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?
वक्तुं बहुविधं शक्यं धर्माधर्मेषु कर्मसु। स्वकर्मनिरतो यो हि स यशः प्राप्नुयान्महत्
There are many things that can be said about righteous and unrighteous acts; but he who is devoted to his own duty attains great fame.
धर्मव्याधस्तु निपुणं पुनरेव युधिष्ठिर। विप्रर्षभमुवाचेदं सर्वधर्मभृतांवर
Then the righteous butcher again skillfully addressed Yudhishthira, the foremost among upholders of all dharma, and the bull among Brahmins.
श्रुतिप्रमाणो धर्मोऽयमिति वृद्धानुशासनम्। सूक्ष्मा गतिर्हि धर्मस् बहुशाखा ह्यनन्तिका
The elders instruct that dharma is established by the authority of the scriptures; but dharma is subtle in its course, has many branches, and is not easily grasped.
प्राणान्तिके विवाहे च वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत्। अनृतेन भवेत्सत्यं सत्येनैवानृतं भवेत्
In matters of life and death, or in marriage, falsehood may be spoken; by falsehood truth may be achieved, and by truth, falsehood may result.
यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तं तत्सत्यमिति धारणा। विपर्ययकृतोऽधर्मः पश्य धर्मस्य सूक्ष्मताम्
That which is of the highest benefit to beings is to be regarded as truth; the opposite is unrighteousness—see the subtlety of dharma.
यत्करोत्यशुभं कर्म शुभं वा यदि सत्तम। अवश्यं तत्समाप्नोति पुरुषो नात्र संशयः
Whatever unwholesome or wholesome act a person performs, O best of men, he certainly attains its result—of this there is no doubt.
विषमां च दशां प्राप्तो देवान्गर्हति वै भृशम्। आत्मृनः कर्मदोषेण न विजानात्यपण्डितः
When one falls into a difficult situation, he harshly blames the gods, but the unwise do not recognize that it is due to the fault of their own actions.
मूढो नैकृतिकश्चापि चपलश्च द्विजोत्तम। `न शुभं कर्म बध्नाति पुरुषं पाषनिश्चयम्
The deluded, the deceitful, and the fickle, O best of twice-born, are not bound by good deeds, being firmly set in wickedness.
सुखदुःखविपर्यासो यदा समुपपद्यते। नैनं प्रज्ञा सुनीतं वा त्रायते नैव पौरुषम्
When the reversal of happiness and sorrow arises, neither wisdom, good conduct, nor manly effort can protect a person.
यो यमिच्छेद्यथा कामं तं तं कामं स आप्नुयात्। यदि स्यादपराधीनं पौरुषस् क्रियाफलम्
Whoever desires whatever, in whatever way, attains that desire—if the fruit of action were not dependent on another.
संयताश्चापि दक्षाश्च मतिमन्तश्च मानवाः। दृश्यन्ते निष्फलाः सन्तः प्रहीणाः सर्वकर्मभिः
Even restrained, skillful, and intelligent men are seen to be fruitless, deprived of all actions.
भूतानामपरः कश्चिद्धिंसायां सततोत्थितः। वञ्चनायां च लोकस्य स सुखेनैव युज्यते
Someone is always intent on harming beings and deceiving people, yet he enjoys happiness with ease.
अचेष्टमपि चासीनं श्रीः कंचिदुपतिष्ठति। कश्चित्कर्माणि कुर्वन्हि न प्राप्यमधिगच्छति
Prosperity approaches some who are inactive and seated, while another, though performing actions, does not attain what is not meant for him.
देवानिष्ट्वा तपस्तप्त्वा कृपणैः पुत्रगृध्नुभिः। दशमासधृता गर्भा जायन्ते कुलपांसनाः
Having worshipped the gods and performed austerities, some wretches, greedy for sons, give birth to children who are a disgrace to their lineage, though carried for ten months.
अपरे धनधान्यैश्च भोगैश्च पितृसंचितैः। विपुलैरभिजायन्ते लब्धास्तैरेव मङ्गलैः
Others are born into great wealth, grain, and enjoyments accumulated by their ancestors, and they obtain those auspicious things.
न देहजा मनुष्याणां व्याधयो द्विजसत्तम'। कर्मजा हि मनुष्याणां रोगा नास्त्यत्र संशयः
O best of twice-born, diseases in humans do not arise from the body; indeed, diseases in humans are born of karma—there is no doubt about this.
आधिभिश्चैव बाध्यन्ते व्यालैः क्षुद्रमृगा इव। व्याधयो विनिवार्यन्ते मृगा व्याधैरिव द्विज
And just as small animals are afflicted by predators, so too are people troubled by mental afflictions; diseases are warded off like animals by hunters, O twice-born.
येषामस्ति च भोक्तव्यं ग्रहणीरोगपीडिताः। न शक्नुवन्ति ते भोक्तुं चेष्टितं पूर्वकर्मया
Those who have food to eat, yet are afflicted by digestive disorders, are unable to enjoy it—this too is due to actions performed in previous lives.
अपरे बाहुबलिनः क्लिश्यन्ति बहवो जनाः। दुःखेन चाधिगच्छनति भोजनं द्विजसत्तम
Others, though strong in arm, suffer greatly, and many people obtain food only with difficulty, O best of twice-born.
इति लोकमनाक्रन्दं देहशङ्कापरिप्लुतम्। स्रोतसाऽसकृदाक्षिप्तं ह्रियमाणं बलीयसा
Thus, the world, filled with lamentation and overwhelmed by fear for the body, is repeatedly swept away by the powerful current.