इति धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां कथितो ब्रह्मणा पुरा । वाणिज्यं चैव वैश्यानां स्वधर्मो धर्मसंचयः
Thus the dharma of kṣatriyas was declared by Brahmā in ancient times; for vaiśyas, their own duty is trade, which is the accumulation of merit.
शूद्राणां विप्रसेवा च परो धर्में विधीयते । सर्वन्यासो हरौ भूव धर्मः संन्यासिनां ध्रुवम्
For śūdras, service to brāhmaṇas is established as the highest dharma; for renunciants, the abandonment of all into Hari is certainly their dharma.
रक्तैकवासा दण्डी च बिभर्ति मृत्कमण्डलुम् । सर्वत्र समदर्शो च स्मरेन्नानायणं सदा
Wearing only red, carrying a staff, and holding an earthen water pot, seeing all equally everywhere, he always remembers the many forms of the Supreme.
करोति भ्रमणं नित्यं गेहे गेहे न तिष्ठति । विद्यामन्त्रं च कस्मैचिन्न ददाति च लोभतः
He wanders constantly, does not stay in any house, and out of greed does not give knowledge or mantra to anyone.
करोति नाऽऽश्रमं भिक्षुः करोति नान्यवासनाम् । करोति नान्यसङ्गं च निर्मोह सङ्गवर्जितः
The mendicant does not establish an āśrama, does not wear other garments, does not form other attachments, being free from delusion and devoid of attachment.
न स्वादुभुङ्क्ते लोभाच्चा स्त्रीमुखं न हि पश्यति । न वाञ्छितं भक्ष्यवस्तु याचते गुहिणां व्रती
He does not eat sweet foods out of greed, does not look at a woman's face, and does not ask for desired food from householders, being steadfast in his vow.
इति संन्यासिनां धर्म इत्याह कमलोद्भवः । इति ते कथितं पुत्र गच्छ वत्स यथासुखम्
Thus the dharma of renunciants was spoken by the lotus-born; thus I have told you, my son—go, child, as you please.
इत्युक्त्वा च महेन्द्राणी विरराम च वर्त्मनि । उवाच नहुषो राजा शचीं वक्रप्रकंधरः
Having said this, the queen of Mahendra ceased her discourse; then King Nahuṣa, with a crooked neck, spoke to Śacī.
नहुष उवाच त्वया यत्कथितं देवी सर्व ततु विपर्ययम् । यथार्थधर्मं वेदोक्तं निबोध कथायामि ते
Nahuṣa said: O goddess, whatever you have said is the opposite; now listen as I tell you the true dharma as taught in the Vedas.
कर्मणां फलभोगश्च सर्वेषां सुरसुन्दरि । नैव स्वर्गे न पाताले नान्यद्वीपे श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
O beautiful one among the gods, the enjoyment of the fruits of actions for all is not heard to exist in heaven, nor in the underworld, nor on any other island, according to the scriptures.
कृत्वा शुभाशुभं कर्म पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते । अन्यत्र तत्फलं भुङ्क्ते कर्मी कर्मनिबन्धनात्
Having performed virtuous or sinful deeds in the sacred land of Bharata, elsewhere the doer experiences their results, bound by karma.
हिमालयादासमुद्रं पुण्यक्षेत्रं च भारतम् । श्रेष्ठं सर्वस्थलानां च मुनीनां च तपःस्थलम्
From the Himalayas to the ocean, Bharata is a sacred land, the foremost of all places, and the site of austerities for sages.
तत्र लब्ध्वा जन्म जीवी वञ्चितो विष्णुमायया । शश्वत्करोति विषयं विहाय सेवनं हरेः
There, having obtained birth, the living being is deceived by Vishnu's maya, yet constantly serves Hari, abandoning worldly pleasures.
कृत्वा तत्र महत्पुण्यं स्वर्ग गच्छति पुण्यवान् । गृहीत्वा सर्वकन्याश्च चिरं स्वर्गे प्रमोदते
Having performed great merit there, the virtuous one attains heaven, and, taking all maidens, delights in heaven for a long time.
स्वर्गमागच्छति नरो विहाय मानवीं तनुम् । स्वशरीरेणाऽऽगतोऽहं मत्पुण्यं पश्य सुन्दरि
A man attains heaven, leaving behind his human body; I have arrived in my own form—behold my merit, O beautiful one.
