कामिनः कृपणा लुब्धाः पुष्पेषु फलबुद्धयः। अग्निमुग्धा धूमतान्ताः स्वं लोकं न विदन्ति ते
Those who are lustful, pitiable, and greedy, whose minds are fixed on the flowers rather than the fruit, are like moths drawn to fire; they do not know their own true world.
न ते मामङ्ग जानन्ति हृदिस्थं य इदं यतः। उक्थशस्त्रा ह्यसुतृपो यथा नीहारचक्षुषः
O dear one, they do not know Me, who dwell in the heart and from whom this world arises; just as those unsatisfied by hymns and rituals are like people whose vision is blocked by fog.
ते मे मतमविज्ञाय परोक्षं विषयात्मकाः। हिंसायां यदि रागः स्याद्यज्ञ एव न चोदना
Without understanding My indirect intention, those devoted to sense objects, if they develop attachment to violence, then even sacrifice is not enjoined for them.
हिंसाविहारा ह्यालब्धैः पशुभिः स्वसुखेच्छया। यजन्ते देवता यज्ञैः पितृभूतपतीन्खलाः
Indeed, the cruel, desiring their own pleasure, perform sacrifices to the gods, ancestors, and spirits with animals obtained by violence.
स्वप्नोपमममुं लोकमसन्तं श्रवणप्रियम्। आशिषो हृदि सङ्कल्प्य त्यजन्त्यर्थान्यथा वणिक्
Like merchants abandoning real wealth for dreams, they imagine in their hearts blessings in that insubstantial world, which is as pleasing to hear about as a dream.
रजःसत्त्वतमोनिष्ठा रजःसत्त्वतमोजुषः। उपासत इन्द्र मुख्यान्देवादीन्न यथैव माम्
Those established in passion, goodness, or ignorance, and those who cherish these qualities, worship Indra and other principal gods, but not Me as I truly am.
इष्ट्वेह देवता यज्ञैर्गत्वा रंस्यामहे दिवि। तस्यान्त इह भूयास्म महाशाला महाकुलाः
Having worshipped the gods here with sacrifices, they think, 'We shall enjoy in heaven,' and when that ends, they wish to be wealthy and of high birth again on earth.
एवं पुष्पितया वाचा व्याक्षिप्तमनसां नृणाम्। मानिनां चातिलुब्धानां मद्वार्तापि न रोचते
Thus, for those whose minds are distracted by flowery words, who are proud and excessively greedy, even My teachings do not appeal.
वेदा ब्रह्मात्मविषयास्त्रिकाण्डविषया इमे। परोक्षवादा ऋषयः परोक्षं मम च प्रियम्
These Vedas, with their threefold division, concern the topics of Brahman, the self, and the gods; the sages speak indirectly, and I too am fond of indirect speech.
शब्दब्रह्म सुदुर्बोधं प्राणेन्द्रियमनोमयम्। अनन्तपारं गम्भीरं दुर्विगाह्यं समुद्रवत्
The sound-Brahman is exceedingly difficult to comprehend, composed of life-breath, senses, and mind; it is boundless, unfathomable, deep, and as hard to penetrate as the ocean.
मयोपबृंहितं भूम्ना ब्रह्मणानन्तशक्तिना। भूतेषु घोषरूपेण बिसेषूर्णेव लक्ष्यते
It is expanded by me, the Infinite, by Brahman of endless power; among beings, it is perceived in the form of sound, like the thread within a lotus stalk.
यथोर्णनाभिर्हृदयादूर्णामुद्वमते मुखात्। आकाशाद्घोषवान्प्राणो मनसा स्पर्शरूपिणा
Just as a spider emits its web from its heart through its mouth, so too does the life-breath, endowed with sound, arise from space, taking the form of touch through the mind.
छन्दोमयोऽमृतमयः सहस्रपदवीं प्रभुः। ॐकाराद्व्यञ्जितस्पर्श स्वरोष्मान्तस्थभूषिताम्
He, the Lord, is made of meters and of immortality, possessing a thousand paths; from Om, adorned with consonants, vowels, sibilants, and resonant sounds, he is established within.
विचित्रभाषाविततां छन्दोभिश्चतुरुत्तरैः। अनन्तपारां बृहतीं सृजत्याक्षिपते स्वयम्
He creates and withdraws, by himself, the great and endless speech, spread out in various languages, with meters increasing by four syllables each.
गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुप्च बृहती पङ्क्तिरेव च। त्रिष्टुब्जगत्यतिच्छन्दो ह्यत्यष्ट्यतिजगद्विराट्
Gāyatrī, Uṣṇik, Anuṣṭup, Bṛhatī, Paṅkti, Triṣṭubh, Jagatī, Aticchandas, Atyaṣṭi, Atijagat, and Virāṭ—these are the meters.
