नारुन्तुदः स्यान्न नृशंसवादी न हीनतः परम् अभ्याददीत ययास्य वाचा पर उद्विजेत न तां वदेद्रुशतीं पापलौल्याम्
One should not be a reviler, nor speak cruel words, nor take anything from the inferior; one should not utter words that cause fear in others, nor speak harsh, greed-driven speech.
अरुन्तुदं पुरुषं तीव्रवाचं वाक्कण्टकैर् वितुदन्तं मनुष्यान् विद्याद् अलक्ष्मीकतमं जनानां मुखे निबद्धं निरृतिं वहन्तम्
A reviling person, harsh in speech, wounding others with words like thorns, should be known as most unfortunate among people, carrying destruction bound to his mouth.
सद्भिः पुरस्तादभिपूजितः स्यात् सद्भिस्तथा पृष्ठतो रक्षितः स्यात् सदा सताम् अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत् सतां वृत्तं पालयन्साधुवृतः
He should be honored by the virtuous in front, protected by them behind, always endure the harsh words of the good, and maintain the conduct of the virtuous, being of good character.
वाक्सायका वदनान्निष्पतन्ति यैर् आहतः शोचति वा त्र्यहानि परस्य नो मर्मसु ते पतन्ति तान्पण्डितो नावसृजेत्परेषु
Words like arrows come forth from mouths; those struck by them grieve for three days, but they do not strike the vital parts of others. The wise should not release such words against others.
नास्तीदृशं संवननं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन यथा मैत्री च लोकेषु दानं च मधुरा च वाक्
There is no such union in the three worlds as friendship among people, giving, and sweet speech.
तस्मात्सान्त्वं सदा वाच्यं न वाच्यं परुषं क्वचित् पूज्यान्सम्पूजयेद् दद्यान् नाभिशापं कदाचन
Therefore, gentle speech should always be spoken, never harsh speech; one should honor the worthy, give, and never utter a curse.
सर्वाणि कार्याणि समाप्य राजन् गृहान्परित्यज्य वनं गतो ऽसि तत्त्वां पृच्छामि नहुषस्य पुत्र केनापि तुल्यस्तपसा ययाते
Having completed all duties, O King, you have abandoned your home and gone to the forest. I ask you, son of Nahusha: by whose austerity is Yayati equaled?
नाहं देवमनुष्येषु न गन्धर्वमहर्षिषु आत्मनस्तपसा तुल्यं कंचित्पश्यामि वासव
Among gods, humans, Gandharvas, or great sages, O Vasava, I see no one who matches me in austerity.
यदावमंस्थाः सदृशः श्रेयसश्च पापीयसश् चाविदितप्रभावः तस्माल्लोका ह्य् अन्तवन्तस्तवेमे क्षीणे पुण्ये पतितो ऽस्यद्य राजन्
When you disregarded those equal or superior, and those inferior, not knowing their true power, therefore, your worlds are now ended; with your merit depleted, you have fallen today, O King.
सुरर्षिगन्धर्वनरावमानात् क्षयं गता मे यदि शक्रलोकाः इच्छाम्यहं सुरलोकाद्विहीनः सतां मध्ये पतितुं देवराज
Because I disrespected gods, sages, Gandharvas, and men, my heavenly realms have diminished. Deprived of the world of the gods, O King of the gods, I wish to fall among the virtuous.
सतां सकाशे पतितो ऽसि राजंश् च्युतः प्रतिष्ठां यत्र लब्धासि भूयः एवं विदित्वा तु पुनर्ययाते न ते ऽवमान्याः सदृशः श्रेयसे च
You have fallen among the virtuous, O King, losing your position, but here you may regain it. Knowing this, O Yayati, do not disdain those who are equal or superior.
ततः पपातामरराजजुष्टात् पुण्याल्लोकात्पतमानं ययातिम् सम्प्रेक्ष्य राजर्षिवरो ऽष्टकस् तम् उवाच सद्धर्मविधानगोप्ता
Then Yayati fell from the blessed world enjoyed by the king of immortals. Seeing him fall, the foremost royal sage, Ashtaka, protector of righteous conduct, spoke to him.
कस्त्वं युवा वासवतुल्यरूपः स्वतेजसा दीप्यमानो यथाग्निः पतस्युदीर्णाम्बुधरप्रकाशः खे खेचराणां प्रवरो यथार्कः
Who are you, young man, whose form equals that of Vasava, shining with your own brilliance like fire, falling like a radiant cloud, foremost among sky-dwellers like the sun?
दृष्ट्वा च त्वां सूर्यपथात्पतन्तं वैश्वानरार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम् किंनुस्विद् एतत् पततीव सर्वे वितर्कयन्तः परिमोहिताः स्मः
Seeing you fall from the path of the sun, possessing immeasurable brilliance like fire and the sun, what is this that seems to be falling? All are bewildered, speculating about you.
दृष्ट्वा च त्वाधिष्ठितं देवमार्गे शक्रार्कविष्णुप्रतिमप्रभावम् प्रत्युद्गतास्त्वां वयमद्य सर्वे तस्मात्पाते तव जिज्ञासमानाः
Seeing you established on the divine path, with a glory equal to Indra, the sun, and Vishnu, we have all come forth to meet you, wishing to know the reason for your fall.
न चापि त्वां धृष्णवः प्रष्टुम् अग्रे न च त्वमस्मान्पृच्छसि के वयं स्म तत्त्वां पृच्छामि स्पृहणीयरूपं कस्य त्वं वा किंनिमित्तं त्वमागाः
None of us dares to question you directly, nor do you ask us who we are. I ask you, whose form is desirable: who are you, and for what reason have you come?
