12.309

युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥

[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper name); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]

(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)

Yudhiṣṭhira said.

कथं निर्वेदमापन्नः शुको वैयासकिः पुरा। एतदिच्छामि कौरव्य श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥१२-३०९-१॥

kathaṁ nirvedam-āpannaḥ śuko vaiyāsakiḥ purā। etad-icchāmi kauravya śrotuṁ kautūhalam hi me ॥12-309-1॥

[कथं (kathaṁ) - how; निर्वेदम् (nirvedam) - dispassion; आपन्नः (āpannaḥ) - attained; शुकः (śukaḥ) - Śuka; वैयासकिः (vaiyāsakiḥ) - son of Vyāsa; पुरा (purā) - formerly; एतत् (etat) - this; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; कौरव्य (kauravya) - O descendant of Kuru; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; कौतूहलम् (kautūhalam) - curiosity; हि (hi) - indeed; मे (me) - to me;]

(How dispassion attained Śuka, son of Vyāsa, formerly; this I desire, O descendant of Kuru, to hear; curiosity indeed to me; (12-309-1))

O descendant of Kuru, I wish to hear how Śuka, the son of Vyāsa, formerly attained dispassion; for I am indeed curious about this. (12-309-1)

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bhishma said;)

Bhishma said.

प्राकृतेन सुवृत्तेन चरन्तमकुतोभयम्। अध्याप्य कृत्स्नं स्वाध्यायमन्वशाद्वै पिता सुतम् ॥१२-३०९-२॥

prākṛtena suvṛttena carantam akutobhayam। adhyāpya kṛtsnaṃ svādhyāyam anvaśād vai pitā sutam ॥12-309-2॥

[प्राकृतेन (prākṛtena) - by natural; (means); सुवृत्तेन (suvṛttena) - by good conduct; (means); चरन्तम् (carantam) - moving; (living); अकुतोभयम् (akutobhayam) - not fearing anything; (fearless); अध्याप्य (adhyāpya) - having taught; (causative of study); कृत्स्नम् (kṛtsnam) - entire; (whole); स्वाध्यायम् (svādhyāyam) - self-study; (recitation of Veda); अन्वशात् (anvaśāt) - he followed; (he observed); वै (vai) - indeed; (emphasis); पिता (pitā) - father; सुतम् (sutam) - son;]

(By natural (means), by good conduct (means), moving (living) not fearing anything; having taught the entire self-study, indeed, the father followed the son. (12-309-2))

The father, having taught his son the entire self-study, observed him living fearlessly by natural and good conduct. (12-309-2)

धर्मं पुत्र निषेवस्व सुतीक्ष्णौ हि हिमातपौ। क्षुत्पिपासे च वायुं च जय नित्यं जितेन्द्रियः ॥१२-३०९-३॥

dharmaṃ putra niṣevasva sutīkṣṇau hi himātapau। kṣutpipāse ca vāyuṃ ca jaya nityaṃ jitendriyaḥ ॥12-309-3॥

[धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - righteousness; duty; पुत्र (putra) - son; निषेवस्व (niṣevasva) - practice; observe; सुतीक्ष्णौ (sutīkṣṇau) - the two sharp; हि (hi) - indeed; हिमातपौ (himātapau) - cold and heat; क्षुत्पिपासे (kṣutpipāse) - hunger and thirst; च (ca) - and; वायुं (vāyuṃ) - wind; च (ca) - and; जय (jaya) - conquer; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; जितेन्द्रियः (jitendriyaḥ) - one who has conquered the senses;]

(Practice righteousness, O son; indeed, the two sharp, cold and heat, hunger and thirst, and wind, conquer always, O one who has conquered the senses.)

O son, practice righteousness; indeed, always conquer the two sharp opposites, cold and heat, as well as hunger, thirst, and wind, O self-controlled one. (12-309-3)

सत्यमार्जवमक्रोधमनसूयां दमं तपः। अहिंसां चानृशंस्यं च विधिवत्परिपालय ॥१२-३०९-४॥

satyam ārjavam akrodham anasūyāṃ damaṃ tapaḥ। ahiṃsāṃ ca anṛśaṃsyaṃ ca vidhivat paripālaya ॥12-309-4॥

[सत्य (satya) - truth; आर्जवम् (ārjavam) - straightforwardness; अक्रोधम् (akrodham) - absence of anger; अनसूयाम् (anasūyām) - absence of envy; दमम् (damam) - self-restraint; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; अहिंसाम् (ahiṃsām) - non-violence; च (ca) - and; अनृशंस्यम् (anṛśaṃsyam) - compassion; च (ca) - and; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - according to rule; परिपालय (paripālaya) - protect;]

(Truth, straightforwardness, absence of anger, absence of envy, self-restraint, austerity, non-violence, and compassion, and according to rule, protect.)

Protect truth, straightforwardness, absence of anger, absence of envy, self-restraint, austerity, non-violence, and compassion, all in accordance with the rules. (12-309-4)

सत्ये तिष्ठ रतो धर्मे हित्वा सर्वमनार्जवम्। देवतातिथिशेषेण यात्रां प्राणस्य संश्रय ॥१२-३०९-५॥

satye tiṣṭha rato dharme hitvā sarvamanārjavam। devatātithiśeṣeṇa yātrāṃ prāṇasya saṃśraya ॥12-309-5॥

[सत्ये (satye) - in truth; तिष्ठ (tiṣṭha) - stand; रतः (rataḥ) - delighting; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; अनार्जवम् (anārjavam) - dishonesty; देवता (devatā) - deity; अतिथि (atithi) - guest; शेषेण (śeṣeṇa) - with what remains; यात्राम् (yātrām) - journey; प्राणस्य (prāṇasya) - of life; संश्रय (saṃśraya) - take refuge;]

(In truth stand, delighting in dharma, having abandoned all dishonesty; with what remains after deity and guest, take refuge for the journey of life.)

Stand firm in truth, delight in righteousness, abandoning all dishonesty; with what remains after offerings to deity and guest, sustain the journey of your life. (12-309-5)

फेनपात्रोपमे देहे जीवे शकुनिवत्स्थिते। अनित्ये प्रियसंवासे कथं स्वपिषि पुत्रक ॥१२-३०९-६॥

phenapātropame dehe jīve śakunivatsthite। anitye priyasaṃvāse kathaṃ svapiṣi putraka ॥12-309-6॥

[फेनपात्रोपमे (phenapātropame) - like a vessel of foam; देहे (dehe) - in the body; जीवे (jīve) - in the living being; शकुनिवत्स्थिते (śakunivatsthite) - situated like a bird; अनित्ये (anitye) - impermanent; प्रियसंवासे (priyasaṃvāse) - in the company of the beloved; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; स्वपिषि (svapiṣi) - do you sleep; पुत्रक (putraka) - O son;]

(Like a vessel of foam, in the body, in the living being situated like a bird, in the impermanent, in the company of the beloved, how do you sleep, O son?)

O son, when the body is like a vessel of foam, the soul resides like a bird, and both the body and the company of loved ones are impermanent, how can you sleep so peacefully? (12-309-6)

अप्रमत्तेषु जाग्रत्सु नित्ययुक्तेषु शत्रुषु। अन्तरं लिप्समानेषु बालस्त्वं नावबुध्यसे ॥१२-३०९-७॥

apramatteṣu jāgratsu nityayukteṣu śatruṣu। antaraṃ lipsamāneṣu bālastvaṃ nāvabudhyase ॥12-309-7॥

[अप्रमत्तेषु (apramatteṣu) - in those who are not careless; जाग्रत्सु (jāgratsu) - in those who are awake; नित्ययुक्तेषु (nityayukteṣu) - in those who are always engaged; शत्रुषु (śatruṣu) - in enemies; अन्तरं (antaraṃ) - difference; लिप्समानेषु (lipsamāneṣu) - in those who are desiring to obtain; बालः (bālaḥ) - child; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; न (na) - not; अवबुध्यसे (avabudhyase) - you perceive;]

(In those who are not careless, in those who are awake, in those who are always engaged, in enemies, in those who are desiring to obtain difference, child, you do not perceive.)

O child, you do not perceive the difference among those who are not careless, those who are awake, those who are always engaged, among enemies, and among those who are seeking gain. (12-309-7)

गण्यमानेषु वर्षेषु क्षीयमाणे तथायुषि। जीविते शिष्यमाणे च किमुत्थाय न धावसि ॥१२-३०९-८॥

gaṇyamāneṣu varṣeṣu kṣīyamāṇe tathāyuṣi। jīvite śiṣyamāṇe ca kim utthāya na dhāvasi ॥12-309-8॥

[गण्यमानेषु (gaṇyamāneṣu) - being counted; in those; (years;) वर्षेषु (varṣeṣu) - years; in; क्षीयमाणे (kṣīyamāṇe) - being diminished; (in the process of) waning; तथा (tathā) - thus; in the same way; आयुषि (āyuṣi) - in life; in lifespan; जीविते (jīvite) - in life; शिष्यमाणे (śiṣyamāṇe) - being reduced; being left; च (ca) - and; किम् (kim) - why; उत्थाय (utthāya) - having arisen; having got up; न (na) - not; धावसि (dhāvasi) - do you run; do you hasten;]

(While the years are being counted, and are being diminished thus in lifespan, and life is being reduced, why, having arisen, do you not run? (12-309-8))

As the years are being counted and your lifespan is diminishing, and as your life is being reduced, why do you not rise up and act quickly? (12-309-8)

ऐहलौकिकमीहन्ते मांसशोणितवर्धनम्। पारलौकिककार्येषु प्रसुप्ता भृशनास्तिकाः ॥१२-३०९-९॥

aihalaukikam īhante māṃsaśoṇitavardhanam। pāralaukikakāryeṣu prasuptā bhṛśanāstikāḥ ॥12-309-9॥

[ऐह (aiha) - of this world; लौकिकम् (laukikam) - worldly; ईहन्ते (īhante) - they strive for; मांस (māṃsa) - flesh; शोणित (śoṇita) - blood; वर्धनम् (vardhanam) - increase; पार (pāra) - other; लौकिक (laukika) - worldly; कार्येषु (kāryeṣu) - in actions; प्रसुप्ता (prasuptā) - asleep; भृश (bhṛśa) - very; नास्तिकाः (nāstikāḥ) - atheists;]

(They strive for worldly things, the increase of flesh and blood. In actions relating to the other world, they are asleep, very atheistic.)

They pursue only worldly gains, seeking the increase of flesh and blood. When it comes to actions concerning the next world, they are dormant and extremely atheistic. (12-309-9)

धर्माय येऽभ्यसूयन्ति बुद्धिमोहान्विता नराः। अपथा गच्छतां तेषामनुयातापि पीड्यते ॥१२-३०९-१०॥

dharmāya ye'bhyasūyanti buddhimohānvitā narāḥ। apathā gacchatāṃ teṣāmanuyātāpi pīḍyate ॥12-309-10॥

[धर्माय (dharmāya) - for dharma; ये (ye) - who; अभ्यसूयन्ति (abhyasūyanti) - bear ill-will; बुद्धि-मोह-अन्विता (buddhi-moha-anvitā) - endowed with delusion of intellect; नराः (narāḥ) - men; अपथा (apathā) - on the wrong path; गच्छताम् (gacchatām) - of those who go; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; अनुयाता (anuyātā) - follower; अपि (api) - even; पीड्यते (pīḍyate) - is afflicted;]

(For dharma, those who bear ill-will, endowed with delusion of intellect, men; on the wrong path, of those who go, of them, even the follower is afflicted.)

Those men who, due to delusion of intellect, bear ill-will towards dharma, and walk the wrong path— even their followers are afflicted. (12-309-10)

ये तु तुष्टाः सुनियताः सत्यागमपरायणाः। धर्म्यं पन्थानमारूढास्तानुपास्स्व च पृच्छ च ॥१२-३०९-११॥

ye tu tuṣṭāḥ suniyatāḥ satyāgamaparāyaṇāḥ। dharmyaṃ panthānamārūḍhāstānupāssva ca pṛccha ca ॥12-309-11॥

[ये (ye) - who; (plural); तु (tu) - but; indeed; तुष्टाः (tuṣṭāḥ) - content; satisfied; सुनियताः (suniyatāḥ) - well-disciplined; well-controlled; सत्यागमपरायणाः (satyāgamaparāyaṇāḥ) - devoted to the true doctrine; intent on truth; धर्म्यं (dharmyaṃ) - righteous; in accordance with dharma; पन्थानम् (panthānam) - path; way; आरूढाः (ārūḍhāḥ) - ascended; set upon; तान् (tān) - them; उपास्स्व (upāssva) - approach; worship; serve; च (ca) - and; पृच्छ (pṛccha) - ask; inquire; च (ca) - and;]

(Who but content, well-disciplined, devoted to the true doctrine, who have ascended the righteous path, them approach and ask and.)

But those who are content, well-disciplined, devoted to the true doctrine, and who have set upon the righteous path—approach them, serve them, and ask them questions. (12-309-11)

उपधार्य मतं तेषां वृद्धानां धर्मदर्शिनाम्। नियच्छ परया बुद्ध्या चित्तमुत्पथगामि वै ॥१२-३०९-१२॥

upadhārya mataṃ teṣāṃ vṛddhānāṃ dharmadarśinām। niyaccha parayā buddhyā cittam utpathagāmi vai ॥12-309-12॥

[उपधार्य (upadhārya) - having considered; मतं (mataṃ) - opinion; तेषां (teṣāṃ) - of them; वृद्धानां (vṛddhānāṃ) - of the elders; धर्मदर्शिनाम् (dharmadarśinām) - of those who see dharma; नियच्छ (niyaccha) - restrain; परया (parayā) - by supreme; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - intellect; चित्तम् (cittam) - mind; उत्पथगामि (utpathagāmi) - going astray; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(Having considered the opinion of those elders who see dharma, restrain indeed the mind going astray by supreme intellect.)

