प्रेक्षन्ते लोकवृत्तानि विविधानि द्विजोत्तमाः। अतिषुण्यानि दानानि तानि द्विजवरोत्तम
The best of twice-born observe the various ways of the world; but those gifts, O foremost of twice-born, are exceedingly rare.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथाप्रज्ञं यथाश्रुतम्। शिष्टाचारगुणान्ब्रह्मन्पुरस्कृत्य द्विजर्षभ
All this has been explained to you, as I have understood and heard it, keeping in view the virtues of proper conduct, O best of Brahmins.
स तु विप्रमथोवाच धर्मव्याधो युधिष्ठिर। यदहं ह्याचरे कर्म घोरमेतदसंशयम्
Then the righteous butcher said to Yudhishthira: Indeed, the work that I perform is terrible, there is no doubt of this.
विधिस्तु बलवान्ब्रह्मन्दुस्तरं हि पुरा कृतम्। पुरा कृतस् पापस्य कर्मदोषो भवत्ययम्
But fate is powerful, O Brahmin; in ancient times, a difficult destiny was set, and from that, the fault of sinful action arises.
दोपस्यैतस्य वै ब्रह्मन्विघाते यत्नवानहम्। विधिना हि हते पूर्वं निमित्तं घातको भवेत्
O Brahmin, I strive earnestly to avoid this sin; but when fate has already determined, the killer becomes only the instrument.
निमित्तभूता हि वयं कर्मणोऽस्य द्विजोत्तम
Indeed, O best of twice-born, we are merely the instruments of this action.
येषां हतानां मांसानि विक्रीणीमो वयं द्विज। तेषामपि भवेद्धर्म उपयोगेन भक्षणात्। देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितृणां चापि पूजनात्
O Brahmin, the flesh of those we have slain, which we sell, even by its use in eating, there is righteousness for them, through the honoring of gods, guests, servants, and ancestors.
ओषध्यो वीरुधश्चैव पशवो मृगपक्षिणः। अन्नाद्यभूता लोकस्य इत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः
Herbs, plants, cattle, wild animals, and birds are said in the scriptures to be food for the world.
आत्ममांसप्रसादेन शिबिरौशीनरो नृपः। स्वर्गं सुदुर्लभं प्राप्तः क्षमावान्द्विजसत्तम
By offering his own flesh, King Shibi of the Ushinara line, steadfast in patience, attained the most difficult heaven, O best of twice-born.
राज्ञो महानसे पूर्वं रन्तिदेवस्य वै द्विज। [द्वे सहस्रे तु पच्छेते पशूनामन्वहं तदा।] अहन्यहनि पच्येते द्वे सहस्रे गवां तथा
In the kitchen of King Rantideva, O Brahmin, two thousand animals were cooked every day, and likewise two thousand cows.
स मासं ददतो ह्यन्नं रन्तिदेवस्य नित्यशः। अतुला कीर्तिरभवन्नृपस्य द्विजसत्तम
By giving food daily for a month, Rantideva's fame became unequaled, O best of twice-born.
चातुर्मास्ये च पशवो वध्यन्त इति नित्यशः। अग्नयो मांसकामाश्चइत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः
It is said in the scriptures that during the Caturmasya, animals are regularly slain, and the fires are also said to desire meat.
यज्ञेषु पशवो ब्रह्मन्वध्यन्ते सततं द्विजैः। संस्कृताः किल मन्त्रैश्च तेऽपि स्वर्गमवाप्नुवन्
In sacrifices, O Brahmin, animals are always slain by the twice-born, and, consecrated with mantras, they too attain heaven.
यदि नैवाग्नयो ब्रह्मन्मांसकामाऽभवन्पुरा। भक्ष्यं नैवाभवन्मांसं कस्यचिद्द्विजसत्तम
If, O Brahmin, the sacrificial fires had not desired meat in ancient times, then meat would not have become food for anyone, O best of twice-born.
अत्रापि विधिरुक्तश् मुनिभिर्मांसभक्षणे
Here too, the rule regarding the eating of meat has been declared by the sages.
देवतानां पितृणां च शुङ्क्ते दत्त्वाऽपियः सदा। यथाविधि यथाश्रद्धं न स दुष्येत भक्षणात्
By offering to the gods and ancestors, and pouring libations as prescribed and with faith, one is not tainted by eating, O Brahmin.
