अहङ्कारात्समुत्पन्नाः कामक्रोधादयः किल । वर्षकोटिसहस्रं तु तपः कृत्वातिदारुणम्
From ego arise desires, anger, and the like. Even after performing extremely severe austerity for a hundred million years—
अहङ्कारांकुरे जाते व्यर्थं भवति सर्वथा । यथा सूर्योदये जाते तमोरूपं न तिष्ठति
When the sprout of ego appears, everything becomes futile. Just as, when the sun rises, darkness does not remain—
अहङ्कारांकुरस्याग्रे तथा पुण्यं न तिष्ठति । प्रह्लादोऽपि महाभाग हरिणा समयुध्यत
So, before the sprout of ego, merit does not remain. Even Prahlāda, greatly fortunate, fought with Hari.
तदा व्यर्थं कृतं सर्वं सुकृतं किल भूतले । नरनारायणौ शान्तौ विहाय परमं तपः
Then, all virtuous deeds performed on earth became futile. Nara and Nārāyaṇa, peaceful, abandoned supreme austerity—
कृतवन्तौ यदा युद्धं क्व शमः सुकृतं पुनः । ईदृग्भ्यां सत्त्वयुक्ताभ्यामजेया यद्यहङ्कृतिः
When they engaged in battle, where was tranquility, where was virtue again? If even those endowed with virtue are overcome by ego—
मादृशानाञ्ज का वार्ता मुनेऽहङ्कारसंक्षये । अहङ्कारपरित्यक्तो न कोऽप्यस्ति जगत्त्रये
What can be said of people like me, O sage, regarding the destruction of ego? There is no one in the three worlds who has completely abandoned ego.
न भूतो भविता नैव यस्त्यक्तस्तेन सर्वथा । मुच्यते लोहनिगडैर्बद्धः काष्ठमयैस्तथा
Whoever has completely abandoned what neither existed before nor will exist in the future is freed, even if bound with iron chains or wooden fetters.
अहङ्कारनिबद्धस्तु न कदाचिद्विमुच्यते । अहङ्कारावृतं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्
But one who is bound by ego is never released; the entire world, both moving and unmoving, is enveloped by ego.
भ्रमत्येव हि संसारे विष्ठामूत्रप्रदूषिते । ब्रह्मज्ञानं कुतस्तावत्संसारे मोहसंवृते
Indeed, it wanders in this world, polluted by filth and urine; how can there be knowledge of Brahman as long as the world is covered by delusion?
मतं मीमांसकानां वै सम्मतं भाति सुव्रत । महान्तोऽपि सदा युक्ताः कामक्रोधादिभिर्मुने
O virtuous one, the view of the Mimamsakas is indeed widely accepted; even great souls are always engaged in desires, anger, and the like, O sage.
मादृशानां कलावस्मिन्का कथा मुनिसत्तम । व्यास उवाच कार्यं वै कारणाद्भिन्नं कथं भवति भारत
For people like me, what is there to say in this matter, O best of sages? Vyasa said: How can the effect ever be different from its cause, O Bharata?
कटकं कुण्डलञ्चैव सुवर्णसदृशं भवेत् । अहङ्कारोद्भवं सर्वं ब्रह्माण्डं सचराचरम्
A bracelet or an earring may appear like gold; all the universe, both moving and unmoving, arises from ego.
पटस्तन्तुवशः प्रोक्तस्तद्वियुक्तः कथं भवेत् । मायागुणैस्त्रिभिः सर्वं रचितं स्थिरजङ्गमम्
A cloth is said to depend on threads; how can it exist apart from them? All that is stable and moving is fashioned by the three qualities of Maya.
सतृणस्तम्बपर्यन्तं का तत्र परिदेवना । ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा रुद्रस्ते चाहङ्कारमोहिताः
From a blade of grass up to a pillar, what is the use of lamenting there? Even Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra are deluded by ego.
भ्रमन्त्यस्मिन्महागाधे संसारे नृपसत्तम । वसिष्ठनारदाद्याश्च मुनयो ज्ञानिनः परम्
They wander in this vast and deep world, O best of kings; even sages like Vasistha, Narada, and others, who are supreme in knowledge.