After considering the opinion of those elders who are seers of dharma, restrain your mind that is going astray by means of supreme intellect. (12-309-12)

अद्यकालिकया बुद्ध्या दूरे श्व इति निर्भयाः। सर्वभक्षा न पश्यन्ति कर्मभूमिं विचेतसः ॥१२-३०९-१३॥

adyakālikayā buddhyā dūre śva iti nirbhayāḥ। sarvabhakṣā na paśyanti karmabhūmiṃ vicetasaḥ ॥12-309-13॥

[अद्यकालिकया (adyakālikayā) - by present-minded; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - by intellect; दूरे (dūre) - far; श्व (śva) - tomorrow; इति (iti) - thus; निर्भयाः (nirbhayāḥ) - fearless; सर्वभक्षा (sarvabhakṣā) - all-consuming; न (na) - not; पश्यन्ति (paśyanti) - see; कर्मभूमिं (karmabhūmiṃ) - field of action; विचेतसः (vicetasaḥ) - unintelligent;]

(By present-minded intellect, (thinking) 'tomorrow is far', fearless, all-consuming, do not see the field of action, unintelligent.)

Those who, with a present-minded intellect, think 'tomorrow is far' and are fearless, all-consuming, and unintelligent, do not see the field of action. (12-309-13)

धर्मनिःश्रेणिमास्थाय किञ्चित्किञ्चित्समारुह। कोशकारवदात्मानं वेष्टयन्नावबुध्यसे ॥१२-३०९-१४॥

dharma-niḥśreṇim-āsthāya kiñcit-kiñcit-samāruha | kośakāravad-ātmānam veṣṭayan nāvabudhyase ॥12-309-14॥

[धर्म (dharma) - righteousness; निःश्रेणिम् (niḥśreṇim) - without ladder; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having resorted to; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - a little; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - a little; समारुह (samāruha) - ascending; कोशकारवत् (kośakāravat) - like a cocoon-maker; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - oneself; वेष्टयन् (veṣṭayan) - enwrapping; न (na) - not; अवबुध्यसे (avabudhyase) - you realize;]

(Having resorted to the ladder of righteousness, ascending little by little, like a cocoon-maker enwrapping oneself, you do not realize.)

By taking hold of the ladder of righteousness and climbing little by little, you wrap yourself up like a cocoon-maker and do not realize it. (12-309-14)

नास्तिकं भिन्नमर्यादं कूलपातमिवास्थिरम्। वामतः कुरु विस्रब्धो नरं वेणुमिवोद्धतम् ॥१२-३०९-१५॥

nāstikaṃ bhinnamaryādaṃ kūlapātamivāsthiram। vāmataḥ kuru visrabdho naraṃ veṇumivoddhatam ॥12-309-15॥

[नास्तिकं (nāstikaṃ) - atheist; भिन्न (bhinna) - broken; मर्यादं (maryādaṃ) - limit; कूलपातम् (kūlapātam) - fallen from the bank; इव (iva) - like; अस्थिरम् (asthiram) - unstable; वामतः (vāmataḥ) - on the left; कुरु (kuru) - do; विस्रब्धः (visrabdhaḥ) - confidently; नरं (naraṃ) - man; वेणुम् (veṇum) - bamboo; इव (iva) - like; उद्धतम् (uddhatam) - arrogant;]

(An atheist, one who has broken limits, unstable like one fallen from the bank; on the left, confidently do to the man who is arrogant like a bamboo.)

Treat an atheist, one who has broken boundaries and is unstable like one fallen from the riverbank, as you would a proud bamboo—deal confidently with such a man on the left. (12-309-15)

कामं क्रोधं च मृत्युं च पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम्। नावं धृतिमयीं कृत्वा जन्मदुर्गाणि सन्तर ॥१२-३०९-१६॥

kāmaṃ krodhaṃ ca mṛtyuṃ ca pañcendriyajalāṃ nadīm। nāvaṃ dhṛtimayīṃ kṛtvā janmadurgāṇi santara ॥12-309-16॥

[कामं (kāmaṃ) - desire; क्रोधं (krodhaṃ) - anger; च (ca) - and; मृत्युं (mṛtyuṃ) - death; च (ca) - and; पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां (pañcendriyajalāṃ) - having the water of the five senses; नदीम् (nadīm) - river; नावं (nāvaṃ) - boat; धृतिमयीं (dhṛtimayīṃ) - made of fortitude; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having made; जन्मदुर्गाणि (janmadurgāṇi) - the fortresses of birth; सन्तर (santara) - cross over;]

(Desire, anger and death and the river having the water of the five senses; having made a boat made of fortitude, cross over the fortresses of birth.)

With a boat made of fortitude, cross over the river of desire, anger, death, and the waters of the five senses, thus overcoming the fortresses of birth. (12-309-16)

मृत्युनाभ्याहते लोके जरया परिपीडिते। अमोघासु पतन्तीषु धर्मयानेन सन्तर ॥१२-३०९-१७॥

mṛtyunābhyāhate loke jarayā paripīḍite। amoghāsu patantīṣu dharmayānena santara ॥12-309-17॥

[मृत्युनā (mṛtyunā) - by death; अभ्याहते (abhyāhate) - struck; लोके (loke) - in the world; जरया (jarayā) - by old age; परिपीडिते (paripīḍite) - afflicted; अमोघासु (amoghāsu) - in those not in vain; पतन्तीषु (patantīṣu) - falling; धर्मयानेन (dharmayānena) - by the vehicle of dharma; सन्तर (santara) - cross over;]

(In the world struck by death, afflicted by old age, when those not in vain are falling, cross over by the vehicle of dharma.)

When the world is struck by death and afflicted by old age, as the worthy ones fall, cross over by the vehicle of dharma. (12-309-17)

तिष्ठन्तं च शयानं च मृत्युरन्वेषते यदा। निर्वृतिं लभसे कस्मादकस्मान्मृत्युनाशितः ॥१२-३०९-१८॥

tiṣṭhantaṃ ca śayānaṃ ca mṛtyur-anveṣate yadā। nirvṛtiṃ labhase kasmād-akasmān-mṛtyunāśitaḥ ॥12-309-18॥

[तिष्ठन्तम् (tiṣṭhantam) - standing; च (ca) - and; शयानम् (śayānam) - lying down; च (ca) - and; मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - death; अन्वेषते (anveṣate) - seeks; यदा (yadā) - when; निर्वृतिम् (nirvṛtim) - release; लभसे (labhase) - you obtain; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - from where; अकस्मात् (akasmāt) - unexpectedly; मृत्युना (mṛtyunā) - by death; आशितः (āśitaḥ) - consumed;]

(Standing and lying down and death seeks when; release you obtain from where unexpectedly by death consumed;)

Whether standing or lying down, death seeks you; when you obtain release, from where and unexpectedly, you are consumed by death. (12-309-18)

सञ्चिन्वानकमेवैनं कामानामवितृप्तकम्। वृकीवोरणमासाद्य मृत्युरादाय गच्छति ॥१२-३०९-१९॥

sañcinvānakameva enaṃ kāmānām avitṛptakam। vṛkīva o raṇam āsādya mṛtyuḥ ādāya gacchati ॥12-309-19॥

[सञ्चिन्वानकम् (sañcinvānakam) - one who is accumulating; एव (eva) - indeed; एनम् (enam) - this (person); कामानाम् (kāmānām) - of desires; अवितृप्तकम् (avitṛptakam) - unsatisfied; वृकीव (vṛkīva) - like a she-wolf; ओरणम् (oraṇam) - prey; आसाद्य (āsādya) - having obtained; मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - death; आदाय (ādāya) - having taken; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes;]

(Indeed, death, having taken this one who is accumulating, unsatisfied with desires, just as a she-wolf having obtained prey, goes.)

Death, having seized this person who is ever accumulating and never satisfied with desires, departs just as a she-wolf goes off after obtaining her prey. (12-309-19)

क्रमशः सञ्चितशिखो धर्मबुद्धिमयो महान्। अन्धकारे प्रवेष्टव्ये दीपो यत्नेन धार्यताम् ॥१२-३०९-२०॥

kramaśaḥ sañcitaśikho dharmabuddhimayo mahān। andhakāre praveṣṭavye dīpo yatnena dhāryatām ॥12-309-20॥

[क्रमशः (kramaśaḥ) - gradually; सञ्चितशिखः (sañcitaśikhaḥ) - accumulated-wickedness-top; धर्मबुद्धिमयः (dharmabuddhimayaḥ) - righteousness-intellect-filled; महान् (mahān) - great; अन्धकारे (andhakāre) - in darkness; प्रवेष्टव्ये (praveṣṭavye) - to be entered; दीपः (dīpaḥ) - lamp; यत्नेन (yatnena) - with effort; धार्यताम् (dhāryatām) - should be held;]

(Gradually, the one whose accumulated-wickedness-top is filled with righteousness-intellect, great, in darkness to be entered, the lamp should be held with effort.)

Step by step, the great one whose intellect is filled with righteousness and who has accumulated merit, when entering darkness, should carefully hold the lamp. (12-309-20)

सम्पतन्देहजालानि कदाचिदिह मानुषे। ब्राह्मण्यं लभते जन्तुस्तत्पुत्र परिपालय ॥१२-३०९-२१॥

sampatandehajālāni kadācid iha mānuṣe। brāhmaṇyaṃ labhate jantus tatputra paripālaya ॥12-309-21॥

[सम्पत् (sampat) - prosperity; wealth; अन् (an) - and; देह (deha) - body; जालानि (jālāni) - nets; collections; कदाचित् (kadācit) - sometimes; इह (iha) - here; मानुषे (mānuṣe) - in human (birth); ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - Brahminhood; state of being a Brāhmaṇa; लभते (labhate) - obtains; gains; जन्तुः (jantuḥ) - creature; being; तत् (tat) - that; पुत्र (putra) - son; परिपालय (paripālaya) - protect; preserve;]

(Prosperity and nets of bodies sometimes here in human (birth); Brahminhood obtains creature that, son, protect;)

O son, sometimes a being attains prosperity and a network of bodies in this human birth; but Brahminhood is obtained—therefore, protect that (Brahminhood). (12-309-21)

ब्राह्मणस्य हि देहोऽयं न कामार्थाय जायते। इह क्लेशाय तपसे प्रेत्य त्वनुपमं सुखम् ॥१२-३०९-२२॥

brāhmaṇasya hi deho'yaṁ na kāmārthāya jāyate। iha kleśāya tapase pretya tvanupamaṁ sukham ॥12-309-22॥

[ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - of the brāhmaṇa; हि (hi) - indeed; देहः (dehaḥ) - body; अयम् (ayam) - this; न (na) - not; कामार्थाय (kāmārthāya) - for the purpose of desire; जायते (jāyate) - is born; इह (iha) - here; क्लेशाय (kleśāya) - for hardship; तपसे (tapase) - for austerity; प्रेत्य (pretya) - having departed; त्व (tva) - but; अनुपमम् (anupamam) - incomparable; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness;]

(Of the brāhmaṇa indeed this body is not born for the purpose of desire; here for hardship, for austerity, having departed but incomparable happiness.)

Indeed, the body of a brāhmaṇa is not born for the pursuit of desire; here it is for hardship and austerity, but after departing, there is incomparable happiness. (12-309-22)

ब्राह्मण्यं बहुभिरवाप्यते तपोभि; स्तल्लब्ध्वा न परिपणेन हेडितव्यम्। स्वाध्याये तपसि दमे च नित्ययुक्तः; क्षेमार्थी कुशलपरः सदा यतस्व ॥१२-३०९-२३॥

brāhmaṇyaṃ bahubhiravāpyate tapobhi; stallabdhvā na paripaṇena heḍitavyam. svādhyāye tapasi dame ca nityayuktaḥ; kṣemārthī kuśalaparaḥ sadā yatasva ॥12-309-23॥

[ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - state of being a Brāhmaṇa; बहुभिः (bahubhiḥ) - by many; अवाप्यते (avāpyate) - is attained; तपोभिः (tapobhiḥ) - by austerities; तत् (tat) - that; लब्ध्वा (labdhvā) - having obtained; न (na) - not; परिपणेन (paripaṇena) - by barter; हेडितव्यम् (heḍitavyam) - should be disparaged; स्वाध्याये (svādhyāye) - in self-study; तपसि (tapasi) - in austerity; दमे (dame) - in self-restraint; च (ca) - and; नित्ययुक्तः (nityayuktaḥ) - always engaged; क्षेमार्थी (kṣemārthī) - one who desires welfare; कुशलपरः (kuśalaparaḥ) - devoted to skill; सदा (sadā) - always; यतस्व (yatasva) - strive;]

(The state of being a Brāhmaṇa is attained by many by austerities; having obtained that, it should not be disparaged by barter. Always engaged in self-study, austerity, and self-restraint; one who desires welfare, devoted to skill, always strive.)

