निर्भिद्य हैहया द्रव्यं ददृशुर्धनलिप्सया । ब्राह्मणाश्चुकुशः सर्वे भीताश्च शरणं गताः
The Haihayas, breaking in out of greed for wealth, found treasure; all the Brahmins, terrified, fled for refuge.
अतिचिन्वत्सु विप्राणां भवनान्निःसृतं बहु । निजघ्नुस्ताञ्छरैः कोपाद्वाडवाञ्छरणागतान्
As much wealth as emerged from the Brahmins' houses while they searched, in anger they struck down those who had taken refuge, like horses at the stable, with arrows.
ययुस्ते गिरिदुर्गांश्च यत्र वै भृगवः स्थिताः । आगर्भादनुकृन्तन्तश्चेरुश्चैव महीमिमाम्
They went to the mountain fortresses where the Bhrigus had taken shelter, cutting down from the womb onward, and roamed this earth.
प्राप्तान्प्राप्तान्भृगून्सर्वान्निजघ्नुर्निशितैः शरैः । आबालवृद्धानपरानवमन्य च पातकम्
All the Bhrigus they found, young and old, they struck down with sharp arrows, not considering it a sin.
एवमुत्पाट्यमानेषु भार्गवेषु यतस्ततः । हन्युर्गर्भांश्च नारीणां गृहीत्वा हैहया भृशम्
As the Bhrigus were being uprooted everywhere, the Haihayas, taking the women, even killed the unborn children in their wombs.
रुरुदुस्ताः स्त्रियः कामं कुरर्य इव दुःखिताः । गर्भाश्च कृन्तिता यासां क्षत्रियैः पापनिश्चयैः
Those women wailed in distress like grieving curlews; those whose wombs were cut open by the Kshatriyas with evil intent.
अन्येऽप्याहुश्च तान्दृप्तान्मुनयस्तीर्थवासिनः । मुञ्चन्तु क्षत्रियाः क्रोधं ब्राह्मणेषु भयावहम्
Other sages dwelling at holy places said of those arrogant men: 'Let the Kshatriyas abandon their wrath toward the Brahmins, which brings fear.'
अयुक्तमेतदारब्धं भवद्भिः कर्म गर्हितम् । यद्गर्भान्भृगुपत्नीनां निहन्युः क्षत्रियर्षभाः
'This act you have begun is improper and condemned; that the best of Kshatriyas would slay the unborn children of the Bhrigu women.'
अत्युग्रपुण्यपापानामिहैव फलमाप्नुयात् । तस्माज्जुगुप्सितं कर्म त्यक्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता
'Here, those of extreme merit or sin receive the result immediately; therefore, one who desires prosperity should abandon such a detestable deed.'
तानाहुर्हैहयाः क्रुद्धा मुनीनथ दयापरान् । भवन्तः साधवः सर्वे नार्थज्ञाः पापकर्मणाम्
Then the enraged Haihayas said to those compassionate sages: 'You are all virtuous, but ignorant of the ways of the wicked.'
एभिर्हृतं धनं सर्वं पूर्वजानां महात्मनाम् । वञ्चयित्वा छलाभिज्ञैर्मार्गे पाटच्चरैरिव
All the wealth of the great ancestors was taken by these, deceiving them with cunning tricks, just as travelers on the road are cheated by highwaymen.
एते प्रतारका दम्भास्तादृशा बकवृत्तयः । उत्पन्ने च महाकार्ये प्रार्थिता विनयेन ते
These impostors, full of hypocrisy and the ways of herons, when a great need arose, were humbly entreated.
न ददुः प्रार्थितं विप्राः पादवृद्ध्यापि याचिताः । नास्तीतिवादिनः स्तब्धाः दुःखितान्वीक्ष्य याज्यकान्
The Brahmins, even when respectfully begged with folded hands, did not give what was requested; stubborn, denying, and unmoved, they looked upon the sacrificers in distress.
धनं प्राप्तं कार्तवीर्याद्रक्षितं केन हेतुना । न कृताः क्रतवः किं तैर्दानं चार्थिषु भूरिशः
The wealth obtained from Kārtavīrya—by what reason was it guarded? No sacrifices were performed with it, nor was it generously given to those in need.
न सञ्चितव्यं विप्रैस्तु धनं चापि कदाचन । यष्टव्यं विधिवद्देयं भोक्तव्यं च यथासुखम्
Brahmins should never hoard wealth at any time; it should be used for sacrifices according to rule, given in charity, and enjoyed as is fitting.
