नगराणि समृद्धानि घेटाञ्जनपदांस्तथा। प्रजापालनदक्षांश्च नरेन्द्रान्धर्मचारिणः
He saw prosperous cities, towns, and villages, and kings skilled in the protection of their subjects, all devoted to righteousness.
उदपानं प्रपा वापी तटाकानि सरांसि च। नानाब्रह्रह्मसमाचारैः सेवितानि द्विजोततमैः
He saw wells, drinking places, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, all frequented by the foremost twice-born, practicing various Brahmanical rites.
ततोऽवतीर्य रम्यायां पृथ्व्यां राजञ्छतक्रतुः। तत्र रम्ये शिवे देशे बहुवृक्षसमाकुले
Then Shatakratu, the king of the gods, descended to the delightful earth, to a beautiful and auspicious region thick with many trees.
पूर्वस्यां दिशि रम्यायां समुद्राभ्याशतो नृप। तत्राश्रमपदं रम्यं मृगद्विजनिषेवितम्। तत्राश्रमपदे रम्ये बकं पश्यति देवराट्
In the charming eastern direction, near the ocean, O King, there was a lovely hermitage frequented by deer and birds; there, in that delightful hermitage, the king of the gods beheld Baka.
बकस्तु दृष्ट्वा देवेन्द्रं दृढं प्रीतमनाऽभवत्। पाद्यासनार्थदानेन फलमूलैरथार्चयत्
When Baka saw Indra, his heart was filled with firm joy; he honored him with offerings of water for washing feet and seat, as well as with fruits and roots.
सुखोपविष्टो वरदस्ततस्तु बलसूदनः। ततः प्रश्नं बकं देवं उवाच त्रिदशेश्वरः
Having seated himself comfortably, the bestower of boons, the slayer of Bala, the lord of the gods, then addressed Baka with a question.
शतं वर्षसहस्राणि मुने जातस्य तेऽनघ। समाख्याहि मम ब्रह्मन्किं दुःखं चिरजीविनाम्
O sage, sinless one, a hundred thousand years have passed since your birth; tell me, O Brahmin, what is the sorrow of those who live long?
अप्रियैः सह संवासः प्रियैश्चापि विनाभवः। असद्भिः संप्रयोगश्च तद्दुःखं चिरजीविनाम्
Living with those who are disagreeable, separation from those who are dear, and association with the wicked—these are the sorrows of those who live long.
पुत्रदारविनाशोऽत्र ज्ञातीनां सुहृदामपि। परेष्वायत्तता कृच्छ्रं किंनु दुःखतरं ततः
Here, the loss of sons, wives, relatives, and friends, and dependence upon others is a great hardship—what could be more sorrowful than that?
नान्यद्दुःखतरं किंचिल्लोकेषु प्रतिभाति मे। अर्थैर्विहीनः पुरुषः एरैः संपरिभूयते
Nothing appears to me more painful in the worlds than this: a man deprived of wealth is insulted by others.
अकुलानां कुले भावं कुलीनानां कुलक्षयम्। संयोगं विप्रयोगं च पश्यन्ति चिरजीविनः
Those who live long see the rise of the low-born into noble families, the destruction of noble lineages, unions and separations.
अपिप्रत्यक्षमेवैतत्तव देघ शतक्रतो। अकुलानां समृद्धानां कथं कुलविपर्ययः
This, O Shatakratu, is evident before your very eyes: how can there be such reversal of fortune among prosperous and unprosperous families?
देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्योरगराक्षसाः। प्राप्नुवन्ति विपर्यासं किंनु दुःखतरं ततः
Even gods, demons, gandharvas, humans, serpents, and rākṣasas experience reversals—what could be more sorrowful than that?
कुले जाताश् क्लिश्यन्ते दौष्कुलेयवशानुगाः। आढ्यैर्दरिद्राऽवमताः किंनु दुःखतरं ततः
Those born in noble families suffer when subject to the power of ignoble kin; the poor are despised by the wealthy—what could be more sorrowful than that?
लोके वैधर्म्यमेतत्तु दृश्ते बहुविस्तरम्। हीनज्ञानाश्च हृष्यन्ते क्लिश्यन्ते प्राज्ञकोविदाः। बहुदुःखपरिक्लेशं मानुष्यमिह दृश्यते
This contradiction is seen widely in the world: the ignorant rejoice, while the wise and learned are afflicted; human life here is seen to be full of many pains and hardships.