The state of being a Brāhmaṇa is attained by many through austerities; once obtained, it should not be demeaned by trading it away. Always be engaged in self-study, austerity, and self-restraint; desiring welfare and devoted to skill, always strive. (12-309-23)

अव्यक्तप्रकृतिरयं कलाशरीरः; सूक्ष्मात्मा क्षणत्रुटिशो निमेषरोमा। ऋत्वास्यः समबलशुक्लकृष्णनेत्रो; मांसाङ्गो द्रवति वयोहयो नराणाम् ॥१२-३०९-२४॥

avyaktaprakṛtirayaṃ kalāśarīraḥ; sūkṣmātmā kṣaṇatruṭiśo nimeṣaromā. ṛtvāsyaḥ samabalaśuklakṛṣṇanetro; māṃsāṅgo dravati vayohayo narāṇām ॥12-309-24॥

[अव्यक्तप्रकृतिः (avyaktaprakṛtiḥ) - unmanifest-nature; अयम् (ayam) - this; कला (kalā) - part; शरीरः (śarīraḥ) - body; सूक्ष्मात्मा (sūkṣmātmā) - subtle-self; क्षणत्रुटिशः (kṣaṇatruṭiśaḥ) - moment-instant-lord; निमेषरोमा (nimeṣaromā) - blink-hair; ऋत्वास्यः (ṛtvāsyaḥ) - season-mouthed; समबल (samabala) - equal-strength; शुक्लकृष्णनेत्रः (śuklakṛṣṇanetraḥ) - white-black-eyed; मांसाङ्गः (māṃsāṅgaḥ) - flesh-limbed; द्रवति (dravati) - melts; वयोहयः (vayohayaḥ) - age-horse; नराणाम् (narāṇām) - of men;]

(Unmanifest-nature this part-body; subtle-self moment-instant-lord blink-hair. Season-mouthed equal-strength white-black-eyed; flesh-limbed melts age-horse of men (12-309-24))

This, whose nature is unmanifest, is the body composed of parts; its self is subtle, lord of moments and instants, with blinks as its hairs. With seasons as its mouth, equal in strength, with eyes white and black; flesh-limbed, it melts away as the horse of time for men. (12-309-24)

तं दृष्ट्वा प्रसृतमजस्रमुग्रवेगं; गच्छन्तं सततमिहाव्यपेक्षमाणम्। चक्षुस्ते यदि न परप्रणेतृनेयं; धर्मे ते भवतु मनः परं निशम्य ॥१२-३०९-२५॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā prasṛtam ajasram ugravegaṃ; gacchantaṃ satatam iha avyapekṣamāṇam। cakṣus te yadi na parapraṇetṛ na iyaṃ; dharme te bhavatu manaḥ paraṃ niśamya ॥12-309-25॥

[तं (taṃ) - him; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; प्रसृतम् (prasṛtam) - rushed forth; अजस्रम् (ajasram) - unceasingly; उग्रवेगं (ugravegaṃ) - of fierce speed; गच्छन्तं (gacchantaṃ) - going; सततम् (satatam) - always; इह (iha) - here; अव्यपेक्षमाणम् (avyapekṣamāṇam) - not looking back; चक्षुः (cakṣuḥ) - eye; ते (te) - your; यदि (yadi) - if; न (na) - not; परप्रणेतृ (parapraṇetṛ) - another's instigator; न (na) - not; इयं (iyaṃ) - this; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; ते (te) - your; भवतु (bhavatu) - let be; मनः (manaḥ) - mind; परम् (param) - supreme; निशम्य (niśamya) - having heard;]

(Having seen him, rushed forth unceasingly with fierce speed, going always here not looking back; your eye, if not (on) another's instigator, not this; in dharma, let your mind be supreme, having heard (this).)

Having seen him rushing forward with unceasing and fierce speed, always going here without looking back, if your attention is not on another's instigation, let your mind be supremely fixed in dharma, having heard this. (12-309-25)

येऽमी तु प्रचलितधर्मकामवृत्ताः; क्रोशन्तः सततमनिष्टसम्प्रयोगाः। क्लिश्यन्ते परिगतवेदनाशरीरा; बह्वीभिः सुभृशमधर्मवासनाभिः ॥१२-३०९-२६॥

ye'mī tu pracalitadharmakāmavṛttāḥ; krośantaḥ satatamaniṣṭasamprayogāḥ. kliśyante parigatavedanāśarīrā; bahvībhiḥ subhṛśamadharmavāsanābhiḥ ॥12-309-26॥

[ये (ye) - these; अमी (amī) - these; तु (tu) - but; प्रचलितधर्मकामवृत्ताः (pracalitadharmakāmavṛttāḥ) - engaged in the conduct of prevailing dharma and desire; क्रोशन्तः (krośantaḥ) - crying out; सततम् (satatam) - constantly; अनिष्टसम्प्रयोगाः (aniṣṭasamprayogāḥ) - joined with the undesirable; क्लिश्यन्ते (kliśyante) - are afflicted; परिगतवेदनाशरीराः (parigatavedanāśarīrāḥ) - bodies gone through pain; बह्वीभिः (bahvībhiḥ) - by many; सुभृशम् (subhṛśam) - very intensely; अधर्मवासनाभिः (adharmavāsanābhiḥ) - by tendencies of adharma;]

(These, these but engaged in the conduct of prevailing dharma and desire; crying out, constantly joined with the undesirable. Are afflicted, bodies gone through pain; by many, very intensely, by tendencies of adharma. (12-309-26))

But these, engaged in the conduct of prevailing dharma and desire, constantly joined with the undesirable, cry out. Their bodies, having undergone pain, are afflicted by many intense tendencies of adharma. (12-309-26)

राजा धर्मपरः सदा शुभगोप्ता; समीक्ष्य सुकृतिनां दधाति लोकान्। बहुविधमपि चरतः प्रदिशति; सुखमनुपगतं निरवद्यम् ॥१२-३०९-२७॥

rājā dharmaparaḥ sadā śubhagoptā; samīkṣya sukṛtināṃ dadhāti lokān। bahuvidham api carataḥ pradiśati; sukham anupagataṃ niravadyam ॥12-309-27॥

[राजा (rājā) - king; धर्मपरः (dharmaparaḥ) - devoted to dharma; सदा (sadā) - always; शुभगोप्ता (śubhagoptā) - protector of the auspicious; समीक्ष्य (samīkṣya) - having observed; सुकृतिनां (sukṛtinām) - of the virtuous; दधाति (dadhāti) - bestows; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; बहुविधम् (bahuvidham) - of many kinds; अपि (api) - even; चरतः (carataḥ) - of one who acts; प्रदिशति (pradiśati) - grants; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; अनुपगतं (anupagataṃ) - not attained; निरवद्यम् (niravadyam) - blameless;]

(The king, devoted to dharma, always protector of the auspicious, having observed the virtuous, bestows worlds. Of many kinds, even to one who acts, he grants happiness not attained, blameless.)

The king, who is always devoted to dharma and protects the auspicious, after observing the virtuous, bestows worlds upon them. He grants various kinds of happiness, even those not yet attained and blameless, to those who act. (12-309-27)

श्वानो भीषणायोमुखानि वयांसि; वडगृध्रकुलपक्षिणां च सङ्घाः। नरां कदने रुधिरपा गुरुवचन; नुदमुपरतं विशसन्ति ॥१२-३०९-२८॥

śvāno bhīṣaṇāyomukhāni vayāṃsi; vaḍagṛdhrakulapakṣiṇāṃ ca saṅghāḥ. narāṃ kadane rudhirapā guruvacana; nudamuparataṃ viśasanti ॥12-309-28॥

[श्वानः (śvānaḥ) - dogs; भीषणाय (bhīṣaṇāya) - for terror; अयोमुखानि (ayomukhāni) - iron-mouthed; वयांसि (vayāṃsi) - birds; वडगृध्रकुलपक्षिणां (vaḍagṛdhrakulapakṣiṇām) - of the group of vultures and crows; च (ca) - and; सङ्घाः (saṅghāḥ) - assemblies; नरां (narām) - of men; कदने (kadane) - in slaughter; रुधिरपा (rudhirapā) - blood-drinkers; गुरुवचन (guruvacana) - by the command of the elders; नुदम् (nudam) - driven; उपरतं (uparataṃ) - ceased; विशसन्ति (viśasanti) - they tear apart;]

(Dogs for terror, iron-mouthed birds; assemblies of the group of vultures and crows and; of men in slaughter, blood-drinkers, by the command of the elders, driven, ceased, they tear apart.)

Dogs for terror, iron-mouthed birds, and assemblies of vultures and crows; blood-drinking men in the slaughter, driven by the command of the elders, ceased, they tear apart. (12-309-28)

मर्यादा नियताः स्वयम्भुवा य इहेमाः; प्रभिनत्ति दशगुणा मनोनुगत्वात्। निवसति भृशमसुखं पितृविषय; विपिनमवगाह्य स पापः ॥१२-३०९-२९॥

maryādā niyatāḥ svayambhuvā ya ihemāḥ; prabhinatti daśaguṇā manonugatvāt. nivasati bhṛśamasukhaṃ pitṛviṣaya; vipinamavagāhya sa pāpaḥ ॥12-309-29॥

[मर्यादा (maryādā) - boundary; नियताः (niyatāḥ) - fixed; स्वयम्भुवा (svayambhuvā) - by the self-existent (Brahmā); य (ya) - who; इहेमाः (ihemāḥ) - here these; प्रभिनत्ति (prabhinatti) - breaks; दशगुणा (daśaguṇā) - tenfold; मनोनुगत्वात् (manonugatvāt) - from following the mind; निवसति (nivasati) - dwells; भृशमसुखं (bhṛśamasukhaṃ) - very unhappily; पितृविषय (pitṛviṣaya) - ancestral domain; विपिनम् (vipinam) - forest; अवगाह्य (avagāhya) - having entered; स (sa) - he; पापः (pāpaḥ) - sinner;]

(Boundary fixed by the self-existent, who here these; breaks tenfold from following the mind. Dwells very unhappily in the ancestral domain; having entered the forest, he, the sinner.)

He who breaks the boundaries fixed by the self-existent here, tenfold due to following his mind, dwells very unhappily in the ancestral domain; having entered the forest, that sinner. (12-309-29)

यो लुब्धः सुभृशं प्रियानृतश्च मनुष्यः; सततनिकृतिवञ्चनारतिः स्यात्। उपनिधिभिरसुखकृत्स परमनिरयगो; भृशमसुखमनुभवति दुष्कृतकर्मा ॥१२-३०९-३०॥

yo lubdhaḥ subhṛśaṃ priyā'nṛtaś ca manuṣyaḥ; satatanikṛtivañcanāratiḥ syāt। upanidhibhir asukhakṛt sa paramanirayago; bhṛśam asukham anubhavati duṣkṛtakarmā ॥12-309-30॥

[यो (yo) - who; लुब्धः (lubdhaḥ) - greedy; सुभृशं (subhṛśam) - very much; प्रियानृतः (priyā'nṛtaḥ) - pleasing-falsehood-speaker; च (ca) - and; मनुष्यः (manuṣyaḥ) - person; सततनिकृतिवञ्चनारतिः (satatanikṛtivañcanāratiḥ) - always-deceit-cheating-delighting; स्यात् (syāt) - is; उपनिधिभिः (upanidhibhiḥ) - by deposits; असुखकृत् (asukhakṛt) - unhappiness-maker; स (sa) - he; परमनिरयगः (paramanirayagaḥ) - to the highest hell-goer; भृशम् (bhṛśam) - excessively; असुखम् (asukham) - unhappiness; अनुभवति (anubhavati) - experiences; दुष्कृतकर्मा (duṣkṛtakarmā) - evil-deed-doer;]

(Who greedy very much pleasing-falsehood-speaker and person; always-deceit-cheating-delighting is. By deposits unhappiness-maker he to the highest hell-goer; excessively unhappiness experiences evil-deed-doer (12-309-30))

A person who is greedy, greatly fond of speaking pleasing falsehoods, and always delights in deceit and cheating, by misusing deposits causes unhappiness, and being a doer of evil deeds, he goes to the highest hell and experiences intense suffering. (12-309-30)

उष्णां वैतरणीं महानदी; मवगाढोऽसिपत्रवनभिन्नगात्रः। परशुवनशयो निपतितो; वसति च महानिरये भृशार्तः ॥१२-३०९-३१॥

uṣṇāṃ vaitaraṇīṃ mahānadī; mavagāḍho'sipatravanabhinnagātraḥ. paraśuvanaśayo nipatito; vasati ca mahāniraye bhṛśārtaḥ ॥12-309-31॥

[उष्णाम् (uṣṇām) - hot; वैतरणीम् (vaitaraṇīm) - Vaitarani (name of the river); महानदीम् (mahānadīm) - great river; अवगाढः (avagāḍhaḥ) - immersed; असिपत्रवनभिन्नगात्रः (asipatravana-bhinna-gātraḥ) - with body wounded by the forest of sword-leaves; परशुवनशयः (paraśu-vana-śayaḥ) - lying in the forest of axes; निपतितः (nipatitaḥ) - fallen; वसति (vasati) - dwells; च (ca) - and; महानिरये (mahā-niraye) - in the great hell; भृशार्तः (bhṛśa-ārtaḥ) - greatly afflicted;]

(Hot Vaitarani, great river; immersed, with body wounded by the forest of sword-leaves. Lying in the forest of axes, fallen; dwells and in the great hell, greatly afflicted. (12-309-31))

He is immersed in the hot Vaitarani, the great river, his body wounded by the forest of sword-leaves. Fallen and lying in the forest of axes, he dwells in the great hell, greatly afflicted. (12-309-31)

महापदानि कत्थसे न चाप्यवेक्षसे परम्। चिरस्य मृत्युकारिकामनागतां न बुध्यसे ॥१२-३०९-३२॥

mahāpadāni katthase na cāpyavekṣase param। cirasya mṛtyukārikāmanāgatāṃ na budhyase ॥12-309-32॥

[महापदानि (mahāpadāni) - great dangers; कत्थसे (katthase) - you boast; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अवेक्षसे (avekṣase) - you consider; परम् (param) - the other (future); चिरस्य (cirasya) - after a long time; मृत्युकारिकाम् (mṛtyukārikām) - cause of death; अनागताम् (anāgatām) - not yet come; न (na) - not; बुध्यसे (budhyase) - you understand;]

(You boast of great dangers, and you do not consider the other (future); after a long time, you do not understand the not yet come cause of death.)

