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.
गत्वोत्तसयणं तेजो रसानुद्धृत्य रश्मिभिः। दक्षिणायनमावृत्तो महीं वर्षति वारिणा
He went to Uttasayana, drew up the vital essences with his rays, and, turning toward the southern path, rained water upon the earth.
क्षेत्रभूते ततस्तस्मिन्नोषधीरोषधीयतिः। रवेस्तेजः समुद्धृत्य जनयामास वारिणा
Then, as the earth became a field, the herbs and plants, drawing up the sun’s energy, began to grow, nourished by the water.
निषिक्तश्चन्द्रतेजोभिः सूयते जगतो रविः। ओषध्यः षड्रसा मेध्यास्तदन्नं प्राणिनां भुवि
Moistened by the moon’s essence, the sun produces for the world the six-flavored, pure plants, which become the food of living beings on earth.
एवं भानुमयं ह्यन्नं भूतानां प्राणधारणम्। नाथोऽयं सर्वभूतानां तस्मात्तं शरणं व्रज
Thus, food is truly born of the sun and sustains the lives of creatures; he is the protector of all beings, so take refuge in him.
राजानो हि महात्मानो योनिकर्मविशोधिताः। उद्धरन्ति प्रजाः सर्वास्तप आस्थाय पुष्कलम्
Indeed, great-souled kings, purified by their birth and deeds, have always rescued all their people by firmly embracing austerity.
भौमेन कार्तवीर्येण वैन्येन नहुषेण च। तपोयोगसमाधिस्थैरुद्धृता ह्यापदः प्रजाः
By the power of austerity and yoga, Kartavirya of the earth, Vainya, and Nahuṣa, steadfast in concentration, delivered their people from calamities.
तथा त्वमपि धर्मात्मन्कर्मणा च विशोधितः। तप आस्थाय धर्मेण द्विजातीन्भर भारत
In the same way, O righteous one, purified by your actions, take up austerity in accordance with dharma and support the twice-born, O descendant of Bharata.
एवमुक्तस्तु धौम्येन तत्कालसदृशं वचः। ततस्त्वध्यापयामास मन्त्रं सर्वार्थसाधकम्। अष्टाक्षरं परं मन्त्रमार्तस्य सततं प्रियम्
Thus addressed by Dhaumya with words suited to the time, he then taught him a mantra that accomplishes all aims, the supreme eight-syllabled mantra, ever dear to those in distress.
[विप्रत्यागसमाधिस्थः संयतात्मा दृढव्रतः। धर्मराजो विशुद्धात्मा तप आतिष्ठदुत्तमम् ।।]
[Firm in his vow, self-restrained, and established in the meditation of renunciation, the righteous king, pure in heart, undertook supreme austerity.]
पुष्पोपहारैर्बलिभिरर्चयित्वा दिवाकरम्। सोऽवगाह्य जलं राजा देवस्याभिमुखोऽभवत्
Having worshipped the Sun with offerings of flowers and oblations, the king entered the water and stood facing the deity.