द्र स्थितास्त्रिष्वग्निषु प्रभो ॥१२-२८१-२०॥
O king, one who has established the sacred fires, who is righteous and the foremost doer of virtuous deeds—know that all the Vedas are indeed established in the three sacred fires, O lord.
स चाप्यग्न्याहितो विप्रः क्रिया यस्य न हीयते। श्रेयो ह्यनाहिताग्नित्वमग्निहोत्रं न निष्क्रियम् ॥१२-२८१-२१॥
A brāhmaṇa who has established the sacred fire and whose ritual actions are not diminished—indeed, it is better to be without the sacred fire than to perform the Agnihotra ritual without proper activity.
अग्निरात्मा च माता च पिता जनयिता तथा। गुरुश्च नरशार्दूल परिचर्या यथातथम् ॥१२-२८१-२२॥
O best of men, fire, the self, mother, father, and progenitor, as well as the teacher, should be served accordingly.
मानं त्यक्त्वा यो नरो वृद्धसेवी; विद्वान्क्लीबः पश्यति प्रीतियोगात्। दाक्ष्येणाहीनो धर्मयुक्तो नदान्तो; लोकेऽस्मिन्वै पूज्यते सद्भिरार्यः ॥१२-२८१-२३॥
He who has given up pride, serves elders, is wise, and even if lacking in skill or self-restraint but is endowed with dharma and affection, such a noble person is truly honored by the virtuous in this world.
