करोति कलहे नित्यं कन्दली स्वामिना सह सा तन्न बुबुधे किंचित्करोति कलहे स्पृहाम्
Kandalī always quarrels with her husband; she did not realize anything, but she desired to quarrel.
तातप्रदत्तज्ञानेन सा न शान्ता बभूव ह 4.24.
With the knowledge given by her father, she did not become peaceful.
नित्यं कटूक्तिं कान्तं सा करोति हेतुना विना
She always utters harsh words to her beloved, without any reason.
तया कृतां कटूक्तिं च क्षमासंस्थां चकार ह
For the harsh words spoken by her, he maintained patience.
कटूक्तिशतकं पूर्णं तत्कालेन बभूव ह
In time, a hundred harsh words were completed.
पत्नीकटूक्त्या नियतं प्रदग्धं मानसं मुनेः
By the wife's harsh words, the mind of the sage was certainly burned.
स्वात्मारामो दयालुश्च कोपं त्यक्तुं न स क्षमः
Though self-content and compassionate, he was unable to give up his anger.
मुनेरिङ्गितमात्रेण भस्मसात्सा बभूव ह
By a mere gesture of the sage, she was reduced to ashes.
शरीरे भस्मसाद्भूते प्रतिबिंबः स चात्मनः
When the body has become ashes, the reflection of the self remains.
जीव उवाच सर्वं जानासि सर्वज्ञः किमहं बोधयामि ते
Jīva said: You know everything, O omniscient one; what can I possibly explain to you?
सदुक्तिर्वा कटूक्तिर्वा कोपः संताप एव च
Whether words are pleasant or harsh, whether there is anger or distress—
स्थौल्यं कार्श्यं च नाशश्च दृश्यादृश्यं समुद्भवम् 4.24.
Fatness, thinness, destruction, visible and invisible origins—
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति शरीरं त्रिगुणात्मकम्
The body is composed of the three qualities: sattva, rajas, and tamas.
किञ्चित्सत्त्वातिरिक्तं च किञ्चिदेव रजोधिकम्
In some, sattva predominates; in others, rajas is more prominent.
सत्त्वोदयाच्च मुक्तीच्छा कर्मेच्छा च रजोगुणात्
From the rise of sattva comes the desire for liberation; from rajas, the desire for action.
कोपात्कटूक्तिर्नियतं कटूक्त्या शत्रुता भवेत्
From anger, harsh speech certainly arises; from harsh speech, enmity results.
को वा प्रियोऽप्रियः कः किं किं मित्रं को रिपुर्भवेत्
Who is dear, who is not? Who is what? Who is a friend, and who becomes an enemy?
प्राणाधिकः प्रियः स्त्रीणां भर्तुः प्राणाधिका प्रिया
For women, one dearer than life is the husband; for the husband, the wife is dearer than life.
यद्गतं तद्गतं सर्वं कामदोषेण वै प्रभो
Whatever is attached, all of it, O Lord, is due to the fault of desire.
किं करोमि क्व यामीति भविता कुत्र जन्म मे
What shall I do? Where shall I go? Where will my next birth be?
इत्येवमुक्त्वा जीवश्च मौनीभूतो बभूव ह
Having spoken thus, the jīva became silent.
स्वात्मारामो महाज्ञानी जहार चेतनामहो 4.24.
The great knower, delighting in his own self, withdrew his consciousness—how wondrous!
क्षणेन चेतनां प्राप्य प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं समुद्यतः
In a moment, regaining consciousness, he prepared to give up his life.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र जगाम ब्राह्मणोऽर्भकः
At that very moment, a young brāhmaṇa arrived there.
सस्मितः श्यामवर्णश्च प्रज्वलन्ब्रह्मतेजसा
He was smiling, dark-complexioned, and shining with the brilliance of Brahman.
दृष्ट्वा तं संभ्रमेणैव दुर्वासाः प्रणनाम ह
Seeing him, Durvāsas, with great agitation, bowed down.
उवाच ब्राह्मणवटुर्दत्त्वा तस्मै सदाशिषम्
The young brahmin, having given him constant blessings, spoke.
शिशुरूपं क्षणं स्थित्वा तमुवाच विचक्षणः
Assuming the form of a child for a moment, the wise one addressed him.
शिशुरुवाच किं तत्त्वं त्वामहं विप्र पृच्छामि शोककातरम्
The child said: O brahmin, I ask you, who are distressed by sorrow, what is the true reality?
ब्राह्मणानां तपो धर्मस्तपःसाध्यं जगत्त्रयम्
The austerity of brahmins is righteousness; the three worlds are attained by austerity.