किमसाध्यं महाभाग वेदोक्तानि च कुर्वतः । स्वर्गं मोक्षं च सज्जन्म यद्यद्वाञ्छति तद्भवेत्
O fortunate one, what is unattainable for one who acts according to the Vedas? Heaven, liberation, or noble birth—whatever is desired, that is attained.
आश्रमादाश्रमं गच्छेदिति धर्मविदो विदुः । तस्मादग्निं समाधाय कुरु कर्माण्यतन्द्रितः
Those who know dharma say one should move from one stage of life to another. Therefore, establish the sacred fire and perform your duties diligently.
देवान्पितॄन्मनुष्यांश्च सन्तर्प्य विधिवत्सुत । पुत्रमुत्पाद्य धर्मज्ञ संयोज्य च गृहाश्रमे
Satisfy the gods, ancestors, and humans according to the rules, O son. Beget a son, knowing dharma, and establish him in the householder's stage.
त्यक्त्वागृहं वनं गत्वा कर्तासि व्रतमुत्तमम् । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं कृत्वा संन्यासं च ततः परम्
After leaving the house and going to the forest, you should undertake the highest vow, enter the forest-dweller's stage, and then renunciation thereafter.
इन्द्रियाणि महाभाग मादकानि सुनिश्चितम् । अदारस्य दुरन्तानि पञ्चैव मनसा सह
O fortunate one, the senses are certainly intoxicating, and the five, along with the mind, are exceedingly difficult to restrain without a wife.
तस्माद्दारान्प्रकुर्वीत तज्जयाय महामते । वार्धके तप आतिष्ठेदिति शास्त्रोदितं वचः
Therefore, O wise one, one should marry for victory over them; in old age, one should undertake austerity—this is the teaching of scripture.
विश्वामित्रो महाभाग तपः कृत्वातिदुश्चरम् । त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि निराहारो जितेन्द्रियः
O fortunate one, Vishvamitra performed extremely difficult austerities for three thousand years, fasting and mastering his senses.
मोहितश्च महातेजा वने मेनकया स्थितः । शकुन्तला समुत्पन्ना पुत्री तद्वीर्यजा शुभा
The great ascetic, though powerful, was deluded in the forest by Menaka, and Shakuntala, his virtuous daughter, was born from that union.
दृष्ट्वा दाशसुतां कालीं पिता मम पराशरः । कामबाणार्दितः कन्यां तां जग्राहोडुपे स्थितः
Seeing Kali, the daughter of a fisherman, my father Parashara, struck by the arrows of desire, took her while she was standing by the boat.
ब्रह्मापि स्वसुतां दृष्ट्वा पञ्चबाणप्रपीडितः । धावमानश्च रुद्रेण मूर्च्छितश्च निवारितः
Even Brahma, seeing his own daughter, afflicted by the five arrows of desire, ran after her, but was stopped and made unconscious by Rudra.
तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याण कुरु मे वचनं हितम् । कुलजां कन्यकां वृत्वा वेदमार्गं समाश्रय
Therefore, you too, O auspicious one, follow my beneficial advice: take a maiden of good family as your wife and adhere to the path of the Vedas.
शुकवैराग्यवर्णनम् नाहं गृहं करिष्यामि दुःखदं सर्वदा पितः । वागुरासदृशं नित्यं बन्धनं सर्वदेहिनाम्
I will not establish a household, Father, for it always brings sorrow; it is like a snare, perpetually binding all embodied beings.
धनचिन्तातुराणां हि क्व सुखं तात दृश्यते । स्वजनैः खलु पीड्यन्ते निर्धना लोलुपा जनाः
Where, Father, is happiness to be found among those troubled by anxiety for wealth? The greedy torment the poor, and even one's own people cause suffering.
इन्द्रोऽपि न सुखी तादृग्यादृशो भिक्षुनिःस्पृहः । कोऽन्यः स्यादिह संसारे त्रिलोकीविभवे सति
Even Indra is not happy, nor is such a one as the detached mendicant; who else in this world, possessing the riches of the three realms, could be so?
तपन्तं तापसं दृष्ट्वा मघवा दुःखितोऽभवत् । विघ्नान्बहुविधानस्य करोति च दिवस्पतिः
Seeing the ascetic suffering, Maghavan became distressed; the lord of heaven creates many obstacles for him.
