शूद्रं वपुः प्राप्य यशस्करं सदा दानं द्विजेभ्यो न कृतं द्विजार्चनम् । च्दृदद्यत्दद्वड्ढ ढद्धदृथ्र्ददृध्ड्ढथ्र्डड्ढद्ध जलाशयो नैव कृतो धरातले असंस्कृतो विप्रवरो न संस्कृतः ॥ २,४८.
Having obtained a Śūdra body, one who always fails to give gifts to the twice-born, who does not honor the twice-born, who does not create a reservoir of water upon the earth, and who is not consecrated, is not considered a true Brāhmaṇa.
त्यक्त्वा स्वकर्माणि मदेन सुस्थितं मया सुतीर्थे स्ववपुर्न चोज्झितम् । धर्मोर्जितो नैव न देवपूजनं कृतं मया चैव विमुक्तिहेतवे ॥ २,४८.
Abandoning my own duties out of pride, I remained comfortably in a holy place, but did not give up my own body; I did not cultivate righteousness, nor did I worship the gods for the sake of liberation.
देहं समासाद्य तथैव पिण्डजं वर्णांस्तथैवान्त्यजम्लेच्छसंज्ञितान् । मरुन्मयं देहमिमे विशन्ति नैवेहमानाः पथि धर्मसंकुले ॥ २,४८.
Having attained a body born of food, I entered into castes known as outcastes and Mlecchas; these bodies, composed of air, do not enter this path filled with righteousness.
परस्परं धर्मकृन्तं स्वकीयं सम्पाद्य लक्ष्यं पथि सञ्चरन्त्स्वम् । पक्षीन्द्र वाक्यानि शृणुष्व तानि मनोरमाणि प्रवदन्ति यानि ॥ २,४८.
Each, having accomplished their own aim on the path of righteousness, moves along; O king of birds, listen to those delightful words which they speak.
सारा हि लोकेषु भवेत्त्रिलोकी द्वीपेषु सर्वेषु च जम्बुकाख्यम् । देशेषु सर्वेष्वपि देवदेशः जीवेषु सर्वेषु मनुष्य एव ॥ २,४८.
The essence in the worlds is the threefold world; among all the islands, Jambu is renowned; among all lands, the land of the gods is foremost; among all beings, man is supreme.
वर्णाश्च चत्वार इह प्रशस्ताः वर्णेषु धर्मिष्ठनराः प्रशस्ताः । धर्मेण सौख्यं समुपैति सर्वं ज्ञानं समाप्नोति महापथे स्थितः ॥ २,४८.
Here, the four castes are esteemed; among the castes, those who are most devoted to righteousness are praised; through righteousness, all happiness is attained, and one established on the great path attains knowledge.
देहं परित्यज्य यदा गतायुः पक्षिन् स्थितोऽहं कृमिकीटसंस्थितः । सरीसृपोऽहं मशको विनिर्मितश्चतुष्पदोऽहं वनसूकरोऽहम् ॥ २,४८.
When the body is abandoned and life has departed, O bird, I have dwelt as a worm or insect, I have been a reptile, a mosquito, a quadruped, and a wild boar.
सर्वं विजानाति हि गर्भसंस्थितो जातश्च सद्यस्तदिदञ्च विस्मरेत् । यच्चिन्तितं गर्भसमागतेन वै बालो युवा वृद्धवया बभूव ॥ २,४८.
Indeed, while in the womb, one knows everything, but upon birth, all that is immediately forgotten; whatever was contemplated in the womb, the child, youth, and old man become.
मोहाद्विनाष्टं यदि गर्भचिन्तितं स्मृतं पुनर्मृत्युगते चदेहे । तस्मिन्प्रनष्टे हृदि चिन्तितं गतं स्मृतं पुनर्गर्भगते च देहे ॥ २,४८.
If, through delusion, what was contemplated in the womb is forgotten, and again when the body goes to death, when that is lost, what was thought in the heart is gone, and when the body enters the womb again, it is remembered anew.
तस्मिन्प्रनष्टे हृदि चिन्तितं पुनर्मया स्वकोशे परवञ्चनं कृतम् । द्यूतैश्छलेनापि च चौर्यवृत्त्या धर्मं व्यतिक्रम्य शरीररक्षणे ॥ २,४८.
