विघसाशी भवेत्तस्मान्नित्यं चामृतभोजनः। विघसो भुक्तशेषं तु यज्ञशेषं तथाऽमृतम्
Therefore, one should always eat the remnants (vighasa), for such food is like nectar; vighasa is the leftover from what has been offered in sacrifice, and is indeed considered amrita (immortal nectar).
चक्षुर्दद्यान्मनो दद्याद्वाचं दद्याच्च सूनृताम्। अनुव्रजेदुपासीत स यज्ञः पञ्चदक्षिणः
One should give one's gaze, one's mind, one's words, and also speak kindly; one should follow and serve, for such a sacrifice is fivefold in its gifts.
यो दद्यादपरिक्लिष्टमन्नमद्वनि वर्तते। श्रान्तायादृष्टपूर्वाय तस्य पुण्यफलं महत्
Whoever gives unspoiled food to a weary traveler in the wilderness, to one never seen before, attains great merit.
एवं यो वर्तते वृत्तिं वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमे। तस्य धर्मं परंप्राहुः कथं वा विप्र मन्यसे
Thus, one who lives in the householder's stage in this way is said to follow the highest righteousness; what do you think, O Brahmin?
अहो बत महत्कष्टं विपरीतमिदं जगत्। येनापत्रपते साधुरसाधुस्तेन तुष्यति
Alas, how great is this suffering, how perverse is this world, where the virtuous are shamed, and the unworthy are pleased by it.
शिश्नोदरकृतेऽप्राज्ञः करोति विषसं बहु। मोहरागवशाक्रान्त इन्द्रियार्थवशानुगः
For the sake of his belly and lust, the foolish man commits many wrongs, overpowered by delusion and desire, following after the objects of the senses.
ह्रियते बुध्यमानोपि नरो हारिभिरिन्द्रियैः। विमूढसंज्ञो दुष्टाश्वैरुद्धान्तैरिव सारथिः
Even when he understands, a man is carried away by his thieving senses, his mind bewildered, like a charioteer dragged off by wild, unruly horses.
षडिन्द्रियाणि विषयं समागच्छन्ति वै यदा। तद्रा प्रादुर्भवत्यषां पूर्वसंकल्पजं मनः
When the six senses come into contact with their objects, then the mind, born of previous intentions, arises among them.
मनो यस्येन्द्रियस्येह विषयान्याति सेवितुम्। वस्यौत्सुक्यं संभवति प्रवृत्तिश्चोपजायते
When the mind of a sense seeks to enjoy its objects here, eagerness for them arises, and activity is born.
ततः संकल्पवीर्येण कामेन विषयेषुभिः। विद्धः पतति लोभाग्नौज्योतिर्लोभात्पतङ्गवत्
Then, pierced by the arrows of desire, empowered by intention, he falls into the fire of greed, like a moth drawn to a flame.
ततो दारैर्विहारैश्च मोहितश्च यथेप्सया। महामोहमुखे मग्नो नात्मानमवबुध्यते
Then, deluded by wives and pleasures as he wishes, he sinks into the jaws of great delusion, and does not recognize himself.
एवं पतति संसारे तासुतास्विह योनिषु। अविद्याकर्मतृष्णाभिर्भ्राम्यमाणोऽथ चक्रवत्
Thus he falls in the cycle of existence, here and there in various wombs, whirled about by ignorance, action, and craving, like a wheel.
ब्रह्मादिषु तृणान्तेषु भूतेषु परिवर्तते। जले भुवि तथाऽऽकाशे जायमानः पुनःपुनः
He moves among beings, from Brahma down to a blade of grass, being born again and again in water, on earth, and in the sky.
अबुधानां गतिस्त्वेषा बुधानामपि मे शृणु। ये धर्मे श्रेयसि रता विमोक्षरतयो जनाः
This is the fate of the unwise; but hear now of the wise, those devoted to the highest good, intent on liberation.
तदिदं वेदवचनं कुरु कर्म त्यजेति च। तस्माद्धर्मानिमान्सर्वान्नाभिमानात्समाचरेत्
This is the teaching of the Veda: 'Perform action, but renounce attachment.' Therefore, one should perform all these duties without pride.