अमांसाशी भवत्येवमित्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः। भार्यां गच्छन्ब्रह्मचारी ऋतौ भवति ब्राह्मणः
It is also said in the scriptures that one becomes a non-eater of meat in this way; a celibate who approaches his wife at the proper season remains a Brahmin.
सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य अत्रापि विधिरुच्यते। सौदासेन तदा राज्ञा मानुषा भक्षिता द्विज। शापाभिभूतेन भृशमत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते
Considering truth and falsehood, here too a rule is stated: King Saudasa, afflicted by a curse, once ate human flesh, O Brahmin; what do you think of this?
स्वधर्म इतिकृत्वा तु न त्यजामि द्विजोत्तम। पुरा कृतमिति ज्ञात्वा रजीवाम्येतेन कर्मणा
Considering it as my own duty, I do not abandon it, O best of twice-born; knowing that it was performed in the past, I am attached to this action like a lotus.
स्वधर्मं त्यजतो ब्रह्मन्नधर्म इह दृश्यते। स्वकर्मनिरतो यस्तु धर्मः स इति निश्चयः
O Brahman, abandoning one's own duty here is seen as unrighteous; but one who is devoted to his own action, that is indeed righteousness, this is certain.
कुले हि विहितं कर्म देही तं न विमुञ्चति। धात्रा विधिरयं दृष्टो बहुधा कर्मनिर्मये
Indeed, the embodied one does not relinquish the action prescribed in his lineage; this ordinance is observed by the Creator in many ways in the arrangement of actions.
द्रष्टव्यस्तु भवेद्ब्रह्मन्धर्मो धर्मविनिश्चये। कथं कर्म शुभं कुर्यां कथं मुच्ये पराभवात्
O Brahman, righteousness must be discerned in the determination of righteousness; how should I perform auspicious action, and how may I be freed from defeat?
कर्मणस्तस्य घोरस् वसुधा निर्णयो भवेत्। दाने च सत्यवाक्ये च गुरुशुश्रूणे तथा। द्विजातिपूजने चाहं धर्मे च निरतः सदा
The harsh outcome of action is determined by the earth; and in giving, in speaking truth, in service to the teacher, in honoring the twice-born, and in righteousness, I am always devoted.
अतिमानातिवादाभ्यां निवृत्तोस्मि द्विजोत्तम। कृषिं साध्वीति मन्यन्ते तत्र हिंसा परा स्मृता
I have withdrawn from excessive pride and disputation, O best of twice-born; agriculture is considered virtuous, yet there is supreme violence remembered in it.
कर्षन्तो लाङ्गलैरुर्वीं घ्नन्ति भूमिशयान्बहून्। जीवानन्यांश्च बहुशस्तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते
Plowing the earth with plows, they kill many who dwell in the soil, and many other living beings as well; what do you perceive in this matter?
धान्यबीजानि यान्याहुर्व्रीह्यादीनि द्विजोत्तम। सर्वाण्येतानि जीवा हि तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते
The grains and seeds called rice and others, O best of twice-born, all these are living beings; what do you perceive in this matter?
अध्याक्रम् पशूंश्चापि घ्नन्ति वै भक्षयन्ति च। वृक्षांस्तथौषधीश्चापि छिन्दन्ति पुरुषा द्विज
They seize and kill animals, and indeed eat them; men also cut down trees and herbs, O twice-born.
जीवा हि बहवो ब्रह्मन्वृक्षेषु च फलेषु च। उदके बहवश्चापि तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते
Many living beings, O Brahman, are found in trees and fruits, and many also in water; what do you perceive in this matter?
सर्वं व्याप्तमिदं ब्रह्मन्प्राणिभिः प्राणिजीवनैः। मत्स्यान्ग्रसन्ते मत्स्याश्च तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते
All this, O Brahman, is pervaded by living beings and the lives of creatures; fish devour fish, what do you perceive in this matter?
सत्वैः सत्वानि जीवन्ति बहुधा द्विजसत्तम। प्राणिनोऽन्योन्यभक्षाश्च तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते
Creatures live by other creatures in many ways, O best of twice-born; living beings eat one another, what do you perceive in this matter?