नित्यं क्रोधात्तपो रक्षेन्छ्रियं रक्षेच्च मत्सरात्। विद्यां मानापमानाभ्यामात्मानं तु प्रमादतः
One should always protect austerity from anger, wealth from envy, knowledge from pride and humiliation, and oneself from carelessness.
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मः क्षमा च परमं बलम्। आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं परं सत्यव्रतव्रतम्
Compassion is the highest virtue, and forgiveness the greatest strength; self-knowledge is the supreme knowledge, and the highest vow is truthfulness.
सत्यस् वचनं श्रेयः सत्यं ज्ञानं हितं भवेत्। यद्बूतहितमत्यन्तं तद्वै सत्यं परं मतम्
Truthful speech is best; truth is knowledge and brings benefit; that which is the utmost good for beings, that indeed is considered the highest truth.
यस् सर्वे समारम्भा निराशीर्बन्धनाः सदा। त्यागे यस् हुतं सर्वं स त्यागी स च बुद्धिमान्
He whose every undertaking is always free from desire and bondage, who offers up everything in renunciation—he is the true renunciant and the wise one.
यदा न गुरुतां चैनं च्यावयेदुपपादयन्। तं विद्याद्ब्राह्मणो योगमयोगं योगसंज्ञितम्
When neither heaviness nor agitation disturbs him, know that brāhmaṇa as established in yoga, the state called yoga and non-yoga.
न हिंस्यात्सर्वभूतानि मैत्रायणगतश्चरेत्। नेदं जीवितमासाद्यवैरं कुर्वीत केनचित्
One should not harm any being, but act with friendliness toward all; having attained this life, let one not bear enmity toward anyone.
आकिंचन्यं सुसंतोषो निराशित्वमचापलम्। एतदेव परं ज्ञानं सदात्मज्ञानमुत्तमम्
Non-possession, perfect contentment, freedom from expectation, and calm—this alone is the supreme knowledge, the highest and constant self-knowledge.
परिग्रहं परित्यज्य भवेद्बुद्ध्या यतव्रतः। अशोकं स्थानमाश्रित् निश्चलं प्रेत्य चेह च
Abandoning all possessions, one should, with wisdom, observe vows; taking refuge in a place free from sorrow, unmoving, both after death and here.
तपोनित्येन दान्तेन मुनिना संयतात्मना। अजितं जेतुकामेन भाव्यं सङ्गेष्वसङ्गिना
With constant austerity, self-restraint, and a mind under control, the sage who wishes to conquer the unconquered must remain unattached amidst attachments.
गुणागुणमनासङ्गमेककार्यमनन्तरम्। एतत्तद्ब्रह्मणो वृत्तमाहुरेकपदं सुखम्
Indifference to both virtue and vice, and a single-minded focus—this, they say, is the conduct of Brahman, the one path to happiness.
परित्यजति यो दुःखं सुखं चाप्युभयं नरः। ब्रह्म प्राप्नोति सोत्यन्तमासङ्गं च न गच्छति
The person who abandons both sorrow and happiness attains the supreme Brahman and does not fall into attachment.
यथाश्रुतमिदं सर्वं समासेन द्विजोत्तम। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
All this has been explained to you concisely, O best of twice-born; what more do you wish to hear?
एवं संकथिते कृत्स्ने मोक्षधर्मे युधिष्ठिर। दृढप्रीतमना विप्रो धर्मव्याधमुवाच ह
When the entire teaching on liberation had thus been related, Yudhishthira, the brahmin, with a heart firm in affection, spoke to the righteous butcher.
न्याययुक्तमिदं सर्वं भवता परिकीर्तितम्। न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचिद्धर्मेष्वभिसमीक्ष्यते
All that you have declared is in accordance with justice; nothing concerning dharma appears unknown to you.
प्रत्यक्षं मम यो धर्मस्तं च पश्य द्विजोत्तम। येन सिद्धिरियं प्राप्ता मया ब्राह्मणपुङ्गव
See, O best of brahmins, the dharma that is evident to me, by which I have attained this accomplishment.