इज्याध्ययनदानानि तपः सत्यं क्षमा दमः। अलोभ इतिमार्गोऽयं धर्ममस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः
Sacrifice, study, giving, austerity, truth, forgiveness, self-control, and absence of greed—this is said to be the eightfold path of dharma.
अत्र पूर्वश्चतुर्वर्गः पितृयाणपथे स्थितः। कर्तव्यमिति यत्कार्यं नाभिमानात्समाचरेत्
Of these, the first four belong to the path of the ancestors; whatever is to be done should be performed without pride.
उत्तरो देवयानस्तु सद्भिराचरितः सदा। अष्टाङ्गेनैव मार्गेण विशुद्धात्मा समाचरेत्
The higher, divine path is always practiced by the good; with a purified mind, one should follow it by the eightfold way.
सम्यक्संकल्पसंबन्धात्सम्यक्चेन्द्रियनिग्रहात्। सम्यग्द्व्रतविशेषाच्च सम्यक्च गुरुसेवनात्
Through right resolve, right restraint of the senses, right observance of vows, and right service to the teacher,
सम्यगाहारयोगाच्च सम्यक्चाध्ययनागमात्। सम्यक्कर्मोपसंन्यासात्सम्यक्चित्तनिरोधनात्
Through right practice of food, right study and learning, right renunciation of actions, and right control of the mind,
एवं कर्माणि कुर्वन्ति संसारविजिगीषवः। रागद्वेषविनिर्मुक्ता ऐश्वर्यवशमागताः
Thus do those who seek to conquer rebirth act, freed from attachment and aversion, having come under the power of mastery.
रुद्राः साध्यास्तथाऽऽदित्या वसवोऽथ तथाश्विनौ। योगैश्वर्येण संयुक्ता धारयन्ति प्रजा इमाः
The Rudras, Sādhyas, Ādityas, Vasus, and the Aśvins—endowed with the power of yoga—sustain these beings.
तथा त्वमपि कौन्तेय शममास्थाय पुष्कलम्। तपसा सिद्धिमन्विच्छ योगसिद्धिं च भारत
In the same way, O son of Kunti, you too should firmly adopt tranquility and, through austerity, seek the attainment of success and the perfection of yoga, O descendant of Bharata.
पितृमातृमयी सिद्धिः प्राप्ता कर्ममयी च ते। तपसा सिद्धिमन्विच्छ द्विजानां भरणाय वै
You have already attained success through your parents and through your actions; now, by austerity, seek accomplishment for the sustenance of the twice-born.
सिद्धा हि यद्यदिच्छन्ति कुर्वते तदनुग्रहम्। तस्मात्तपः समास्थाय कुरुष्वात्ममनोरथम्
Whatever the accomplished ones desire, they achieve by grace; therefore, take up austerity and pursue the fulfillment of your heart’s wish.
शौनकेनैवमुक्तस्तु कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिः। `प्रणम्य द्विजशार्दूलं पूज्यवाक्यं सुभाषितम्।' पुरोहितमुपागम्य भ्रातृमध्येऽब्रवीषिदम्
When thus addressed by Shaunaka, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, after bowing to the tiger among Brahmins and honoring his noble words, approached his priest and spoke these words among his brothers.
प्रस्थिताननुयातारो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारनाः। न चास्मि पोषणे शक्तो बहुदुःखसमन्वितः
The Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, have followed us as we set out, but I am unable to provide for them, being beset by many hardships.
परित्यक्तुं न शक्नोमि दानशक्तिश्च नास्ति मे। कथमत्र मया कार्यं तद्बूहि भगवन्मम
I cannot abandon them, yet I have no means to give; O revered one, tell me what I should do in this situation.
मुहूर्तमिव स ध्यात्वा धर्मेणान्वीक्ष्य तां गतिम्। युधिष्ठिरमुवाचैदं धौम्यो धर्मभृतां वरः
After pondering for a moment and considering the situation according to righteousness, Dhaumya, foremost among upholders of dharma, spoke these words to Yudhishthira.
पुरा सृष्टानि भूतानि पीड्यन्ते क्षुधया भृशम्। ततोऽनुकम्पंयां तेषां सविता स्वपिता यथा
Long ago, when beings were created, they suffered greatly from hunger; then, out of compassion for them, Savita acted as a father to his children.