तेऽभिभूताः संसरन्ति संसारेऽस्मिन्पुनः पुनः । न कोऽप्यस्ति नृपश्रेष्ठ त्रिषु लोकेषु देहभृत्
Overpowered, they continue to wander again and again in this world; O best of kings, there is no embodied being in the three worlds who is exempt.
एभिर्मायागुणैर्मुक्तः शान्त आत्मसुखे स्थितः । कामक्रोधौ तथा लोभो मोहोऽहङ्कारसम्भवः
Freed from these qualities of Maya, one who is peaceful and established in the happiness of the self—desire, anger, greed, and delusion all arise from ego.
न मुञ्चन्ति नरं सर्वं देहवन्तं नृपोत्तम । अधीत्य वेदशास्त्राणि पुराणानि विचिन्त्य च
They do not release any embodied person, O best of kings; even after studying the Vedas and scriptures, and reflecting on the Puranas.
कृत्वा तीर्थाटनं दानं ध्यानञ्चैव सुरार्चनम् । करोति विषयासक्तः सर्वं कर्म च चौरवत्
Even after making pilgrimages, giving gifts, meditating, and worshipping the gods, one attached to sense objects performs all actions like a thief.
विचारयति नो पूर्वं काममोहमदान्वितः । कृते युगेऽपि त्रेतायां द्वापरे कुरुनन्दन
He does not reflect beforehand, being filled with desire, delusion, and pride; even in the Krita, Treta, and Dvapara yugas, O descendant of Kuru.
विद्धोऽत्रास्ति च धर्मोऽपि का कथाद्य कलौ पुनः । स्पर्धा सदैव सद्रोहा लोभामर्षौ च सर्वदा
Even then, righteousness was wounded; what can be said now in this Kali age? Envy, constant hostility, greed, and anger always prevail.
एवंविधोऽस्ति संसारो नात्र कार्या विचारणा । साधवो विरला लोके भवन्ति गतमत्सराः
Such is the nature of the world—there is no need for further deliberation; virtuous people, free from envy, are rare in the world.
जितक्रोधा जितामर्षा दृष्टान्तार्थं व्यवस्थिताः । राजोवाच ते धन्याः कृतपुण्यास्ते मदमोहविवर्जिताः
Those who have conquered anger and resentment, who are established as examples—The King said: They are blessed, of great merit, free from pride and delusion.
जितेन्द्रियाः सदाचारा जितं तैर्भुवनत्रयम् । दुनोमि पातकं स्मृत्वा पितुर्मम महात्मनः
Having mastered their senses and established in good conduct, they have conquered the three worlds; remembering the sin of my noble father, I am tormented.
कृतस्तपस्विनः कण्ठे मृतसर्पो ह्यघं विना । अतस्तस्य मुनिश्रेष्ठ भविता किं ममाग्रतः
A dead snake has been placed on the ascetic's neck without any real harm; therefore, O best of sages, what will happen before me now?
न जाने बुद्धिसम्मोहात्किं वा कार्यं भविष्यति । मधु पश्यति मूढात्मा प्रपातं नैव पश्यति
I do not know, due to confusion of mind, what action will come to pass; the deluded soul sees the honey but does not see the precipice.
करोति निन्दितं कर्म नरकान्न बिभेति च । कथं युद्धं पुरा वृत्तं विस्तरात्तद्वदस्व मे
He commits blameworthy deeds and does not fear hell; tell me in detail how that ancient battle took place.
प्रह्लादेन यथा चोग्रं नरनारायणस्य वै । प्रह्लादस्तु कथं यातः पातालात्तद्वदस्व मे
How did Prahlāda wage fierce battle with Nara-Nārāyaṇa? And how did Prahlāda go to the netherworld? Tell me this.
सारस्वते महातीर्थे पुण्ये बदरिकाश्रमे । नरनारायणौ शान्तौ तापसौ मुनिसत्तमौ
At the great and holy Sarasvatī tīrtha, in the sacred hermitage of Badarikā, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, tranquil and ascetic, the foremost of sages, resided.
कृतवन्तौ तथा युद्धं हेतुना केन मानद । वैरं भवति वित्तार्थं दारार्थं वा परस्परम्
How did they engage in battle, O bestower of honor, and for what reason? Enmity arises for the sake of wealth or wife between people.