पुनरेव महाभाग देवर्षिगणसेवित। समाख्याहि मम ब्रह्मन्किं सुखं चिरजीविनाम्
Again, O greatly fortunate one, served by hosts of divine sages, tell me, O Brahman, what happiness exists for those who live long.
अष्टमे द्वादशे वाऽपि शाकं यः पचते गृहे। कुमित्राण्यनपाश्रित् किं वै सुखतरं ततः
He who, in the eighth or twelfth part of the day, cooks vegetables at home, not relying on false friends—what happiness could be greater than that?
यत्राहानि न गण्यन्ते नैनमाहुर्महाशनम्। अपि शाकं पचानस्य सुखं वै मघवन्गृहे
Where the days are not counted, nor is one called a great eater, even for one who cooks only vegetables—there, O Maghavan, is happiness in the home.
आर्जितं स्वेन वीर्येण नाप्यपाश्रित्य कंचन। फलशाकमपि श्रेयो भोक्तुं ह्यकृपणं गृहे
It is better to eat even fruits and vegetables at home, earned by one's own effort, without depending on anyone, and without meanness.
परस्य तु गृहे भोक्तुः परिभूतस् नित्यशः। सुमृष्टमपि न श्रेयो विकल्पोऽयमतः सताम्
But for one who eats in another's house and is constantly insulted, even the finest food is not better—this is the choice of the virtuous.
श्ववद्धि लोलुपो यस्तु परान्नं भोक्तुमिच्छति। धिगस्तु तस्य तद्भुक्तं कृपणस् दुरात्मनः
Indeed, he who greedily desires to eat another's food is like a dog; shame on what is eaten by such a wretched, base soul.
यो दत्त्वाऽतिथिभृत्येभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च द्विजोत्तमः। शिष्टान्यन्नानि यो भुङ्क्ते किं वै सुखतरं ततः
He who, after giving food to guests, servants, ancestors, and the best of twice-born, eats what remains—what happiness could be greater than that?
अतो मृष्टतरं नान्यत्पूतं किंचितच्छतक्रतो। दत्त्वा यस्त्वतिथिभ्योऽन्नं भुङ्क्ते तेनैव नित्यशः
There is nothing purer or more excellent, O Shatakratu, than this: he who gives food to guests and then eats that himself, always.
तावतां गोसहस्राणां फलं प्राप्नोति दायकः। यदेनो यौवनकृतंतत्सर्वं नश्यते ध्रुवम्
The giver attains the fruit equal to thousands of cows; whatever sin was committed in youth, all that is surely destroyed.
रसदक्षिणस् भुक्तस् द्विजस्य तु करे गतम्। यद्वारि वारिणा सिञ्चेत्तद्ध्येनस्तरते क्षणात्
The food given to a Brahmin, or even water poured into his hand, removes sin instantly, just as water washes away stains.
एताश्चान्याश्च वै बह्वीः कथयित्वा कथाः शुभाः। बकेन सह देवेन्द्र आपृच्छ्य त्रिदिवं गतः
Having told these and many other auspicious stories, Indra took leave of Baka and went to heaven.
इदमन्यच्छ्रूतां ययातिर्नाहुषो राजा राज्यस्थः पौरजनावृत आसांचक्रे ।। गुर्वर्थी ब्राह्मण उपेत्याब्रवीत् भो राजन्गुर्वर्थं भिक्षेयं समयादिति राजोवाच
Hear also this: King Yayati, son of Nahusha, while ruling and surrounded by his people, performed as follows. A Brahmin, desiring something for his teacher, approached and said, 'O King, I wish to beg for my teacher’s sake; grant me what I ask according to agreement.' The king replied:
ब्रवीतु भगवान्समयमिति
Let the revered one state the agreement.
विद्वेषणं परमं जीवलोके कुर्यान्नरः पार्थिव याच्यमानः। तं त्वां पृच्छामि कथं तु राज- न्दद्याद्वान्दयितं च मेऽद्य
Enmity is the highest evil among living beings; a king, when asked, should not cause it. Therefore, I ask you, O King, how should one give, and how should I receive today what is desired?
नचानुकीर्तये दद्य दत्त्वा अयाच्यमर्थं न च संशृणोमि। प्राप्यमर्थं च संश्रुत्य तं चापि दत्त्वा सुसुखी भवामि
I do not boast after giving, nor do I give what is not asked for, nor do I listen to such requests. When I promise something attainable, and after giving it, I become truly content.