न म्रियेयुर्न जीर्यैयुः सर्वे स्युः सर्वकामिकाः। नाप्रियं प्रतिपश्येयुर्विधिश्च यदि नो भवेत्
If fate did not exist, then none would die or grow old; all would have every desire fulfilled and would never encounter anything unpleasant.
उपर्युपरि लोकस्य सर्वो गन्तुं समीहते। यतते च यथाथक्ति न च तद्वर्तते तथा
Everyone in the world strives to ascend higher and higher, and each endeavors according to their ability, but it does not turn out as they wish.
बहवः संप्रदृश्यन्ते तुल्यनक्षत्रमङ्गलाः। महत्तु फलवैषम्यं दृश्यते कर्मसिद्धिषु
Many are seen who share the same stars and auspicious signs, yet there is great inequality in the results of their actions.
न केचिदीशते ब्रह्मन्स्वयंग्राह्यस्य सत्तम। कर्मणां प्राकृतानां वै इह सिद्धिः प्रदृश्यते
No one, O Brahman, is master of what is to be attained; here, the success of ordinary actions is seen to be uncertain.
तथा श्रुतिरियंब्रह्मञ्जीवः किल सनातनः। शरीरमध्रुवं लोके सर्वेषां प्राणिनामिह
Thus, it is heard, O Brahman, that the soul is indeed eternal, but the body in this world is impermanent for all living beings.
वध्यमाने शरीरे तु देहनाशो भवत्युत। जीवः संक्रमतेऽन्यत्रकर्मबनधनिबन्धनः
When the body is slain, the body is indeed destroyed, but the soul, bound by the bonds of karma, passes on elsewhere.
कथं धर्मविदांश्रेष्ठ जीवो भवति शाश्वतः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं तत्त्वेन वदतांवर
O best knower of dharma, how does the soul become eternal? I wish to know this in truth, O foremost of speakers.
न जीवनाशोस्ति हि देहभेदे मिथ्यैतदाहुर्म्रियतीति मूढाः। जीवस्तु देहान्तरितः प्रयाति दशार्धतैवास् शरीरभेदः
There is no destruction of the soul when the body perishes; the deluded say 'he dies,' but this is false. The soul, separated from the body, departs; the destruction is only of the body.
अन्यो हि नाश्नाति कृतं हि कर्म मनुष्यलोके मनुजस् कश्चित्। यत्तेन किंचिद्धि कृतंहि कर्म तदश्नुते नास्ति कृतस्य नाशः
No one else partakes of the actions performed by a person in the world of men; whatever action he has done, he alone enjoys—there is no destruction of what has been done.
सुपुण्यशीला हि भवन्ति पुण्या नराधमाः पापकृतो भवन्ति। नरोऽनुयातस्त्विह कर्मभिः स्वै- स्ततः समुत्पद्यति भावितस्तैः
Those of virtuous conduct become blessed, while the wicked become degraded; a person here follows after his own actions, and is born accordingly, shaped by them.
कथं संभवते योनौ कथं वा पुण्यपापयोः। जातीः पुण्या ह्यपुण्याश् कथं गच्छति सत्तम
How does birth occur in a womb, and how do virtue and vice operate? How do blessed and unblessed births happen, O noble one?
गर्भाधानसमायुक्तं कर्मेदं संप्रदृश्यते। समासेन तु ते क्षिप्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्विजोत्तम
This action is seen to be connected with conception; but briefly, O best of twice-born, I will quickly explain it to you.
यथा संभृतसंभारः पुनरेव प्रजायते। शुभकृच्छुभयोनीषु पापकृत्पापयोनिषु
Just as one who has gathered provisions is born again, so too the doer of good is born in auspicious wombs, and the doer of evil in evil wombs.
शुभैः प्रयोगैर्देवत्वंव्यामिश्रैर्मानुषो भवेत्। मोहनीयैर्वियोनीषु त्वधोगामी च किल्बिषैः
Through pure actions one attains divinity; through mixed actions, one becomes human; but through deluding and sinful deeds, one is born in lower wombs.
जातिमृत्युजरादुःखैः सततं समभिद्रुतः। संसारे पच्यमानश्च दोषैरात्मकृतैर्नरः
Constantly afflicted by the sufferings of birth, death, and old age, a man is cooked in the world by faults he himself has made.