You boast of great dangers, yet you do not consider the future; after a long time, you do not realize the impending cause of death. (12-309-32)

प्रयास्यतां किमास्यते समुत्थितं महद्भयम्। अतिप्रमाथि दारुणं सुखस्य संविधीयताम् ॥१२-३०९-३३॥

prayāsyatāṃ kim āsyate samutthitaṃ mahadbhayam। atipramāthi dāruṇaṃ sukhasya saṃvidhīyatām ॥12-309-33॥

[प्रयास्यताम् (prayāsyatām) - let it be attempted; किम् (kim) - what; आस्यते (āsyate) - is being waited for; समुत्थितम् (samutthitam) - arisen; महत् (mahat) - great; भयम् (bhayam) - danger; अतिप्रमाथि (atipramāthi) - very destructive; दारुणम् (dāruṇam) - terrible; सुखस्य (sukhasya) - of happiness; संविधीयताम् (saṃvidhīyatām) - let it be arranged;]

(Let it be attempted; what is being waited for? A great danger has arisen. Very destructive, terrible; let happiness be arranged.)

Let action be taken; why wait when great danger has arisen? Since the peril is very destructive and terrible, arrangements for happiness should be made. (12-309-33)

पुरा मृतः प्रणीयसे यमस्य मृत्युशासनात्। तदन्तिकाय दारुणैः प्रयत्नमार्जवे कुरु ॥१२-३०९-३४॥

purā mṛtaḥ praṇīyase yamasya mṛtyuśāsanāt। tadantikāya dāruṇaiḥ prayatnamārjave kuru ॥12-309-34॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; मृतः (mṛtaḥ) - dead; प्रणीयसे (praṇīyase) - you are led; यमस्य (yamasya) - of Yama; मृत्युशासनात् (mṛtyuśāsanāt) - from the command of death; तदन्तिकाय (tadantikāya) - to his presence; दारुणैः (dāruṇaiḥ) - by the terrible; प्रयत्नमार्जवे (prayatnamārjave) - in effort and straightness; कुरु (kuru) - do;]

(Formerly, dead, you are led from the command of death of Yama to his presence by the terrible; do effort and straightness.)

Once dead, you are led by the terrible servants from the command of Yama to his presence; therefore, act with effort and uprightness. (12-309-34)

पुरा समूलबान्धवं प्रभुर्हरत्यदुःखवित्। तवेह जीवितं यमो न चास्ति तस्य वारकः ॥१२-३०९-३५॥

purā samūlabāndhavaṃ prabhur haraty aduḥkhavit। taveha jīvitaṃ yamo na cāsti tasya vārakaḥ ॥12-309-35॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; समूलबान्धवम् (samūlabāndhavam) - together with roots and relatives; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the lord; हरति (harati) - takes away; अदुःखवित् (aduḥkhavit) - not knowing sorrow; तव (tava) - your; इह (iha) - here; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; यमः (yamaḥ) - Yama (god of death); न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अस्ति (asti) - is; तस्य (tasya) - for him; वारकः (vārakaḥ) - preventer;]

(Formerly, the lord takes away together with roots and relatives, not knowing sorrow. Here, for your life, Yama is not, and for him there is no preventer. (12-309-35))

In the past, the lord takes away everything, including roots and relatives, without knowing sorrow. Here, regarding your life, Yama is present, and there is no one who can prevent him. (12-309-35)

पुरा विवाति मारुतो यमस्य यः पुरःसरः। पुरैक एव नीयसे कुरुष्व साम्परायिकम् ॥१२-३०९-३६॥

purā vivāti māruto yamasya yaḥ puraḥsaraḥ। puraika eva nīyase kuruṣva sāmparāyikam ॥12-309-36॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; previously; विवाति (vivāti) - blows; moves; मारुतः (mārutaḥ) - wind; air; यमस्य (yamasya) - of Yama; of the god of death; यः (yaḥ) - who; which; पुरःसरः (puraḥsaraḥ) - forerunner; leader; पुरा (purā) - formerly; previously; एक (eka) - one; single; एव (eva) - indeed; only; नीयसे (nīyase) - are led; are taken; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; perform; साम्परायिकम् (sāmparāyikam) - relating to the next world; concerning the hereafter;]

(Formerly blows the wind, who is the forerunner of Yama; formerly, indeed, you are led alone; do (what is) relating to the next world.)

In the past, the wind, who is the forerunner of Yama, blows; in the end, you are led alone—therefore, do what pertains to the next world. (12-309-36)

पुरा सहिक्क एव ते प्रवाति मारुतोऽन्तकः। पुरा च विभ्रमन्ति ते दिशो महाभयागमे ॥१२-३०९-३७॥

purā sahikka eva te pravāti māruto'ntakaḥ। purā ca vibhramanti te diśo mahābhayāgame ॥12-309-37॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; previously; सहिक्क (sahikka) - with a hiccup; with a gasp; एव (eva) - indeed; just; ते (te) - your; of you; प्रवाति (pravāti) - blows forth; moves; मारुतः (mārutaḥ) - wind; air; अन्तकः (antakaḥ) - destroyer; death; पुरा (purā) - formerly; previously; च (ca) - and; विभ्रमन्ति (vibhramanti) - wander; move about; ते (te) - your; of you; दिशः (diśaḥ) - directions; quarters; महाभयागमे (mahābhayāgame) - at the coming of great fear; when great danger approaches;]

(Formerly, with a gasp indeed your wind, the destroyer, blows forth; formerly and your directions wander at the coming of great fear;)

Once, with a gasp, your wind, the destroyer, blows; and once, your directions wander when great danger approaches. (12-309-37)

स्मृतिश्च संनिरुध्यते पुरा तवेह पुत्रक। समाकुलस्य गच्छतः समाधिमुत्तमं कुरु ॥१२-३०९-३८॥

smṛtiś ca saṃnirudhyate purā taveha putraka। samākulasya gacchataḥ samādhim uttamaṃ kuru ॥12-309-38॥

[स्मृतिः (smṛtiḥ) - memory; च (ca) - and; संनिरुध्यते (saṃnirudhyate) - is completely restrained; पुरा (purā) - formerly; तव (tava) - your; इह (iha) - here; पुत्रक (putraka) - O son; समाकुलस्य (samākulasya) - of the agitated; गच्छतः (gacchataḥ) - of the one going; समाधिम् (samādhim) - concentration; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme; कुरु (kuru) - do;]

(Memory and is completely restrained formerly your here O son; of the agitated of the one going concentration supreme do.)

O son, here formerly your memory too is completely restrained; as you go, being agitated, attain the supreme concentration. (12-309-38)

कृताकृते शुभाशुभे प्रमादकर्मविप्लुते। स्मरन्पुरा न तप्यसे निधत्स्व केवलं निधिम् ॥१२-३०९-३९॥

kṛtākṛte śubhāśubhe pramādakarmaviplute। smaran purā na tapyase nidhatsva kevalaṃ nidhim ॥12-309-39॥

[कृत-अकृते (kṛta-akṛte) - done-undone; (actions performed and not performed); शुभ-अशुभे (śubha-aśubhe) - auspicious-inauspicious; (good and bad); प्रमाद-कर्म-विप्लुते (pramāda-karma-viplute) - negligence-action-overturned; (overthrown by negligent actions); स्मरन् (smaran) - remembering; पुरा (purā) - formerly; न (na) - not; तप्यसे (tapyase) - you grieve; निधत्स्व (nidhatsva) - deposit; केवलं (kevalaṃ) - only; निधिम् (nidhim) - treasure;]

(In done and undone, in auspicious and inauspicious, overthrown by negligent actions, remembering formerly, you do not grieve; deposit only the treasure.)

Do not grieve over actions done or not done, good or bad, or those ruined by negligence in the past; remember this and simply preserve the true treasure. (12-309-39)

पुरा जरा कलेवरं विजर्जरीकरोति ते। बलाङ्गरूपहारिणी निधत्स्व केवलं निधिम् ॥१२-३०९-४०॥

purā jarā kalevaraṃ vijarjarīkaroti te। balāṅgarūpahāriṇī nidhatsva kevalaṃ nidhim ॥12-309-40॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; in the past; जरा (jarā) - old age; कलेवरं (kalevaraṃ) - body; विजर्जरीकरोति (vijarjarīkaroti) - completely destroys; makes decrepit; ते (te) - your; बलाङ्गरूपहारिणी (balāṅgarūpahāriṇī) - one who takes away strength, limbs, and beauty; निधत्स्व (nidhatsva) - deposit; place; केवलं (kevalaṃ) - only; solely; निधिम् (nidhim) - treasure;]

(Formerly, old age completely destroys your body. The one who takes away strength, limbs, and beauty, deposit only the treasure.)

In the past, old age destroys your body. Since it takes away strength, limbs, and beauty, you should deposit only the true treasure. (12-309-40)

पुरा शरीरमन्तको भिनत्ति रोगसायकैः। प्रसह्य जीवितक्षये तपो महत्समाचर ॥१२-३०९-४१॥

purā śarīram-antakaḥ bhinatti roga-sāyakaiḥ। prasahya jīvitakṣaye tapo mahat-samācara ॥12-309-41॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; previously; शरीरम् (śarīram) - body; अन्तकः (antakaḥ) - death; destroyer; भिनत्ति (bhinatti) - breaks; pierces; रोग (roga) - disease; सायकैः (sāyakaiḥ) - with arrows; प्रसह्य (prasahya) - forcibly; violently; जीवितक्षये (jīvitakṣaye) - at the end of life; when life is destroyed; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; penance; महत् (mahat) - great; समाचर (samācara) - perform; practice;]

(Formerly, death breaks the body with the arrows of disease; forcibly, at the destruction of life, perform great austerity.)

Before death breaks the body with the arrows of disease and forcibly ends life, practice great austerity. (12-309-41)

पुरा वृका भयङ्करा मनुष्यदेहगोचराः। अभिद्रवन्ति सर्वतो यतस्व पुण्यशीलने ॥१२-३०९-४२॥

purā vṛkā bhayaṅkarā manuṣyadehagocarāḥ। abhidravanti sarvato yatasva puṇyaśīlane ॥12-309-42॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; वृका (vṛkā) - wolves; भयङ्करा (bhayaṅkarā) - terrifying; मनुष्यदेहगोचराः (manuṣyadehagocarāḥ) - moving among human bodies; अभिद्रवन्ति (abhidravanti) - rush towards; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - from all sides; यतस्व (yatasva) - strive; पुण्यशीलने (puṇyaśīlane) - O virtuous one;]

(Formerly, wolves terrifying, moving among human bodies, rush towards from all sides; strive, O virtuous one;)

Formerly, terrifying wolves that moved among human bodies would rush from all sides; therefore, strive, O virtuous one. (12-309-42)

पुरान्धकारमेककोऽनुपश्यसि त्वरस्व वै। पुरा हिरण्मयान्नगान्निरीक्षसेऽद्रिमूर्धनि ॥१२-३०९-४३॥

purāndhakāramekako'nupaśyasi tvarasva vai। purā hiraṇmayān nagān nirīkṣase'drimūrdhani ॥12-309-43॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; अन्धकारम् (andhakāram) - darkness; एककः (ekakaḥ) - alone; अनुपश्यसि (anupaśyasi) - you see; त्वरस्व (tvarasva) - hasten; वै (vai) - indeed; पुरा (purā) - formerly; हिरण्मयान् (hiraṇmayān) - golden; नगान् (nagān) - mountains; निरीक्षसे (nirīkṣase) - you will see; अद्रिमूर्धनि (adrimūrdhani) - on the mountain peak;]

(Formerly darkness alone you see; hasten indeed. Formerly golden mountains you will see on the mountain peak.)

Once, you saw only darkness alone; now, hasten indeed. Soon, you will see golden mountains on the mountain peak. (12-309-43)

पुरा कुसङ्गतानि ते सुहृन्मुखाश्च शत्रवः। विचालयन्ति दर्शनाद्घटस्व पुत्र यत्परम् ॥१२-३०९-४४॥

purā kusaṅgatāni te suhṛnmukhāś ca śatravaḥ। vicalayanti darśanād ghaṭasva putra yat param ॥12-309-44॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; in the past; कुसङ्गतानि (kusaṅgatāni) - bad associations; evil company; ते (te) - your; of you; सुहृत् (suhṛt) - friend; मुखाः (mukhāḥ) - in the form of; as faces; च (ca) - and; शत्रवः (śatravaḥ) - enemies; विचालयन्ति (vicalayanti) - disturb; shake; दर्शनात् (darśanāt) - by sight; by seeing; घटस्व (ghaṭasva) - strive; make effort; पुत्र (putra) - son; यत् (yat) - that which; परम् (param) - supreme; highest;]

(Formerly, bad associations of yours, enemies in the form of friends, disturb by sight; strive, son, for that which is supreme.)

In the past, your bad associations—enemies appearing as friends—disturb you merely by their presence; therefore, son, strive for that which is highest. (12-309-44)

धनस्य यस्य राजतो भयं न चास्ति चौरतः। मृतं च यन्न मुञ्चति समर्जयस्व तद्धनम् ॥१२-३०९-४५॥

dhanasya yasya rājataḥ bhayaṃ na cāsti caurataḥ। mṛtaṃ ca yan na muñcati samarjayasva taddhanam ॥12-309-45॥

[धनस्य (dhanasya) - of wealth; यस्य (yasya) - of which; राजतः (rājataḥ) - from king; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अस्ति (asti) - is; चौरतः (caurataḥ) - from thief; मृतम् (mṛtam) - dead; च (ca) - and; यत् (yat) - which; न (na) - not; मुञ्चति (muñcati) - abandons; समर्जयस्व (samarjayasva) - acquire; तत् (tat) - that; धनम् (dhanam) - wealth;]

(Of wealth, of which from king fear not and is from thief; dead and which not abandons; acquire that wealth.)

