उञ्छमूलफलं शाकमुदपात्रं तपोधनाः
Living on gleaned grains, roots, fruits, vegetables, and water as their wealth, the ascetics—
अद्रोहश्चाप्य लोभश्च तपो भुतदया दमः
Non-injury, absence of greed, austerity, compassion for beings, and self-restraint—
सनातनस्य धर्मस्य मूलमेतद्दुरासदम्
This is the difficult-to-attain root of the eternal Dharma.
प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ ध्रुवो मेधातिथिर्वसुः
Priyavrata, Uttānapāda, Dhruva, Medhātithi, and Vasu—
प्राजीनबर्हिः पर्जन्यो हविर्धानादयो नृपः
Prājīnabarhi, Parjanya, Havirdhāna and others, O King—
राजर्षयो महासत्त्वा येषां कीर्त्तिः प्रतिष्ठिता
These royal sages of great strength, whose fame is established—
ब्रह्मणा तपसा सृष्टं जगद्विश्वमिदं पुरा
This entire universe was formerly created by Brahmā through austerity.
द्रव्यमन्त्रात्मको यज्ञस्तपस्त्वनशनात्मकम्
Sacrifice consists of substance and mantra; austerity is of the nature of fasting.
ब्राह्मं तु कर्म संन्यासाद्वैराग्यात्प्रकृतेर्जयम्
Indeed, Brahmanical action is the conquest of nature through renunciation and detachment.
एवं विवादः सुमहान्य ज्ञस्यासीत्प्रवर्त्तने
Thus, a very great dispute arose regarding the initiation of knowledge.
ततस्तमृषयो दृष्ट्वा हतं धर्मबलेन तु
Then, seeing that it had been defeated by the power of Dharma, the sages—
गतेषु मुनिसंघेषु देवा यज्ञं समाप्नुवन्
When the assembly of sages departed, the gods completed the sacrifice.
ततः प्रभृति यज्ञो ऽयं युगैः सह विवर्त्तितः
From that time, this sacrifice has evolved along with the ages.
तत्र त्रेतायुगे क्षीणे द्वापरं प्रतिपद्यते
When the Tretā age declines, the Dvāpara is entered.
परिवृत्ते युगे तस्मिंस्ततस्ताभिः प्रणश्यति
When that age passes, then those practices perish.
संभेदश्चैव वर्णानां कार्याणां च विपर्ययः
There is mingling of castes and reversal of duties.
एषा रजस्तमोयुक्ता प्रवृत्तिर्द्वापरे स्मृता
This activity, joined with passion and darkness, is known in Dvāpara.
द्वापरे व्याकुलीभूत्वा प्रणश्यति कलौ युगे
In Dvāpara, becoming confused, it perishes in the Kali age.
द्वैविध्यं प्रतिपद्येतेयुगे तस्मिञ्छ्रुति स्मृती
In that age, the Veda and tradition assume dual forms.
अनिश्चयाधिगमनाद्धर्मतत्त्वं न विद्यते
Because of uncertain attainment, the essence of Dharma is not known.
परस्परविभिन्नैस्तैदृष्टीनां विभ्रमेण च
Because of the mutual differences among those views and the confusion arising from them,
कारणानां च वैकल्प्यात्कार्याणां चाप्यनिश्चयात्
and due to the diversity of causes and the uncertainty of effects,
ततो दृष्टिविभन्नैस्तु कृतं शास्त्राकुलं त्विदम्
thus, by those with divided views, this multitude of scriptures has been produced.
संक्षयादायुपश्चैव व्यस्यते द्वापरेषु च
Through decline and loss of lifespan, it is scattered in the Dvapara ages.
मन्त्रब्राह्मणविन्यासैः स्वरवर्णविपर्ययैः
By the arrangements of mantras and Brāhmaṇas, and by the alteration of tones and syllables,
सामान्या वैकृताश्चैव दृष्टिभिन्ने क्वचित्क्वचित्
some are common, others are altered, wherever the views are divided.
अन्ये ऽपि प्रस्थितास्तान्वै केचित्तान्प्रत्यवस्थिताः
Others have set forth new paths, while some have opposed them.
एकमाध्वर्यवं त्वासीत्पुनर्द्वैधमजायत
The single Ādhvaryava tradition existed, but later it became twofold.
आध्वर्यवस्य प्रस्थानैर्बहुधा व्याकुलीकृतैः
By the various procedures of the Ādhvaryava, it became greatly confused.
व्याकुलेद्वापरे नित्यं क्रियते भिन्न दर्शनैः
In the Dvapara age, it is always performed in a state of confusion by those with differing views.