अनेकजन्मपुण्येन चाऽऽगतः स्वर्गमीप्सितम् । ततः किं केन पुण्येन दर्शनं मे त्वया सह
Having come by the merit of many births, I have reached the desired heaven; then, by what merit is my meeting with you accomplished?
न हि कर्मस्थलमिदं स्वभोगस्थलमेव च । सारं च सर्वभोगानां वरस्त्रीभोगमेव च
This is not a place for karma, but only for enjoyment; the essence of all pleasures here is the enjoyment of excellent women.
भोगस्थले भोगवस्तु न हि त्यक्तुं प्रशस्यते । भावानुरक्ता रसिका भोग्या त्वं भोगिनामिह
In the realm of enjoyment, it is not commendable to renounce objects of pleasure; you, attached in feeling and skilled in delight, are to be enjoyed by the enjoyers here.
द्रव्यमस्वामिकं भोग्यं सुखं त्यजति सन्दधीः । अविरोधसुखत्यागी पशुरेव न संशयः
One who abandons enjoyable, ownerless wealth and happiness with a tranquil mind, who gives up pleasure without opposition, is surely like a beast.
गच्छ कान्ते गुहं गत्वा कुरु तल्पं मनोहरम् । रमणीयं च रहसि वरं रतिकरं परम्
Go, beloved, enter the cave and prepare a charming bed; in seclusion, make it delightful and supremely fit for pleasure.
त्यज द्वैधं च मनसो निश्चितं वरवर्णिरि । वरानने मया सार्धं मोदस्व वरमन्दिरे
Abandon all doubts of the mind, O woman of excellent complexion; O beautiful-faced one, rejoice with me in the splendid mansion.
अमूल्यरत्नमालां च मणिराजविराजिताम् । भिक्षां कृत्वा च दास्यामि लक्ष्मीवक्षसि शोभिताम्
I will give you, as alms, a priceless garland of gems, adorned with the king of jewels, shining upon Lakshmi's bosom.
मणिं चानन्तशिरसः सर्वेषामतिदुर्लभम् । दुष्प्राप्यं त्रिषुलोकेषु तुभ्यं दास्यामि सुन्दरि
I will give you the jewel of Ananta's head, exceedingly rare for all, difficult to obtain in the three worlds, O beautiful one.
मणिरत्नं कौस्तुभं च यो नारायणवक्षसि । भिक्षां कृत्वा तु दास्यामि कृत्वा नारायणव्रतम्
I will give you, as alms, the Kaustubha jewel, which shines on Narayana's chest, after performing the vow of Narayana.
चन्द्रशेखरमौलेश्च यदर्धं चन्द्रभूषणम् । जरामृत्युव्याधिहरं शक्तं क्रीडाकरं वरम्
I will give you the half-moon ornament from the head of Chandrasekhara, which removes old age, death, and disease, and is supremely fit for play.
अतीव विश्वदुष्प्राप्यं विश्ववन्द्यं च सुन्दरम् । विश्वनाथव्रतं कृत्वा तुभ्यं दास्यामि निश्चितम्
I will surely give you, after performing the vow of Vishvanatha, the exceedingly rare and universally worshipped, beautiful ornament.
दास्यामि ते श्रीसूर्यस्य मणिश्रेष्ठं स्यमन्तकम् । भक्त्या सूर्यव्रतं कृत्वा त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम्
I will give you the foremost jewel of Shri Surya, the Syamantaka, difficult to obtain in the three worlds, after performing the vow to Surya with devotion.
अष्टौ भारान्सुवर्णं च यश्च नित्यं प्रसूयते । जरासृत्युहरं चव परं क्रीडाकरं प्रिये
I will give you eight loads of gold, which is constantly produced, and which removes old age and death, and is supremely fit for play, O beloved.
अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणं पात्ररत्नं मनोहरम् । संततं मधृपूर्णं च दास्यामि मदनस्य च
I will give you a vessel made of priceless jewels, enchanting to behold, always filled with honey, and belonging to Madana.
अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणं सुर्यतुल्यं च तेजसा । नानचित्रविचित्राढ्यं निर्माणमीश्वरेच्छया
Created from priceless gems, radiant like the sun, adorned with various wondrous designs, fashioned by the will of the Lord.