When that is lost, what was thought in the heart, again I committed deception in my own treasury; by gambling, trickery, and theft, I transgressed righteousness for the sake of preserving the body.
कृच्छ्रेण लक्ष्मीः समुपार्जिता स्वयं मया न भुक्तं मनसेप्सितं धनम् । ताम्बूलमन्नं मधुरं सगोरसं दत्त्वाग्निदेवातिथिबन्धुवर्गे ॥ २,४८.
With great difficulty I acquired wealth, but did not enjoy the wealth my mind desired; betel, food, sweets with milk, I gave to fire, gods, guests, and relatives.
सोमग्रहे सूर्यसमागमेपि वा न सेवितं तीर्थवरिष्ठमुत्तमम् । कोशं स्वकीयं मलमूत्रपूरितं देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,४८.
Even at the time of the full moon or conjunction with the sun, I did not bathe at the most excellent holy places; my own treasury, filled with filth and urine, was never purified by you, O embodied one, whatever you did.
मया न दृष्टा न नता न पूजिता त्रैविक्रमी मूर्तिरिह स्थिता भुवि । प्रभासनाथो न च भक्तिसंस्तुतो देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,४८.
I did not see, bow to, or worship the form of Trivikrama established here on earth; nor did I praise Prabhāsanātha with devotion, O embodied one, whatever you did.
गत्वा वरिष्ठे भुवि तीर्थसन्निधौ धनं न दत्तं विदुषां करे मया । आप्लुत्य देहं विधिना द्विजे गुरौ दिहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,४८.
Having gone to the best holy places on earth, I did not give wealth into the hands of the learned; having bathed according to rule, I did not honor the twice-born or the teacher, O embodied one, whatever you did.
न मातृपूजा न च विष्णुशङ्करौ गणेशचणड्यौ न च भास्करोऽपि वा । यञ्चोपचारैर्बलियुक्तचन्दनैर्देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,४८.
I did not worship my mother, nor Viṣṇu, nor Śaṅkara, nor Gaṇeśa, nor Caṇḍī, nor even Bhāskara; nor did I offer sacrifices with proper rites and sandalwood, O embodied one, whatever you did.
लब्धा मया मानवदेवतोपमा मोहाद्गता सर्वमिदञ्च पार्थिव । गतिं न वीक्षेत स वै विमूढधीर्देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,४८.
Though I obtained a human body, comparable to a god, through delusion I lost all this, O earthly one; the foolish-minded one does not seek the path, O embodied one, whatever you did.
एतानि पक्षिन्मनसा विचिन्त्य वाक्यानि धर्मार्थयशस्कराणि । मुक्तिं समायान्ति मनुष्यलोके वसन्ति ये धर्मरताः सुदेशे ॥ २,४८.
Reflecting in their minds on these words, which bring righteousness, wealth, and fame, those who delight in righteousness and dwell in a good land attain liberation in the world of men.
इति ब्रुवाणैर्यमधूतवर्गैर्विहन्यते कालमयैश्च मुद्गरैः । हा दैव हा दैव इति स्मरन् वै धनं न दत्तं स्वयमर्जितं यत् ॥ २,४८.
Thus, spoken by the messengers of Yama, one is struck by clubs made of time; 'Alas, fate! Alas, fate!' he remembers, for the wealth he acquired was not given away.
न भूमिदानं न च गोप्रदानं न वारिदानं न च वस्त्रदानम् । फलं सताम्बूलविलेपनं वा त्वया न दत्तं भुवि शोचसे कथम् ॥ २,४८.
Neither the gift of land, nor the gift of cows, nor the gift of water, nor the gift of clothing, nor even the offering of fruits, betel, or fragrant ointments—none of these have you given upon the earth; so why do you grieve?
पिता मृतस्ते च पितामहः सा यया धृतो वाप्युदरे स्वकीये । मृतोऽप्यसौ बन्धुजनः समस्तो दृष्टं त्वया सर्वमिदं गतायः ॥ २,४८.
Your father has died, as has your grandfather, and the one who carried you in her womb; all your relatives have passed away—this you have seen, and now your own time has come.
