यस्मात्संस्थापितं पुष्पं गर्वाद्वै हस्तिमस्तके
Because the flower was placed on the elephant's head out of pride,
नारायणस्य भक्तोऽहं न बिभेमीश्वरं विधिम्
I am a devotee of Narayana; I do not fear the Lord or the rule.
किं करिष्यति ते तातः कश्यपश्च प्रजापतिः
What will your father, Prajapati Kashyapa, do for you?
इति श्रुत्वा महेन्द्रश्च धृत्वा तच्चरणद्वयम्
Hearing this, Mahendra took hold of both those feet.
इन्द्र उवाच हृता त्वया चेत्सम्पत्तिः कियज्ज्ञानं च देहि मे
Indra said: If my prosperity has been taken by you, then grant me some knowledge.
ऐश्वर्य्यं विपदां बीजं प्रच्छन्नज्ञानकारणम्
Sovereignty is the seed of calamities, the hidden cause of ignorance.
जन्ममृत्युजरारोगशोकदुःखांकुरं परम्
It is the supreme root of birth, death, old age, disease, sorrow, and suffering.
सम्पन्मत्तः समूढश्च सुरामत्तः सचेतनः 2.36.
Intoxicated by prosperity, one becomes deluded; intoxicated by liquor, one remains conscious.
सम्पन्मदे प्रमत्तश्च विषयान्धश्च विह्वलः
In the pride of wealth, one is reckless, blinded by sense objects, and bewildered.
द्विविधो विषयान्धश्च राजसस्तामसः स्मृतः
The sense-blinded are of two kinds, known as rajasika and tamasika.
शास्त्रे च द्विविधं मार्गं निर्दिष्टं मुनिपुङ्गव
In the scriptures, O best of sages, two paths are prescribed.
चरन्ति जीविनश्चादौ प्रवृत्तौ दुःखवर्त्मनि
Living beings, at first, walk the path of action, which leads to suffering.
आपातमधुरे लोभात्क्लेशे च सुखमानिनः
Out of greed, they consider as happiness that which is sweet at first but painful in the end.
अनेकजन्मपर्य्यन्तं कृत्वा च भ्रमणं मुदा
Thus, wandering joyfully through countless births,
ततः कृष्णानुग्रहाच्च सत्सङ्गं लभते जनः
Then, by Krishna's grace, a person attains the company of the good.
साधुः सत्त्वप्रदीपेन मुक्तिमार्गं प्रदर्शयेत्
A saint, with the lamp of purity, shows the path to liberation.
अनेकजन्मयोगेन तपसाऽनशनेन च
Through the accumulation of many births, through austerity and fasting,
इदं श्रुतं गुरोर्वक्त्रात्प्रसङ्गावसरेण च 2.36.
This was heard from the guru's mouth, on the occasion of discourse.
अधुना विधिना दत्तो विपत्तौ ज्ञानसागरः
Now, by fate, the ocean of knowledge has been given in adversity.
ज्ञानसिन्धो दीनबन्धो मह्यं दीनाय साम्प्रतम्
O ocean of knowledge, friend of the distressed, now grant me, who am afflicted, your grace.
इन्द्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ज्ञानिनां गुरुः
Hearing Indra's words, the guru of the wise smiled.
दुर्वासा उवाच आपाततो दुःखबीजं परिणामसुखावहम्
Durvasa said: In the beginning, it is the seed of suffering, but in the end, it brings happiness.
स्वगर्भयातनानाशपीडाखण्डनकारणम्
It is the cause that destroys the pain and torment of one's own womb and birth.
कर्मवृक्षाङ्कुरच्छेदकारणं सर्वतारकम्
It is the reason for cutting the sprouts of the tree of karma, and it is the universal liberator.
दानेन तपसा वाऽपि व्रतेनानशनादिना
By charity, by austerity, or by vow, including fasting,
काम्यानां कर्मणां चैव मूलं संछिद्य यत्नतः
One should diligently cut off the root of actions performed with desire.
यत्कर्म सात्त्विकं कुर्य्यादसंकल्पितमेव च
Whatever action one performs should be sattvic and without personal motive.
सांसारिकाणामेतत्तु निर्वाणं मोचकं विदुः 2.36.
This, for those bound in worldly existence, is known as liberation and deliverance.
सेवां कुर्वन्ति ते नित्यं विधायोत्तमदेहकम्
They always perform service, having attained an excellent body.
हरिसेवादिरूपां च मुक्तिमिच्छन्ति वैष्णवाः
Vaishnavas desire liberation in the form of service to Hari and similar acts.