उत्तिष्ठ भगवन्क्षिप्रं प्रविश्याभ्यन्तरं गृहम्। द्रष्टुमर्हसि धर्मज्ञ मातरं पितरं च मे
Rise quickly, venerable one, and enter my inner house; you should see my mother and father, knower of dharma.
इत्युक्तः स प्रविश्याथ ददर्श परमार्चितम्। सौधं हृद्यं चतुःशालमतीव च मनोरमम्
Thus addressed, he entered and saw a most honored mansion, delightful, with four halls, and exceedingly charming.
देवतागृहसंकाश दैवतैश्च सुपूजितम्। शयनासनसंबाधं गन्धैश्च परमैर्युतम्
Resembling the house of the gods and worshipped by deities, it was filled with excellent beds and seats, and pervaded by supreme fragrances.
तत्रशुक्लाम्बरधरौ पितरावस्य पूजितौ। कृताहारौ तु संतुष्टावुपविष्टौ वरासने
There, his parents, honored, dressed in white garments, having eaten and satisfied, were seated on splendid seats.
तस्य व्याधस्य पितरौ ब्राह्मणः संददर्श ह'। धर्मव्याधस्तु तौ दृष्ट्वा पादेषु शिरसाऽपतत्
The brahmin saw the parents of that butcher; and upon seeing them, the righteous butcher bowed his head to their feet.
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ धर्मज्ञ धर्मस्त्वामभिरक्षतु। प्रीतौ स्वस्तव शौचेन दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुहि। [गतिमिष्टां तपो ज्ञानं मेधां च परमां गतः]
"Rise, rise, knower of dharma! May dharma protect you. We are pleased; by your purity, may you obtain long life, and having attained the desired path, austerity, knowledge, and supreme intelligence."
सत्पुत्रेण त्वया पुत्र नित्यं काले सुपूजितौ। `सुखमेव वसावोऽत्र देवलोकगताविव
"By you, our son, ever honored at the proper time, we live here happily, as if we had gone to the world of the gods."
न तेऽन्यद्दैवतं किंचिद्दैवतेष्वपि वर्तते। प्रयतसत्वाद्द्विजातीनांदमेनासि समनवितः
"You have no other deity among the gods; by your pure nature, O twice-born, you are endowed with self-restraint."
पितुः पितामहा ये च तथैव प्रपितामहाः। प्रीतास्ते सततं पुत्र दमेनावां च पूजया
"The fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers are always pleased, son, by your self-restraint and our worship."
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा शुश्रूषा नैव हीयते। न चान्या हि तथा बुद्धिर्दृश्यते सांप्रतं तव
"By mind, action, and speech, your service never fails; nor is any other understanding now seen in you."
जामदग्न्येन रामेण यथा वृद्धौ सुपूजितौ। तथा त्वया कृतंसर्वंतद्विशिष्टं च पुत्रक
"As Rama, son of Jamadagni, honored his aged parents, so have you done all, and even surpassed that, dear son."
ततस्तं ब्राह्मणं ताभ्यां धर्मव्याधो न्यवेदयत्। तौ स्वागतेन तं विप्रमर्चयामासतुस्तदा
Then the butcher informed those two about the brahmin; and they welcomed the brahmin and honored him at that time.
प्रतिगृह्यच तां पूजां द्विजः पप्रच्छ तावुभौ। सपुत्राभ्यां सभृत्याभ्यां कच्चिद्वां कुशलं गृहे। अनामय च वां कच्चित्सुखं वेह शरीरयोः
And having received that honor, the brahmin asked both of them: 'Is all well in your house, with your sons and servants? Are you both in good health and comfort here?'
कुशलं नौ गृहे विप्र भृत्यवर्गे च सर्वशः। कच्चित्त्वमप्यविघ्नेन संप्राप्तो भगवन्निति
'All is well in our house, O brahmin, and with all our servants as well. I hope you too have arrived here without any trouble, O revered one.'
हाढमित्येव तौ विप्रः प्रत्युवाच मुदान्वितः। धर्मव्याधस्तु तं विप्रमर्थवद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
The brahmin replied to them joyfully, saying only 'Yes, indeed.' Then the righteous butcher spoke meaningful words to the brahmin.