Acquire that wealth of which there is no fear from the king or from thieves, which even when dead does not leave you; acquire such wealth. (12-309-45)

न तत्र संविभज्यते स्वकर्मभिः परस्परम्। यदेव यस्य यौतकं तदेव तत्र सोऽश्नुते ॥१२-३०९-४६॥

na tatra saṃvibhajyate svakarmabhiḥ parasparam। yadeva yasya yautakaṃ tadeva tatra so'śnute ॥12-309-46॥

[न (na) - not; तत्र (tatra) - there; संविभज्यते (saṃvibhajyate) - is divided; (from sam-vi-bhaj, to divide) स्वकर्मभिः (svakarmabhiḥ) - by one's own actions; परस्परम् (parasparam) - mutually; with each other; यत् (yat) - what; एव (eva) - indeed; only; यस्य (yasya) - of whom; whose; यौतकं (yautakaṃ) - deserved; due; proper share; तत् (tat) - that; एव (eva) - indeed; only; तत्र (tatra) - there; सः (saḥ) - he; अश्नुते (aśnute) - enjoys; obtains;]

(Not there is divided by one's own actions mutually. What indeed of whom deserved, that indeed there he obtains.)

There, actions are not mutually divided among each other. Whatever is deserved by someone, that alone he obtains there. (12-309-46)

परत्र येन जीव्यते तदेव पुत्र दीयताम्। धनं यदक्षयं ध्रुवं समर्जयस्व तत्स्वयम् ॥१२-३०९-४७॥

paratra yena jīvyate tadeva putra dīyatām। dhanaṃ yadakṣayaṃ dhruvaṃ samarjayasva tatsvayam ॥12-309-47॥

[परत्र (paratra) - in the hereafter; elsewhere; येन (yena) - by which; by what; जीव्यते (jīvyate) - is lived; is sustained; तदेव (tadeva) - that alone; only that; पुत्र (putra) - son; O son; दीयताम् (dīyatām) - let it be given; धनं (dhanaṃ) - wealth; यत् (yat) - which; अक्षयम् (akṣayam) - imperishable; undecaying; ध्रुवं (dhruvam) - permanent; fixed; समर्जयस्व (samarjayasva) - acquire; earn; तत् (tat) - that; स्वयम् (svayam) - yourself; by yourself;]

(O son, let that alone be given by which one lives in the hereafter. Acquire yourself that wealth which is imperishable and permanent. (12-309-47))

O son, only that should be given by which one lives in the next world. You yourself should acquire that wealth which is imperishable and everlasting. (12-309-47)

न यावदेव पच्यते महाजनस्य यावकम्। अपक्व एव यावके पुरा प्रणीयसे त्वर ॥१२-३०९-४८॥

na yāvad eva pacyate mahājanasya yāvakam। apakva eva yāvake purā praṇīyase tvara ॥12-309-48॥

[न (na) - not; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; एव (eva) - indeed; पच्यते (pacyate) - is cooked; महाजनस्य (mahājanasya) - of a great person; यावकम् (yāvakam) - barley; अपक्व (apakva) - uncooked; एव (eva) - indeed; यावके (yāvake) - in barley; पुरा (purā) - before; प्रणीयसे (praṇīyase) - you are led; त्वर (tvara) - hurry;]

(Not as long as indeed is cooked of a great person barley. Uncooked indeed in barley before you are led, hurry.)

You are not led away for the barley of a great person as long as it is being cooked. You are hurriedly led away before the barley is even cooked. (12-309-48)

न मातृपितृबान्धवा न संस्तुतः प्रियो जनः। अनुव्रजन्ति सङ्कटे व्रजन्तमेकपातिनम् ॥१२-३०९-४९॥

na mātṛpitṛbāndhavā na saṃstutaḥ priyo janaḥ। anuvrajanti saṅkaṭe vrajantam ekapātinam ॥12-309-49॥

[न (na) - not; मातृपितृबान्धवा (mātṛ-pitṛ-bāndhavāḥ) - mother-father-relatives; न (na) - not; संस्तुतः (saṃstutaḥ) - praised; प्रियः (priyaḥ) - dear; जनः (janaḥ) - person; अनुव्रजन्ति (anuvrajanti) - follow; सङ्कटे (saṅkaṭe) - in difficulty; व्रजन्तम् (vrajantam) - departing; एकपातिनम् (ekapātinam) - alone; ॥१२-३०९-४९॥ (12-309-49) - (12-309-49);]

(Not mother, father, relatives; not praised dear person; follow in difficulty the one departing alone; (12-309-49);)

Neither mother, father, nor relatives, nor even a beloved person who is praised, follow one who departs alone in difficulty. (12-309-49)

यदेव कर्म केवलं स्वयं कृतं शुभाशुभम्। तदेव तस्य यौतकं भवत्यमुत्र गच्छतः ॥१२-३०९-५०॥

yadeva karma kevalaṃ svayaṃ kṛtaṃ śubhāśubham। tadeva tasya yautakaṃ bhavatyamutra gacchataḥ ॥12-309-50॥

[यत् (yat) - which; एव (eva) - indeed; कर्म (karma) - action; केवलम् (kevalam) - only; स्वयम् (svayam) - oneself; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; शुभ (śubha) - auspicious; अशुभम् (aśubham) - inauspicious; तत् (tat) - that; एव (eva) - indeed; तस्य (tasya) - of him; यौतकं (yautakaṃ) - destined; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; अमुत्र (amutra) - there (in the next world); गच्छतः (gacchataḥ) - of the one who goes;]

(Which indeed action only oneself done auspicious inauspicious; that indeed of him destined becomes there of the one who goes (to the next world). (12-309-50))

Whatever action, whether auspicious or inauspicious, is done solely by oneself, that alone becomes his destined result there (in the next world) for the one who departs. (12-309-50)

हिरण्यरत्नसञ्चयाः शुभाशुभेन सञ्चिताः। न तस्य देहसङ्क्षये भवन्ति कार्यसाधकाः ॥१२-३०९-५१॥

hiraṇyaratnasañcayāḥ śubhāśubhena sañcitāḥ। na tasya dehasaṅkṣaye bhavanti kāryasādhakāḥ ॥12-309-51॥

[हिरण्य (hiraṇya) - gold; रत्न (ratna) - jewel; सञ्चयाः (sañcayāḥ) - collections; शुभ (śubha) - auspicious; अशुभेन (aśubhena) - by inauspicious; सञ्चिताः (sañcitāḥ) - accumulated; न (na) - not; तस्य (tasya) - of him; देह (deha) - body; सङ्क्षये (saṅkṣaye) - at destruction; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; कार्य (kārya) - purpose; साधकाः (sādhakāḥ) - accomplishers;]

(Collections of gold and jewels, accumulated by auspicious and inauspicious (means), do not become accomplishers of purpose at the destruction of his body.)

The collections of gold and jewels, amassed through auspicious or inauspicious means, do not serve any purpose for a person at the time of the destruction of his body. (12-309-51)

परत्रगामिकस्य ते कृताकृतस्य कर्मणः। न साक्षिरात्मना समो नृणामिहास्ति कश्चन ॥१२-३०९-५२॥

paratragāmikasya te kṛtākṛtasya karmaṇaḥ। na sākṣirātmanā samo nṛṇāmihaasti kaścana ॥12-309-52॥

[परत्रगामिकस्य (paratragāmikasya) - of the one who goes to the other world; ते (te) - your; कृताकृतस्य (kṛtākṛtasya) - of done and not done; कर्मणः (karmaṇaḥ) - of action; न (na) - not; साक्षिरात्मना (sākṣirātmanā) - by the witnessing self; समः (samaḥ) - equal; नृणाम् (nṛṇām) - of men; इह (iha) - here; अस्ति (asti) - is; कश्चन (kaścana) - anyone;]

(Of the one who goes to the other world, of your done and not done action, not by the witnessing self is anyone equal to men here.)

For the one who goes to the other world, regarding your actions done and not done, there is no one among men here who is equal to the witnessing self. (12-309-52)

मनुष्यदेहशून्यकं भवत्यमुत्र गच्छतः। प्रपश्य बुद्धिचक्षुषा प्रदृश्यते हि सर्वतः ॥१२-३०९-५३॥

manuṣyadehaśūnyakaṃ bhavatyamutra gacchataḥ। prapaśya buddhicakṣuṣā pradṛśyate hi sarvataḥ ॥12-309-53॥

[मनुष्य (manuṣya) - human; देह (deha) - body; शून्यकं (śūnyakaṃ) - empty; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; अमुत्र (amutra) - there; गच्छतः (gacchataḥ) - of one who goes; प्रपश्य (prapaśya) - see; बुद्धि (buddhi) - intellect; चक्षुषा (cakṣuṣā) - with the eye; प्रदृश्यते (pradṛśyate) - is seen; हि (hi) - indeed; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - everywhere;]

(The human body becomes empty for one who goes there. See with the eye of intellect, for indeed it is seen everywhere.)

When one departs there, the human body becomes empty. Observe with the eye of intellect, for indeed it is perceived everywhere. (12-309-53)

इहाग्निसूर्यवायवः शरीरमाश्रितास्त्रयः। त एव तस्य साक्षिणो भवन्ति धर्मदर्शिनः ॥१२-३०९-५४॥

ihāgnisūryavāyavaḥ śarīramāśritāstrayaḥ। ta eva tasya sākṣiṇo bhavanti dharmadarśinaḥ ॥12-309-54॥

[इह (iha) - here; अग्नि (agni) - fire; सूर्य (sūrya) - sun; वायवः (vāyavaḥ) - winds; शरीरम् (śarīram) - body; आश्रिताः (āśritāḥ) - resorted to; त्रयः (trayaḥ) - three; ते (te) - they; एव (eva) - indeed; तस्य (tasya) - of him; साक्षिणः (sākṣiṇaḥ) - witnesses; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; धर्मदर्शिनः (dharmadarśinaḥ) - knowers of dharma;]

(Here, fire, sun, and winds, three, resorted to the body; they indeed of him witnesses become, knowers of dharma;)

Here, the three—fire, sun, and winds—reside in the body; they indeed become his witnesses, being knowers of dharma. (12-309-54)

यथानिशेषु सर्वतःस्पृशत्सु सर्वदारिषु। प्रकाशगूढवृत्तिषु स्वधर्ममेव पालय ॥१२-३०९-५५॥

yathāniśeṣu sarvataḥspṛśatsu sarvadāriṣu। prakāśagūḍhavṛttiṣu svadharmameva pālaya ॥12-309-55॥

[यथा (yathā) - as; in the manner; अनिशेषु (aniśeṣu) - in all nights; सर्वतःस्पृशत्सु (sarvataḥspṛśatsu) - touching from all sides; सर्वदारिषु (sarvadāriṣu) - in all doors; प्रकाशगूढवृत्तिषु (prakāśagūḍhavṛttiṣu) - having manifest and hidden conduct; स्वधर्मम् (svadharmam) - one's own dharma; एव (eva) - only; indeed; पालय (pālaya) - protect; preserve;]

(As in all nights, touching from all sides, in all doors, among manifest and hidden conduct, protect only one's own dharma.)

Just as in all nights, touching every side and every door, whether in manifest or hidden conduct, always protect your own dharma. (12-309-55)

अनेकपारिपन्थिके विरूपरौद्ररक्षिते। स्वमेव कर्म रक्ष्यतां स्वकर्म तत्र गच्छति ॥१२-३०९-५६॥

anekapāripanthike virūparaudrarakṣite। svameva karma rakṣyatāṃ svakarma tatra gacchati ॥12-309-56॥

[अनेक (aneka) - many; पारिपन्थिके (pāripanthike) - with many obstacles; विरूप (virūpa) - ugly; रौद्र (raudra) - terrible; रक्षिते (rakṣite) - protected; स्वम् (svam) - one's own; एव (eva) - indeed; कर्म (karma) - action; रक्ष्यताम् (rakṣyatām) - let it be protected; स्वकर्म (svakarma) - one's own action; तत्र (tatra) - there; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes;]

(In the place with many obstacles, protected by the ugly and terrible, let one's own action indeed be protected; one's own action goes there.)

Even in a place full of many obstacles, guarded by the ugly and the terrible, one's own action alone is protected; one's own action reaches there. (12-309-56)

न तत्र संविभज्यते स्वकर्मणा परस्परम्। यथाकृतं स्वकर्मजं तदेव भुज्यते फलम् ॥१२-३०९-५७॥

na tatra saṃvibhajyate svakarmaṇā parasparam। yathākṛtaṃ svakarmajaṃ tadeva bhujyate phalam ॥12-309-57॥

[न (na) - not; तत्र (tatra) - there; संविभज्यते (saṃvibhajyate) - is divided together; स्वकर्मणा (svakarmaṇā) - by one's own action; परस्परम् (parasparam) - mutually; यथा (yathā) - as; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; स्वकर्मजम् (svakarmajam) - produced by one's own action; तत् (tat) - that; एव (eva) - indeed; भुज्यते (bhujyate) - is enjoyed; फलम् (phalam) - fruit;]

(Not there is divided together by one's own action mutually. As done, produced by one's own action, that indeed is enjoyed fruit.)

