विगणय्य स्वयं दृष्टो विस्मितश्चार्थचिन्तया
Having counted it himself, he was astonished, pondering over the wealth.
मेया तपो विक्रयाद्यैरेतद्धनमुपार्जितम्
This wealth was acquired by these means—by austerity, by trade, and so on.
मेरुतुल्यसुवर्णानि ह्यसंख्यातानि वाञ्छति
He desires gold equal to Mount Meru, even in countless amounts.
सर्वान्कामानवांप्नोति पुनरन्यञ्च काङ्क्षति
He obtains all desired objects, yet again wishes for something else.
चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णेका तरुणायते
The eyes and ears grow old, but desire alone remains ever young.
बलं हतं च जरसा तृष्णा तरुणतां गता
Strength is destroyed by old age, yet desire attains youthfulness.
सुशान्तो ऽपि प्रमन्युः स्याद्धीमानप्यतिमूढधीः
Even a very peaceful man may become angry, and a wise man may become utterly deluded.
तस्मादाशां त्यजेत्प्राज्ञो यदीच्छेच्छाश्वतं सुखम्
Therefore, if one desires lasting happiness, the wise should abandon hope.
तथैव सत्कुले जन्म आशा हत्यतिवेगतः
In the same way, birth in a noble family is destroyed at once by hope.
किञ्चिद्दातापि चाण्डालस्तस्मादधिकतां गतः
Even a lowly outcaste who gives a little surpasses one who is noble by birth.
अवमानादिकं दुःखं न जानन्ति कदाप्यहो
Alas, they never know the suffering of humiliation and the like.
शरीरमपि जीर्णं च जरसापहतं बलम्
Even the body becomes old, and strength is taken away by age.
एवं निश्चित्य विप्रेन्द्र धर्ममार्ग रतो ऽभवत्
Having thus reflected, O best of Brahmins, he became devoted to the path of righteousness.
स्वयं तु भाग द्वितय स्वार्जितार्थादपाहरत्
He himself took away half of his wealth that he had earned.
स्वेनार्जितानां पापानां नाशं कर्तुमनास्तदा
Then he resolved to destroy the sins he had accumulated himself.
अन्नादीनां च दानानि गङ्गातीरे चकार सः
He made gifts of food and other things on the banks of the Ganges.
नारनारायण स्थानं जगाम तपसे वनम्
He went to the abode of Nara and Narayana, to the forest for austerity.
फलितैः पुषअपितैश्चैव शोभितं वृक्षसंचयैः
It was adorned with clusters of trees, blossoming and bearing fruit.
परिचर्यापरैर्वृद्धैर्मुनिभिः परिशोभितम्
It was beautified by aged sages devoted to service.
गृणन्तं परमं ब्रह्म तेजोराशिं ददर्श ह
He saw the Supreme Brahman, a mass of radiance, being praised.
शीर्णपर्णाशनं दृष्ट्वा वेदमालिर्ननाम तम्
Seeing him subsisting on fallen leaves, Vedamali bowed to him.
कन्दमूलफलाद्यैस्तु नारायणधिया मुने
O sage, with roots, tubers, fruits, and the like, his mind fixed on Narayana—
विनयावनतो भूत्वा प्रोवाच वदतां वरम्
Humbly bowing, he spoke to the best of speakers.
मामुद्धर महाभाग ज्ञानदानेन पण्डित
"Lift me up, O greatly fortunate one, O wise one, by giving me knowledge."
प्रोवाच प्रहसन्वाग्मी वेदमालिं गुणान्वितम्
Smiling, the eloquent one spoke to Vedamali, who was endowed with virtues.
प्रवक्ष्यामि समासेन दुर्लभं त्वकृतात्मनाम्
"I shall briefly tell you what is difficult for those who have not mastered themselves."
परापवादं पैशुन्यं कदाचिदपि मा कृथाः
"Never engage in slander or malicious gossip."
हरिपूजापरश्चैव त्यज मूर्खसमागमम्
"Be devoted to the worship of Hari, and avoid the company of fools."
परित्यज्यात्मवल्लोकं दृष्ट्वा शान्तिं गमिष्यसि
"Renouncing the world as you would your own body, you will attain peace."
द्रंभाचारमहॄङ्कारं नैष्ठुर्यं च परित्यज
"Abandon hypocrisy, arrogance, and harshness."