अंशेन मानुषं जन्म प्राप्य भोक्ष्यति भामिनी । वरुणेनापि दत्तोऽस्ति शापः सन्तापितेन च
Receiving a human birth in part, O radiant one, he will enjoy its fruits; Varuna too has given a curse, being afflicted.
उभयोः शापयोगेन मानुषीयं भविष्यति । व्यास उवाच पतिनाश्वासिता देवी सन्तुष्टा साभवत्तदा
By the union of both curses, it will become human; Vyasa said: The goddess, comforted by her husband, was satisfied then.
नोवाच विप्रियं किञ्चित्ततः सा वरवर्णिनी । इति ते कथितं राजन् पूर्वशापस्य कारणम्
That beautiful one spoke nothing unpleasant thereafter; thus, O king, the cause of the former curse has been told to you.
अदितिर्देवकी जाता स्वांशेन नृपसत्तम
Aditi became Devaki, O best of kings, by her own portion.
अधमजगतः स्थितिवर्णनम् राजोवाच विस्मितोऽस्मि महाभाग श्रुत्वाख्यानं महामते । संसारोऽयं पापरूपः कथं मुच्येत बन्धनात्
Description of the state of the lowest world. The king said: I am astonished, O highly fortunate one, having heard this account, O wise sage; this world is of sinful nature—how can one be freed from its bondage?
कश्यपस्यापि दायादस्त्रिलोकीविभवे सति । कृतवानीदृशं कर्म को न कुर्याञ्चुगुप्सितम्
Even the heir of Kashyapa, possessing dominion over the three worlds, performed such an act—who would not do something to be despised?
गर्भे प्रविश्य बालस्य हननं दारुणं किल । सेवामिषेण मातुश्च कृत्वा शपथमद्भुतम्
Entering the womb, he killed the child—indeed a terrible deed; for the sake of service and meat, he made a wondrous oath to his mother.
शास्ता धर्मस्य गोप्ता च त्रिलोक्याः पतिरप्युत । कृतवानीदृशं कर्म को न कुर्यादसाम्प्रतम्
The ruler, protector of dharma, and lord of the three worlds, even he performed such an act—who would not now do the same?
पितामहा मे संग्रामे कुरुक्षेत्रेऽतिदारुणम् । कृतवन्तस्तथाश्चर्यं दुष्टं कर्म जगद्गुरो
My grandfathers in the battle of Kurukshetra did exceedingly terrible and astonishing deeds, O teacher of the world, wicked acts.
भीष्मोद्रोणः कृपः कर्णो धर्माशोऽपि युधिष्ठिरः । सर्वे विरुद्धधर्मेण वासुदेवेन नोदिताः
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, and even Yudhishthira, the righteous, all acted against dharma, urged by Vasudeva.
असारतां विजानन्तः संसारस्य सुमेधसः । देवांशाश्च कथं चकुर्निन्दितं धर्मतत्पराः
Those of great wisdom, knowing the worthlessness of worldly existence, and even the divine portions, how did they commit blameworthy acts, though devoted to dharma?
कास्था धर्मस्य विप्रेन्द्र प्रमाणं किं विनिश्चितम् । चलचित्तोऽस्मि सञ्जातः श्रुत्वा चैतत्कथानकम्
What is the established measure of dharma, O best of Brahmins? My mind has become unsettled, having heard this narrative.
आप्तवाक्यं प्रमाणं चेदाप्तः कः परदेहवान् । पुरुषो विषयासक्तो रागी भवति सर्वथा
If the words of the trustworthy are authority, who is trustworthy when possessing another's body? A man attached to objects becomes passionate in every way.
रागो द्वेषो भवेन्नूनमर्थनाशादसंशयम् । द्वेषादसत्यवचनं वक्तव्यं स्वार्थसिद्धये
Attachment and aversion surely arise from loss of wealth, without doubt; from aversion, one speaks untruth for the sake of one's own benefit.
जरासन्धविघातार्थं हरिणा सत्त्वमूर्तिना । छलेन रचितं रूपं ब्राह्मणस्य विजानता
For the destruction of Jarasandha, Hari, in the form of virtue, devised a disguise, known by the Brahmin.
