पीडितं सर्वरोगाद्यैरपि धन्वन्तरिः स्वयम्
Even if Dhanvantari himself were present, one tormented by all diseases cannot be saved.
नौषधं न तपो दानं न मंत्रा न च बांधवाः
Neither medicine, nor austerity, nor charity, nor mantras, nor relatives can help.
रसायनतपोजप्यैर्योगसिद्धैर्महात्मभिः 4.4.
Not even by elixirs, austerities, recitations, yogic powers, or the efforts of great souls.
नास्ति मृत्युसमं दुःखं नास्ति मृत्युसमं भयम्
There is no suffering like death, nor is there any fear like death.
सद्भार्यापुत्रमित्राणि राज्यैश्वर्यध नानि च
A good wife, sons, friends, kingdom, and wealth—
हे जनाः किं न पश्यध्वं सहस्रस्यापि मध्यतः
O people, do you not see, even among a thousand,
अशीतिका विपद्यन्ते केचित्सप्ततिका नराः
Some men die at eighty, some at seventy.
यस्य यावद्भवेदायुर्देहिनां पूर्वकर्मभिः
For embodied beings, the span of life is as much as is determined by their past actions.
बालभावेन मोहेन वार्द्धक्ये जरया तथा
Through childishness, delusion, and in old age through decrepitude,
आगंतुकेर्भयैः पुंसां व्याधिशोकैरनेकधा
Men are afflicted in many ways by fears that come, by diseases, and by sorrows.
जीवितांते च मरणं महाघोरमवाप्नुयात्
At the end of life, one attains a most terrible death.
देहभेदेन यः पुंसां वियोगः कर्मसंक्षयात्
The separation of a person's body occurs through the exhaustion of karma.
महातपप्रविष्टस्य च्छिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु 4.4.
For one who has entered great austerity, as the vital points are being severed—
हा तात मातः कांतेति रुदन्नेवं हि दुःखितः
He, afflicted, weeps, 'Alas, father! Mother! Beloved!'
बांधवैः संपरिष्वक्तः प्रियैः स परिवारितः
Embraced by relatives and surrounded by loved ones,
क्रन्दते चैव खट्वायां परिवर्तन्मुहुर्मुहुः
He cries out on the bed, turning again and again.
खट्वातो कांक्षते भूमिं भूमेः खट्वां पुनर्महीम्
From the bed he longs for the ground, and from the ground again for the bed.
याचमानश्च सलिलं शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः
Begging for water, his throat, lips, and palate are parched.
पञ्चावटान्खन्यमानः कालपाशेन कर्षितः
As the five burial pits are being dug, he is dragged by the noose of time.
जीवस्तृणजलौकेव देहाद्देहं विशेत्क्रमात्
The soul, like a leech on grass or water, gradually enters from body to body.
मरणात्प्रार्थनादुःखमधिकं हि विवे किनः
The suffering from longing for death is indeed greater than death itself.
जगतां पतिरर्थित्वाद्विष्णुर्वामनतां गतः
The Lord of the worlds, for the sake of supplication, became Vāmana, Viṣṇu.
ज्ञातं मयेदमधुना मतं भवति यद्गुरु 4.4.
Now I have understood this, O revered one, as you have taught.
आदौ दुःखं तथा मध्ये दुःखमंते च दारुणम्
In the beginning there is suffering, likewise in the middle, and at the end, it is dreadful.
वर्तमानान्यतीतानि दुःखान्येतानि यानि तु
These sufferings, whether present or past, indeed exist.
अत्याहारान्महद्दुःखमनाहारान्महत्तमम्
From overeating comes great suffering; from not eating, the greatest suffering.
बुभुक्षा सर्वरोगाणां व्याधिः श्रेष्ठतमः स्मृतः
Hunger is remembered as the foremost disease among all ailments.
तद्रसोपि हि कामाद्वा जिह्वाग्रे परिवर्तते
That very taste, indeed, out of desire, turns upon the tip of the tongue.
इति क्षुद्व्याधितप्तानामन्नमौषधवत्स्मृतम्
Thus, for those afflicted by hunger and disease, food is remembered as medicine.
मृतोपमो यश्चेक्षेत सर्वकार्यविवर्जितः
One who appears as if dead, abstaining from all activity.