द्रव्ये चौरभयं प्रोक्तं तथा राजभयं द्विजाः । वह्नेर्भयं महाघोरं तथा धूर्तभयं महत्
In wealth, there is the fear of thieves, the fear of kings, the terrible fear of fire, and the great fear of rogues, O twice-born.
येन केनाप्युपायेन धनं त्यजति रक्षकम् । अथवासौ मृतो याति द्रव्यं त्यक्त्वा ह्यसद्गतिम्
By one means or another, the protector abandons the wealth, or else, when he dies, he departs leaving the wealth behind, and goes to a bad state.
पादवृद्ध्या तथास्माभिः प्रार्थितं विनयान्वितैः । तथापि लोभसन्दिग्धैर्न दत्तं नः पुरोहितैः
We too, with folded hands and humility, requested them; yet, tainted by greed, our priests did not give to us.
दानं भोगस्तथा नाशो धनस्य गतिरीदृशी । दानभोगौ कृतीनां च नाशः पापात्मनां किल
The course of wealth is threefold: charity, enjoyment, and destruction; for the virtuous, charity and enjoyment, but for the wicked, destruction indeed.
न दाता न च यो भोक्ता कृपणो गुप्तितत्परः । राज्ञासौ सर्वथा दण्ड्यो वञ्चको दुःखभाङ्नरः
He who neither gives nor enjoys, but is miserly and intent on hoarding—such a deceiver, a man of suffering, is always to be punished by the king.
तस्माद्वयं गुरूनेतान्वञ्चकान्ब्राह्मणाधमान् । हन्तुं समुद्यताः सर्वे न क्रोधव्यं महात्मभिः
Therefore, we all have set out to kill these deceitful, lowly Brahmins, our elders; let the great-souled not be angry.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा हेतुमद्वाक्यं तानाश्वास्य मुनीनथ । विचेरुश्च विचिन्वाना भृगुदाराननेकशः
Vyāsa said: Having spoken these words of reason, and comforting the sages, they searched everywhere for the wives of Bhṛgu.
भयार्ता भृगुपत्न्यस्तु हिमवन्तं धराधरम् । प्रपेदिरे रुदन्त्यश्च वेपमानाः कृशा भृशम्
The wives of Bhṛgu, terrified, emaciated, weeping and trembling, fled to the Himālaya mountain.
एवं ते हैहयैर्विप्राः पीडिता धनकामुकैः । निहताश्च यथाकामं संरब्धैः पापकर्मभिः
Thus, the Brahmins were oppressed by the Haihayas, greedy for wealth, and were slain at will by those enraged, evil-doers.
लोभ एव मनुष्याणां देहसंस्थो महारिपुः । सर्वदुःखाकरः प्रोक्तो दुःखदः प्राणनाशकः
Greed, residing in the body, is indeed the great enemy of men; it is said to be the source of all suffering, the bringer of pain, and the destroyer of life.
सर्वपापस्य मूलं हि सर्वदा तृष्णयान्वितः । विरोधकृत्त्रिवर्णानां सर्वार्तेः कारणं तथा
Indeed, the root of all sin is always joined with craving; it causes conflict among the three classes and is the cause of all distress.
लोभात्त्यजन्ति धर्मं वै कुलधर्मं तथैव हि । मातरं भ्रातरं हन्ति पितरं बान्धवं तथा
Because of greed, people abandon righteousness and family duty; they even kill mother, brother, father, and relatives.
गुरुं मित्रं तथा भार्यां पुत्रं च भगिनीं तथा । लोभाविष्टो न किं कुर्यादकृत्यं पापमोहितः
One possessed by greed may kill teacher, friend, wife, son, and sister; what wrong or sinful act would he not commit, deluded by greed?
क्रोधात्कामादहङ्काराल्लोभ एव महारिपुः । प्राणांस्त्यजति लोभेन किं पुनः स्यादनावृतम्
Among anger, desire, and pride, greed alone is the greatest enemy; for the sake of greed, one even gives up life—what then can remain uncovered by it?
पूर्वजास्ते महाराज धर्मज्ञाः सत्पथे स्थिताः । पाण्डवाः कौरवाश्चैव लोभेन निधनं गताः
O great king, your ancestors, the Pandavas and Kauravas, though knowledgeable in righteousness and established on the noble path, met their end because of greed.