There, the results of actions are not mutually shared by one's own deeds. Whatever is done, the fruit produced by one's own action alone is indeed enjoyed. (12-309-57)

यथाप्सरोगणाः फलं सुखं महर्षिभिः सह। तथाप्नुवन्ति कर्मतो विमानकामगामिनः ॥१२-३०९-५८॥

yathāpsarogaṇāḥ phalaṃ sukhaṃ maharṣibhiḥ saha। tathāpnuvanti karmato vimānakāmagāminaḥ ॥12-309-58॥

[यथा (yathā) - just as; in the manner; as; अप्सरोगणाः (apsarogaṇāḥ) - groups of apsarases; फलं (phalaṃ) - fruit; result; सुखं (sukhaṃ) - happiness; pleasure; महर्षिभिः (maharṣibhiḥ) - with great sages; by great sages; सह (saha) - together; with; तथा (tathā) - so; in that way; likewise; अप्नुवन्ति (apnuvanti) - attain; obtain; कर्मतः (karmataḥ) - by action; through deeds; विमानकामगामिनः (vimānakāmagāminaḥ) - those who go to desired aerial vehicles; those who travel to desired vimānas;]

(Just as groups of apsarases, the fruit, happiness, together with great sages; so attain by action those who travel to desired aerial vehicles.)

Just as groups of apsarases enjoy the fruit of happiness together with great sages, so too, those who travel to desired aerial vehicles attain this by their actions. (12-309-58)

यथेह यत्कृतं शुभं विपाप्मभिः कृतात्मभिः। तदाप्नुवन्ति मानवास्तथा विशुद्धयोनयः ॥१२-३०९-५९॥

yatheha yatkṛtaṃ śubhaṃ vipāpmabhiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ। tadāpnuvanti mānavāstathā viśuddhayonayaḥ ॥12-309-59॥

[यथा (yathā) - just as; इह (iha) - here; यत् (yat) - which; कृतं (kṛtaṃ) - done; शुभं (śubham) - auspicious; विपाप्मभिः (vipāpmabhiḥ) - by those free from sin; कृतात्मभिः (kṛtātmabhiḥ) - by those who have mastered themselves; तत् (tat) - that; आप्नुवन्ति (āpnuvanti) - attain; मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - men; तथा (tathā) - so; विशुद्धयोनयः (viśuddhayonayaḥ) - those of pure origin;]

(Just as here, that which is done auspiciously by those free from sin, by those who have mastered themselves, that men attain; so (do) those of pure origin.)

Just as here, whatever auspicious act is performed by those free from sin and self-controlled, that is attained by men; so also is it attained by those of pure origin. (12-309-59)

प्रजापतेः सलोकतां बृहस्पतेः शतक्रतोः। व्रजन्ति ते परां गतिं गृहस्थधर्मसेतुभिः ॥१२-३०९-६०॥

prajāpateḥ salokatāṃ bṛhaspateḥ śatakratoḥ। vrajanti te parāṃ gatiṃ gṛhasthadharmasetubhiḥ ॥12-309-60॥

[प्रजापतेः (prajāpateḥ) - of Prajāpati; सलोकतां (salokatām) - the same world; बृहस्पतेः (bṛhaspateḥ) - of Bṛhaspati; शतक्रतोः (śatakratoḥ) - of Śatakratu (Indra); व्रजन्ति (vrajanti) - they go; ते (te) - they; परां (parām) - supreme; गतिं (gatiṃ) - state; गृहस्थधर्मसेतुभिः (gṛhasthadharmasetubhiḥ) - by the bridges (means) of householder's dharma;]

(Of Prajāpati, the same world, of Bṛhaspati, of Śatakratu, they go, they, supreme, state, by the bridges of householder's dharma.)

By the bridges of householder's dharma, they attain the supreme state, reaching the same world as Prajāpati, Bṛhaspati, and Śatakratu (Indra). (12-309-60)

सहस्रशोऽप्यनेकशः प्रवक्तुमुत्सहामहे। अबुद्धिमोहनं पुनः प्रभुर्विना न यावकम् ॥१२-३०९-६१॥

sahasraśo'pyanekasaḥ pravaktumutsahāmahe। abuddhimohanaṃ punaḥ prabhuḥ vinā na yāvakām ॥12-309-61॥

[सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ) - by thousands; अपि (api) - even; अनेकशः (anekasaḥ) - in many ways; प्रवक्तुम् (pravaktum) - to declare; उत्सहामहे (utsahāmahe) - we are able; अबुद्धिमोहनम् (abuddhimohanam) - bewildering the unintelligent; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the Lord; विना (vinā) - without; न (na) - not; यावकम् (yāvakām) - even a little;]

(By thousands, even in many ways, to declare we are able; bewildering the unintelligent again, the Lord without not even a little.)

Even if we are able to declare in thousands and many ways, without the Lord, not even a little of bewildering the unintelligent can be done again. (12-309-61)

गता द्विरष्टवर्षता ध्रुवोऽसि पञ्चविंशकः। कुरुष्व धर्मसञ्चयं वयो हि तेऽतिवर्तते ॥१२-३०९-६२॥

gatā dvi-raṣṭa-varṣatā dhruvo'si pañcaviṃśakaḥ। kuruṣva dharmasañcayaṃ vayo hi te'tivartate ॥12-309-62॥

[गता (gatā) - gone; (feminine, past participle); द्वि (dvi) - two; (prefix); अष्ट (aṣṭa) - eight; वर्षता (varṣatā) - years-ness; (state of years); ध्रुवः (dhruvaḥ) - certain; (sure, fixed); असि (asi) - you are; पञ्चविंशकः (pañcaviṃśakaḥ) - twenty-five years old; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; (imperative, you do); धर्मसञ्चयम् (dharmasañcayam) - accumulation of dharma; वयः (vayaḥ) - age; हि (hi) - indeed; ते (te) - your; अतिवर्तते (ativartate) - passes beyond; (exceeds);]

(Gone is the state of twenty-eight years; certainly you are twenty-five years old. Do the accumulation of dharma, for your age indeed passes beyond. (12-309-62))

The period of twenty-eight years has passed; you are now certainly twenty-five years old. Accumulate merit, for your age is indeed passing by. (12-309-62)

पुरा करोति सोऽन्तकः प्रमादगोमुखं दमम्। यथागृहीतमुत्थितं त्वरस्व धर्मपालने ॥१२-३०९-६३॥

purā karoti so'ntakaḥ pramāda-gomukhaṃ damam। yathā-gṛhītam-utthitaṃ tvarasva dharma-pālane ॥12-309-63॥

[पुरा (purā) - formerly; करोति (karoti) - does; सः (saḥ) - he; अन्तकः (antakaḥ) - death; प्रमाद (pramāda) - negligence; गोमुखं (gomukham) - cow-faced; (here: with the face of a cow, i.e., in the form of) दमम् (damam) - restraint; यथा (yathā) - as; गृहीतम् (gṛhītam) - taken; उत्थितं (utthitam) - arisen; त्वरस्व (tvarasva) - hasten; धर्मपालने (dharma-pālane) - in the protection of dharma;]

(Formerly, he does death (in the form of) negligence-cow-faced restraint. As taken arisen, hasten in the protection of dharma.)

Formerly, he who enacts restraint in the form of negligence is death. As soon as it is taken up, arise and hasten to protect dharma. (12-309-63)

यदा त्वमेव पृष्ठतस्त्वमग्रतो गमिष्यसि। तथा गतिं गमिष्यतः किमात्मना परेण वा ॥१२-३०९-६४॥

yadā tvam eva pṛṣṭhatas tvam agrato gamiṣyasi। tathā gatiṃ gamiṣyataḥ kim ātmanā pareṇa vā ॥12-309-64॥

[यदा (yadā) - when; त्वम् (tvam) - you; एव (eva) - indeed; पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhatas) - from behind; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अग्रतः (agratas) - in front; गमिष्यसि (gamiṣyasi) - will go; तथा (tathā) - thus; गतिम् (gatim) - path; गमिष्यतः (gamiṣyataḥ) - of one who will go; किम् (kim) - what; आत्मना (ātmanā) - by oneself; परेण (pareṇa) - by another; वा (vā) - or;]

(When you indeed from behind, you in front will go. Thus, the path of one who will go, what by oneself or by another?)

When you yourself will go both behind and ahead, then what is the use of the path for one who is going, whether by oneself or by another? (12-309-64)

यदेकपातिनां सतां भवत्यमुत्र गच्छताम्। भयेषु साम्परायिकं निधत्स्व तं महानिधिम् ॥१२-३०९-६५॥

yadekapātināṃ satāṃ bhavatyamutra gacchatām। bhayeṣu sāmparāyikaṃ nidhatsva taṃ mahānidhim ॥12-309-65॥

[यत् (yat) - which; एकपातिनाम् (ekapātinām) - of those who go alone; सताम् (satām) - of the good; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; अमुत्र (amutra) - there (in the other world); गच्छताम् (gacchatām) - of those who go; भयेṣu (bhayeṣu) - in dangers; साम्परायिकम् (sāmparāyikam) - relating to the next world; निधत्स्व (nidhatsva) - deposit; तम् (tam) - that; महा-निधिम् (mahānidhim) - great treasure;]

(Which, of those who go alone, of the good, becomes, there (in the other world), of those who go; in dangers, relating to the next world, deposit, that, great treasure.)

Deposit that great treasure, which becomes the next-worldly support for the good who go alone there, in dangers. (12-309-65)

सकूलमूलबान्धवं प्रभुर्हरत्यसङ्गवान्। न सन्ति यस्य वारकाः कुरुष्व धर्मसंनिधिम् ॥१२-३०९-६६॥

sakūlamūlabāndhavaṃ prabhuḥ harati asaṅgavān। na santi yasya vārakāḥ kuruṣva dharmasaṃnidhim ॥12-309-66॥

[सकूल (sakūla) - with family; मूल (mūla) - with root; बान्धवं (bāndhavam) - with relatives; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the lord; हरति (harati) - takes away; असङ्गवान् (asaṅgavān) - one who is unattached; न (na) - not; सन्ति (santi) - are; यस्य (yasya) - whose; वारकाः (vārakāḥ) - obstacles; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; धर्म (dharma) - righteousness; संनिधिम् (saṃnidhim) - accumulation;]

(With family, root, and relatives, the lord takes away one who is unattached. There are not whose obstacles. Do the accumulation of righteousness. (12-309-66))

The lord takes away even one who is unattached, along with his family, roots, and relatives. For the one who has no obstacles, accumulate righteousness. (12-309-66)

इदं निदर्शनं मया तवेह पुत्र संमतम्। स्वदर्शनानुमानतः प्रवर्णितं कुरुष्व तत् ॥१२-३०९-६७॥

idaṃ nidarśanaṃ mayā taveha putra saṃmatam। svadarśanānumānataḥ pravarṇitaṃ kuruṣva tat ॥12-309-67॥

[इदं (idaṃ) - this; निदर्शनं (nidarśanam) - example; मया (mayā) - by me; तव (tava) - for you; इह (iha) - here; पुत्र (putra) - son; संमतम् (saṃmatam) - approved; स्वदर्शन (svadarśana) - from one's own observation; अनुमानतः (anumānataḥ) - from inference; प्रवर्णितं (pravarṇitam) - described; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; तत् (tat) - that;]

(This example by me for you here, son, approved, from one's own observation and inference, described, do that.)

Son, this example, which I have described here for you and which is approved, has been set forth based on my own observation and inference; act accordingly. (12-309-67)

दधाति यः स्वकर्मणा धनानि यस्य कस्यचित्। अबुद्धिमोहजैर्गुणैः शतैक एव युज्यते ॥१२-३०९-६८॥

dadhāti yaḥ svakarmaṇā dhanāni yasya kasyacit। abuddhimohajairguṇaiḥ śataika eva yujyate ॥12-309-68॥

[दधाति (dadhāti) - places; यः (yaḥ) - who; स्वकर्मणा (svakarmaṇā) - by one's own action; धनानि (dhanāni) - wealths; यस्य (yasya) - of whom; कस्यचित् (kasyacit) - of anyone; अबुद्धि-मोह-जैः (abuddhi-moha-jaiḥ) - born of lack of understanding and delusion; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - by qualities; शत-एक (śata-eka) - one out of a hundred; एव (eva) - only; युज्यते (yujyate) - is joined;]

(He who places wealth by his own action for anyone, by qualities born of lack of understanding and delusion, only one out of a hundred is joined.)

Of those who, by their own actions, place wealth in the hands of anyone, only one out of a hundred is truly joined by qualities born of ignorance and delusion. (12-309-68)

श्रुतं समर्थमस्तु ते प्रकुर्वतः शुभाः क्रियाः। तदेव तत्र दर्शनं कृतज्ञमर्थसंहितम् ॥१२-३०९-६९॥

śrutaṃ samartham astu te prakurvataḥ śubhāḥ kriyāḥ। tadeva tatra darśanaṃ kṛtajñam arthasaṃhitam ॥12-309-69॥

[श्रुतं (śrutam) - heard; learned; समर्थम् (samartham) - capable; competent; अस्तु (astu) - let it be; may it be; ते (te) - your; for you; प्रकुर्वतः (prakurvataḥ) - of one who performs; doing; शुभाः (śubhāḥ) - auspicious; good; क्रियाः (kriyāḥ) - actions; deeds; तदेव (tadeva) - that alone; only that; तत्र (tatra) - there; in that; दर्शनं (darśanam) - vision; seeing; कृतज्ञम् (kṛtajñam) - grateful; recognizing service; अर्थसंहितम् (arthasaṃhitam) - joined with meaning; full of purpose;]

(Heard capable let it be for you of one who performs auspicious actions. That alone there vision grateful joined with meaning. (12-309-69))

May what you have heard be capable for you as you perform auspicious actions. There, that alone is the vision—grateful and full of meaning. (12-309-69)

निबन्धनी रज्जुरेषा या ग्रामे वसतो रतिः। छित्त्वैनां सुकृतो यान्ति नैनां छिन्दन्ति दुष्कृतः ॥१२-३०९-७०॥

nibandhanī rajjureṣā yā grāme vasato ratiḥ। chittvaināṃ sukṛto yānti naināṃ chindanti duṣkṛtaḥ ॥12-309-70॥

[निबन्धनी (nibandhanī) - binding; (feminine); रज्जु (rajju) - rope; एषा (eṣā) - this (feminine); या (yā) - which (feminine); ग्रामे (grāme) - in the village; वसतः (vasataḥ) - of one dwelling; रतिः (ratiḥ) - attachment; pleasure; (feminine); छित्त्वा (chittvā) - having cut; एनां (enāṃ) - this (feminine accusative); सुकृतः (sukṛtaḥ) - the virtuous one; यान्ति (yānti) - go; न (na) - not; एनां (enāṃ) - this (feminine accusative); छिन्दन्ति (chindanti) - cut; दुष्कृतः (duṣkṛtaḥ) - the wicked one;]

(Binding rope this which in the village of one dwelling attachment; having cut this the virtuous one go; not this cut the wicked one.)