कोशं त्वदीयं ज्वलितञ्च वह्निना पुत्त्रैर्गृहीतो धनधान्य सञ्चयः । सुभाषितं धर्मचयं कृतञ्च यत्तदेव गच्छेत्तव पृष्ठसंस्थम् ॥ २,४८.
Your own treasury, set ablaze by fire, and the wealth and grain accumulated by your sons—all these remain behind; only good words, righteous deeds, and what you have done in dharma will follow you, standing at your back.
न दृश्यते कोऽपि मृतः समागतो राजा यतिर्वा द्विजपुङ्गवोऽपि वा । यो वै मृतः साहसिकः स मर्त्यको नाशं योऽपि धरातले स्थितः ॥ २,४८.
No one who has died is seen to return—not a king, not an ascetic, not even the best of twice-born; whoever dies, whether bold or ordinary, is lost, just as anyone who remains on earth will be.
एवं गणास्ते ब्रुवते सकिन्नरा धैर्यं समालम्ब्य विपादपूरितः । श्रुत्वा गणानां वचनं महाद्भुतं ब्रवीति पक्षीन्द्र मनुष्यतां गतः ॥ २,४८.
Thus those hosts, along with the kinnaras, speak, filling the air with their words; hearing the wondrous speech of these hosts, the king of birds, having taken human form, replied.
दानप्रभावेण विमानसंस्थितो धर्मः पिता मातृदयानुरूपिणी । वाणी कलत्रं मधुरार्थभाषिणी स्नानं सुतीर्थे च सुबन्धवर्गः ॥ २,४८.
By the power of giving, one attains a celestial chariot; righteousness is like a father, compassion like a mother; sweet speech is like a wife who speaks pleasant words, and bathing at holy fords is like a circle of good friends.
करार्पितं यत्सुकृतं समस्तं स्वर्गस्तदा स्यात्तव किङ्करोपमः । यो धर्मवान् प्राप्स्यति सोऽतिसौख्यं पापी समस्तं विविधञ्च दुःखम् ॥ २,४८.
All the good deeds performed with your own hands become your servants in heaven; the righteous will attain great happiness, while the sinful will experience every kind of suffering.
यो धर्मशीलो जितमानरोषो विद्याविनीतो न परोपतापी । स्वदारतुष्टः परदारदूरःस वै नरो नो भुवि वन्दनीयः ॥ २,४८.
He who is devoted to righteousness, who has conquered pride and anger, who is learned and does not harm others, who is content with his own wife and keeps away from others' wives—such a man alone is truly worthy of honor on earth.
मिष्टान्नदाता चरिताग्निहोत्रो वेदान्तविच्चन्द्रसहस्रजीवी । मासोपवासी च पतिव्रता चषड्जीवलोके मम वन्दनीयाः ॥ २,४८.
The giver of delicious food, the performer of the agnihotra, the knower of Vedanta, one who lives as long as the moon and a thousand suns, one who fasts monthly, and the devoted wife—these six are worthy of my reverence in the world.
एवं समाचारयुतो नरोऽपि वापीं सकूपां सजलं तडागम् । प्रपाशुभं हृद्गृहदेवमन्दिरं कृतं नरेणैव स धर्मौत्तमः ॥ २,४८.
Even a man who, acting in this way, makes a pond with a well, a reservoir with water, a rest house, or a temple for the household deity—he alone is truly righteous.
वर्षाशनं वेदविदे च दत्तं कन्याविवाहस्त्वृणमोचनं द्विजे । भूमिः सुकृष्टापि तृषार्तिहेतोस्तदेवमेतं सुकृतत्समस्तम् ॥ २,४८.
Giving food during the rainy season to a knower of the Vedas, arranging a daughter's marriage, freeing a Brahmin from debt, or donating well-cultivated land to relieve thirst—these are all considered excellent good deeds.
अध्यायमेनं सुकृतस्य सारं शृणोति गायत्यपि भावशुद्ध्या । स वै कुलीनः स च धर्मयुक्तो विश्वालयं याति परं स नूनम् ॥ २,४८.
Whoever listens to or sings this chapter, the essence of good deeds, with a pure heart—he is noble, joined to righteousness, and surely attains the highest abode.