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.
धरमस्य च पलं लब्ध्वा न तुष्यति महाद्विज। अतुष्यमाणो निर्वेदमादत्ते ज्ञानचक्षुषा
Having obtained the fruit of righteousness, the great twice-born is not satisfied; remaining unsatisfied, he adopts dispassion with the eye of knowledge.
प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नर इह दोषं नैवानुरुध्यते। विरज्ये यथाकामं न च धर्मं विमुञ्चति
A man endowed with the eye of wisdom does not cling to faults here; withdrawing as he wishes, he does not abandon righteousness.
फलत्यागे च यतते दृष्ट्वा लोकं क्रियात्मकम्। ततो मोक्षे प्रयतते नानुपायादुपायतः
Seeing the world engaged in action, he strives for the abandonment of results; then he seeks liberation, by proper means, not by improper ones.
एवं निर्वेदमादत्ते पापं कर्म जहाति च। धार्मिकश्चापि भवति मोक्षं च लभते परम्
Thus, he adopts dispassion and abandons sinful deeds; he becomes righteous and also attains the supreme liberation.
तपो निःश्रेयसं जन्तोस्तस्य मूलं शमो दमः। तेन सर्वानवाप्नोति कामान्यान्मनसेच्छति
For a living being, asceticism is the highest good; its root is tranquility and self-control. By that, he attains all desires that his mind wishes for.
इन्द्रियाणां निरोधेन सत्येन च दमेन च। ब्रह्मणः पदमाप्नोति यत्परं द्विजसत्तम
By restraining the senses, by truth, and by self-control, O best of twice-born, one attains the supreme state of Brahman.
इन्द्रियाणीति यान्याहुः कानि तानि यतव्रत। निग्रहश्च कथं कार्यो निग्रहस्य च किं फलम्
What are those called the senses, O steadfast in vows, and which are they? How should restraint be practiced, and what is the fruit of restraint?
कथं च फलमाप्नोति तेषां धर्मभृतांवर। एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन धर्मं ज्ञातुं सुधार्मिक
And how does one attain the fruit of their restraint, O best upholder of righteousness? I wish to know this true dharma from you, O most righteous one.
एवमुक्तस्तु विप्रेण धर्मव्याधो युधिष्ठिर। प्रत्युवाच यथा विप्रं तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप
Thus addressed by the Brahmin, the righteous butcher replied to Yudhishthira as he had to the Brahmin; hear this, O king.
विज्ञानार्थं मनुष्याणां मनः पूर्वं प्रवर्तते। तत्प्राप्य कामं भजतेक्रोधं च द्विजसत्तम
For the sake of knowledge, the mind of men first becomes active; having obtained that, it pursues desire and anger, O best of twice-born.