नारद उवाच निपीतं च महाख्यानं त्वन्मुखेन्दुविनिसृतम्
Nārada said: The great narrative has been imbibed, flowing from your moon-like mouth.
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि किमुवाच बृहस्पतिः
Now I wish to hear: what did Bṛhaspati say?
जगत्कर्ता विधाता च किं वा तं प्रत्युवाच सः
What did he say to the creator and ordainer of the world?
नारायण उवाच प्रणम्य तस्थौ पुरतो लज्जावनतकन्धरः
Nārāyaṇa said: Having bowed, he stood before him, his neck bent in shame.
दृष्ट्वा गुरुसुतं शम्भुरुदतिष्ठत्कुशासनात्
Seeing the teacher's son, Śambhu rose from his seat of sacred grass.
स्वासने वासयित्वा वै पप्रच्छ कुशलं वचः
Having seated him on his own seat, he asked him kindly words.
श्रीशङ्कर उवाच साश्रुनेत्रो लज्जितश्च भ्रातस्तत्कारणं वद
Śrī Śaṅkara said: With tearful eyes and ashamed, brother, tell me the reason for this.
किं वा तपस्या हीना ते सन्ध्या हीनाऽथवा मुने
Is it that your austerity is lacking, or your observance of twilight rites, O sage?
किं वा गुरौ भक्तिहीनोऽभीष्टदेवेऽथवा गुरौ
Or is it that you lack devotion to your teacher, or to your chosen deity, or to your teacher?
किं वाऽतिथिस्ते विमुखः किं वा पोष्या बुभुक्षिताः 2.60.१
Or is it that your guest has turned away, or those you support are hungry?
सुशासितो न शिष्यो वा किं भृत्याश्चोत्तरप्रदाः
Is it that, though well-instructed, the disciple is not obedient, or that the servants fail to carry out orders?
गरिष्ठश्च वरिष्ठश्च शश्वत्सन्तुष्ट मानस
The greatest and the best are always content in mind.
किं वा रुष्टोऽभीष्टदेवः किं वा रुष्टाश्च वाडवाः
Or is your chosen deity angry, or are your horses enraged?
किं वा ते बन्धुविच्छेदो विग्रहो बलिना सह
Or have you been separated from your relatives, or is there conflict with someone powerful?
केन ते वा कृता निन्दा खलैर्वा पापिभिर्मुने
By whom have you been slandered, O sage—by the wicked or by sinners?
बन्धुस्त्यक्तस्त्वया किं वा वैराग्येण क्रुधाऽथवा
Have you abandoned a relative, either out of detachment or out of anger?
गुरुनिन्दा बन्धुनिन्दा खलवक्त्राच्छ्रुताऽथवा
Have you heard slander of your teacher or relatives from the mouth of a wicked person?
असद्वंशप्रजातानां खलानां निन्दनं तथा
So too is the reviling of those born in ignoble families and of the wicked.
परप्रशंसकाः सन्तः पुण्यवन्तो हि भारते
Those who praise others are virtuous and meritorious indeed in the land of Bharata.
पुत्रे यशसि तोये च समृद्धे च पराक्रमे 2.60.
In sons, in fame, in water, and in prosperity and valor—
वचनेषु च बुद्धौ च स्वभावे च चरित्रतः
In words, in intellect, in nature, and in conduct—
यादृग्येषां च हदये तादृक्तेषां च मंगलम्
As is their heart, so is their good fortune.
इत्युक्त्वा च महादेवो विरराम स्वसंसदि
Having spoken thus, Mahadeva fell silent in his own assembly.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच लोकाः कर्मवशान्नित्यं नानाजन्मसु यत्कृतम्
Brihaspati said: People, bound by karma, continually experience the results of actions performed in various births.
स्वकर्मणां फलं भुङ्क्ते जन्तुर्जन्मनि जन्मनि
A living being enjoys the fruit of its own actions, birth after birth.
केचिद्वदन्ति दैवेन स्वभावेनेति केचन
Some say it is due to fate, others say it is due to one's own nature.
स्वयं च कर्मजनकः कर्म वै दैवकारणम्
Action itself is the originator of deeds; indeed, action is caused by destiny.
स्वकर्मणां च सर्वेषां जन्तूनां प्रतिजन्मनि
For every creature, in each birth, their own actions determine their fate.
स्वकर्मफलभोक्ता च जीवो हि सगुणः सदा 2.60.
The soul, always endowed with qualities, is the enjoyer of the fruits of its own actions.
स एवात्मा सर्वसेव्यः सर्वेषां च फलप्रदः
That very Self is to be served by all, and grants the results to everyone.