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.
ददामि ते रोहिणीनां सहस्रं प्रियो हि मे ब्राह्मणो याचमानः। न मे मनः कुप्यति याचमाने दत्तं न शोचामि कदाचिदर्थम्
I give you a thousand Rohini cows, for a Brahmin who asks is dear to me. My mind does not become angry when asked, nor do I ever regret what I have given.
इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणा राजा गोसहस्रं ददौ। प्राप्तवांश्च गवां सहस्रं ब्राह्मण इति
Having spoken thus, the king gave a thousand cows to the Brahmin. The Brahmin received the thousand cows.
देवानां कथा संजाता महीतलं गत्वा महीपतिं शिबिमौशीनरं साध्वेनं शिबिं जिज्ञास्याम इति ।। एवं भो इत्युक्त्वा अग्नीन्द्रावुपतिष्ठेताम्
A tale of the gods arose: Having come down to earth, they said, 'Let us test King Shibi, the righteous ruler of the Ushinara clan.' So saying, Agni and Indra approached him.
अग्निः कपोतरूपेण तमभ्यधावदामिषार्थमिन्द्रः श्येनरूपेण
Agni, taking the form of a dove, rushed toward him for flesh, and Indra took the form of a hawk.
अथ कपोतो राज्ञो दिव्यासनासीनस्योत्सङ्गं न्यपतत्
Then the dove fell onto the king’s lap as he sat upon his divine throne.
अथ पुरोहितो राजानमब्रवीत् ।। प्राणरक्षार्थं श्येनाद्भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्यते
Then the royal priest spoke to the king: 'For the sake of preserving life, the dove, fearing the hawk, approaches you seeking protection.'
वसु ददातु अन्तवान्पार्थिवोऽस्य निष्कृतिं कुर्यात् घोरं कपोतस्य निपातमाहुः
Let the king give wealth; let him make restitution for the dove’s end. They say the dove’s fall is dreadful.
अथ कपोतो राजानमब्रवीत् ।। प्राणरक्षणार्थं श्येनाद्भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्ये अङ्गैरङ्गानि प्राप्यार्थी मुनिर्भूत्वा प्राणांस्त्वां प्रपद्ये
Then the dove spoke to the king: 'For the sake of preserving life, fearing the hawk, I approach you seeking protection. With my limbs, seeking safety, I become a sage; I surrender my life to you.'
स्वाध्यायेन कर्शितं ब्रह्मचारिणं मां विद्धि ।। तपसा दमेन युक्तमाचार्यस्याप्रतिकूलभाषिणम् ।। एवंयुक्तमपापं मां विद्धि
Know me as a student, emaciated by study, endowed with austerity and self-restraint, never speaking against my teacher. Know me thus, innocent and pure.
गदामि वेदानविचिनोमि छन्दः सर्वेवेदा अक्षरशो मे अधीताः। न साधु दानं श्रोत्रियस्य प्रदानं मा प्रादाः श्येनाय न कपोतोऽस्मि
I recite, I search out the Vedas and their meters; all the Vedas I have learned syllable by syllable. It is not right to give a gift to a learned Brahmin; do not give me to the hawk, for I am not merely a dove.