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?
चङ्क्रम्यमाणा जीवांश्च धरणीसंश्रितान्बहून्। पद्भ्यां घ्नन्ति नरा विप्र तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते
Men, while walking, trample many living beings who dwell upon the earth with their feet, O Brahman; what do you perceive in this matter?
उपविष्टाः शयानाश्च घ्नन्ति जीवाननेकशः। अज्ञानादथवा ज्ञानात्तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते
Sitting or lying down, they kill many living beings, either unknowingly or knowingly; what do you perceive in this matter?
जीवैर्ग्रस्तमिदं सर्वमाकाशं पृथिवी तथा। अविज्ञानाच्च हिंसन्ति तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते
All this, the sky and the earth, is consumed by living beings; and through ignorance, they cause harm—what do you perceive in this matter?
अहिंसेति यदुक्तं हि पुरुषैर्विस्मितैः पुरा। के न हिंसन्ति जीवान्वै लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विजसत्तम्
The statement 'one should not harm' was uttered long ago by astonished men; but who does not harm living beings in this world, O best of twice-born?
बहु संचिन्त्य इह वै नास्ति कश्चिदहिंसकः
Having considered much, indeed, there is no one here who is non-harming.
अहिंयासां तु निरता यतयो द्विजसत्तम। कुर्वन्त्येव हि हिंसां ते यत्नादल्पतरा भवेत्
Those ascetics devoted to non-harming, O best of twice-born, still commit harm, though their effort may be very slight.
आलक्ष्याश्चैव पुरुषाः कुले जाता महागुणाः। महाघोराणि कर्माणि कृत्वा लज्जन्ति वै न च
Men of great qualities, though born in noble families, are seen to commit terrible deeds and yet feel no shame.
सुहृदः सुहृदोऽन्यांस्च दुर्हृदश्चापि दुर्हृदः। सम्यक्प्रवृत्तान्पुरुषानन सम्यगनुपश्यति
Friends regard friends, and the wicked regard the wicked; but a person who is not rightly disposed does not truly perceive those who are rightly engaged.
समृद्धैश्चन नन्दन्ति बान्धवा बान्धवैरपि। गुरूंश्चैव विनिदन्ति मूढा निश्चितमानिनः
Relatives rejoice with prosperous relatives, but the deluded, thinking themselves wise, certainly speak ill of their elders.
बहु लोके विपर्यस्तं दृश्यते द्विजसत्तम। धर्मयुक्तमधर्मं च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते
Much is seen in the world to be reversed, O best of twice-born; even unrighteousness appears as righteousness—what do you think of this?