This attachment to village life is a binding rope; the virtuous, having cut it, go (beyond), but the wicked do not cut it. (12-309-70)

किं ते धनेन किं बन्धुभिस्ते; किं ते पुत्रैः पुत्रक यो मरिष्यसि। आत्मानमन्विच्छ गुहां प्रविष्टं; पितामहास्ते क्व गताश्च सर्वे ॥१२-३०९-७१॥

kiṁ te dhanena kiṁ bandhubhis te; kiṁ te putraiḥ putraka yo mariṣyasi. ātmānam anviccha guhāṁ praviṣṭaṁ; pitāmahās te kva gatāś ca sarve ॥12-309-71॥

[किं (kiṁ) - what; ते (te) - to you; धनेन (dhanena) - with wealth; किं (kiṁ) - what; बन्धुभिः (bandhubhiḥ) - with relatives; ते (te) - to you; किं (kiṁ) - what; ते (te) - to you; पुत्रैः (putraiḥ) - with sons; पुत्रक (putraka) - O little son; यः (yaḥ) - who; मर्ष्यसि (mariṣyasi) - you will die; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - the self; अन्विच्छ (anviccha) - seek; गुहाम् (guhām) - the cave; प्रविष्टम् (praviṣṭam) - entered; पितामहाः (pitāmahāḥ) - forefathers; ते (te) - your; क्व (kva) - where; गताः (gatāḥ) - gone; च (ca) - and; सर्वे (sarve) - all;]

(What to you with wealth, what to you with relatives; what to you with sons, O little son, who will die. Seek the self entered into the cave; your forefathers, where have all gone and.)

What use is wealth to you, or relatives to you? What use are sons to you, O little son, who will die? Seek the self that has entered the cave; where have all your forefathers gone? (12-309-71)

श्वःकार्यमद्य कुर्वीत पूर्वाह्णे चापराह्णिकम्। को हि तद्वेद कस्याद्य मृत्युसेना निवेक्ष्यते ॥१२-३०९-७२॥

śvaḥkāryam adya kurvīta pūrvāhṇe cāparāhṇikam। ko hi tad veda kasya adya mṛtyusenā nivekṣyate ॥12-309-72॥

[श्वःकार्यम् (śvaḥkāryam) - tomorrow's task; अद्य (adya) - today; कुर्वीत (kurvīta) - should do; पूर्वाह्णे (pūrvāhṇe) - in the forenoon; च (ca) - and; अपराह्णिकम् (aparāhṇikam) - afternoon's (task); को (ko) - who; हि (hi) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that; वेद (veda) - knows; कस्य (kasya) - of whom; अद्य (adya) - today; मृत्युसेना (mṛtyusenā) - death's army; निवेक्ष्यते (nivekṣyate) - will be deployed;]

(Tomorrow's task today should do; in the forenoon and afternoon's (task); who indeed that knows; of whom today death's army will be deployed;)

One should do tomorrow's task today, and the afternoon's task in the forenoon; for who indeed knows for whom death's army will be deployed today? (12-309-72)

अनुगम्य श्मशानान्तं निवर्तन्तीह बान्धवाः। अग्नौ प्रक्षिप्य पुरुषं ज्ञातयः सुहृदस्तथा ॥१२-३०९-७३॥

anugamya śmaśānāntaṃ nivartantīha bāndhavāḥ। agnau prakṣipya puruṣaṃ jñātayaḥ suhṛdastathā ॥12-309-73॥

[अनुगम्य (anugamya) - having followed; श्मशानान्तम् (śmaśānāntam) - to the end of the cremation ground; निवर्तन्ति (nivartanti) - they return; इह (iha) - here; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; अग्नौ (agnau) - into the fire; प्रक्षिप्य (prakṣipya) - having cast; पुरुषम् (puruṣam) - the person; ज्ञातयः (jñātayaḥ) - kinsmen; सुहृदः (suhṛdaḥ) - friends; तथा (tathā) - likewise;]

(Having followed to the end of the cremation ground, here the relatives return; having cast the person into the fire, the kinsmen and friends likewise.)

Relatives accompany one to the end of the cremation ground, and here they return; after casting the person into the fire, the kinsmen and friends do the same. (12-309-73)

नास्तिकान्निरनुक्रोशान्नरान्पापमतौ स्थितान्। वामतः कुरु विश्रब्धं परं प्रेप्सुरतन्द्रितः ॥१२-३०९-७४॥

nāstikān niranukrośān narān pāpamatau sthitān। vāmataḥ kuru viśrabdhaṃ paraṃ prepsur atandritaḥ ॥12-309-74॥

[नास्तिकान् (nāstikān) - atheists; निरनुक्रोशान् (niranukrośān) - without compassion; नरान् (narān) - men; पापमतौ (pāpamatau) - in evil intent; स्थितान् (sthitān) - standing; वामतः (vāmataḥ) - on the left; कुरु (kuru) - do; विश्रब्धं (viśrabdham) - confidently; परं (param) - the other; प्रेप्सुः (prepsuḥ) - desiring to attain; अतन्द्रितः (atandritaḥ) - without sloth;]

(Atheists, men without compassion, standing in evil intent, on the left, do confidently the other, desiring to attain, without sloth.)

Confidently act against the atheists, the merciless men standing with evil intent on the left, striving for the other side without sloth. (12-309-74)

एवमभ्याहते लोके कालेनोपनिपीडिते। सुमहद्धैर्यमालम्ब्य धर्मं सर्वात्मना कुरु ॥१२-३०९-७५॥

evam abhyāhate loke kālena upanipīḍite। sumahad-dhairyam ālambya dharmaṃ sarvātmanā kuru ॥12-309-75॥

[एवम् (evam) - thus; अभ्याहते (abhyāhate) - afflicted; लोके (loke) - in the world; कालेन (kālena) - by time; उपनिपीडिते (upanipīḍite) - oppressed; सुमहत् (sumahat) - very great; धैर्यम् (dhairyam) - fortitude; आलम्ब्य (ālambya) - having taken hold of; धर्मम् (dharmaṃ) - righteousness; सर्वात्मना (sarvātmanā) - with all your being; कुरु (kuru) - perform;]

(Thus, in the world afflicted and oppressed by time, having taken hold of very great fortitude, perform righteousness with all your being.)

Thus, when the world is afflicted and oppressed by time, take up great courage and practice righteousness with all your heart. (12-309-75)

अथेमं दर्शनोपायं सम्यग्यो वेत्ति मानवः। सम्यक्स धर्मं कृत्वेह परत्र सुखमेधते ॥१२-३०९-७६॥

athemaṃ darśanopāyaṃ samyagyo vetti mānavaḥ। samyaks dharmaṃ kṛtveha paratra sukhamedhate ॥12-309-76॥

[अथ (atha) - now; then; इमं (imaṃ) - this; दर्शन-उपायं (darśana-upāyaṃ) - means of vision; method of seeing; सम्यक्-ज्ञः (samyak-jñaḥ) - one who knows rightly; वेत्ति (vetti) - knows; understands; मानवः (mānavaḥ) - human; man; सम्यक् (samyak) - rightly; properly; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - duty; righteousness; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; इह (iha) - here; in this world; परत्र (paratra) - in the next world; hereafter; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; bliss; एधते (edhate) - grows; increases; prospers;]

(Now, this means of vision, one who knows rightly, a human, rightly duty having done here, in the next world, happiness grows.)

Now, a human who rightly knows this method of vision, having properly performed duty here, attains happiness in the next world. (12-309-76)

न देहभेदे मरणं विजानतां; न च प्रणाशः स्वनुपालिते पथि। धर्मं हि यो वर्धयते स पण्डितो; य एव धर्माच्च्यवते स मुह्यति ॥१२-३०९-७७॥

na dehabhede maraṇaṃ vijānatāṃ; na ca praṇāśaḥ svanupālite pathi. dharmaṃ hi yo vardhayate sa paṇḍito; ya eva dharmāccyavate sa muhyati ॥12-309-77॥

[न (na) - not; देहभेदे (dehabhede) - at the separation of the body; मरणं (maraṇam) - death; विजानतां (vijānatām) - of those who know; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; प्रणाशः (praṇāśaḥ) - destruction; स्वनुपालिते (svanupālite) - in the well-followed; पथि (pathi) - path; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - dharma; हि (hi) - indeed; यः (yaḥ) - who; वर्धयते (vardhayate) - increases; स (sa) - he; पण्डितः (paṇḍitaḥ) - wise; यः (yaḥ) - who; एव (eva) - indeed; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from dharma; च्यवते (cyavate) - falls; स (sa) - he; मुह्यति (muhyati) - becomes deluded;]

(Not at the separation of the body is death for those who know; nor is there destruction in the well-followed path. Dharma indeed, he who increases, he is wise; who indeed from dharma falls, he becomes deluded. (12-309-77))

For those who know, death does not occur at the separation of the body; nor is there destruction on the well-followed path. He who increases dharma is truly wise; but he who falls away from dharma becomes deluded. (12-309-77)

प्रयुक्तयोः कर्मपथि स्वकर्मणोः; फलं प्रयोक्ता लभते यथाविधि। निहीनकर्मा निरयं प्रपद्यते; त्रिविष्टपं गच्छति धर्मपारगः ॥१२-३०९-७८॥

prayuktayoḥ karmapathi svakarmaṇoḥ; phalaṃ prayoktā labhate yathāvidhi. nihīnakarmā nirayaṃ prapadyate; triviṣṭapaṃ gacchati dharmapāragaḥ ॥12-309-78॥

[प्रयुक्तयोः (prayuktayoḥ) - of the two who are engaged; कर्मपथि (karmapathi) - on the path of action; स्वकर्मणोः (svakarmaṇoḥ) - of one's own actions; फलं (phalaṃ) - fruit; प्रयोक्ता (prayoktā) - the one who sets in motion; लभते (labhate) - obtains; यथाविधि (yathāvidhi) - according to rule; निहीनकर्मा (nihīnakarmā) - one deficient in action; निरयं (nirayaṃ) - hell; प्रपद्यते (prapadyate) - attains; त्रिविष्टपं (triviṣṭapaṃ) - heaven; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes; धर्मपारगः (dharmapāragaḥ) - one who has crossed over righteousness;]

(Of the two who are engaged on the path of action, of one's own actions, the fruit the instigator obtains according to rule. One deficient in action attains hell; the one who has crossed over righteousness goes to heaven. (12-309-78))

Among those engaged in action on their own path, the instigator receives the fruit as prescribed. One who is deficient in action attains hell, while the one who is accomplished in righteousness goes to heaven. (12-309-78)

सोपानभूतं स्वर्गस्य मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम्। तथात्मानं समादध्याद्भ्रश्येत न पुनर्यथा ॥१२-३०९-७९॥

sopānabhūtaṃ svargasya mānuṣyaṃ prāpya durlabham। tathātmānaṃ samādadhyādbhraśyeta na punaryathā ॥12-309-79॥

[सोपानभूतं (sopānabhūtaṃ) - become a step; become a means of ascent; स्वर्गस्य (svargasya) - of heaven; मानुष्यं (mānuṣyam) - human existence; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; दुर्लभम् (durlabham) - difficult to obtain; तथा (tathā) - thus; आत्मानं (ātmānam) - the self; समादध्यात् (samādadhyāt) - should fix; भ्रश्येत (bhraśyeta) - should not fall; न (na) - not; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; यथा (yathā) - as; ॥१२-३०९-७९॥ (॥12-309-79॥) - ;]

(Having attained human existence, which has become a step of heaven and is difficult to obtain, thus one should fix the self so that one does not fall again as before. "12-309-79")

Having attained human birth, which is a rare means of ascent to heaven, one should thus steady the self so as not to fall again as before. (12-309-79)

यस्य नोत्क्रामति मतिः स्वर्गमार्गानुसारिणी। तमाहुः पुण्यकर्माणमशोच्यं मित्रबान्धवैः ॥१२-३०९-८०॥

yasya notkrāmati matiḥ svargamārgānusāriṇī। tamāhuḥ puṇyakarmāṇamaśocyaṃ mitrabāndhavaiḥ ॥12-309-80॥

[यस्य (yasya) - of whom; न (na) - not; उत्क्रामति (utkrāmati) - departs; मतिः (matiḥ) - mind; स्वर्गमार्ग (svargamārga) - path to heaven; अनुसारिणी (anusāriṇī) - following; तम् (tam) - him; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; पुण्यकर्माणम् (puṇyakarmāṇam) - one of virtuous deeds; अशोच्यम् (aśocyam) - not to be grieved; मित्र (mitra) - by friends; बान्धवैः (bāndhavaiḥ) - by relatives;]

(Of whom the mind does not depart, following the path to heaven; him they say to be of virtuous deeds, not to be grieved by friends and relatives.)