तिर्यग्योनिसहस्राणि गत्वा नरकमेव च। जीवाः संपरिवर्तन्ते कर्मबन्धनिबन्धनाः
Having passed through thousands of animal births and even hell, beings revolve, bound by the fetters of karma.
जन्तुस्तु कर्मभिस्तैस्तैः स्वकृतैः प्रेत्य दुःखितः। तद्दुःखप्रतिघातार्थमपुण्यां योनिमाप्नुते
A creature, suffering after death from those very actions it has performed, attains a painful birth as a result of that suffering.
ततः कर्म समादत्ते पुनरन्यन्नवं बहु। पच्यते तु पुनस्तेन भुक्त्वाऽपथ्यमिवातुरः
Then, taking up many new actions again, he is cooked once more by them, just as a sick man suffers after eating what is unwholesome.
अजस्रमेव दुःखार्तोऽदुःखितः सुखिसंज्ञितः। ततो निवृत्तबन्धत्वात्कर्मणामुदयादपि
Always tormented by suffering, though thinking himself happy when not in pain, he is bound by karma, yet also freed when karma is exhausted.
परिक्रामति संसारे चक्रवद्बहुवेदनः। स चेन्निवृत्तबन्धस्तु विशुद्धश्चापि कर्मभिः
He wanders in the cycle of existence, experiencing much pain like a wheel; but if freed from bondage and purified by actions—
तपोयोगसमारम्भं कुरुते द्विजसत्तम। कर्मभिर्बहुभिश्चापि लोकानश्नाति कर्मभिः
—he undertakes ascetic practice and yoga, O best of twice-born, and by many actions enjoys the worlds through those very actions.
[स चेन्निवृत्तबन्धस्तु विशुद्धश्चापि कर्मभिः।] प्राप्नोति सुकृताँल्लोकान्यत्रगत्वा न शोचति
If he is freed from bondage and purified by actions, he attains the worlds of the virtuous, and, having gone there, does not grieve.
पापं कुर्वनपुण्यवृत्तः पुण्यस्यान्तं न गच्छति। `पुण्यं कुर्वन्पुण्यवृत्तः पुण्यस्यान्तं न गच्छति'। तस्मात्पुण्यं यतेत्कर्तुं वर्जयीत च पापकम्
One who acts sinfully and follows unrighteous conduct does not reach the end of merit; but one who acts righteously and follows virtue does not reach the end of merit. Therefore, one should strive to do good and avoid evil.
अनसूयुः कृतज्ञश्च कल्याणान्येव सेवते। सुखानि धर्ममर्थं च स्वर्गं च लभते नरः
A man who is free from envy and grateful pursues only what is auspicious; he attains happiness, righteousness, wealth, and heaven.
संस्कृतस्य च दान्तस् नियतस्य यतात्मनः। प्राज्ञास्यानन्तरा वृत्तिरिहि लोके परत्र च
For one who is disciplined, self-controlled, and restrained, the conduct of the wise follows him both in this world and the next.
सतां धऱ्मेण वर्तेत क्रियां शिष्टवदाचरेत्। असंक्लेशेन लोकस्य वृत्तिं लिप्सेत वै द्विजः
One should act in accordance with the righteous, behave as the virtuous do, and, without causing distress to the world, a twice-born should seek his livelihood.
सन्ति ह्यागमविज्ञानाः शिष्टाः शास्त्रे विचक्षणाः। स्वधर्मेण क्रिया लोके कुर्वाणास्ते ह्यसंकराः
There are indeed learned and discerning elders, skilled in the scriptures; those who act in the world according to their own duty are not confused.
प्राज्ञो धर्मेण रमते धर्मं चैवोपजीवति। तस्माद्धर्मादवाप्तेन धनन द्विजसत्तम
The wise delight in righteousness and live by righteousness; therefore, O best of twice-born, wealth should be obtained through righteousness.
तस्यैव सिंचते मूलं गुणान्पश्यति यत्र वै। धर्मात्मा भवति ह्येवं चित्तं चास्य प्रसीदति। स मित्रजनसंतुष्ट इह प्रेत्य च नन्दति
Its root is nourished only there where virtues are seen; thus, one becomes righteous, his mind is pleased, and he is satisfied with friends and people, rejoicing here and after death.
शब्दं स्पर्शं तथा रूपं गन्धानिष्टांस्च सत्तम। प्रभुत्वं लभते चापि धर्मस्यैतत्फलं विदुः
Sound, touch, form, and pleasant scents, O noble one, and even lordship—these are known as the fruits of righteousness.