भयं तु ते व्येतु विषादमोहौ त्यजाशु देवेन्द्रसमानरूप त्वां वर्तमानं हि सतां सकाशे शक्रो न सोढुं बलहापि शक्तः
Let your fear depart, abandon sorrow and confusion, you whose form equals Indra. Even Indra, though powerful, could not endure you among the virtuous.
सन्तः प्रतिष्ठा हि सुखच्युतानां सतां सदैवामरराजकल्प ते संगताः स्थावरजङ्गमेशाः प्रतिष्ठितस्त्वं सदृशेषु सत्सु
The virtuous are always a refuge for those who have lost happiness; among the virtuous, you are like the king of immortals. All beings, moving and unmoving, are gathered here; you are established among those who are equal.
प्रभुरग्निः प्रतपने भूमिरावपने प्रभुः प्रभुः सूर्यः प्रकाशाच्च सतां चाभ्यागतः प्रभुः
Fire is master in burning, earth in receiving, the sun in shining, and among the virtuous, the one who arrives is master.
अहं ययातिर्नहुषस्य पुत्रः पूरोः पिता सर्वभूतावमानात् प्रभ्रंशितो ऽहं सुरसिद्धलोकात् परिच्युतः प्रपताम्यल्पपुण्यः
I am Yayati, son of Nahusha, father of Puru. Because I disrespected all beings, I have fallen from the world of gods and perfected ones, cast down, with little merit.
अहं हि पूर्वो वयसा भवद्भयस् तेनाभिवादं भवतां न युञ्जे यो विद्यया तपसा जन्मना वा वृद्धः स वै सम्भवति द्विजानाम्
I am older than you in age, and therefore I do not offer you greeting. Among twice-born, he who is elder by knowledge, austerity, or birth is honored.
अवादीस्त्वं वयसास्मि प्रवृद्ध इति वै राजन्न् अधिकः कथंचित् यो वै विद्वांस्तपसा सम्प्रवृद्धः स एव पूज्यो भवति द्विजानाम्
You spoke, 'I am elder by age,' O King, but one who is advanced in knowledge and austerity is truly honored among the twice-born.
प्रतिकूलं कर्मणां पापमाहुस् तद्वर्तिनां प्रवणं पापलोकम् सन्तो ऽसतो नान्ववर्तन्त ते वै यदात्मनैषां प्रतिकूलवादी
They say that acting against righteousness is sinful, and those who follow such a path fall into evil worlds. The virtuous do not follow the unvirtuous; you spoke against their nature.
अभूद्धनं मे विपुलं महद्वै विचेष्टमानो ऽधिगन्ता तदस्मि एवं प्रधार्यात्महिते निविष्टो यो वर्तते स विजानाति धीरः
I had abundant wealth, great indeed, but striving, I have attained this state. Thus, one who acts with resolve for self-benefit understands, and the wise follow this path.
नानाभावा बहवो जीवलोके दैवाधीना नष्टचेष्टाधिकाराः तत्तत्प्राप्य न विहन्येत धीरो दिष्टं बलीय इति मत्वात्मबुद्ध्या
In the world of living beings, there are many diverse forms, all subject to destiny, their power of action lost; having attained whatever is allotted, the wise man should not be disturbed, thinking with his own understanding that fate is stronger.
सुखं हि जन्तुर्यदि वापि दुःखं दैवाधीनं विन्दति नात्मशक्त्या तस्माद्दिष्टं बलवन्मन्यमानो न संज्वरेन्नापि हृष्येत्कदाचित्
Indeed, whether happiness or sorrow, a creature experiences it by destiny, not by its own power; therefore, considering fate to be powerful, one should neither grieve nor ever exult.
दुःखे न तप्येत सुखे न हृष्येत् समेन वर्तेत सदैव धीरः दिष्टं बलीय इति मन्यमानो न संज्वरेन्नापि हृष्येत् कदाचित्
In suffering, one should not be tormented; in happiness, one should not rejoice; the wise should always remain even-minded, thinking fate is powerful, and should neither be distressed nor ever delighted.
भये न मुह्याम्यष्टकाहं कदाचित् संतापो मे मनसो नास्ति कश्चित् धाता यथा मां विदधाति लोके ध्रुवं तथाहं भवितेति मत्वा
In fear, I am never bewildered, O Ashtaka; no distress arises in my mind; as the Creator ordains for me in the world, so surely shall I become—thus I reflect.
संस्वेदजा ह्य् अण्डजा ह्य् उद्भिदश्च सरीसृपाः कृमयो ऽप्य् अप्सु मत्स्याः तथाश्मानस्तृणकाष्ठं च सर्वं दिष्टक्षये स्वां प्रकृतिं भजन्ते
Those born of sweat, of eggs, of sprouts, reptiles, worms, and fish in the waters, as well as stones, grass, and wood—all, when their destined end arrives, return to their own nature.
अनित्यतां सुखदुःखस्य बुद्ध्वा कस्मात् संतापमष्टकाहं भजेयम् किं कुर्यां वै किंच कृत्वा न तप्ये तस्मात्संतापं वर्जयाम्यप्रमत्तः
Recognizing the impermanence of happiness and sorrow, why should I, O Ashtaka, be distressed? What could I do, or having done, not be afflicted? Therefore, being vigilant, I avoid sorrow.