श्रद्धा धर्मः परः सूक्ष्मः श्रद्धा यज्ञाहुतं तपः
Faith is the supreme subtle righteousness; faith is the offering in sacrifice and austerity.
सर्वस्वं जीवितं वापि दद्यादश्रद्धया च यः
Even if one gives all his possessions or his very life without faith,
एवं श्रद्धामयाः सर्वे मम धर्माः प्रकीर्तिताः
Thus, all my dharmas are described as being composed of faith.
अधिकारस्य प्राप्त्यर्थं महासारविमुक्तिदम्
For the attainment of authority, which grants liberation of great essence,
नानासिद्धिकरं दिव्यं लोकचित्तानुरंजनम्
It produces various accomplishments, is divine, and delights the minds of the worlds.
मन्मानससमुद्रो हि द्विपदोयं विदुर्बुधाः
Indeed, the ocean of my mind is known by the wise as this two-footed being.
देवत्रयगुणातीतः सर्वज्ञः सर्ववित्प्रभुः
He is beyond the qualities of the three gods, all-knowing, the lord who knows everything.
यथानादिप्रवृत्तोयं घोरः संसारसागरः
Just as this terrible ocean of worldly existence has flowed on from beginningless time,
व्याधीनां भेषजं यद्वत्प्र तिपक्षस्वभावतः 1.187.
So too, as medicine is for diseases, by its very nature opposed to them,
ममाभिधानमन्त्रोयमभिधेयः सदा स्मृतः
This is my name, this mantra, always to be remembered as the designation.
वेदो मनोगमे चात्र षडक्षरमंत्रस्थितः
Here, in the reach of the mind, the Veda abides in the six-syllabled mantra.
किं तस्य बहुभिर्मन्त्रैः शास्त्रैर्वा बहुविस्तरैः
What use are many mantras or scriptures with elaborate explanations to him?
तेनाधीतं श्रुतं तेन तेन सर्वमनुष्ठितम्
By that, all has been studied, all has been heard, all has been performed.
विधिवाक्यमिदं सर्वं नार्थवादं वचो मम पृच्छस्वेमं प्रणम्याशु वैनतेय महामते
All these words of mine are injunction, not mere eulogy; ask this quickly, O wise son of Vinatā, after bowing.
सप्ताश्वतिलकं भक्त्या प्रणम्योवाच भारत
Having bowed with devotion to the one marked by seven horses, O Bhārata, he spoke.
कीदृग्वाक्यमिदं भानोर्वाक्यार्थं ब्रूहि च प्रभो
What kind of statement is this, O radiant one? Tell me, Lord, the meaning of your words.
सप्ताश्वतिलक उवाच विमुक्ताशेषदोषेण सर्वज्ञेन भगेन यत्
The one marked by seven horses said: By whom all faults are utterly destroyed, by the all-knowing, by the blessed one,
यस्मान्मार्तंड नामासौ कथ्यते च मनीषिभिः
Therefore, he is called Mārtaṇḍa, as declared by the wise.
सौरवाक्यप्रवक्तारं सूरवत्पूजयेद्गुरुम् 1.187.
One should worship the guru who proclaims the solar teaching, as one would worship the sun.
सौरधर्माम्बुहस्तेन कस्तेन सदृशो गुरुः ज्ञानामृतेन वै भक्ता कस्तं न प्रतिपूजयेत्
Who is a guru like him, with the water of solar dharma in his hand? Who among devotees would not honor him, filled with the nectar of knowledge?
नैव राज्येन महता न चैवार्थस्य राशिभिः
Not by a great kingdom, nor by heaps of wealth,
स्वर्गापवर्ग सिद्ध्यर्थं भाषितं यत्तु शोभनम्
But for the attainment of heaven and liberation, whatever is spoken that is auspicious,
रागद्वेषाक्षमाक्रोधकामतृष्णानुसारिणाम्
For those who follow passion, hatred, forgiveness, anger, desire, and thirst,
संस्कृतेनापि किं तेन मृदुलालापसंगिना
What use is it, even if spoken in refined language, if it is joined with gentle speech?
यच्छ्रुत्वा जायते पुण्यं रागादीनां च संक्षयः
By hearing which, merit is born and passions such as attachment are diminished.
स्मृतयो भारतं वेदाः शास्त्राणि सुमहांति च
The Smritis, the Mahabharata, the Vedas, and the great scriptures—
पुत्रदारादिसंसारे नराणां मूढचेतसाम्
In the worldly existence of sons, wives, and others, for men whose minds are deluded—
इदं श्रेष्ठमिदं ज्ञेयं सर्वं त्वं ज्ञातुमिच्छसि
This is the highest, this is to be known; you desire to know everything.
विज्ञायाक्षरतन्मात्रं जीवितं चातिवंचनम् 1.187.
Having understood the essence of the imperishable, life is indeed a deception.
पण्डितेनापि किं तेन समर्थेन च देहिनाम्
Even for a learned or capable person among embodied beings, what use is that?