स्ववीर्यजीवी वृजिनान्निवृत्तो दाता परेभ्यो न परोपतापी। तादृङ्मुनिः सिद्धिमुपैति मुख्यां वसन्नरण्ये नियताहारचेष्टः
Living by his own strength, abstaining from wrongdoing, giving to others and never causing harm, such a sage—dwelling in the forest, disciplined in food and conduct—attains the highest perfection.
अशिल्पजीवी गुणवांश्चैव नित्यं जितेन्द्रियः सर्वतो विप्रयुक्तः। अनोकशायी लघुरल्पप्रसार- श्चरन्देशानेकचरः स भिक्षुः
He does not live by crafts, is ever virtuous, has mastered his senses, is detached from all, sleeps without a home, is light and of little movement, wanders through many lands—such is the mendicant.
रात्र्या यया वाऽभिजिताश्च लोका भवन्ति कामाभिजिताः सुखाश्च। तामेव रात्रिं प्रयतेत विद्वा- नरण्यसंस्थो भवितुं यतात्मा
The night by which worlds are conquered, and desires and pleasures are overcome—striving for that very night, the wise man, self-controlled and dwelling in the forest, should seek to become.
दशैव पूर्वान्दश चापरांश्च ज्ञातीनथात्मानमथैकविंशम्। अरण्यवासी सुकृते दधाति विमुच्यारण्ये स्वशरीरधातून्
He regards ten ancestors before, ten descendants after, and himself as the twenty-first; the forest-dweller, performing good deeds, relinquishes his bodily elements in the forest and is freed.
कतिस्विदेव मुनयः कति मौनानि चाप्युत। भवन्तीति तदाचक्ष्व श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम्
How many sages are there, and how many forms of silence exist? Tell us this, for we wish to hear.
अरण्ये वसतो यस्य ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः। ग्रामे वा वसतोऽरण्यं स मुनिः स्याज्जनाधिप
For one who dwells in the forest, if a village lies behind him, or for one who lives in a village, if the forest lies behind him, that sage is lord among men.
कथंस्विद्वसतोऽरण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः। ग्रामे वा वसतोऽरण्यं कथं भवति पृष्ठतः
How does it happen that, while dwelling in the forest, a village lies behind, or while living in a village, the forest lies behind?
न ग्राम्यमुपयुञ्जीत य आरण्यो मुनिर्भवेत्। तथास्य वसतोऽरण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः
The sage who is a forest-dweller should not use anything belonging to the village; thus, while he dwells in the forest, the village lies behind him.
अनग्निरनिकेतश्चाप्यगोत्रचरणो मुनिः। कौपीनाच्छादनं यावत्तावदिच्छेच्च चीवरम्
The sage is without fire, without a fixed abode, and wanders without family ties; as long as he has only a loincloth for covering, so long should he desire a robe.
यावत्प्राणाभिसन्धानं तावदिच्छेच्च भोजनम्। तथाऽस्य वसतो ग्रामेऽरण्यं भवति पृष्ठतः
As long as the intention to sustain life remains, so long should he desire food; thus, while dwelling in the village, the forest lies behind him.
यस्तु कामान्परित्यज्य त्यक्तकर्मा जितेन्द्रियः। आतिष्ठेच्च मुनिर्मौनं स लोके सिद्धिमाप्नुयात्
He who, abandoning desires and actions, having mastered his senses, adopts the sage's silence—such a one attains perfection in this world.
धौतदन्तं कृत्तनखं सदा स्नातमलङ्कृतम्। असितं सितकर्माणं कस्तमर्हति नार्चितुम्
Who would not worship one whose teeth are clean, nails trimmed, always bathed and adorned, who is dark but performs pure deeds?
तपसा कर्शितः क्षामः क्षीणमांसास्थिशोणितः। स च लोकमिमं जित्वा लोकं विजयते परम्
Emaciated by austerity, thin, with flesh, bones, and blood diminished—having conquered this world, he attains the higher world.
यदा भवति निर्द्वन्द्वो मुनिर्मौनं समास्थितः। अथ लोकमिमं जित्वा लोकं विजयते परम्
When the sage, established in silence, becomes free from dualities, then, having conquered this world, he attains the supreme world.
आस्येन तु यदाऽहारं गोवन्मृगयते मुनिः। अथास्य लोकः सर्वोऽयं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते
When the sage seeks his food with his mouth like a cow, then this entire world becomes fit for his immortality.