He whose mind does not stray and follows the path to heaven is said to be a man of virtuous deeds, not to be mourned by friends and relatives. (12-309-80)

यस्य नोपहता बुद्धिर्निश्चयेष्ववलम्बते। स्वर्गे कृतावकाशस्य तस्य नास्ति महद्भयम् ॥१२-३०९-८१॥

yasya nopahatā buddhirniścayeṣvavalambate। svarge kṛtāvakāśasya tasya nāsti mahadbhayam ॥12-309-81॥

[यस्य (yasya) - of whom; न (na) - not; उपहता (upahatā) - overpowered; बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - intellect; निश्चयेषु (niścayeṣu) - in determinations; अवलम्बते (avalambate) - depends; स्वर्गे (svarge) - in heaven; कृत (kṛta) - made; अवकाशस्य (avakāśasya) - of opportunity; तस्य (tasya) - of him; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - is; महत् (mahat) - great; भयम् (bhayam) - fear;]

(Of whom not overpowered intellect in determinations depends; in heaven made opportunity of him not is great fear.)

He whose intellect is not overpowered and does not depend on determinations, for him, who has made opportunity in heaven, there is no great fear. (12-309-81)

तपोवनेषु ये जातास्तत्रैव निधनं गताः। तेषामल्पतरो धर्मः कामभोगमजानताम् ॥१२-३०९-८२॥

tapovaneṣu ye jātās tatraiva nidhanaṃ gatāḥ। teṣām alpataro dharmaḥ kāmabhogam ajānatām ॥12-309-82॥

[तपोवनेषु (tapovaneṣu) - in the forest-hermitages; ये (ye) - who; जाताः (jātāḥ) - born; तत्रैव (tatraiva) - there itself; निधनं (nidhanaṃ) - death; गताः (gatāḥ) - attained; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; अल्पतरः (alpataraḥ) - very little; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - merit; कामभोगम् (kāmabhogam) - enjoyment of desires; अजानताम् (ajānatām) - of those not knowing;]

(In the forest-hermitages who were born, there itself death attained; of them very little merit, enjoyment of desires not knowing;)

Those who were born in the forest-hermitages and died there itself, for them, who did not know the enjoyment of desires, their merit is very little. (12-309-82)

यस्तु भोगान्परित्यज्य शरीरेण तपश्चरेत्। न तेन किञ्चिन्न प्राप्तं तन्मे बहुमतं फलम् ॥१२-३०९-८३॥

yastu bhogān parityajya śarīreṇa tapaś caret। na tena kiñcin na prāptaṃ tan me bahumataṃ phalam ॥12-309-83॥

[यः (yaḥ) - who; तु (tu) - but; भोगान् (bhogān) - enjoyments; परित्यज्य (parityajya) - having abandoned; शरीरेण (śarīreṇa) - with the body; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; चरेत् (caret) - should practice; न (na) - not; तेन (tena) - by him; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; न (na) - not; प्राप्तम् (prāptam) - attained; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; बहुमतम् (bahumatam) - highly regarded; फलम् (phalam) - fruit;]

(But who, having abandoned enjoyments, should practice austerity with the body; by him nothing is attained; that to me is the highly regarded fruit.)

But as for one who, having renounced enjoyments, practices austerity with the body, nothing is attained by him; to me, that is the most highly regarded fruit. (12-309-83)

मातापितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदारशतानि च। अनागतान्यतीतानि कस्य ते कस्य वा वयम् ॥१२-३०९-८४॥

mātāpitṛsahasrāṇi putradāraśatāni ca। anāgatānyatītāni kasya te kasya vā vayam ॥12-309-84॥

[माता (mātā) - mother; पितृ (pitṛ) - father; सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi) - thousands; पुत्र (putra) - son; दार (dāra) - wife; शतानि (śatāni) - hundreds; च (ca) - and; अनागतानि (anāgatāni) - not yet come; अतीतानि (atītāni) - past; कस्य (kasya) - whose; ते (te) - to you; कस्य (kasya) - whose; वा (vā) - or; वयम् (vayam) - we;]

(Mother father thousands, son wife hundreds and; not yet come past, whose to you, whose or we.)

Thousands of mothers and fathers, hundreds of sons and wives—those not yet come and those past—whose are they to you, or whose are we? (12-309-84)

न तेषां भवता कार्यं न कार्यं तव तैरपि। स्वकृतैस्तानि यातानि भवांश्चैव गमिष्यति ॥१२-३०९-८५॥

na teṣāṃ bhavatā kāryaṃ na kāryaṃ tava tair api। svakṛtais tāni yātāni bhavāṃś caiva gamiṣyati ॥12-309-85॥

[न (na) - not; तेषां (teṣām) - of them; भवता (bhavatā) - by you; कार्यं (kāryaṃ) - to be done; न (na) - not; कार्यं (kāryaṃ) - to be done; तव (tava) - by you; तैः (taiḥ) - by them; अपि (api) - also; स्वकृतैः (svakṛtaiḥ) - by one's own actions; तानि (tāni) - those; यातानि (yātāni) - have gone; भवान् (bhavān) - you; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; गमिष्यति (gamiṣyati) - will go;]

(Not of them by you to be done, not to be done by you by them also; by one's own actions those have gone, you indeed will go. (12-309-85))

You have nothing to do for them, nor do they have anything to do for you; by their own actions, they have gone, and you too will indeed go. (12-309-85)

इह लोके हि धनिनः परोऽपि स्वजनायते। स्वजनस्तु दरिद्राणां जीवतामेव नश्यति ॥१२-३०९-८६॥

iha loke hi dhaninaḥ paro'pi svajanāyate। svajanas tu daridrāṇāṃ jīvatām eva naśyati ॥12-309-86॥

[इह (iha) - here; लोके (loke) - in the world; हि (hi) - indeed; धनिनः (dhaninaḥ) - of the wealthy; परः (paraḥ) - stranger; अपि (api) - even; स्वजनायते (svajanāyate) - becomes as one's own person; स्वजनः (svajanaḥ) - one's own person; तु (tu) - but; दरिद्राणां (daridrāṇām) - of the poor; जीवताम् (jīvatām) - while living; एव (eva) - even; नश्यति (naśyati) - perishes;]

(Here in the world indeed, even a stranger of the wealthy becomes as one's own person; but one's own person of the poor, even while living, perishes.)

Here in this world, even a stranger to the wealthy is regarded as family, but the family of the poor, even while alive, is lost. (12-309-86)

सञ्चिनोत्यशुभं कर्म कलत्रापेक्षया नरः। ततः क्लेशमवाप्नोति परत्रेह तथैव च ॥१२-३०९-८७॥

sañcinotyaśubhaṃ karma kalatrāpekṣayā naraḥ। tataḥ kleśam avāpnoti paratreha tathaiva ca ॥12-309-87॥

[सञ्चिनोति (sañcinoti) - he collects; (from sam + ci, to gather;) अशुभं (aśubham) - unwholesome; (a- not + śubha, auspicious;) कर्म (karma) - action; कलत्रापेक्षया (kalatrāpekṣayā) - with dependence on wife; (kalatra, wife + apekṣā, dependence;) नरः (naraḥ) - man; ततः (tataḥ) - thereafter; क्लेशम् (kleśam) - affliction; अवाप्नोति (avāpnoti) - obtains; (ava + āp, to attain;) परत्र (paratra) - in the next world; इह (iha) - here; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; च (ca) - and;]

(The man, with dependence on wife, collects unwholesome action; thereafter, he obtains affliction here and in the next world in the same way and;)

A man, depending on his wife, accumulates unwholesome deeds; as a result, he suffers affliction both here and in the next world in the same way. (12-309-87)

पश्य त्वं छिद्रभूतं हि जीवलोकं स्वकर्मणा। तत्कुरुष्व तथा पुत्र कृत्स्नं यत्समुदाहृतम् ॥१२-३०९-८८॥

paśya tvaṃ chidrabhūtaṃ hi jīvalokaṃ svakarmaṇā। tat kuruṣva tathā putra kṛtsnaṃ yat samudāhṛtam ॥12-309-88॥

[पश्य (paśya) - see; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; छिद्रभूतं (chidrabhūtaṃ) - having become full of holes; हि (hi) - indeed; जीवलोकं (jīvalokaṃ) - the world of living beings; स्वकर्मणा (svakarmaṇā) - by one's own action; तत् (tat) - that; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; तथा (tathā) - thus; पुत्र (putra) - son; कृत्स्नं (kṛtsnam) - entire; यत् (yat) - which; समुदाहृतम् (samudāhṛtam) - has been declared;]

(See you, having become full of holes indeed, the world of living beings by one's own action. That do thus, son, entire, which has been declared.)

See, you, the world of living beings has indeed become full of flaws by their own actions. Therefore, my son, do entirely as has been declared. (12-309-88)

तदेतत्सम्प्रदृश्यैव कर्मभूमिं प्रविश्य ताम्। शुभान्याचरितव्यानि परलोकमभीप्सता ॥१२-३०९-८९॥

tadetatsampradṛśyaiva karmabhūmiṃ praviśya tām। śubhānyācaritavyāni paralokamabhīpsatā ॥12-309-89॥

[तत् (tat) - that; एतत् (etat) - this; सम्प्रदृश्य (sampradṛśya) - having fully observed; एव (eva) - indeed; कर्मभूमिं (karmabhūmiṃ) - field of action; प्रविश्य (praviśya) - having entered; ताम् (tām) - her; शुभानि (śubhāni) - auspicious deeds; आचरितव्यानि (ācaritavyāni) - ought to be performed; परलोकम् (paralokam) - other world; अभीप्सता (abhīpsatā) - by one desiring;]

(That this having fully observed indeed the field of action having entered her, auspicious deeds ought to be performed by one desiring the other world.)

Having thoroughly observed this, and having entered the field of action, one who desires the next world should perform auspicious deeds. (12-309-89)

मासर्तुसञ्ज्ञापरिवर्तकेन; सूर्याग्निना रात्रिदिवेन्धनेन। स्वकर्मनिष्ठाफलसाक्षिकेण; भूतानि कालः पचति प्रसह्य ॥१२-३०९-९०॥

māsartusañjñāparivartakena; sūryāgninā rātridivendhanena. svakarmaniṣṭhāphalasākṣikeṇa; bhūtāni kālaḥ pacati prasahya ॥12-309-90॥

[मासर्तुसञ्ज्ञापरिवर्तकेन (māsartusañjñāparivartakena) - by that which causes the change of the names of months and seasons; सूर्याग्निना (sūryāgninā) - by the fire of the sun; रात्रिदिवेन्धनेन (rātridivendhanena) - by the fuel of night and day; स्वकर्मनिष्ठाफलसाक्षिकेण (svakarmaniṣṭhāphalasākṣikeṇa) - by that which is the witness of the fruits of steadfastness in one's own action; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; कालः (kālaḥ) - time; पचति (pacati) - cooks; प्रसह्य (prasahya) - by force;]

(By that which causes the change of the names of months and seasons; by the fire of the sun; by the fuel of night and day; by that which is the witness of the fruits of steadfastness in one's own action; time cooks beings by force.)

Time, which brings about the change of months and seasons, which is the fire of the sun, which uses night and day as its fuel, and which witnesses the results of steadfastness in one's own actions, forcefully matures all beings. (12-309-90)

धनेन किं यन्न ददाति नाश्नुते; बलेन किं येन रिपून्न बाधते। श्रुतेन किं येन न धर्ममाचरे; त्किमात्मना यो न जितेन्द्रियो वशी ॥१२-३०९-९१॥

dhanena kiṃ yan na dadāti nāśnute; balena kiṃ yena ripūn na bādhate. śrutena kiṃ yena na dharmam ācare; tkim ātmanā yo na jitendriyo vaśī ॥12-309-91॥

[धनेन (dhanena) - by wealth; किं (kiṃ) - what; यत् (yat) - which; न (na) - not; ददाति (dadāti) - gives; न (na) - not; अश्नुते (aśnute) - enjoys; बलेन (balena) - by strength; किं (kiṃ) - what; येन (yena) - by which; रिपून् (ripūn) - enemies; न (na) - not; बाधते (bādhate) - oppresses; श्रुतेन (śrutena) - by learning; किं (kiṃ) - what; येन (yena) - by which; न (na) - not; धर्मम् (dharmam) - righteousness; आचरेत् (ācaret) - practices; किम् (kim) - what; आत्मना (ātmanā) - by oneself; यः (yaḥ) - who; न (na) - not; जितेन्द्रियः (jitendriyaḥ) - one who has conquered the senses; वशी (vaśī) - self-controlled;]

(By wealth, what is that which one does not give, does not enjoy; by strength, what is that by which one does not oppress enemies; by learning, what is that by which one does not practice righteousness; what by oneself, who is not one who has conquered the senses, self-controlled; (12-309-91))

Of what use is wealth if one does not give or enjoy it? Of what use is strength if one does not subdue enemies? Of what use is learning if one does not practice righteousness? Of what use is oneself if one has not conquered the senses and is not self-controlled? (12-309-91)

इदं द्वैपायनवचो हितमुक्तं निशम्य तु। शुको गतः परित्यज्य पितरं मोक्षदेशिकम् ॥१२-३०९-९२॥

idaṃ dvaipāyanavaco hitamuktaṃ niśamya tu। śuko gataḥ parityajya pitaraṃ mokṣadeśikam ॥12-309-92॥

[इदं (idaṃ) - this; द्वैपायन (dvaipāyana) - Dvaipayana (Vyasa); वचः (vacaḥ) - speech; हितम् (hitam) - beneficial; उक्तम् (uktam) - spoken; निशम्य (niśamya) - having heard; तु (tu) - but; शुकः (śukaḥ) - Shuka; गतः (gataḥ) - went; परित्यज्य (parityajya) - having abandoned; पितरम् (pitaram) - father; मोक्षदेशिकम् (mokṣadeśikam) - teacher of liberation;]

(This Dvaipayana speech beneficial spoken having heard but, Shuka went having abandoned father, teacher of liberation.)

Having heard these beneficial words spoken by Dvaipayana, Shuka, abandoning his father, the teacher of liberation, departed. (12-309-92)