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.
नास्मद्विधोऽब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मविच्च प्रतिग्रहे वर्तते राजमुख्य। यथा प्रदेयं सततं द्विजेभ्य- स्तथाऽददं पूर्वमहं नरेन्द्र
No one like me, who is not a Brahmin or knower of Brahman, accepts gifts, O foremost of kings. As it is always to be given to the twice-born, so I have given before, O King.
नाब्राह्मणः कृपणो जातु जीवे- द्या चाप्यस्याऽब्राह्मणी वीरपत्नी। सोऽहं नैवाकृतपूर्वं चरेयं विधित्समानः किमु तत्र साधुः
A non-Brahmin, a miserable man, should never live, nor should his non-Brahmin wife, even if she is a hero’s wife. I would never act in a way not done before, seeking to know what is right—how could that be good?
पृच्छामि त्वां स्पृहणीयरूप प्रतर्दनोऽहं यदि मे सन्ति लोकाः। यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि श्रिताः क्षेत्रज्ञं त्वां तस्य धर्मस्य मन्ये
I ask you, O one of desirable form—I am Pratardana—if there are worlds for me, whether in the sky or established in heaven, I consider you the knower of the field of that righteousness.
सन्ति लोका बहवस्ते नरेन्द्र अप्येकैकः सप्तसप्ताप्यहानि। मधुच्युतो घृतपृक्ता विशोका- स्ते नान्तवन्तः प्रतिपालयन्ति
There are many worlds for you, O King—even each one for seven days and nights—dripping with honey, mixed with ghee, free from sorrow; they are endless and await you.
तांस्ते ददानि मा प्रपत प्रपातं ये मे लोकास्तव ते वै भवन्तु। यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि श्रिता- स्तानाक्रम क्षिप्रमपेतमोहः
I give them to you—do not fall into the abyss—the worlds that are mine, let them be yours. Whether they are in the sky or established in heaven, quickly ascend to them, freed from delusion.
न तुल्यतेजाः सुकृतं कामयेत योगक्षेमं पार्थिव पार्थिवः सन्। दैवादेशादापदं प्राप्य विद्वां- श्चरेन्नृशंसं न हि जातु राजा
A king should not desire the prosperity of one whose power is not equal, even if he is righteous, O King. When misfortune comes by fate, the wise king should never act cruelly.
धर्म्यं मार्गं यतमानो यशस्यं कुर्यान्नृपो धर्ममवेक्षमाणः। न मद्विधो धर्मबुद्धिः प्रजान- न्कुर्यादेवं कृपणं मां यथाऽत्थ
A king striving on the righteous path, seeking fame, should act with an eye to righteousness; one who knows righteousness as I do should not act in such a pitiable way toward me as you have suggested.
कुर्यादपूर्वं न कृतं यदन्यै- र्विधित्समानः किमु तत्र साधु। `धर्माधर्मौ सुविनिश्चित्य सम्य- क्कार्याकार्येष्वप्रमत्तश्चरेद्यः
One should not do what has never been done before by others, merely out of desire; what virtue is there in that? One should act with careful discernment between righteousness and unrighteousness, and be vigilant regarding what ought and ought not to be done.
स वै धीमान्सत्यसन्धः कृतात्मा राजा भवेल्लोकपालो महिम्ना। यदा भवेत्संशयो धर्मकार्ये कामार्थौ वा यत्र विन्दन्ति सम्यक्
He who is wise, truthful, self-controlled, and a king—he becomes a protector of the world by his greatness. When there is doubt in matters of righteousness, or where desire and gain are equally present—
कार्यं तत्र प्रथमं धर्मकार्यं यन्नो विरुध्यादर्थकामौ स धर्मः
In such cases, the work of righteousness should be undertaken first; that is righteousness which does not conflict with desire or gain.