किं विधत्ते किमाचष्टे किमनूद्य विकल्पयेत्। इत्यस्या हृदयं लोके नान्यो मद्वेद कश्चन
What does it establish, what does it declare, what does it imply, or distinguish? In this world, no one but I knows its heart.
मां विधत्तेऽभिधत्ते मां विकल्प्यापोह्यते त्वहम्। एतावान्सर्ववेदार्थः शब्द आस्थाय मां भिदाम् । मायामात्रमनूद्यान्ते प्रतिषिध्य प्रसीदति
It establishes me, denotes me, distinguishes and negates me; thus, the entire meaning of the Vedas, relying on sound, differentiates me, and, having recited only illusion, finally negates it and becomes gracious.
तथैव हरिणैः क्रोडैः श्वावित् गवय कुञ्जरैः । गोपुच्छैः हरिभिः मर्कैः नकुलैः नाभिभिर्वृतम्
In the same way, it is surrounded by deer, boars, wild dogs, oxen, buffalo, elephants, cow-tails, monkeys, mongooses, and snakes.
प्रविश्य तत्तीर्थवरं आदिराजः सहात्मजः । ददर्श मुनिमासीनं तस्मिन् हुतहुताशनम्
Entering that foremost holy place, the chief of kings, along with his sons, saw the sage seated there, with the sacrificial fire burning.
विद्योतमानं वपुषा तपसि उग्रयुजा चिरम् । नातिक्षामं भगवतः स्निग्धापाङ्गावलोकनात् । तद्व्याहृतामृतकला पीयूषश्रवणेन च
He saw him shining with his form, long engaged in severe austerity; not too emaciated, due to the Lord's affectionate glances and the nectar-like words he had heard.
प्रांशुं पद्मपलाशाक्षं जटिलं चीरवाससम् । उपसंश्रित्य मलिनं यथार्हणं असंस्कृतम्
He was tall, with eyes like lotus petals, matted-haired, clad in bark garments, appearing unclean as was fitting for an ascetic, and unadorned.
अथोटजमुपायातं नृदेवं प्रणतं पुरः । सपर्यया पर्यगृह्णात् प्रतिनन्द्यानुरूपया
Then, as the king approached the hermitage and bowed before the sage, the sage welcomed him with appropriate hospitality and greetings.
गृहीतार्हणमासीनं संयतं प्रीणयन् मुनिः । स्मरन् भगवदादेशं इत्याह श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
The sage, having received the proper offerings and seated the self-restrained king, pleased him, remembering the Lord's command, and spoke with gentle words.
नूनं चङ्क्रमणं देव सतां संरक्षणाय ते । वधाय चासतां यस्त्वं हरेः शक्तिर्हि पालिनी
Certainly, O lord, your wandering is for the protection of the virtuous and the destruction of the wicked; for you are the sustaining power of Hari.
योऽर्केन्दु अग्नीन्द्रवायूनां यमधर्मप्रचेतसाम् । रूपाणि स्थान आधत्से तस्मै शुक्लाय ते नमः
You, who assume the forms and stations of the sun, moon, fire, Indra, wind, Yama, Dharma, and Varuṇa—homage to you, the pure one.
न यदा रथमास्थाय जैत्रं मणिगणार्पितम् । विस्फूर्जत् चण्डकोदण्डो रथेन त्रासयन् अघान्
When you do not mount your victorious chariot, adorned with jewels, brandishing your fierce bow, you terrify the wicked with your chariot.
स्वसैन्यचरणक्षुण्णं वेपयन् मण्डलं भुवः । विकर्षन् बृहतीं सेनां पर्यटसि अंशुमानिव
Crushing the earth's circle with the feet of your army, shaking its sphere, and drawing forth the great host, you roam like the radiant sun.
तदैव सेतवः सर्वे वर्णाश्रमनिबन्धनाः । भगवद् रचिता राजन् भिद्येरन् बत दस्युभिः
At that very time, O King, all the boundaries established by the divisions of varṇa and āśrama, created by the Lord, would surely be broken by bandits.
अधर्मश्च समेधेत लोलुपैर्व्यङ्कुशैर्नृभिः । शयाने त्वयि लोकोऽयं दस्युग्रस्तो विनङ्क्ष्यति
And unrighteousness would arise, fostered by greedy and unrestrained men; if you were to lie down, this world, seized by outlaws, would surely perish.
अथापि पृच्छे त्वां वीर यदर्थं त्वं इहागतः । तद्वयं निर्व्यलीकेन प्रतिपद्यामहे हृदा
Nevertheless, O hero, I ask you for what purpose you have come here; let us, with honest hearts, act accordingly.