सामान्यधर्मः सर्वेषां क्रोधो लोभो द्रुहाऽक्षमा। विहाय मत्सरं शाठ्यं दर्पं दम्भं च पैशुनम्। क्रोधं लोभं ममत्वं च यस्य नास्ति स धर्मवित्
The common duty for all is to abandon anger, greed, malice, and impatience; forsaking envy, deceit, pride, hypocrisy, and slander—he who has no anger, greed, or possessiveness is a knower of dharma.
नित्याशनो ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वनगो मुनिः। नाधर्ममशनात्प्राप्येत्कथं ब्रूहीह पृच्छते
Whether always eating, a celibate, a householder, a forest-dweller, or a sage—one should not incur unrighteousness through food; tell us how this is so, for we ask.
अष्टौ ग्रासा मुनेः प्रोक्ताः षोडशारण्यवासिनः। द्वात्रिंशत्तु गृहस्थस्य अमितं ब्रह्मचारिणः
Eight mouthfuls are prescribed for the sage, sixteen for the forest-dweller, thirty-two for the householder, and unlimited for the celibate.
इत्येवं कारणैर्ज्ञेयमष्टकैतच्छुभाशुभम्
Thus, by these reasons, one should understand the auspicious and inauspicious results of the Aṣṭakā.
कतरस्त्वनयोः पूर्वं देवानामेति साम्यताम्। उभयोर्धावतो राजन्सूर्याचन्द्रमसोरिव
Which of these two, O King, reaches the gods first, as they both hasten like the sun and the moon?
अनिकेतो गृहस्थेषु कामवृत्तेषु संयतः। ग्राम एव वसन्भिक्षुस्तयोः पूर्वतरं गतः
The wandering mendicant, who is restrained among householders devoted to desire, living in the village, reaches first among the two.
अप्राप्य दीर्घमायुस्तु यः प्राप्तो विकृतिं चरेत्। तप्यते यदि तत्कृत्वा चरेत्सोऽन्यत्तपस्ततः
He who, without attaining a long life, engages in improper conduct after being born, if he performs austerity and is tormented by it, should then undertake another form of austerity.
पापानां कर्मणां नित्यं बिभीयाद्यस्तु मानवः। सुखमप्याचरन्नित्यं सोऽत्यन्तं सुखमेधते
A man who always fears sinful deeds, even while performing pleasant acts, attains supreme happiness.
यद्वै नृशंसं तदसत्यमाहु- र्यः सेवते धर्ममनर्थबुद्धिः। अस्वोऽप्यनीशश्च तथैव राजं- स्तदार्जवं स समाधिस्तदार्यम्
Whatever is cruel is said to be false; he who serves righteousness with a mind set on gain is like a horse without power, O King—such is his straightforwardness, his concentration, his nobility.
केनासि हूतः प्रहितोऽसि राज- न्युवा स्रग्वी दर्शनीयः सुवर्चाः। कुतऋ आयातः कतरस्यां दिशि त्व- मुताहोस्वित्पार्थिवं स्थानमस्ति
By whom have you been called, who has sent you, O King? Young, garlanded, handsome, radiant—where have you come from, from which direction, or do you have a royal station?
त्वरन्ति मां लोकपा ब्राह्मणा ये
The guardians of the worlds and the Brahmins urge me on.
सतां सकाशे तु वृतः प्रपात- स्ते सङ्गता गुणवन्तश्च सर्वे। शक्राच्च लब्धो हि वरो मयैष पतिष्यता भूमितलं नरेन्द्र
The path chosen among the virtuous is a precipice; all those who have gathered there are endowed with virtues. This boon has been obtained by me from Indra, O King, as I am about to fall to the earth.
पृच्छामि त्वां मा प्रपत प्रपातं यदि लोकाः पार्थिव सन्ति मेऽत्र। यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि स्थिताः क्षेत्रज्ञं त्वां तस्य धर्मस्य मन्ये
I ask you—do not fall into the abyss—if there are worlds for me here, O King. Whether they are in the sky or established in heaven, I consider you the knower of the field of that righteousness.
यावत्पृथिव्यां विहितं गवाश्वं सहारण्यैः पशुभिः पार्वतैश्च। तावल्लोका दिवि ते संस्थिता वै तथा विजानीहि नरेन्द्रसिंह
As many cows and horses as are established on earth, along with wild animals and mountains, so many worlds are established for you in heaven—know this, O lion among kings.
तांस्ते ददामि मा प्रपत प्रपातं ये मे लोका दिवि राजेन्द्र सन्ति। यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि श्रिता- स्तानाक्रम क्षिप्रमपेतमोहः
I give them to you—do not fall into the abyss—the worlds that are mine in heaven, O lord of kings. Whether they are in the sky or established in heaven, quickly ascend to them, freed from delusion.