तदाप्तः कः प्रमाणं किं सत्त्वमूर्तिरपीदृशः । अर्जुनोऽपि तथैवात्र कार्ये यज्ञविनिर्मिते
Then who is trustworthy, what is authority, even if one is the embodiment of virtue? Arjuna too acted similarly in the matter of the sacrifice.
कीदृशोऽयं कृतो यज्ञः किमर्थं शमवर्जितः । परलोकपदार्थं वा यशसे वान्यथा किल
What kind of sacrifice has been performed here, and for what purpose, since it lacks tranquility? Was it done for attainment in the next world, for fame, or for some other reason?
धर्मस्य प्रथमः पादः सत्यमेतच्छ्रुतेर्वचः । द्वितीयस्तु तथा शौचं दया पादस्तृतीयकः
The first pillar of righteousness is truth, as declared in the scriptures; the second is purity, and compassion forms the third pillar.
दानं पादश्चतुर्थश्च पुराणज्ञा वदन्ति वै । तैर्विहीनः कथं धर्मस्तिष्ठेदिह सुसम्मतः
Charity is said to be the fourth pillar, according to those who know the ancient texts; how can righteousness, esteemed by all, stand here if it lacks these?
धर्महीनं कृतं कर्म कथं तत्फलदं भवेत् । धर्मे स्थिरा मतिः क्वापि न कस्यापि प्रतीयते
How can an action performed without righteousness yield its proper result? Firm devotion to righteousness is not found anywhere, nor is it believed by anyone.
छलार्थञ्च यदा विष्णुर्वामनोऽभूञ्चगत्प्रभुः । येन वामनरूपेण वञ्चितोऽसौ बलिर्नृपः
When Vishnu, the Lord, became the dwarf for the purpose of deception, it was by this dwarf form that King Bali was deceived.
विहर्ता शतयज्ञस्य वेदाज्ञापरिपालकः । धर्मिष्ठो दानशीलश्च सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः
He who performed a hundred sacrifices, upheld the commands of the Vedas, was righteous, generous, truthful, and self-controlled.
स्थानात्प्रभ्रंशितोऽकस्माद्विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । जितं केन तयोः कृष्ण बलिना वामनेन वा
He was suddenly cast down from his position by the powerful Vishnu; who among them was victorious—Krishna or the mighty dwarf?
छलकर्मविदा चायं सन्देहोऽत्र महान्मम । वञ्चयित्वा वञ्चितेन सत्यं वद द्विजोत्तम
There is great doubt in my mind regarding this act of deception; after deceiving and being deceived, tell the truth, O best of twice-born.
पुराणकर्ता त्वमसि धर्मज्ञश्च महामतिः । व्यास उवाच जितं वै बलिना राजन् दत्ता येन च मेदिनी
You are the author of the Purāṇas, knowledgeable in righteousness, and of great intellect. Vyāsa said: Bali was indeed victorious, O King, for he gave away the earth.
त्रिविक्रमोऽपि नाम्ना यः प्रथितो वामनोऽभवत् । छलनार्थमिदं राजन्वामनत्वं नराधिप
He who is renowned as Trivikrama became the dwarf for the sake of deception, O King; this dwarf form was adopted for that purpose.
सम्प्राप्तं हरिणा भूयो द्वारपालत्वमेव च । सत्यादन्यतरन्नास्ति मूलं धर्मस्य पार्थिव
By Hari, the position of gatekeeper was again attained; apart from truth, there is no other root of righteousness, O ruler.
दुःसाध्यं देहिनां राजन्सत्यं सर्वात्मना किल । माया बलवती भूप त्रिगुणा बहुरूपिणी
Truth is exceedingly difficult for embodied beings to uphold in every way, O King; Māyā is powerful, possessing three qualities and many forms.
ययेदं निर्मितं विश्वं गुणैः शबलितं त्रिभिः । तस्माच्छलवता सत्यं कुतोऽविद्धं भवेन्नृप
By her, this universe has been created, colored by the three qualities; therefore, O King, how can truth remain unpierced by deception?
मिश्रेण जनिता चैव स्थितिरेषा सनातनी । वैखानसाश्च मुनयो निःसङ्गा निष्प्रतिग्रहाः
This eternal state is produced by mixture; and the sages of the Vaikhānasa tradition are detached and free from possessions.