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.
सत्ययुक्ता भवन्त्यत्र वीतरागा गतस्पृहाः । दृष्टान्तदर्शनार्थाय निर्मितास्ते च तादृशाः
They are endowed with truth, free from passion and desire; they were created for the purpose of providing examples.
अन्यत्सर्वं शबलितं गुणैरेभिस्त्रिभिनृप । नैकं वाक्यं पुराणेषु वेदेषु नृपसत्तम
All else, O King, is colored by these three qualities; there is not a single statement in the Purāṇas or Vedas, O best of kings.
धर्मशास्त्रेषु चाङ्गेषु सगुणै रचितेष्विह । सगुणः सगुणं कुर्यान्निर्गुणो न करोति वै
In the texts of righteousness and its branches, composed with qualities, the one with qualities acts upon another with qualities, but the one without qualities does not act.
गुणास्ते मिश्रिताः सर्वे न पृथग्भावसङ्गताः । निर्व्यलीके स्थिरे धर्मे मतिः कस्यापि न स्थिरा
All these qualities are mixed together, not united in distinct forms; in unwavering, pure righteousness, no one's mind remains firm.
भवोद्भवे महाराज मायया मोहितस्य वै । इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि तदासक्तं मनस्तथा
O King, at the arising of existence, when one is deluded by Māyā, the senses become turbulent, and the mind becomes attached to them.
करोति विविधान्भावान्गुणैस्तैः प्रेरितो भृशम् । ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्ताः प्राणिनः स्थिरजङ्गमाः
Driven intensely by those qualities, it produces various states; all beings, from Brahmā down to a blade of grass, both moving and unmoving.
सर्वे मायावशा राजन् सानुक्रीडति तैरिह । सर्वान्वै मोहयत्येषा विकुर्वत्यनिशं जगत्
All, O King, are under the sway of Māyā and play with those qualities here; she indeed deludes all and constantly transforms the world.
असत्यो जायते राजन्कार्यवान्प्रथमं नरः । इन्द्रियार्थांश्चिन्तयानो न प्राप्नोति यदा नरः
A man, O King, becomes untruthful at first, intent on action, when he contemplates the objects of the senses but does not obtain them.
तदर्थं छलमादत्ते छलात्पापे प्रवर्तते । कामः क्रोधश्च लोभश्च वैरिणो बलवत्तराः
For that purpose, he resorts to deceit, and from deceit he engages in sin; desire, anger, and greed—these powerful enemies arise.
कृताकृतं न जानन्ति प्राणिनस्तद्वशं गताः । विभवे सत्यहङ्कारः प्रबलः प्रभवत्यपि
Beings under their control do not discern what is right or wrong; when prosperity comes, pride becomes strong and prevails.