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.
अहङ्काराद्भवेन्मोहो मोहान्मरणमेव च । सङ्कल्पा बहवस्तत्र विकल्पाः प्रभवन्ति च
From pride arises delusion, and from delusion, indeed, comes death; there, many intentions and doubts arise.
ईर्ष्यासूया तथा द्वेषः प्रादुर्भवति चेतसि । आशा तृष्णा तथा दैन्यं दम्भोऽधर्ममतिस्तथा
Envy, jealousy, and hatred manifest in the mind; hope, thirst, dejection, hypocrisy, and unrighteous thinking as well.
प्राणिनां प्रभवन्त्येते भावा मोहसमुद्भवाः । यज्ञदानानि तीर्थानि व्रतानि नियमास्तथा
These states, born of delusion, arise in beings; sacrifices, gifts, pilgrimages, vows, and disciplines—
अहङ्काराभिभूतस्तु करोति पुरुषोऽन्वहम् । अहंभावकृतं सर्वं प्रभवेद्वै न शौचवत्
When a person is overpowered by pride, he performs actions daily; all done with a sense of 'I' does not yield pure results.
रागलोभात्कृतं कर्म सर्वाङ्गं शुद्धिवर्जितम् । प्रथमं द्रव्यशुद्धिश्च द्रष्टव्या विबुधैः किल
Actions performed out of passion and greed are entirely devoid of purity; first, the wise should ensure the purity of the means.
अद्रोहेणार्जितं द्रव्यं प्रशस्तं धर्मकर्मणि । द्रोहार्जितेन द्रव्येण यत्करोति शुभं नरः
Wealth acquired without harm is praiseworthy for righteous acts; whatever good a man does with wealth gained by harm—
विपरीतं भवेत्तत्तु फलकाले नृपोत्तम । मनोऽतिनिर्मलं यस्य स सम्यक्फलभाग्भवेत्
That becomes the opposite, O best of kings, at the time of fruition; one whose mind is exceedingly pure attains the proper result.
तस्मिन्विकारयुक्ते तु न यथार्थफलं लभेत् । कर्तारः कर्मणां सर्वे आचार्यऋत्विजादयः
If there is disturbance in that, the proper result is not obtained; all the performers of actions—teachers, priests, and others—
स्युस्ते विशुद्धमनसस्तदा पूर्णं भवेत्फलम् । देशकालक्रियाद्रव्यकर्तॄणां शुद्धता यदि
If they are pure in mind, then the result is complete; when the place, time, procedure, materials, and agents are pure—
मन्त्राणां च तदा पूर्णं कर्मणां फलमश्नुते । शत्रूणां नाशमुद्दिश्य स्ववृद्धिं परमां तथा
And the mantras as well, then the result of the act is attained; but if one acts for the destruction of enemies or for one's own great gain—