ब्रह्मापि न सुखी विष्णुर्लक्ष्मीं प्राप्य मनोरमाम् । खेदं प्राप्नोति सततं संग्रामैरसुरैः सह
Even Brahma is not happy, nor is Vishnu, though he has obtained delightful Lakshmi; he constantly experiences distress in battles with the demons.
करोति विपुलान्यत्नांस्तपश्चरति दुश्चरम् । रमापतिरपि श्रीमान्कस्यास्ति विपुलं सुखम्
Even the prosperous Lord of Lakshmi undertakes great efforts and performs arduous austerities; for whom, then, is abundant happiness found?
शङ्करोऽपि सदा दुःखी भवत्येव च वेद्म्यहम् । तपश्चर्यां प्रकुर्वाणो दैत्ययुद्धकरः सदा
Even Shankara is always unhappy, this I know; he continually practices austerity and wages war against the demons.
कदाचिन्न सुखी शेते धनवानपि लोलुपः । निर्धनस्तु कथं तात सुखं प्राप्नोति मानवः
The wealthy, though greedy, never sleep happily; how then, Father, can the poor man ever attain happiness?
जानन्नपि महाभाग पुत्रं वा वीर्यसम्भवम् । नियोक्ष्यसि महाघोरे संसारे दुःखदे सदा
Even knowing, O fortunate one, that a son is born of one's own strength, you will consign him to this dreadful world, which always brings sorrow.
जन्मदुःखं जरादुःखं दुःखं च मरणे तथा । गर्भवासे पुनर्दुःखं विष्ठामूत्रमये पितः
Birth is suffering, old age is suffering, and death too is suffering; dwelling in the womb, Father, is again suffering, surrounded by filth and urine.
तस्मादतिशयं दुःखं तृष्णालोभसमुद्भवम् । याञ्चायां परमं दुःखं मरणादपि मानद
Therefore, the suffering arising from craving and greed is exceedingly great; in begging, the highest suffering is found, worse even than death, O Father.
प्रतिग्रहधना विप्रा न बुद्धिबलजीवनाः । पराशा परमं दुःखं मरणं च दिने दिने
Brahmins who live by accepting gifts do not live by the strength of wisdom; dependence is the greatest suffering, and death comes day by day.
पठित्वा सकलान् वेदाञ्छास्त्राणि च समन्ततः । गत्वा च धनिनां कार्या स्तुतिः सर्वात्मना बुधैः
Having studied all the Vedas and scriptures thoroughly, the wise must go to the wealthy and praise them wholeheartedly for their needs.
एकोदरस्य का चिन्ता पत्रमूलफलादिभिः । येनकेनाप्युपायेन सन्तुष्ट्या च प्रपूर्यते
What worry is there for one stomach, which can be satisfied by leaves, roots, fruits, or whatever means, with contentment?
भार्या पुत्रास्तथा पौत्राः कुटुम्बे विपुले सति । पूरणार्थं महद्दुःखं क्व सुखं पितरद्भुतम्
When there is a large family with wife, sons, and grandsons, great suffering arises for their provision; where, O Father, is the wonderful happiness?
योगशास्त्रं वद मम ज्ञानशास्त्रं सुखाकरम् । कर्मकाण्डेऽखिले तात न रमेऽहं कदाचन
Teach me the science of yoga and the knowledge that brings happiness; Father, I never delight in the entirety of ritualistic action.
वद कर्मक्षयोपायं प्रारब्धं सञ्चितं तथा । वर्तमानं यथा नश्येत् त्रिविधं कर्ममूलजम्
Tell me the method for the destruction of karma—prarabdha, accumulated, and present—so that the threefold root of karma may be dissolved.
जलूकेव सदा नारी रुधिरं पिबतीति वै । मूर्खस्तु न विजानाति मोहितो भावचेष्टितैः
Just as a leech always drinks blood, so too does a woman; but the fool, deluded by emotional attachments, does not understand this.
भोगैर्वीर्यं धनं पूर्णं मनः कुटिलभाषणैः । कान्ता हरति सर्वस्वं कः स्तेनस्तादृशोऽपरः
Through pleasures, strength, wealth, a mind full of crooked words—one’s beloved takes away everything; what other thief is like this?